The American cockroach — the large “palmetto bug” — lives in sewers, drains, mulch, and crawlspaces and pushes indoors in warm CSRA weather.

How to identify the American Cockroach

Large, up to 1.5 inches, glossy reddish-brown with a pale figure-eight marking behind the head. Much bigger than the German cockroach.

Behavior & biology

It favors warm, damp, dark places — drains, sewers, crawlspaces, mulch beds — and enters homes through gaps, drains, and utility penetrations, mostly at night.

Why American Cockroachs are a problem

It contaminates surfaces with bacteria, triggers allergies, and its size and sudden appearance alarm customers in homes and businesses alike.

Signs of an infestation

Large roaches in basements, crawlspaces, and near drains at night, ridged droppings the size of mouse droppings, and dark egg cases.

How we handle American Cockroachs in the CSRA

Control combines exclusion, moisture reduction, and targeted treatment of harborage. Our commercial pest control and general pest programs handle it. Call 803-226-3155 to schedule. Browse the full pest library.