Palmetto Bugs by State 2026

Term "palmetto bugs" used for cockroaches

Yes

State	Term "palmetto bugs" used for cockroaches↓	Palmetto/Cockroach Species Present
Alabama	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae Florida woods cockroach — Eurycotis floridana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Alaska	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Arizona	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Arkansas	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
California	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Colorado	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Connecticut	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Delaware	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Florida	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae Florida woods cockroach — Eurycotis floridana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Georgia	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae Florida woods cockroach — Eurycotis floridana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Idaho	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Illinois	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Indiana	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Iowa	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Kansas	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Kentucky	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Louisiana	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Maine	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Maryland	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Massachusetts	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Michigan	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Minnesota	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Mississippi	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae Florida woods cockroach — Eurycotis floridana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Missouri	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Montana	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Nebraska	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Nevada	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
New Hampshire	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae
New Jersey	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
New Mexico	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
New York	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
North Carolina	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
North Dakota	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Ohio	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Oklahoma	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Oregon	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Pennsylvania	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Rhode Island	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
South Carolina	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
South Dakota	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Tennessee	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Texas	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Australian cockroach — Periplaneta australasiae Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis Smokybrown cockroach — Periplaneta fuliginosa
Utah	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Vermont	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Virginia	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Washington	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
West Virginia	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Wisconsin	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Wyoming	Yes	American cockroach — Periplaneta americana Oriental cockroach — Blatta orientalis
Hawaii	No

Palmetto bug is a term, used largely in the Southeastern US and Florida in particular, to describe any of several common species of cockroach. According to the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, the term palmetto bug is most often associated with the American cockroach (P. americana), the Florida Woods cockroach (Eurycotis floridana), the Smoky Brown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa), the Australian cockroach (P. australasiae), the Brown cockroach (P. brunnea), and the Death’s Head cockroach (Blaberus craniifer).

What Is the Difference Between a Cockroach and a Palmetto Bug?

As a general rule, there is no difference between a cockroach and a palmetto bug. As mentioned, a palmetto bug can refer to one of several species of cockroaches that are commonly found in the Southeastern area of the United States, and in these states the terms “cockroach” and “palmetto bug” are typically used interchangeably. However, the term is rarely used outside the American Southeast.

Can Palmetto Bugs Hurt People?

In general, palmetto bugs are not able to hurt people. They do not bite and they are generally afraid of people. That said, it is nonetheless important to be aware of several health risks that palmetto bugs pose. For example, it is possible for palmetto bugs to carry salmonella, a pathogen that can cause food poisoning, so all food should be stored securely where the bugs cannot find and access it. In addition, people with allergies or Asthma may experience symptomatic exacerbations when exposed to palmetto bugs.

What States Have Palmetto Bugs?

Given that palmetto bugs are cockroaches, this question can be interpreted two ways. If the question is actually “which states have cockroaches?” the answer is “all of them”. Cockroaches are nearly unrivaled in their ability to adapt to various living conditions, and although they are far less common in the northern states (they prefer warmer climates), they do still appear. However, if the question is “which states call cockroaches palmetto bugs?”, the answer is mostly the Southeastern states, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Palmetto Bugs by State 2026

What Is the Difference Between a Cockroach and a Palmetto Bug?

Can Palmetto Bugs Hurt People?

What States Have Palmetto Bugs?

Sources

Other Categories