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Diatomaceous Earth (food grade only!) is very effective against all insects and for spiders as well and is not harmful to the environment, pets, or humans. However, it will kill our beneficial pollinators along with the pest insects so Please make sure it doesn’t get on any flowers or clover around the perimeter of your house. In fact, it’s probably best to use it inside under kitchen and bathroom cabinet sinks, on top of cabinets, behind and under home appliances, etc. Caulk and repair any entry holes, fix drywall cracks in walls and seal around water pipes and baseboards. Place mesh screens outside over windows, over floor drains, and vents. If you have gaps around doors and windows use weather stripping to seal them. If your entry doors don’t meet the threshold to seal properly, invest in a good sealer for the bottom of your doors. Use mesh screen cut to fit in sink drains (kitchen and bath) and cut to fit any vents in your home by screwing it in place under the vent covers. Keep your p-traps full of water by regularly running a bit of water in unused bathrooms flushing the toilets to keep the bowl from drying out. They’re not especially good swimmers as a rule, but some species can actually swim and remain underwater up to 15 minutes. So flush the unused toilet regularly. If this is a vacation home cover your toilet bowls with plastic wrap or mesh screen and duct tape it securely in place before you leave. The main thing is to make it as near to impossible for them to gain entry.
They carry diseases that affect the digestive system including stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. They also shed their skins and leave droppings which can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks in susceptible people.
If any make it inside your home, the food grade diatomaceous earth will be effective to kill them. Other than that, just keep garbage out of your home, rinse your recyclable cans and bottles and keep your outside garbage cans away from your home. Clean and vacuum your home daily. Check your cabinets regularly for opened food and crumbs. Keep opened food sealed in containers or put in refrigerator. Keep pet food sealed in bins and pet food dishes cleaned out and put away every night before bedtime.
I personally don’t use pesticides, boric acid, or borax because of environmental concerns and hope others feel the same way, not to mention the toxicity to humans and animals. I know this is a really long post, but I hope it helps others in the seemingly never-ending battle against these nasty pests.
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Also interesting is the potential origins of the Palmetto Bug’s name. One theory is that the term “palmetto bug” originates from its home in the stubs of palm fronds left on the trunks of palmetto trees. Another is that proper southern folks simply would not have common “cockroaches” in their homes, but rather a more genteel insect they dubbed the “palmetto bug.” I tend to enjoy the second possibility a great deal more!
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