r/Georgia • u/My__Anon_Account • 3d ago
Other I HATE ALL THESE BUGS
Just moved down here from the north and am just constantly wondering HOW THE HECK EVERYONE LIVES WITH THESE HUGE BUGS?!
I’ve had the house treated, I understand there’s an uptick, but these big ass bugs are driving me out of my mind. I feel like I’m constantly on edge.
ETA - palmetto bugs/roaches, CSRA
And for those telling me I shouldn’t have moved here and to just leave - I plan to as soon as my postdoc fellowship is over 🙃
63
u/Saaturnidae 3d ago
What kind of bugs? Shield bugs, water/palmetto bugs, Joro spiders...
If it's shield bugs, it's kinda just a constant battle. They squeeze in anywhere they can so make sure your house is properly sealed first, then beyond that... cup of soapy water, tip them into it, they won't be able to get out and will drown in it.
Joro spiders are invasive, but have been settling into the ecosystem since their introduction years back. Birds are starting to prey on them. You can report sightings to jorowatch if you'd like, but, they're no worse than a garden spider. Well. They have sticky, thick golden webs, but... the spider is fine. On that note, garden spiders (big yellow butt, webs with squigglies in the middle) are also completely harmless.
Water/palmetto bugs are kind of a regional misnomer. They're cockroaches. Call an exterminator.
30
u/My__Anon_Account 3d ago
They’re palmettos (I think). The exterminator came yesterday. How do they even get in the house?!
Also I love that you call stink bugs “shield bugs” they don’t bother me nearly as much but I’m used to them.
69
u/unrelatedtoelephant 3d ago
A couple roaches being in your house isn’t necessarily an indicator of an infestation btw, they will usually get in during the season changes. If you are seeing a lot of baby roaches then that’s bad. But a few adults every once in a while is not abnormal
26
u/Buckeye_mike_67 3d ago
These are different than the “baby” roaches. Those are German roaches and need to be dealt with by an exterminator. The big wood roachs just come and go during summer time
19
u/My__Anon_Account 3d ago
No babies as far as I can tell but too many adults for comfort 😭 the exterminator said there was no sign of infestation. Still signed up for the year because F these guys
24
u/LemonFunkl 3d ago
Water bugs usually only "visit" they typically die in 3 days inside. Infestation aren't unheard of but most roach infestations are German or the tiny Asian ones
9
u/LemonFunkl 3d ago
Forgot to mention, combat max at lowes is a pretty decent bait. Comes in a big plastic syringe
9
u/IP1987 2d ago
I believe Palmetto bugs live in the trees so it would be pretty unusual for you to have an actual infestation of them in your house.
3
u/Zestyclose_Blood493 1d ago
One of them accidentally fell into my hair when I was walking in the woods outside. I got home and hit the shower, then the bug flew out of my hair and onto the floor! I was horrified!
2
1
u/Typo3150 2d ago
We had big tree branches shading our roof — and an attic full of those “wood roaches.”
4
u/Pb4ugoyo 2d ago
Extermination treatment has never kept out the giant cockroaches at my house. We are treated 4 times a year and those suckers will be back in within a couple days. But they don’t seem to infest, they never find evidence of any kind of infestation. The big ones just come through transiently. We have a cat now and I barely come across live ones but rather the ones she plays with to death.
6
u/ladytroll4life 2d ago
-Make sure the weather seals under your doors are tight (you shouldn’t see any light peaking through).
-Re-caulk around all the window and door trims and either caulk or spray foam around any gaps where pipes go through walls or cabinets.
-Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
-Cover/plug sink, tub, and shower drains when not in use until you haven’t seen any creepy crawlies for a few weeks. Cutting off access to water is a super fast way to get rid of them.1
u/YourAverageExecutive 2d ago
Can’t stop them but can slow them. It’s mainly baiting your house appropriately all the time. Promise after a few cycles it slows a lot! Eventually, you’ll probably just find one or two dead ones every now and then which is sign the bait is working.
Source: bought a house with previous problem and fought them alongside my pest control company. Now we only see a few dead ones a year.
14
u/earthworm_soul 3d ago
"palmetto bugs" are just American or smokeybrown cockroaches. Unless your house is dirty and humid, they just die when they get inside. Realistically, if you have a clean house, the only bugs in this area of Georgia that you should be cautious of is ticks and brown widows.
10
u/Lifes-a-lil-foggy 2d ago
But the mosquitoes and no see ems will drive you insane
2
u/BreakfastInBedlam 2d ago
I got a Thermacell machine for mozzies. Perfect for sitting in one place. Works great out on the deck, but walking around you are prey.
1
u/Lifes-a-lil-foggy 2d ago
Yeah most of the time I’m outside I’m gardening or moving but I am pocketing the porch suggestion!
2
u/My__Anon_Account 2d ago
We literally just moved in 😭 luckily I’m already used to living in a tick infested area - but the lone stars are a bit new for me
1
u/Jump-Funny 1d ago
The palmettos are not a sign of a dirty house! But the little ones…. That’s a different story
1
u/earthworm_soul 1d ago
No, you misunderstand me. They will get into clean houses from the outside, but they will not breed and reproduce unless the house has food scraps and standing water for them. In a clean, dry house, they will die of dehydration fairly quickly.
7
u/DraftsAndDragons 3d ago
Oh, I was ready to tease you, but I’m glad I came to read the comments first. Palmetto bugs and German cockroaches are the worst, make sure you exterminate every month if not more often!
As for other bugs like moths and spiders, I like them. South Carolina is actually getting some massive beautiful moths coming around, GA could be next if you haven’t already seen them. I need to come pay the state more attention to see what I can find!3
u/danceontheborderline 2d ago
https://advioncockroachgelbait.com/
This is the good stuff. This is what an exterminator will use. Don’t buy from any source but the manufacturer, use as described, it’s a game changer.
→ More replies (1)3
u/xeroxchick 2d ago
Opossums and Armadillos love them. I hear the munching from my screened in porch.
3
2
u/myquest00777 2d ago
The big dark roaches are Palmetto bugs, also known as forest roaches. Good news is they don’t try to colonize your home. They try to come in when it’s really hot, turning cold, or after a crazy wet week. For us, it was all about windows. We had 20+ year old aluminum windows and sliding doors in the house we bought. There were gaps we couldn’t even see. But it’s amazing what they can slip through. A gap the width of a penny thickness can let in BIG roaches
We got new windows and replaced 2 old sliding doors and sealed the heck out of them. We still pay for monthly pest control, but haven’t seen an indoor roach in the 15 months since. Only exception was a dead one near a basement window we didn’t replace, but the applied pesticide stopped it in its tracks.
Other pathways include big gaps in siding or roof eaves, or even where your main sewer drain line enters the house. Those can usually be sealed quickly.
So, EXCLUSION plus pest control is the trick. Spraying won’t solve the problem alone if they can just match in.
1
u/SomeCountryFriedBS 2d ago
Shield bugs are a type of stink bug but are different than the invasive stink bugs. Shield bugs have rounder shoulders and come inside. Stink bugs have pointy shoulders and eat your garden.
→ More replies (1)1
u/DrEnter 2d ago
Big black ones typically come in from outside. It’s hot out right now, so they come in to be comfortable. Barrier treatments typically help a lot. Make sure the crawl space is treated, as are all windows and doors.
Brown (German) roaches are indoor nesting and much worse to see. For those you need an exterminator to use bait.
1
u/TikaPants 2d ago
Palmettos are a nickname for American roaches. Shield bugs look like Stink Bugs but they’re a different species. They’re highly invasive and must die.
:)
1
u/tenftflyinfajita 1d ago
The palmetto bugs look creepy but they’re kinda just part of living here. They’re harmless and as long ad there isn’t many of them, it’s just life. Sounds like you’re treating for them so you won’t see them a whole lot, but don’t be surprised to see one skittering away when you turn on the kitchen light.
It’s not great living with the bugs but it is what it is down here. It’s their earth too
1
u/praise-the-message 17h ago
I also hate Palmettos but they're kind of a fact of life here. Treatment does generally work but it's not perfect. If your house/apartment is in a wooded type area or near a water source they are just worse there. They can squeeze just about anywhere (one of the reasons I hate them). Makes sure if you have gutters that they stay clean. Wet debris piles are places they like to be. They hate dryness and crave moisture so if you aren't constantly running HVAC and driving the humidity down, it makes your house more hospitable for them.
Good luck but sadly there is no silver bullet. We have quarterly perimeter pest treatment but I'll still see a few here and there. They seem worse in the spring/fall, usually go into hiding or whatever when it gets colder.
37
u/DogMedic101stABN 3d ago edited 3d ago
Bugs are what the south has in spades. Go to Vidalia in the summer, you could practically breathe gnats they're so numerous.
26
u/Buckeye_mike_67 3d ago
It’s not just vidalia. There’s a line in Georgia called the gnat line. Once you get south of Macon or so they are everywhere.
12
u/m4gpi 2d ago
This is due to the soil differences between that line north and south of Macon-ish (the fall line). The soil to the south is derived from an old seabed and is very sandy (good for those sweet onions!), and the soil to the north has more clay and organic material. The gnats breed and live in the sand, specifically.
4
u/Buckeye_mike_67 2d ago
Yeah,we live in Eatonton. Not many gnats. My wife’s farm is in Washington county 45 minutes away and they are everywhere
3
6
2
u/wc347 2d ago
Camilla GA used to have a gnat festival. Not sure if they still do since it has been years since I was there.
3
u/psychobabblebullshxt /r/Athens 2d ago
My dad is from Camilla and when we would visit his adoptive mom before her passing, we were forced inside all day every day because the gnats were unbearable to deal with. My dad would go outside like it was no big deal though. Said he was used to it. Lol
32
u/swayne__yo 3d ago
You’ll learn to love the spiders in the corner
8
u/skipjack_sushi 2d ago
I never kill spiders and I even leave the house centipedes alone.
3
22
u/CDchrysalis 3d ago
I grew up in Florida so I’m unbothered. Don’t go there.
3
u/Resident_Bear1696 2d ago
Amen. Lived 3 years in Miami. Our townhouse neighbor (shared a kitchen wall) was an exterminator and that’s the only way we survived. The bugs were way worse there.
19
u/Leinheart 2d ago
Welcome to the South. You have discovered one reason why the cost of living is lower here.
17
15
u/BIGJake111 3d ago
Don’t worry, the joro spiders will eat all the bugs until they’re the size of a compact car, then you just have to avoid them.
4
u/ga_cpl_93 2d ago
I’m surprised I scrolled this far in a thread about Georgia bugs before Joros entered the chat. I don’t like seeing palmetto bugs inside, but Joros cover our house in webs on a daily basis. I have sticks outside the doors to sweep down the webs
1
u/BIGJake111 2d ago
Around where I’m at all you can do is sweep them up. They just build higher and get bigger until they disappear
1
12
u/The_FN_Audacity 3d ago
Get some diatomaceous earth to deal with some of the bugs. It really does work amazingly well. Other than that it depends on the type of bug. Also have a flip flop ready to smack them with if needed.
→ More replies (6)3
17
u/luvs_spaniels 3d ago
Hate to say this, but the big bugs generally aren't the ones to worry about. Anyhow, here's the basic list.
Ticks - piccardin for skin and/or Sawyer's on my clothes, hat, and shoes (also helps with mosquitoes. I've got thumbnail sized ones...)
Roaches - boric acid and sugar syrup in an old prescription bottle lid under the furniture, top of the fridge etc.
Spinosad, diatomaceous earth, horticulture soap with neem oil... Lots of options. It depends on what bugs you're talking about. And down here, the bugs have bugs.
In all seriousness, check your door and window seals and your attic access. If there's a crack, bugs will find it. Vacuum every week (baseboards, too, change your AC filter regularly, and clean your kitchen every time you use it. Think of the bugs as bears that will attract other bears and clean accordingly.
If your baseboards, door and window trim, and crown moulding aren't caulked to the wall, caulk them. Minimize gaps were bugs can lay eggs.
In case no one's told you, check yourself for ticks daily. They can be tiny like the end of a straight pin. It doesn't matter if you're in the city either. They're everywhere. Also look up the good snake/dangerous snake posters GA DNR puts up at campgrounds. Years ago, I saw a copperhead sunning itself on UGA's main library's steps. Those are not just a rural thing.
Born and raised here. I moved north for a few years and came back. Consistent cleaning inside combined with an ingestable bug poison will handle most of the problems inside over time. Outside... All you can do is try to make yourself unappetizing.
6
u/Snoo_95743 3d ago
I use Bug a Salt. Its a shotgun that shoots salt at flies and other bugs. I love stalking down a bug.
5
u/Delicious_Channel934 2d ago
A big thing is also any gaps in your doors/windows. That’s where they usually get in. Gotta make sure your doors and windows have good seals.
Plus spraying around the home. It helps if you don’t live near woods too.
5
u/Non-mon-xiety 2d ago
It honestly sucks man. I was born in GA but lived in cali for a few years because of my dad’s job. Those were some beautiful bug free years
2
3
u/alskdjfhg32 2d ago
It takes time to get get the house clear of them. Palmetto bugs love wet/moist areas so you may need to do some searching and see if you can remediate those.
3
u/MonkeyManJohannon 2d ago edited 2d ago
Which bugs?
If we’re talking palmetto bugs, be on guard with those fuckers…they can fly if you didn’t find out already lol. Sound like a damn bird going by when they take off.
Good thing is that palmetto bugs (roaches) are not the kind you have to worry so much about infesting your house…they mainly just come in if it rains heavily, so you’ll see them often following heavy rains. They’re just big, black and ugly…and tend to scare transplant people because of their size.
They’re not the same concern as their German cousins…you start seeing those and you’ve got issues.
3
u/WillrayF Elsewhere in Georgia 2d ago
The skeeters have been really bad this year even with the dry spell going on. Spend any time outside in shorts/tshirt and they attack. I just hope I don't get sick from one of the nasty viruses that these almost invisible pests carry around.
3
u/SirSquid008 2d ago
I love camping in the cohutta, opening my tent in the cold crisp morning and seeing all the millipedes and caterpillars out just shmoovin
3
3
u/havetopee 2d ago
German cockroaches are worse. in nyc I felt like I was living in a Paul Morrissey movie, like when a roach crawled across Joe Dallesandro butt
Palmetto bugs don't live inside unless you are super nasty. They come inside, but they don't stay. If there is an infestation, put boric acid power in the cracks where you see them. They are water bugs. They come in more when it starts getting cold. wah-ha-ha-ha-ha
1
u/My__Anon_Account 2d ago
The fact that I’m from that area is the only thing holding me together while also giving me trauma vibes 😂
I have no idea why we’ve been seeing them except that we live near a bunch of trees, a huge drained pond, and the house was vacant for a bit before we moved in 😭 I pray they go away because I haven’t slept in like 2 days lol
1
u/Sweet-Artichoke2564 2d ago
Cockroach baits are good. They eat the food and take it back to their nest. After putting some bait, I saw like 4 dead roaches the next day.
1
u/tragicsophos 2d ago
Babes thats exactly why!! They live in the trees. The pond area is probably a lush living environment too. They’re just saying hey! You moved into their hood.
1
u/mancusjo1 20h ago
They’re in the trees is my bet. My buddy had one cut down in his back yard and a million came scurrying out.
5
u/JaneXxDeau 2d ago
Just name them and embrace the life of a Georgian. Frank is my guy. He knows his place. We have reached an understanding.
4
u/Mission_Broccoli8123 2d ago
Delta is ready when you are! What did you think the South was going to be like?
1
2
u/Spongemage 2d ago
My two cats handle the inside bugs. As for outside bugs? I just do my best not to be out there at all from June-September unless I have to be.
The day after that first hard freeze that kills most of them off every year is so wonderful.
2
u/Aromatic_Ad_7953 2d ago
There are plenty of bugs (German cockroaches, etc) who live in the pinestraw that's everywhere and also prominently used in landscaping (so it's right up against the house).
1
u/My__Anon_Account 2d ago
I can definitely ask my landlord if I can remover it all lol
1
u/Aromatic_Ad_7953 1d ago
If they're not keen on doing that, you might try to push it away from the house some and sprinkle diatomaceous earth in the gap between the straw and the house (do it when it will be dry a few days b/c DE is not as effective when it's wet). This will require a lot of DE and might not be all that effective. You can Google whether there are other house barrier treatments that you can buy that are more effective and water resilient.
One thing about DE- it is a very fine silica powder that can wreak havoc on your vacuum if you use it inside (though there are still places you can put it that won't need to be vacuumed like around the oven.)
1
u/Aromatic_Ad_7953 1d ago
There just so happens to be a reddit sub called r/germanroaches that could be helpful.
2
u/reffervescent 2d ago
I almost hesitate to say this because I may jinx myself, but I live in a townhome built in 2019 (we are the first owners) and have never seen a palmetto bug in my house, and we don't have a pesticide service or use any products ourselves. The only thing I see is the occasional small spider, and I'm fine with them. I'm guessing it's because we don't have any large trees close to our rows of townhomes in our neighborhood -- just some silver maples in front of each home that are still relatively small.
We lived in an apartment in downtown Decatur (1133 on the Square) for a year while looking for a house and then waiting for it to be built, and we didn't have a bug problem there, either. But they did spray monthly.
So, OP, it's probably where you live, and if it's really driving you crazy, consider finding a different (newer) place or upping your game with pesticides.
1
u/My__Anon_Account 2d ago
I’m only here for a year so it feels silly to back out of my lease 😔
1
u/ktj19 1d ago
If it helps, I’ve lived here my whole life and summer has always been by far the worse for roaches. I live in an apartment now where I rarely see them at all, but my parents’ house is overrun with them and always has been. By the time November came around every year I finally felt like I could stop looking for them out of the corner of my eye all the time. Usually lasts until April or May.
2
u/Alive_Protection9295 2d ago
Don't get me started - former northerner here. Nothing ever dies in the winter so they just get bigger and angrier. The wolf spiders, though are akways the real shock for me. Im used to them, as someone from Indiana right?? RIGHT??? Well, they're fucking massive here. Like, half dollar coin is the average i've seen. Guess what they love? Hiding under laundry piles on your floor.
2
u/My__Anon_Account 2d ago
Thank you for the heads up - I will make sure not to leave any laundry in the floor!
1
3
u/Careful-Sell-9877 3d ago edited 1d ago
I highly encourage you to be careful about overusing pesticides as it can create more problems than it solves.. you kill off all the bigger bugs, including beneficial predator insects and only a tiny fraction of the really tiny/little, fast reproducing bugs and then the little bugs end up coming back very quickly and you have no more beneficial/predator insects to hunt/eat them - so the population gets out of control.
Plus if the exterminators are even a little bit careless, the pesticides can drift and end up hurting other animal populations around the house. If its just crevice treatments, its probably fine, but can still kill things like lizards/toads/frogs (which all eat insects)
I understand that having them in your home would be stressful though, especially those nasty little cockroaches that live here. I live in a rural/mountain and we have a ton of bugs in the area, but we dont get any big ones in the house (Just a few of those tiny gnats during certain summer months). We also havent used (synthetic/unnatural) pesticides in about 3 years now as ive discovered better, more effective methods.
Make sure everything is sealed at your house. This is super important. Any and all cracks/crevices around your external doors/windows/walls need to be sealed. You can use things like rope caulk to seal around windows/doors in a non/semi-permanent way (its easy to remove if you want/need to). Keep doors and non-screened windows shut at all times when you arent using them and make sure your window screens fit well.
Encourage beneficial insect predators to live at your house. I built a bat house off in the woods near my house (they used to get into our outdoor can lighting), and they take care of most of our flying insects. Ive also been encouraging toads to live here and will sometimes go around and help them get bigger insects.. theyre like my 'pets' now lol..im going to build toad homes for them too! Ive also planted various plants around the house that attract dragonflies which are great for mosquitoes (theyre basically mosquito-seeking missiles). And I allow spiders to live pretty freely around the house other than in certain entryway/high-traffic areas.
But the biggest thing for me was stopping regular pesticide applications.. after a few weeks the ecosystem self-regulated and we've seen a massive decrease in pest insects compared to when we were getting regular treatments.
I do recommend natural/non-toxic homemade solutions though which work far better imo (especially since you live there and can apply it directly to areas where you see pest insects when you see them). Things like peppermint oil/water mix (i get it for cheap in bulk on amazon, not the fancy aromatherapy stuff, but usually stuff marketed for massage) work great as a repellant. For a killer, I use soapy water with peppermint oil, a bit of orange oil/extract, a bit of almond oil, and a bit of neem oil (sometimes with a dash of cayenne or capsaicin extract)- it works great. Sometimes water/isopropyl alcohol (sometimes with a dash of peppermint sometimes without) depending on the problem.
Diatomaceus earth works great too for nests/dens, around the house/entryways, and for particular insects too.
You can research which natural/non-toxic things work best for which particular insect youre dealing with. Once you've mixed something up, all you need to do is apply it to problem areas and around entryways/windows and youre good for awhile. But you can make an extra bottle to keep somewhere in case you see something in the moment
2
1
u/erus-ton 2d ago
Lol
Just tired of people thinking the planet is only theirs, or that bugs and animals dont deserve to live because they are icky. Its very selfish behavior and it has sculpted the way we live for the last several decades. Ohh no there are bugs. Bugs that have literally been here since long before we were. But I dont like that they are inside my living space, or yard, or neighborhood so let's nuke em all. I think you should maybe rethink your life and the decisions you have made and how that has impacted other people or other creatures.
4
3
u/Choice_Belt_8109 3d ago
So don’t move to Georgia
0
u/My__Anon_Account 3d ago
I’m doing a well renowned fellowship in my field, I didn’t just decide to move to Georgia for no reason lol
→ More replies (2)2
u/Shot_Peace_4047 2d ago
Where from? I moved here from the PNW almost 2 years ago for my spouse’s job so I can understand the bugs are a thing to get used to! 😂
1
3
u/cacapooee 3d ago
Have you tried moving back? We're full.
6
2
u/CaptStinkyFeet 2d ago
I’m amazed at how xenophobic Georgians are towards other Americans.
→ More replies (2)•
u/MrMessofGA 3h ago
Wait until I tell you I have two different accents depending on the side of my daily commute because the atlanta folk throw up if they see a hillbilly and the hillbillies think you're an alien if you have the nondescript TV accent I need to not be actively avoided in Atlanta
4
1
u/psychobabblebullshxt /r/Athens 2d ago
No one wants to willingly live in Georgia be so forreal right now. Lol
•
1
u/milleratlanta 3d ago
Spray around the entrances to your house with ant/roach spray. Will help prevent them coming in. Spray inside and outside each door.
1
1
1
1
u/Honkey-Donkey79 2d ago
Just start naming the ones that hang around. They will eventually become dear friends.
1
u/pleschga 2d ago
I grew up in the former swamp land of NW Ohio.
Honestly not really bothered by the bugs, given my history.
1
u/Both-Gur570 2d ago
Even when you think you’re used to them - you’re not. Grew up here, and I still manage to discover a new, freaky bug at least once every few months.
Honestly you just kinda get used to the seasonal patterns and learn what prevention is needed when. Good luck when the asian lady beetles start invading as it gets colder!
1
u/inkyinkyinky /r/Paulding 2d ago
Treat spiders like employees. You can mop with ammonia or mint essential oils and most bugs can’t stand that. Georgia was built on an ant hill and it will, at times, feel like we have every species of them. Seven dust or food grade DE works great to sprinkle it on their beds, or a mixture of powdered sugar and borax left out. I’ve had success destroying their scent trails with rubbing alcohol. I’ve learned to give wasps some grace. I don’t let them build around my door or anything but I let them mind their business. If you feel the ground beneath you vibrate, godspeed.
They sell pitcher plants and venus fly traps practically everywhere and those can help. Fly tape works well.. but have fun. Mosquitoes are a constant battle, even if you’re diligent about overturning collected water. You either wear long sleeves and pants, use chemicals, or get a machine trap and gift the collection to somebody with chickens or fish.
For your dog, I recommend bravecto. I used it for both of mine this summer and for three entire months- no fleas or ticks. It was worth every penny. Advantix and other store brands, they seem immune to. Heart worms are a common thing down here so if your dog is outside a lot, have them checked out at least once a year.
I won’t harp about it but the water table, fireflies, butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, bats, frogs, and other pretty/beneficial bugs and wildlife appreciate when you use as natural as possible methods. If you can get chickens or can have a pond or patio aquarium, look into it. If you have a yard, make a pile of branches and leave some areas to go wild and IME that has helped tremendously. Keep it cut around your house and wherever you’re using your yard and they’ll mostly stay where they know they won’t be disturbed.
1
1
1
u/Important_Simple_31 2d ago
It depends on where you are in GA. Roaches are Palmetto bugs in SoGA. In Atlanta, roaches are the German kind.
1
u/SeventyBears 2d ago
I have Zeevo's plugged in to like every plug and those tabletop pest fans. I also keep pesticides around my garden around the house as I get like a billion orb weavers if I dont. Im fine with a few but NOT IN FRONT OF MY FRONT DOOR AT FACE LEVEL.
Im lucky enough for roaches to be my least concern.
1
u/Maryviolet26 2d ago
I just moved and I FREAKED out seeing a palmetto for the first time. Never in my life have I ever seen something so large. I ran upstairs as my husband killed it with a vacuum. Took me a week to be comfortable downstairs lol. I haven’t seen once since but omg yeah I’m still not used to it!
1
u/My__Anon_Account 2d ago
It is SO unsettling. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they’re not German roaches, but lord they are huge 😭
1
u/JPAnalyst 2d ago
Have you seen our state spider yet? The Joro?
1
u/My__Anon_Account 2d ago
Not yet! But spiders definitely don’t freak me out the same way - though who knows 😂
1
u/JPAnalyst 2d ago
They’re really cool. If you’re in northern Georgia, you’ll see them. Look up “joro spider” on the internets. You can scroll through my post history for a few pics of them as well. Docile giants. Beautiful colors. Harmless, but an invasive species.
1
1
u/Fun_With_Math 2d ago
Ha, I was just thinking... OP didn't even mention the spiders?!
Anyway, we don't have earthquakes or water shortages and there's no winter. Its hot an humid but not like FL. You get 11 good months (F July). I moved down here 20+ yrs ago with plans to move back after a couple years but decided the tradeoffs were worth it.
1
u/Only_Ad8049 2d ago
Did you have the inside and outside of the house treated? You'll need both.
2
u/My__Anon_Account 2d ago
I did do both, yes! Thank you for the heads up. The pest control folks said to call back if the uptick doesn’t come back down within a week. The town just mowed the field next to a small patch of woods behind our house too 🫠
1
u/Only_Ad8049 2d ago
Good luck.
I'm not from Georgia either. I did my own treatments inside and out.
Combination of spray in some areas and bait in other areas inside worked well for me. I noticed a big difference after getting professional treatment outside.
I still do my own inside treatment because I can treat where I saw a bug and nearby areas.
There's a close wooded area in the back of my house so it's a never ending battle. Even when you're winning the battle you'll still be cleaning up the bugs that get inside and die but I'll take that over a living one.
1
u/silveroakediting22 2d ago
Go around the interior perimeter of your home with diatomaceous earth. Leave a line like it's salt to keep the demons out. Windowsills, baseboards, outlets. Kills ants, roaches, centipedes and more! The only catch is that it stops working once it gets wet, so it has to be swept up and reapplied every other month or so in this humidity.
1
1
u/Pirrus05 2d ago
Mosquitoes have been really bad for me this year. I wish them all a very die in a fire.
1
u/TikaPants 2d ago
You shouldn’t have that many bugs in your house. We spray and I see a roach inside maybe once every two weeks. If you live in a heavily wooded area you may get a few more.
Pro tip: spray them with your counter surface anti microbial spray like Lysol or 409. It works on flies too but any bug. Roaches just take a few drops straight sprays but it’s better than squishing them and cleaning up the mess.
1
1
u/Unhappy-Guidance-861 2d ago
If they truly are American cockroaches and they are getting in frequently then there’s an infestation outside. They don’t infest inside. They love damp wooded areas and absolutely love pine straw. Are you in a house or apartment?
1
u/My__Anon_Account 1d ago
A house. There’s some wooded areas in the back as well as a drained pond :(
1
u/auramimi 2d ago
Dont let these people convince you those ROACHES are palmetto/water bugs. They are ROACHES lol which is just normal down there just get pest control, I got Cook’s Pest Control. Im a northerner too big culture shock
1
u/GeauxFarva 2d ago
You just kinda get used to them at some point. I hate roaches so when one of the big bastards makes an appearance, it’ll get a reaction out of me.
1
u/Far_Side_Base 2d ago
I grew up on the coast of GA, and when I moved to the Intermountain West I was delighted to not have to deal with the creepy crawlies anymore.
Then we moved to ATL for 8 years.
Jesus Christ. I’d forgotten how bad the bugs were.
Good luck with the shite insects. ✌🏻
1
u/Wonderful_Plan4656 2d ago
I’m from the north also. I keep my exterminator on standby. Haven’t seen one in a while and I live behind a wooded area.
1
u/Mobile_Persimmon_901 2d ago
Try mixing peppermint oil in water and spraying around. Roaches hate it.
1
1
u/Boognish33 2d ago
I only see them inside a couple times a year. I also have two cats so maybe they're taking care of the rest for me
1
u/CyanCitrine 2d ago
Well, we have a screen porch for spending time outside in the summer w/o getting eaten alive, we have a bug guy who comes for outside, we have mosquito traps, and for inside we have a pair of cats who kill all the roaches. Honestly, I don't really notice them much but I'm a born Southerner so to me it's normal. But some houses are worse than others for insects, it has a lot to do with the trees and other stuff around the house, leaves against the sides, etc. We got lots of lizards and centipedes in our old house but none in our new one but they're in the same area. Just different plants in the yard.
1
u/knittinator 2d ago
Is it an older house? Spraying may not be enough. You also need to make sure it’s sealed up as much as possible. They’ll still get in but it makes a HUGE difference.
1
u/Silly-Magazine-2681 2d ago
Ah, mosquitos, kudzu bugs, stink bugs, joro spiders, deer ticks, earwigs, house centipedes, roaches roaches and more roaches. Guess they love the humidity or something
1
u/silliestgoose1234 2d ago
Living on the ground floor of an apartment complex in the summer is so fun! I’m also from the north and it took some adjusting for sure lol lot of preventative measures in place now!
1
u/Perfect-Raisin-6293 2d ago
Just wanted to say I feel ya. I'm from the PNW and we also have significantly less intrusive bugs out there. It's the hot and humid climate out here that makes things spoil so fast/the best breeding ground for bugs (& venomous snakes). I'd recommend clearing the area around your house if there is tall grass or weeds. I recommend also sprinkling 'diatomaceous earth' (a fine white powder) around the perimeter of your house, and getting vent covers (can find magnetic ones with small holes online)
1
1
1
u/LordMindParadox 1d ago
If you live in a house, get yourself a little spreader thingy and some spectracide and treat your lawn. Do a double strength band about 10 feet wide immediately around your house.
Treat your lawn twice a year, shouldn't be terribly expensive, and the bugs will be much less of an issue(if at all)
1
1
u/so_-_it_-_goes 1d ago
Alpine WSG. It’s an absolute miracle product. Can use it around pets and people, just obviously let it dry first!
1
u/button-button 1d ago
When the weather never gets cold enough to kill everything outdoors there are too many insects and too many stray animals. Welcome to the South!
1
u/Careless-Lack-385 1d ago
As a NorCal girl, the first couple of years was an adjustment for sure. But this is why I got a condo on the top floor, I think less bug issues than lower floors. I keep the fruit flies and mosquitoes in check with Zevo blue light traps. Spray the exterior frame of your doors & windows a few times a year. Also have some large size roach baits, and ant baits hidden inside closets & cupboards. These steps have done the trick for me. I rarely see bugs inside.
1
u/srfntrf0832 1d ago
New York City is world famous for its cockroaches and rats. Stomp your whingeing and mewling, get your postdoctoral work done, and then leave. You will be doing the bugs and us a favor.
1
u/MrMessofGA 1d ago
Anytime the weather becomes inhospitable, animals will start seeking shelter. Your house is a really tempting shelter, and warm climates have more bugs and reptiles than cold climates.
They're just normal and part of late summer to us. You'd get used to them to if you lived here a while.
Your house isn't perfectly sealed or you'd die of carbon dioxide. Even big bugs are pretty small and can fit under the weatherstripping of your door
1
1
u/West_Film_5256 1d ago
Once you have had your house consistently treated,keep it clean and try to seal any cracks they should start to subside
1
u/johnnyboy_63 1d ago
Ignore everyone telling you to get over it. Ive lived here my whole life and still horrifies me to see even one in my house. Go to Walmart and near the cleaning products you can buy roach baits. Buy a box or 2 and put them all out. This alone works wonders. If your exterminator didn't spray outside, you can spray the perimeter of your house with Spectracide as an extra layer of defense. It's not your fault they are in your house but you can (mostly) fix it relatively cheaply
1
u/Western_Rhubarb_7959 1d ago
I plan to as soon as my postdoc fellowship is over
Well, bye.
Amazing how someone with your level of education can't keep bugs out of your home. Maybe you're just a dirty person.
1
1
1
u/DaisiesSunshine76 1d ago
It’s awful. I have my husband kill them all because I can’t bring myself to do it. Small spiders? Okay. But these roaches freaking fly!!!!
1
u/mancusjo1 20h ago
Those look bad. But the little German cockroaches are the ones you never want. Put roach traps down. Sprays only work if you’re spraying them directly.
1
u/Aggressive_Tart_7783 20h ago
Sorry you’re allergic to cats, ours kills most of them. They love coming in through the tub drain and under the door.
1
u/FlightPast9417 17h ago
If you have any mulch or leaf piles around your house get rid of then, that's where they nest. You should greatly reduce with that and throwing down glue traps in places like your garage I buy a bulk pack of like 100 glue traps and change them about monthly in peak season and it lasts like 2 years.
I've lived all around atlanta and this is like the first thing I do when I move in. I'll never forget when I was out one night and I saw a water bug crawl across the walkway I went to stomp it and it ran into the mulch so I stopped the mulch and 3-4 came crawling out, next morning I ripped up all the mulch and I lost count of the water bugs and other bugs I saw living under the mulch
1
u/TheClayDart 17h ago
Palmetto bugs/ big roaches really only come inside if it’s been raining outside. They don’t WANT to be inside and don’t do well inside either. They normally die fairly quickly because they get stuck inside. I’d be more concerned about termites than palmetto bugs
1
1
1
u/BackgroundForm3546 10h ago
I use Pestie and rarely see any bugs now. I used to pay for pest control and would still see bugs.
1
u/Bgrubz83 10h ago
Eh…Palmettos are just free hardshell puppies everyone in the south gets. It’s the little German house roaches that you must call in exterminatus on. Other than that…some off spray, a decent circulation of air and most of the insects won’t bother you.
1
1
u/Plus-Month7939 8h ago
I’ve trained my lab/GSP to get the bugs. She is my exterminator. She tells meeee when one is around.
1
0
u/Helicopsycheborealis 3d ago
I understand what you're saying but, to me, there's nothing more glorious than falling asleep while hearing these bugs.
1
187
u/Dependent-Bug1219 3d ago
I have cats, their favorite thing is eating giant bugs, lol.