In the southern United States and other tropical regions, there is a large chance that you have seen or have heard of a bug called a Palmetto Bug. These are also known as waterbugs, or an American cockroach. This bug in particular cannot stand nor tolerate cold conditions but some people have reported sightings in northeast states such as New York City as well as other regions like Canada and Toronto. This cockroach in particular us one of the largest species of cockroaches and can grow to be up to 2 inches in length and are a reddish brown in color along with a yellowish line behind the head. For the most part the adult Palmetto Bug does have wings and can fly, whereas immature or baby roaches may have the appearance of adults but do not have wings.

Many would say that a flying cockroach is about as awful a thing the animal kingdom could produce, but to add to their mystique, the Palmetto Bug is also quite fast. In fact, in 1991 a research experiment was carried out at the University of California at Berkeley and a registered record speed of 3.4mph was one of the most astonishing results. Based on body size, this could be comparable to a human running 205 mph (330kph).

In general, Palmetto Bugs usually live in moist areas such as near marshes or in climates where the weather is warm and precipitation is available, prefering temperatures ranging around 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29C). Given these preferences, these types of roaches are most likely to be found in basements, walkways, underneath porches/decks and even in the crawl spaces of homes.

Because the Palmetto bug takes such a long time to develop and age, they will not cause large infestations like other cockroaches might. However, if you feel alarmed or you just don't want to have to live with these bugs, you can just as easily use an insecticide or call in an exterminator to eliminate them. In order to get rid of the bugs without the use of chemicals, here are a few tips:

• Make sure you repair any damage to screens on your doors and or windows, door frames and exterior siding that may permit these bugs to enter your home.
• Since the Palmetto Bug is attracted to water, it's a good idea to repair any leaks or excess water near the structure of the house. You can also repair any cracks with caulking but for the most part it's really a good idea to fix the leak instead of just hiding it away.
• Trim any vegetation that is growing close to your home. This will include things such as; flowers, bushes, trees, shrubbery and or any vegetables or fruits you may be growing.

In addition to these strategies, there are organic insecticides available that claim to be 100% safe to use around pets as well as children, since they usually contain only natural oils such as peppermint, rosemary and wintergreen. Though the bugs themselves are harmless, the ease of getting rid of them is is a huge sigh of relief for the people that are having a problem with these bugs but that don't want to use harmful chemicals in or around their home.