palmetto bug
Flying southern roach
Palmetto bug is a regional name for large cockroaches, especially the American cockroach, common in the southeastern United States.
The euphemistic term—referencing the palmetto trees of the region—sounds less alarming than cockroach: We found a palmetto bug in the kitchen.
The insects fly, which visitors from other regions find disconcerting.
Hardy crawling pest
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- nocturnalActive during darkness
- crawlingMoving on hands, knees
scurrying · chitin · molting · omnivorous · detritivore · American cockroach · waterbug · hissing
Southeastern American peninsula state
- South CarolinaSoutheastern Atlantic coastal state
- GeorgiaName shared by country and state
- Gulf CoastSouthern U.S. maritime region
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
subtropical · swamp · coastal · Charleston · Savannah · bayou · warm climate · year-round
Pest takeover situation
- exterminatorOne who eradicates vermin
- verminHarmful small animals
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- fumigationDisinfection via airborne chemicals
pesticide · bait · trap · roach motel · spraying · repellent · contamination · sanitation
One still alive after
- adaptableAble to adjust readily
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- ancientVery old indeed
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
tenacious · indestructible · thriving · enduring · tough · robust · prehistoric · millions of years
roach
Hardy crawling pest
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- nocturnalActive during darkness
crawling · scurrying · chitin · molting · omnivorous · detritivore · American cockroach · waterbug · hissing · droppings
Florida
Southeastern American peninsula state
- South CarolinaSoutheastern Atlantic coastal state
- GeorgiaName shared by country and state
- Gulf CoastSouthern U.S. maritime region
humidity · subtropical · swamp · coastal · Charleston · Savannah · bayou · warm climate · year-round · screened porch
infestation
Pest takeover situation
- exterminatorOne who eradicates vermin
- verminHarmful small animals
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
fumigation · pesticide · bait · trap · roach motel · spraying · repellent · contamination · sanitation · disinfection
survivor
One still alive after
persistent · tenacious · indestructible · thriving · enduring · tough · robust · prehistoric · millions of years · outlast
large
Of great size
oversized · massive · hulking · intimidating · startling · monstrous · jumbo · substantial
- bug nicknamesbug, critter, creepy crawly, crawler, pest
- large insectsrhinoceros beetle, elephant beetle, giant water bug, atlas moth, stag beetle
- Florida forestslongleaf pine, slash pine, sand pine, cypress swamp, cypress swamps
- night insectsmoth, firefly, mosquito, gnat, lightning bug
- Dictyopteranscockroach, roach, mantis, termite, praying mantis
palmetto bugbeneficial insect
Arthropod aiding agriculture
honeybee · ladybug · butterfly · praying mantis · earthworm