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Cockroach & Palmetto Bug Treatment in South Florida

Eliminating Roaches Inside and Out, With a Satisfaction Guarantee

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Professional Roach Control for South Florida Homes

If you're living in South Florida, cockroaches are a fact of life. South Florida's warm, humid climate is ideal for cockroach activity year-round, and the large palmetto bugs (American cockroaches) that fly at you from bushes, trees, and garages are one of the most common complaints homeowners have. But the cockroaches you see scurrying across your kitchen floor or emerging from under the refrigerator at night are a sign that your home doesn't have the barrier it needs to keep them out.

At Royal Pest & Termite, our cockroach treatment targets roaches where they live and how they get in.

How to Tell If You Have a Cockroach Infestation


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Seeing Roaches at Night

Cockroaches are nocturnal. If you're seeing one during the day, the population is likely large enough that they're being pushed out of their hiding spots by overcrowding.

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Droppings

Cockroach droppings look like small, dark specks or cylindrical pellets (depending on the species and size).

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Egg Casings

Cockroaches produce egg cases (oothecae) that are dark brown, oblong capsules roughly the size of a small bean.

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Musty Odor

A heavy cockroach presence produces a noticeable musty, oily smell that worsens as the population grows.
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Smear Marks Along Walls

In areas with moisture, cockroaches leave dark, irregular smear marks on walls and surfaces as they travel between hiding spots and food sources.
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Damage to Food Packaging

Cockroaches chew through cardboard, paper, and thin plastic to access food.

How Our Cockroach Treatment Works

From your first call to ongoing protection, here's what to expect when you partner with Royal Pest & Termite.

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Perimeter Inspection

We start by inspecting the exterior of your home to identify how cockroaches are getting inside. We look for areas of wood decay around door frames, window frames, fascia boards, and soffits that create openings. We also check for gaps around utility penetrations, A/C lines, plumbing, and where the foundation meets the exterior walls.
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Entry Point Recommendations

If we find wood decay or structural openings that give cockroaches a path inside, we'll recommend repairs. Rotting wood around doors, windows, and eaves is one of the most common ways palmetto bugs enter Broward County homes, and no amount of bait treatment will solve the problem if the door is still open.
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Perimeter Bait Treatment

We apply a professional-grade bait treatment around your home's entire perimeter and in mulch beds where cockroaches harbor. The bait is highly attractive to roaches — they consume it and carry it back to their harborage areas, where it spreads to other cockroaches through contact and shared food.
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Interior Treatment (When Needed)

If cockroaches are already established inside your home, we treat the interior with targeted applications in the areas where roaches hide and travel: behind and under appliances, inside cabinets, along baseboards, around plumbing penetrations, and in other harborage areas. Our interior treatments use products that are safe for your family and pets when applied as directed.

Palmetto Bug vs. Cockroach: Are They the Same Thing?

If you live in South Florida, you've probably heard the term "palmetto bug" hundreds of times. But is a palmetto bug actually different from a cockroach? The short answer: no. "Palmetto bug" is a regional nickname for the American cockroach, the large, reddish-brown, flying cockroach that's common throughout Florida.

  • Palmetto bugs (American cockroaches) are the largest common cockroach species in South Florida, growing up to 2 inches long. They're reddish-brown with a yellowish figure-eight pattern behind their head, and yes, they fly.
  • They prefer to live outdoors in moist environments like mulch beds, under ground cover, in tree holes, around palm trees, in storm drains, and near sewer access points.
  • While palmetto bugs don't typically infest homes in large numbers the way German cockroaches do, even a few finding their way inside is alarming and unsanitary. They contaminate food and surfaces, leave droppings, trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms, and can carry bacteria, including salmonella.
  • The key to controlling palmetto bugs is treating the perimeter and eliminating the entry points they use to get inside.

Types of Cockroaches in South Florida

Broward County is home to several cockroach species, each with different habits and hiding spots. Identifying the species helps us apply the most effective treatment:
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American Cockroach (Palmetto Bug)

The largest and most recognizable cockroach in South Florida. American cockroaches grow up to 2 inches long, are reddish-brown with a yellowish marking behind the head, and can fly short distances, which is why they’re notorious for flying at people in garages and on porches.
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Smokybrown Cockroach

Slightly smaller than the American cockroach, the smokybrown cockroach is a uniform dark brown or mahogany color with no markings. They're strong fliers, attracted to light, and often enter homes through attic vents, soffits, and open windows at night. They need consistent moisture to survive and are commonly found in attics, eaves, tree holes, and thick vegetation.
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Asian Cockroach

Asian cockroaches look almost identical to German cockroaches, small, light brown, with two dark stripes behind the head, but their behavior is completely different. Asian cockroaches are outdoor insects that live in mulch, leaf litter, and ground cover. They’re strong fliers, active at dusk, and are attracted to light, which brings them to well-lit porches, windows, and open doors.
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Australian Cockroach

Similar in size and shape to the American cockroach but with distinctive yellow markings on the edges of its wings. Australian cockroaches prefer warmer conditions and are commonly found in greenhouses, around potted plants, and in landscape areas with thick vegetation. They sometimes enter homes but are primarily outdoor pests in South Florida.

Why Customers Choose Royal Pest & Termite

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Locally Trusted

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Licensed & Insured

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Guarantee + Call-Backs

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Award-Winning

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Top-Rated

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Ongoing Training

4.8 out of 5 stars - 177 votes

4.8 Stars (177 Reviews)

What South Florida Homeowners Say About Royal Pest & Termite

“Finally, a Company that protects my home and my animals.”

5

We've been with Royal Pest & Termite for over a year now for quarterly pest control and couldn't be happier. They handle termites, ants, bugs, you name it, without harsh smells or disrupting our schedule. Always on time and the team is genuinely helpful. In South Florida, having a reliable pest...
We've been with Royal Pest & Termite for over a year now for quarterly pest control and couldn't be happier. They handle termites, ants, bugs, you name it, without harsh smells or disrupting our schedule. Always on time and the team is genuinely helpful. In South Florida, having a reliable pest control company is a must, and these folks are top tier.

5

We recently had our home tented by Royal Pest & Termite, and Chris and his team truly exceeded our expectations. They communicated with us every step of the way and made the entire process smooth and stress‑free. Melissa at the main office was also incredibly helpful and always willing to...
We recently had our home tented by Royal Pest & Termite, and Chris and his team truly exceeded our expectations. They communicated with us every step of the way and made the entire process smooth and stress‑free. Melissa at the main office was also incredibly helpful and always willing to assist. We highly recommend Royal Pest & Termite for any tenting needs.

5

Excellent service! The owner and his crew are professional, knowledgeable, and took the time to explain the treatment process while answering all of my questions. I highly recommend them.

5

We just had tenting done at our house. Chris and his team were amazing to deal with. Quick, efficient, and very communicative process. Simone at the main office is always willing and able to help! Highly recommend them for fumigation and tenting needs.

5

Just had a No Tent Termite Service completed today. I live in Miramar and wanted to use a local company. I am very satisfied. The process began 2 weeks ago with their Sales Representative Aaron Wilton. I am in sales so I recognize a professional. He was knowledgeable and presented options...
Just had a No Tent Termite Service completed today. I live in Miramar and wanted to use a local company. I am very satisfied. The process began 2 weeks ago with their Sales Representative Aaron Wilton. I am in sales so I recognize a professional. He was knowledgeable and presented options clearly without pressure including attractive payment terms. The 2 techs who preformed the service were Greg and Michael who were polite, through and efficient. I would certainly recommend Royal Pest.

5

Southwest Ranches property means more bugs, but Royal Pest & Termite keeps termites and ants under control with their quarterly plan. Techs are respectful, thorough, and always on schedule. We've avoided major issues for over a year now. Reliable service for this area.

5

Royal Pest & Termite is truly exceptional! Their team is professional, knowledgeable, and extremely thorough when it comes to both pest control, fumigation services, and lawns.

5

Chris is great, Aaron is great, Mike is great. Very good company and they take the organic approach to treating your lawn. They always pick up the phone and let you know what’s going on. They are honest and let you know that this will be a process. Can’t complain.
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Cockroach Treatment FAQs

Is a palmetto bug the same as a cockroach?
Yes. “Palmetto bug” is a common South Florida name for the American cockroach. They’re the same insect, the large, reddish-brown cockroach that grows up to 2 inches long, flies short distances, and is found throughout Broward County. The name comes from their habit of sheltering under palmetto leaves outdoors. Other names people use include “water bug” and “flying roach,” but they’re all referring to the American cockroach.
Do cockroaches in Florida fly?
Several cockroach species in Florida can fly. American cockroaches (palmetto bugs) fly short distances, usually in a downward glide from a high surface. Smokybrown cockroaches are stronger fliers and are often attracted to porch lights at night. Asian cockroaches are excellent fliers that are active at dusk and fly toward illuminated windows and doors. German cockroaches, on the other hand, do not fly despite having wings.
How much does cockroach treatment cost?
The cost depends on the size of your home, the severity of the infestation, and whether treatment is needed for the perimeter only or the interior as well. Our service includes perimeter inspection, bait treatment, entry point assessment, and a satisfaction guarantee. We provide estimates based on your specific situation, call us to discuss pricing.
What’s the difference between palmetto bugs and German cockroaches?
Palmetto bugs (American cockroaches) are large (up to 2 inches), reddish-brown, and primarily outdoor pests that enter homes through exterior gaps and wood decay. They don’t typically establish large indoor colonies. German cockroaches are small (about half an inch), light brown with two dark stripes, and exclusively indoor pests that breed rapidly inside kitchens and bathrooms. German cockroaches are much harder to eliminate and require a different treatment approach. If you’re seeing small roaches inside your kitchen, visit our German Cockroach Treatment page.
Why do I keep seeing roaches even though my house is clean?
Cockroaches in South Florida aren’t just attracted to dirty homes. Palmetto bugs live outdoors in the mulch, ground cover, and moist areas that surround virtually every Broward County home. They come inside seeking moisture, shelter, or simply through gaps you didn’t know existed. A clean home reduces indoor food sources, but the real solution is perimeter treatment and sealing the entry points they use to get in.
Is the treatment safe for my pets?
Yes. The bait products we use are applied in targeted areas, around the perimeter, in mulch beds, and in concealed interior spots that pets don’t access. Our company was named after the owner’s dog, and every product we select prioritizes safety for your family and pets.