Florida Woods Cockroach (Palmetto Bug)
Also known as stinkroach, skunk roach. Eurycotis floridana
A large, slow-moving, wingless roach that sprays a foul-smelling chemical when threatened.
Florida Woods Cockroach (Palmetto Bug) (Eurycotis floridana) is a Florida pest we rate as a low concern. Cockroach & German roach control in Florida's Treasure & Space Coast is handled by Rhino Pest Management, a local, licensed (#JB242881) and insured company rated 5.0★ across 16 Google reviews. Ask for a free estimate at (772) 589-6842.
Photo: no rights reserved (CC0) · iNaturalist (research grade)
Large (30–40 mm), dark reddish-brown to black, oval and flattened. Unlike other large roaches, adults are wingless or have very short wing pads and can't fly. They move slowly but spray a strong, oily defensive secretion when disturbed.
Leaf litter, mulch, under bark, rotting wood, ground-cover plantings and shaded exterior walls. They prefer outdoor, moist environments near plant material.
- Large dark wingless roaches on patios, in mulch and around potted plants at night
- A distinctly foul, musty chemical odor when roaches are disturbed
- Sightings near ground-level cracks, under bark and in woodpiles
The Florida woods cockroach is primarily a nuisance outdoors. It rarely infests indoors but will wander in through ground-level gaps. The defensive spray it releases is unpleasant but not harmful.
Is this urgent?
No. Florida Woods Cockroach (Palmetto Bug) is a nuisance, not a threat to your health or your house. Most people fold it into a regular service visit rather than booking a special trip. If the numbers keep climbing after you've dealt with the moisture and food sources, that's when it's worth a call.
Rhino treats the exterior mulch beds, foundation and ground-level harborage to reduce populations and seal entry points that allow wanderers inside.
Our Cockroach & German Roach Control serviceFlorida Woods Cockroach (Palmetto Bug) guides
More cockroaches
Small indoor roaches that breed explosively in kitchens and bathrooms.
ViewThe big reddish-brown roaches that fly in from outside, especially at night.
ViewUniform mahogany-brown roaches that live in tree hollows and fly readily at night.
ViewScientific source
For the biology behind this page, the University of Florida's IFAS Extension publishes a detailed Featured Creatures profile of this species — free to read, and written by entomologists in this state:
Florida Woods Cockroach (AKA Palmetto Bug) Eurycotis floridana (Walker) — UF/IFAS Extension