Palmetto bugs are attracted to light and may fly toward porch lights in the evening in search of insects to eat. They can live up to three months without food and one month without water, so it's important to take action—get rid of them as soon as you spot them.

Do palmetto bugs come out during the day?

Palmetto bugs are rarely seen during the day; they hide from humans and other predators, so the ones you see are usually just the tip of the iceberg and an indicator of a bigger infestation. Even seeing just a single palmetto bug is often an indicator of a common problem.

Do palmetto bugs go after food?

They will eat decaying animals, scraps of food in the garbage, hair, paper and even glue! These survivalist pests can live two to three months without food and a month without water. Palmetto bugs, especially females, can live for a year and sometimes longer.