Palmetto Bugs in Portland? - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

Glittergurl · 08-21-2010, 08:34 PM

I am such a huge roach phobic particularly flying roaches. I actually feel so! embarrassed that I am so terrified but I am. So, I am considering relocating from California. I am considering Oregon City, Portland or Bend. Want to make sure there are no Flying Roaches there. From what I have read above, my guess is no but I have found location varies with these bugs like for the most part they are not in California as far as I know (in abundance like in Florida) yet I have been to parts where I have experienced them. So being the huge phobic that I am, please indulge me as I re-ask are there flying roaches in any of the places I listed above. Thanks so much

iamcims · 08-21-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glittergurl

I am such a huge roach phobic particularly flying roaches. I actually feel so! embarrassed that I am so terrified but I am. So, I am considering relocating from California. I am considering Oregon City, Portland or Bend. Want to make sure there are no Flying Roaches there. From what I have read above, my guess is no but I have found location varies with these bugs like for the most part they are not in California as far as I know (in abundance like in Florida) yet I have been to parts where I have experienced them. So being the huge phobic that I am, please indulge me as I re-ask are there flying roaches in any of the places I listed above. Thanks so much

What i've always thought is that they need year round warmer climate, so southern states. i cant say for Oregon since i live in Michigan, but it seems others are agreeing with that. I know in southern states you can be a clean person and they can creep their way inside. I think in the more northern states you would have to be dirty trash to have a problem with them. I have never seen them in Michigan, not once in 24 years, I live only 2 hours from Chicago, and it can get hot here in the summer. I have been to Florida and can recall seeing very large 3"+ ones outside near light posts and thinking wow glad I don't have those back in Michigan. But yeah, I am sure in cities like Chicago and Detroit, or elsewhere, they get infestations in very very dirty households. But those would most likely be the smaller variety.

Anyway, I don't think it's anything to worry about..

You will most likely never see one, even if they are there somewhere. That is my best guess. However, I think the main differences between where I live and PNW is the moisture out there, and they do like that.

btw there is no difference in a cockroach and a palmetto.

American cockroach - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ugh.

PNW-type-gal · 08-21-2010, 08:54 PM

There are a few kinds of flying beetles in the high desert, and praying mantis aren't common, but they're certainly here. Cockroaches (and cockroaches and palmetto bugs are the same thing, ask any entomologist) are very uncommon. As far as I know, none of the flying beetles are associated with the same health issues that cockroaches are.

This year we seem to have more crickets and grasshoppers than usual, too.

ETA: saw the biggest praying mantis I've ever seen today, darn near 4" long.

puerco · 08-22-2010, 06:49 AM

I've seen a few cockroaches in Portland from time to time but nothing like what I saw when I lived in NYC. (And you don't have to be filthy to get them. They're everywhere in NYC.) In the summer we used to see what we called 'water bugs' which were HUGE cockroaches. They must be the same as the Palmetto bugs. I never saw them either inside or outside in the winter. They probably winter over in the underground.
But as for your question, OP, no, you probably won't see either no matter how long you live in Portland.

classicanne · 08-22-2010, 09:05 AM

Those flying cockroaches are among the things I was very glad to leave behind in Florida! All I've seen in Portland are spiders (small ones, not the huge wolf spiders we had in Florida), slugs and bees (including bumble bees), none of which have been a bother. I have not seen bugs of any kind in my apartment.

Glittergurl · 08-22-2010, 12:52 PM

Thank you very much for your replies. Very much appreciated! So Oregon and PNW stays on the the potential relocate list for sure and Michigan as well. I went camping in Michigan once and did not see any flying roaches..was very happy butt always wondered coz it happen to be cold out so thanks for the tip on Michigan as well.

lilypad · 08-22-2010, 01:53 PM

I have not seen the palmetto bug here either, or any roach for that matter. They were in Texas (where I moved from), and as big as Texas too!

philwithbeard · 08-22-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glittergurl

Thank you very much for your replies. Very much appreciated! So Oregon and PNW stays on the the potential relocate list for sure and Michigan as well. I went camping in Michigan once and did not see any flying roaches..was very happy butt always wondered coz it happen to be cold out so thanks for the tip on Michigan as well.

Go to the Michigan sub-forum, and ask about Michigan Deer Flies and Horse Flies.

2bpurrfect · 08-23-2010, 03:03 AM

ok but. you must realize. we have other stuff, just not cockroaches. so in time you will become familiar with the black widow spider, and the brown recluse. not to mention wild raccoons in the yard, with absolutely deadly infectious stuff on them and in their feces they leave in your yard..... umm, what else? oh and yes i have lived in both Oregon City and Portland areas, and NO cockroaches unless someone brought them in their moving boxes. SO, please don't bring any, how are you going to accomplish that? spray all your boxes first, then pack maybe. and leave stuff outside when it freezes in a storage unit. hmmm. I dunno. use a bug bomb in that storage unit every week to make sure!
but oh yeah, sometimes even clean people can attract roaches from infested neighbors, because of the pet food left in the clean people's pet food bowl overnight.....or whatever.

and oh i forgot! Portland is having an EPIDEMIC of BEDBUGS nowadays, for real. VERY hard to get rid of!

ExNooYawk · 08-30-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glittergurl

I am such a huge roach phobic particularly flying roaches. I actually feel so! embarrassed that I am so terrified but I am. So, I am considering relocating from California. I am considering Oregon City, Portland or Bend. Want to make sure there are no Flying Roaches there. From what I have read above, my guess is no but I have found location varies with these bugs like for the most part they are not in California as far as I know (in abundance like in Florida) yet I have been to parts where I have experienced them. So being the huge phobic that I am, please indulge me as I re-ask are there flying roaches in any of the places I listed above. Thanks so much

We share the same phobia. I had been looking at warmer places to retire with my husband but am totally turned off by all the bug stories. Portland is rapidly rising on our list of possibilities due to it being a 'no-flying-roach zone.'