TERRIFIED!! Do palmetto bugs bite?

[bangzoom6877]

I have been reading some threads here that talk about palmetto bugs. I know all about these things, but don't recall ever seeing one. Although, when I was 8 (in 1985), my grandparents had one in their hotel room when we went to Disney. We had stayed at a Days Inn there, with outdoor corridors to the rooms. When we go next month, we are staying at Pop Century, also with outdoor corridors, so I am petrified!

I have a HUGE phobia of bugs in general. Especially waterbugs, roaches, and bees...oh and anything huge like that which flies! I am worried about having one of these in the room, or seeing one in general. One of the reasons I don't live in the south!

I have heard that charcoal works to repel palmetto bugs. Is this true? If so I will put this in the room wherever needed. Maybe under the bed?

Have you seen lots of palmetto bugs at Disney World? I am so scared of these things. HELP!

-Bonnie

 

[squirrel]

I don't know what Palmetto bugs are!

I was bitten by some small bug while waiting for the bus at DTD in 2000. I managed to kill it after it bit me, but my ankle became swollen and I had to go to the clinic the next morning before we could go on the Disney Wonder.

Bring bug spray!

 

[jenrein]

Be careful! They have been known to gnaw through limbs!

In all seriousness there are so many other bugs I would be worried about! They are for lack of a better explanation, a giant flying cockroach.

There are quite a few strange bugs down here, but in reality unless you are out hiking in the woods you are not going to run into anything too unfamiliar. There are scorpions, lizards, strange little beetles (I found one that looks like a rhinosaurus!), the lovebug epidemic and creepy wiggly worm like things. Living here for the past year I have had maybe one run in with something that truly freaked me out, and thats about it!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Be careful! They have been known to gnaw through limbs!

In all seriousness there are so many other bugs I would be worried about! They are for lack of a better explanation, a giant flying cockroach.

There are quite a few strange bugs down here, but in reality unless you are out hiking in the woods you are not going to run into anything too unfamiliar. There are scorpions, lizards, strange little beetles (I found one that looks like a rhinosaurus!), the lovebug epidemic and creepy wiggly worm like things. Living here for the past year I have had maybe one run in with something that truly freaked me out, and thats about it!

Enjoy your trip!

Was this post ment to make her feel better, or freek her out more??!?

 

[jenrein]

Was this post ment to make her feel better, or freek her out more??!?

Really to make her feel better

 

[LuvMickey36]

I don't think we have ever seen a Palmetto Bug @ Disney. Never had any bugs in the rooms. The usual outdoor bugs are around, but they pretty much keep to themselves. Don't worry about them so much you ruin your vacations. Have fun!!!!

 

[autumnsmommy]

I've never seen a bug in a room at POP.

 

[FigmentFinder]

We had a palmetto bug last year in our room at POP. Sometimes they can come in when you have the doors open for too long.

They don't bite, carry diseases or anything to worry about. Just don't stomp on them. It can get rather gross.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Actually, I had a roach (or something) crawl out of my suitcase in Disney once. I wanted to call the front desk to complain, but DH wouldn't let me because he said that we didn't know if it was from Disney or the airport... though we had been there for at least 2-3 days.

 

[Feralpeg]

They don't bite. They are just ugly. I've lived in Florida for four years and have only had one in my house and that was right after moving in. I actually carried it in on my back!

Don't prop your room door open and you probably won't have a problem. There is no way for Disney to keep them off property, but they really aren't a big problem. If one gets in your room, leave the room and go to guest services. I'm sure they will be happy to send someone to get it out of your room.

 

[jodifla]

Palmetto bugs don't bite. The worst thing about them is they fly!

We found this out the hard way in Fla. when we came in after a night of partying and found one huge specimen in my friend's Central Florida duplex. We 22 year olds got the bright idea of taking off our shoes and flinging it at the bug, until it took off and flew right at us!!

Much shrieking ensued.

 

[Disney1976]

As others have said, no need to worry. The Palmetto bug is just the American cockroach. They are not filth breeding (like their German cousin) and do not carry disease, though they hop/fly short distances. They can come into a house or room a multitude of ways -under a door, while the door is open, on mail, in a grocery bag, etc., though that is rare. As they are attracted to water, they have also been known to crawl up and out of drains and be found around sinks and tubs, but that's even more rare. Chances are you won't even see one while at Disney.

 

[RMulieri]

Ahhh..they are ugly but harmless.I will never forget how I met these critters.I had just moved into an apt in Charleston,SC ,I went out on my screened in porch in my bare feet at night with the light off...needless to say I was wondering what I was stepping on gross.

 

[erebus_0]

Was this post ment to make her feel better, or freek her out more??!?

That's funny. It's like the time I told my daughters not to worry about spiders they could see because at least you know where they are. It's the ones who are hiding all over that are should be more concerning. Big mistake.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Okay, I feel a little better now (not too freaked out about the other bugs, don't worry!).

Does charcoal repel these nasty critters? Glad to hear they can't fly for long distances though! My my my, this is why I don't live in the south! I always say in the winter, we have to move someplace warm, until I see a bug when the weather gets warm!

Anyhow, should I bring charcoal to put under the bed or something?

-Bonnie

 

[hippiechick72]

i just spent a week at WDW and didn't see so much as even a pesty mosquito. it was weird. but it's okay by me!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

We've been to Disney 4 times and this last time was the only time we saw a Palmetto bug. Actually 2, one by the back door of the house we were renting. It probably came in when we were unpacking the car for the night and had the door open for a while. And the other one was a bit more freakish when I found it crawing (very fast) across the bathroom floor when I got up to use the bathroom. Luckily I turned the light on when I went, it would have been horribly traumatic if I had stepped on it.

 

[bunkkinsmom]

I remember a comedian once saying that she threw a brick at one once. And then the bug had a weapon!

(If you've ever seen one, that's freaking funny!!!!)

 

[bumbershoot]

When my mom lived in Miami and I'd visit while on Pacific time, I would see them as the evening went on (3am and still watching TV b/c it was "only" midnight and I was 18, lol).

I found hairspray to be QUITE effective. A bit brutal, as you're basically asphyxiating them, but effective.

 

[Em126]

I found hairspray to be QUITE effective. A bit brutal, as you're basically asphyxiating them, but effective.

Haha, I've done this before! If there's no bug spray sometimes you just have to use what's handy!

For my first solo palmetto bug encounter I was only armed with a giant, dirty pot from the sink. I saw the nasty little thing, hopped up on the kitchen counter in fear, shrieked a few times and grabbed the object closest to me (the dirty pot) and I smashed it! *cringe* I HATE palmetto bugs...and I think we should all stop calling it such a "pretty" name and just call it what it is: a COCKROACH!

Ok, I just creeped myself out thinking about them...

And to the original poster: I have not heard of the charcoal thing. I wouldn't discount it, I just haven't heard of it!