One of the group commonly referred to as "Palmetto Bugs", the American roach is the largest (1-3/8" to 2-1/8") of the roaches infesting homes. It has reddish brown wings and is a good flyer. American roaches often invade from sewer systems and heavily mulched areas. The female attaches the egg capsule, containing 15-18 eggs, in high areas in garages, closets, utility rooms and fireplaces. Found nearly anywhere in the house, American roaches contaminate food, carry disease, damage book bindings, fabrics and wallpaper. Or, as you can see, Palmetto bugs are "your worse nightmare!"
Sabal palmetto
the
Cabbage or Sabal Palm
The Cabbage or Sabal Palm is a palm from 50 feet to 80 feet in mature height, with a straight clear trunk up to two feet in diameter, covered with shallow ridges and fissures. The trunk is often patterned by persistent leaf bases (boots), especially under the crown. It grows in sandy soil or hammocks over most of the southeastern coastal region including the Keys and west past the Apalachicola River.
The fronds are from five to eight feet long, usually broader than long, dark green, shiny, deeply divided into narrow portions, and borne on unarmed petioles from four to six feet long. The trunk of the palm is covered with a thick rind and marked in rings where the old sets of fronds have fallen off. The fruit consists of many rounded berries, about one-third inch in diameter, each containing a brownish colored seed.
The wood is light, soft, pale brown, containing numerous hard fibers or "threads." The water resistant trunks are used for pilings and sawed into disks for ornamental table tops. Baskets, mats and hats are made from the fronds, and brushes from the fibers in the sheaths of the young leaves and trunk.
The name "cabbage"palm comes from the large leaf-bud or "cabbage" at the top of the trunk, which can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The loss of the bud causes the death of the palm. The Cabbage Palm is the Florida State Tree. Palmetto bugs may be seen on these palms, but aren't especially attracted to them.
Finally:
Palmetto Pounder
Damaging thunderstorm winds have been termed downbursts by renowned severe storm researcher Dr. Ted Fujita at the Univ. of Chicago. Dr. Fujita further classifies these events as macrobursts (greater than 2.5 miles in diameter) and microbursts (less than 2.5 miles in diameter). Generally, a macroburst is on the scale of the entire cold air outflow field of a thunderstorm or a group of thunderstorms; whereas the microburst is a sub- thunderstorm scale outflow feature.
A macroburst is affectionately referred to as a "Palmetto Pounder" since the huge raindrops come down so hard they smash the palmettos. Now all we have to do is figure out if they mean the roaches or palms. . .
I think that's about all you need to know about Palmetto's, whether it be bugs, palms, or thunderstorms. Now try to work this useful information into your next business meeting.
One of the group commonly referred to as "Palmetto Bugs", the American roach is the largest (1-3/8" to 2-1/8") of the roaches infesting homes. It has reddish brown wings and is a good flyer. American roaches often invade from sewer systems and heavily mulched areas. The female attaches the egg capsule, containing 15-18 eggs, in high areas in garages, closets, utility rooms and fireplaces. Found nearly anywhere in the house, American roaches contaminate food, carry disease, damage book bindings, fabrics and wallpaper. Or, as you can see, Palmetto bugs are "your worse nightmare!"
