Cockroach Control in Lake Placid, FL

Updated September 2026

Cockroach Control in Lake Placid

Lake Placid is a town in southern Highlands County, on U.S. 27 along the Lake Wales Ridge. It was renamed in 1927 by Melvil Dewey, creator of the Dewey Decimal System, after his Lake Placid Club in New York. The town is known as the "Caladium Capital of the World" for the fields of caladium bulbs grown around it, and as the "Town of Murals" for the dozens of murals painted on downtown buildings. It is surrounded by 27 lakes, citrus groves, ranches and the Archbold Biological Station.

The Lake Wales Ridge's scrub and sandhill, lakes and groves shape the area, with hot, stormy summers and occasional winter frosts. Palmetto bugs and smokybrowns are the most common calls, with Australian cockroaches in groves and landscaping and German cockroaches in rentals.

The Cockroaches Lake Placid Residents Report Most

Notes by Type of Property

Caladium Fields

Nearly all of the world's caladium bulbs are grown in the fields around Lake Placid, and the Caladium Festival each July celebrates the harvest. The irrigated fields, bulb storage and packing sheds shelter palmetto bugs and Australian cockroaches, and homes nearby see more outdoor roaches during the growing season. Keeping a clear perimeter and sealing foundations help.

27 Lakes

Lake Placid is surrounded by lakes, including Lake June in Winter, Lake Istokpoga to the east and Lake Placid itself. Lakefront homes see more humidity and palmetto bugs near docks and shorelines. Storing gear dry and sealing lake-facing doors help.

• Docks and boathouses
• Stored fishing gear
• Marshy shorelines
• Unsealed lake-side doors

The Town of Murals

Downtown Lake Placid's older buildings are covered with dozens of murals depicting local history. These buildings share walls and have older plumbing; roaches can move between shops, and sealing gaps and coordinating with neighbors help.

A Year of Cockroach Activity in Lake Placid

Everyday Factors in Lake Placid

A Town of Many Lakes

Homes near Lake Placid's numerous lakes sit closer to consistent water humidity, a factor worth noting for outdoor species nearby.

Surrounding Citrus and Caladium Farms

Properties bordering grove and caladium farmland see more outdoor-species activity near tree lines and irrigated fields.

The Historic Mural District

The historic downtown's older buildings, known for their painted murals, carry more aging-structure entry-point considerations than newer homes further out.

Archbold and the Ridge Scrub

The Archbold Biological Station south of town protects rare Lake Wales Ridge scrub. Homes on scrub edges see woods roaches and palmetto bugs; a clear strip helps.

Citrus and Cattle

Citrus groves and cattle ranches surround town. Irrigated and abandoned groves shelter roaches; homes nearby benefit from picking up fallen fruit and a clear perimeter.

Retirees and Snowbirds

Many residents are retirees, and some spend summers up north. Dry drains let roaches up; running water before leaving and periodic checks help.

Manufactured Home Communities

Manufactured home communities are common. Skirting gaps and damp ground underneath shelter roaches; repairing skirting helps.

Frosts

Highlands County gets occasional frosts. Outdoor roaches move into garages and walls on cold nights; sealing gaps helps.

After Hurricanes

Hurricanes Charley in 2004, Irma in 2017 and Ian in 2022 brought wind and flooding to Highlands County. Debris and wet ground push roaches toward homes; prompt cleanup helps.

Oaks and Smokybrowns

Oaks shade older neighborhoods. Smokybrowns fly to roofs and lights; trimming limbs helps.

The Dewey Connection

Melvil Dewey's Lake Placid Club brought wealthy northern visitors in the 1920s and 1930s, and some older homes from that era remain. Screening crawlspaces and sealing floor gaps help.

Near Sebring

Residents shop in Sebring and Avon Park. Boxes can carry German cockroaches; unpacking in the garage helps.

Wells and Septic

Many homes use wells and septic. Pump houses stay damp; checking them helps.

Pets and Pet Food

Pet food left out overnight draws palmetto bugs; storing it sealed helps.

Moving to Lake Placid

Newcomers are often surprised by palmetto bugs near lakes and groves. Most are outdoor roaches wandering in; sealing handles most of it.

Irrigation and Sand

The ridge's sandy soils drain fast and need frequent irrigation. Wet valve boxes and mulch shelter palmetto bugs; fixing leaks and keeping mulch thin help.

Churches and Community Events

Churches and community groups host events and suppers. Kitchens used occasionally benefit from periodic checks.

Prevention Steps That Fit Lake Placid

• Keep a clear strip next to fields and groves.
• Store lake gear dry.
• Repair manufactured home skirting.
• Run drains before leaving for the summer.
• Trim oak limbs off roofs.
• Fix irrigation leaks.
• Seal gaps before frosts.

Which Roach Is It?

Reasonable First Steps

Check under sinks and behind appliances after dark, look in garages, sheds and utility areas, note what you see and where, and take a photo with a coin for scale. That tells a specialist whether you're dealing with an indoor German cockroach problem or outdoor species wandering in.

What to Expect When You Call

Tell us your neighborhood or road, what type of home you have and where you've been seeing roaches. We'll connect you with an independent specialist who covers Highlands County, and pricing is discussed directly before any work begins.

Lake Istokpoga

Lake Istokpoga, the fifth-largest lake in Florida, lies east of town and is known for bass fishing and bald eagles. Its wide marshes, fish camps and canal communities support heavy palmetto bug populations, and homes near the lake see more roaches after rain and during high water. Keeping boats drained, storing tackle and coolers off the ground and sealing lake-facing doors make the biggest difference.

Lake June in Winter

Lake June in Winter, just west of downtown, is ringed by homes, a scrub state park and boat ramps. Lakefront lots here combine lake humidity with dry scrub uplands, so homes see both palmetto bugs from the shore and woods roaches from the scrub; sealed foundations and a clear yard address both.

Start here

Which One Did You See?

Small and indoors: German cockroach

• About half an inch, tan to light brown
• Found in kitchens and bathrooms

Large and mostly outdoors: palmetto bug

• 1 to 1.5 inches, reddish-brown
• Also called the American cockroach

Full identification guide →

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