Even though the state animal is the Florida panther, it would probably be more politically correct to identify it as the cockroach. In an effort to appear a bit more socially acceptable, many refer to them as palmetto bugs. I’m still suspicious that we had a broom standing in the corner of the kitchen more for insect control than sweeping floors. The Florida State bird is officially the mockingbird, but most of us natives know it is, in reality, the mosquito.