It may be raining biblically outside, but that doesn’t mean winter isn’t coming for Florida. Down here in the Sunshine State we have a cold front heading straight for us. We got a slight taste earlier in the month, but we’re officially moving into colder weather this week. And when Florida gets cool, pest pressure tends to ease up. Especially in regards to certain flying outdoor pests. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of Brandon Florida winter pests that are going to knock down your door this season.
Brandon Florida Winter Pests: The Usual Suspects
Down here in the Southeast, we have every bug under the sun. Not only does our environment allow for easy living for most bugs, but we also have hundreds of ports in the region. That means that the pests we contend with aren’t just our own. Invasive bugs coming in with food, vacationers, and by other means settle in perfectly down here. That’s why today we’re going to talk about some of the pests from at home and around the world. Basically, the only qualifier to being on this list is the fact that they’re now a common cold-weather Florida pest.
Cockroaches
That’s right, starting at the top is maybe the most widespread indoor pest in history. The cockroach. Also known as the palmetto bug down South, the massive and famous pests aren’t usually the ones that are busting down the doors to live in your home. Instead, it’s usually the invasive German and Asian cockroaches that create large indoor populations in your residence.
And these roaches are more than just an eyesore. These Brandon Florida winter pests are commonly known to carry disease and harmful bacteria. That means that when they’re crawling over your sinks and pantry at night, they’re potentially leaving disease-causing bacteria in their footsteps. On top of that, if you have an allergy to these pests you’re in for some sneezing. Roaches defecate and shed their old shells as they go. So if you get enough in your home, they’ll make you into an itching machine.
The easiest way to avoid this pest in your home is to keep it clean. Go through your kitchen and under your sink regularly, as these bugs are phenomenal survivalists. All it takes is a handful of bread crumbs and a leaky pipe before they have a population established and start to spread throughout your entire kitchen.
Bed Bugs
Up next we have one of the eternal enemies of homeowners. In fact, this is the enemy of just about anyone who sleeps in a bed…ever! The bed bug. And come wintertime, these guys get the spotlight. Not only are they widespread, prolific, and a particular problem in Florida, but they’re the chief winter pest around the world. The simple reason why? They live inside! If we can survive the conditions, so can they. That’s why keeping an eye out and stopping an infestation of these Brandon Florida winter pests is so vital.
So, let’s go over some signs of bed bug infestation. Unfortunately, bites are usually the first sign that these guys have moved into your home and settled in. Bites happen overnight when you’re sleeping. Bed bugs are small, nocturnal parasites. At a glance, they look similar to a lentil or apple seed. That is, until they feed. Then they gorge on blood and turn bigger and bright red.
When they feed, they feed as they go. So you’ll usually find bites arranged in small clusters or a line down your arm. They’re not efficient at digesting blood, funnily enough. So often times after you’ve been fed on, you’ll find spots of half-digested blood drops on your sheets. This along with a shocking amount of fecal stains that look like a group of small brown stains on the sheet are another good few signs that you’re infested.
And finding bed bugs is, unfortunately, almost always a sign that you need professional help. DIY treatments for these pests may seem cheap, easy, and appealing, but they’re not worth it. Bed bugs can nest in anything from your bedframe to an electrical socket. So when you see one, call someone. The more quickly you get an infestation treated, the better off you’ll be.
Ticks
And finally, let’s finish off with another bloodsucker. Ticks are well-known and dangerous parasites. But they’re just still getting worse and worse. As the globe continues to get warmer, tick season extends. In fact, it takes sustained temperatures under forty degrees for most tick species to even go dormant. That means that, at this point and moving forward, tick season in Florida is essentially year-round. So be prepared to tango with this Brandon Florida winter pest at least once or twice.
Ticks are some of the most prolific and dangerous bloodsuckers out there. They carry diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Some ticks can even cause you to have an allergic reaction to red meat. Fortunately, infestations of ticks are pretty rare. Unfortunately, tick infestations are dangerous for the reasons I listed above.
The best thing you can do for tick prevention is to make your home and property unappealing to them. That means leaving them fewer places to live, eat, and breed. Cut your grass regularly and keep it low, just by doing that you’ll greatly reduce the amount of real estate for ticks to hunt in as they prefer tall grasses. Also, remove any piles of logs, lumber, or stones from your property as these are regular nesting sites for most pest insects.
All in all, though, just make sure to keep your eyes open. When it comes to any Brandon Florida winter pest, prevention is key and action is even more key. Don’t waste your time tumble drying sheets, caulking holes, and doing other DIY prevention methods before contacting a pro. Save yourself time, money, and a possible new fun meat allergy by contacting someone as soon as you identify any amount of these pests in your home.
