Are you dealing with an infestation caused by one of the most common pests in Florida? If so, give us a call today! The longer you wait, the worse it can get. But visit insectfree.com or give us a call at 1-800-634-1313 and let Earth’s Best show you why we’ve been in business for three years!
Most Common Pests In Florida: Why are the bugs so bad in Florida?
Florida is home to thousands of insects. It’s not like the northern states down here in the Sunshine state. And we’ve got everything. Spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes. You name it. However, what we have more than anything is pest insects. So let’s touch on why that’s the case.
For one, the climate is the biggest region for the state being so welcoming to pest insects from near or abroad. The warm, humid weather provides an ideal environment for many types of insects to thrive. Insects are cold-blooded, which means they rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. In Florida, the warm weather allows insects to remain active year-round, which contributes to their high numbers. So our warm beaches, forests, and swamps aren’t just beautiful, comfortable, and picturesque to just us!
Another reason is Florida’s massive population. Many of the most common pests in Florida will be seen living in or around human dwellings. Human activity leads to pest rises almost anywhere it happens. So when a state’s economy is based on tourism and international trade, it’s a foregone conclusion that we’re going to have insects from all over the world in this state.
Most Common Pests in Florida: Overview
Now, let’s touch on what pest insects you can expect to deal with as a homeowner in the good ol sunshine state.
Cockroaches
Number one with a bullet is the mighty cockroach. These pests thankfully don’t pose any particularly large threat to humans. However, in large numbers they can create hazardous conditions that pose a threat to human health through disease and bacteria growth.
There are a few species you can expect to run into as a Florida homeowner as well. One of them is the classic American cockroach. An odd name, considering the fact that the species originated in Africa. However, they’re very easy to recognize. These are the largest species of insect in the continental U.S., with some adults reaching up to three inches in length. They have a mahogany brown coloration on their shell, and a dark yellow band that runs in a half circle behind their head. This really is one of the most common pests in Florida. If you hear that a home is infested, this is likely the species you’ll see around Tampa in the surrounding areas.
Mosquitoes
Next on the list is probably surprising to no one. If you’ve even driven through Florida you’ve likely noticed the mosquito problem. But such is the fate of a state with so much cattle, so many people, and so much water for these to breed in.
Mosquitoes are dangerous and come in myriad of species. We have species from Africa, species from Asia, and species from here. And all of them are vectors for disease to humans. Zika virus, west nile, dengue fever, and dozens more all are borne into our blood by mosquitos.
And these aren’t just an outdoor pest, but an indoor one to. Many Florida homeowners find out about cracks in their foundations or ruined rubber stripping by the presence of mosquito swarms in their homes on warm summer nights.
Ants
You can probably expect at least one ant infestation as well as a Florida homeowner. It’s just the reality of living in a state that doesn’t really have a winter. So let’s cover the two species it’s likely to be if you find them in your home.
One species is the all too common fire ant. You can identify these ants by their red bodies and black behinds. Their namesake is the fact that their sting is viciously burning, hence the fire name. When one of these bugs grabs you with it’s mandibles, it will sting around wherever its got a hold of in a circular pattern to deliver the max payload of venom it can.
Then you have ghost ants. Named for their tiny size and milky white color that makes them hard to see, this is another member of the most common Florida pests list. And when they enter your home, they can be a real doozy. These ants don’t just create one colony that holds thousands of ants. Instead, they spread in every direction throughout wall voids and will create dozens of nests in a single home.
Most Common Pests In Florida: How to keep them out
Now, pest control is a complicated process that’s best left to someone who’s a licensed professional. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing a layman can do. Exclusion methods such as cleanliness practices and repairs around the home can help quite a bit.
For example, I recommend anyone who reads this not to leave your food, or anything really, stored in unprotected cardboard. The cellulose, woody material it’s made out of isn’t just food for ants. It also acts like shelter, a nursery, and anything else they could need.
Then there’s standing water and food scraps. These are your number one enemy when it comes to many classes of pest insects. Vacuum carpets, sweep solid surfaces, and tighten any leaky pipes. If you don’t give the pests a reason to come in, they usually won’t.
And finally, make sure to exclude pests from your home by sealing any easy ways you have into the home. Cracks in the foundation, holes in the walls around water pipes, and rubber stripping along doors and windows all have to be regularly replaced and repaired. The most common insects in Florida are all small, but none of them are small enough to slip through properly maintained rubber stripping, screens, or stucko around those holes around your pipes!
