If a pest issue in your home or business is giving you trouble, contact us immediately. We can be reached on our website insectfree.com. Or you can give us a call at 1-800-634-1313 for a free consultation today. Let us show you why Earth’s Best has been trusted to deal with people’s pest issues for three decades in the Tampa area!
With spring here and gardens starting to unfurl their blooms, it’s pest season in Florida again. Today, we’ll talk about some of the most common pest issues people find in their central Florida homes, and what to look out for to keep your home protected.
Florida Natural Exterminator: What kind of pests are common in Florida?
In Florida, you can find most types of home-invading pests that Americans are used to. Everything from cockroaches, to bed bugs, to invasive ant species, and of course the humble mosquito. And there’s multiple reasons why the pests in the sunshine state are such an issue. In fact, per capita Florida spends more on pest control than every state other than California and New York, and this is likely going to flip as the state’s population continues to boom. But, let’s get into some of the reasons why they’re so bad.
For starters, Florida’s climate is perfect for insects. Twelve months out of the year are at least warm down here. In fact, there wasn’t even frost on the ground this winter. That means that the bugs are going to be even worse come mid to late spring. Combine this with frequent rains and high humidity, and you have an environment perfect for pests to thrive. But that’s not even taking into consideration the actual ecosystems. The ecology of Florida consists of beaches, swamps, and low-lying subtropical woodlands. All of these provide amazing nursing grounds for insects of all kinds.
Another reason you’re likely going to need a Florida natural exterminator is the state’s population boom. An estimated thousand new residents have flocked down here per day since 2020. The state is more populated now than in New York. And with more people comes more bugs. Be it hitchhiking parasites, or accidently carting a roach infestation in a box of old newspapers. You can’t escape the fact that population booms equal pest booms.
Florida Natural Exterminator: Most common pest infestations
In Florida, you usually have a few typical infestations that you’ll find in homes. That’s not to say that these are the only kind of pests that will come inside, but they’re the ones that most homeowners will likely have to deal with at least once. A statistic that may worry some is that roughly 30% of homeowners in central Florida deal with infestations of cockroaches a year. So, let’s get into everyone’s least favorite home invaders.
cockroaches
This first reason you’ll need a Florida natural exterminator should come as a shock to no one. Cockroaches and Florida go hand in hand. Swamps and forests provide them with all the moisture and rotting cellulose material they need to breed outside. Restaurants and homes provide them with more than enough on the inside. There are a few suspects that you’ll usually get when it comes to roaches invading the home.
The most dramatic one is the American cockroach. This pest species can reach up to three inches in length, making it the largest cockroach in North America. They have mahogany brown shells with a yellow band on their shell above their heads. This roach is also distressingly capable of flight. It’s not an uncommon story for an opened window at night to attract one of these inside, flying with enough noise that it sounds like a mini helicopter is buzzing around your kitchen.
Then you have the German cockroach. This species is much less dramatic visually. They measure less than an inch in size and are a pale yellow to brown color, with two dark stripes that run parallel down the backs of their shells. However, a female needs to mate only one time in her life. After that, she can lay eggs whenever conditions are right. A single female of this species can lay hundreds of thousands of eggs, creating an infestation in no time at all once they’re inside.
bed bugs
Maybe the only thing worse than cockroaches scuttling around your kitchen is a parasite that drinks your blood while you sleep. The humble bed bug is a massive pest in Florida. Unfortunately, this is just the reality of being a state that’s a worldwide travel destination. And the bed bug population is soaring with the re-opening of amusement parks and other attractions post lockdown era.
These bugs are roughly the size and shape of an apple seed, with a clear, translucent shell. When they’ve recently fed, they swell up massively and turn bright red thanks to the bloodmeal in their bellies. If you stay at a hotel or motel in Florida, be diligent about your choice. Check, and then double check, your room when you arrive and your luggage before you leave. Bed bugs are adapt hiders and hitch hikers.
mosquitos
Another pest insect that goes hand-in-hand with Florida is the enduring mosquito from the Asian tiger mosquito, to the Aedes Aegypti species, to humble local species. All of these can present threats to human life by being vectors for blood-borne diseases. Things like Malaria, Zika, and Dengue fever.
These water-loving pests are everywhere in Florida. From the downtowns to the boondocks, you’re not going to get rid of them without constant vigilance and maintenance. In fact, we offer our mosquito SMACK service for just this reason: to help homeowners protect their families and properties from infestations of blood-sucking mosquito swarms.
Florida Natural Exterminator: Can I deal with a pest infestation on my own?
This is a question that many people have, and for good reason. Saving a buck here or there is even more important in this day and age than ever. However, it’s just not the case most of the time.
You can practice cleanliness, exclusion, home repairs, and many other self-starter tricks and methods. But the simple fact is that without the right training and tools, you’ll just end up costing yourself more money in the long run without help. That’s why if you have a pest infestation, please contact us immediately so we can get you the help you need as soon as possible.
