Are you a long-time resident of the Sarasota area? Well, if so, then you already know the drill. Florida is home to more and more people every day. And where there are people, there will certainly be pests attracted to them. But not only is that a factor, indeed you have to consider Florida’s weather as a whole. Hot, humid, and very mild winters mean that bugs absolutely love this place. As a homeowner in the area, Sarasota pest control is something that must always be on the front of your mind. So today, we’ll cover some common infesters in the area and the signs of infestation that may follow them.
Sarasota Pest Control: Overview
Alright, so the way we’ll do this is bug by bug. I’ll lay out the pest, some facts, and infestation signs so that you can be more aware of what to look for.
Mosquitos
If you’ve lived in Florida for any amount of time, you know our first pest very well. Nothing will have you running for some Sarasota pest control quite like the humble Mosquito. I guess I’ll briefly touch on what they look like, though I’m sure you’re aware at this point. Mosquitoes are small, flying insects with segmented bodies, long legs, and an elongated feeding tube on the front of their face. They feed by biting people or animals and drawing small amounts of blood. The saliva that they leave behind is what causes the itchy rash on your skin.
The biggest individual threat a mosquito poses day-to-day is the risk of disease transfer. When they feed on someone with a bloodborne illness, they became carriers for that disease or virus. This can include heavy hitters such as malaria, yellow fever, and other viruses. Obviously, not all mosquitoes are infected and carry the same pathogens.
Infestations of mosquitoes in the home are rare, but allowing certain conditions to build up in your yard is like shining the bat signal on your grass for the mosquitoes to come and stake a claim. For example, mosquito larvae develop in water. Standing water in your property is one of the biggest reasons for an infestation. Adult mosquitoes are attracted to damp soil or standing water to lay their eggs. Any source of standing water may contain mosquito larvae, including old tires, flowerpots, gutters that drain improperly, birdbaths, and water features such as fish ponds.
Cockroaches
Up next is probably number two on every Floridan’s least favorite thing about Florida. The “noble” cockroach. These guys have become so synonymous with humans that some species can no longer even survive without us. It goes without saying that cockroaches are among the most common infesters of homes and apartments these days. And they can be a real problem in places where food is prepared and cleaning is less than stellar. These guys can easily contaminate your food, kitchen utensils, and many other items over the course of one night.
And thanks to their habit of moving directly from filthy environments to our food, I’m sure you can see the danger there. Roaches can easily transfer microbes that cause food poisoning. Food poisoning and plenty of other illnesses as well. They’re even known for triggering asthma in children when the infestations get severe enough. As for infestation signs? Well, cockroaches are nocturnal animals. If you see them running about during the day, there’s likely a good reason for that. You probably have an infestation on your hands, for everyone that you see, there are many that you don’t.
How did I get cockroaches?!
How did they get there? Why do I suddenly have a desperate need for Sarasota pest control? Well, it’s simple. Cockroaches can enter buildings in a myriad of ways. The German cockroach, easily the most prolific home invader of the species, tends to get in by hitchhiking. That is, they usually enter through infested grocery bags, beverage cartons, or second-hand furniture and appliances. American cockroaches, wood cockroaches, and other species can travel from outside. Roaches can also gain entry through gaps around windows, doors, vents, and utility openings, and firewood. In multi-unit dwellings such as apartments, cockroaches also travel between units through common walls, ceilings, etc. Consequently, while roaches usually thrive where sanitation is poor, even clean homes can become infested.
Termites
Now, if this one doesn’t have you immediately turning and running for some Sarasota pest control, I don’t know what will. Florida is home to two types of termites, drywood termites, and subterranean termites.
Drywood termites aren’t quite as destructive as subterranean termites, but they still do quite a bit of damage. Evidence of a drywood termite infestation usually includes things like feces, frass, and discarded wings. They feed on cellulose which is found in wood. As their name suggests, they obviously prefer drywood, and eat across the grain; which can be very dangerous and damaging to the structure they’ve infested.
And preferring the wet and softer woods are the subterranean termites. Subterranean is generally the most widespread, with Formosan being the more destructive and the Eastern being more common. The pests also produce secondary colonies that can survive almost anywhere there’s moisture, such as around plumbing leaks or other sources of damp wood. Therefore, Formosan termites are often able to destroy homes in a matter of months. If you think you have these guys in your home, make sure to act IMMEDIATELY.
Sarasota Pest Control: Conclusion
Here at Earth’s Best, we believe in controlling infestations before they get out of hand. Not only that but doing it safely. We believe in using non-toxic methods of pest control, which are proven to be just as effective without any of the risks that chemical insecticides carry with them. Instead, we use our secret weapon: “Orange Oil.” The concentrated citric acid base ingredient will kill pests dead and keep them away, without posing any risk to you or your family.
So when you need to deal with invasive, dangerous, and stressful situations involving pest control, give us a call as soon as possible at 1-800-634-1313, and we’ll get your issues dealt with quickly and professionally.