Ever heard of the Tampa Bay Bucs? Well, we’re going to talk about something less fun. Me and you are gonna discuss the Tampa Bay pest. Way less fun, I know, but it needs to be said. Tampa Bay pests are everywhere. From the lowly roach to the annoying mosquito, we’re going to cover all of the basics.
Tampa Bay Pest 1: The Mosquito
More than forty species of mosquitoes reside in Tampa Bay. The warm temperatures of the surrounding cities like Oldsmar and Eastlake combined with the frequent rainfall and plenty of breeding grounds make your city a favorite for these parasites. In fact, according to a new report, your Tampa Bay ranks ninth in the nation for mosquito swarms.
There are things you can do, though. Especially if you’re in the East Lake and Palm Harbor areas that are swampy and you need all the help you can get.
Simple things like once a week, empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out any items that hold water like tires, buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, flowerpot saucers or trash containers. Mosquitoes lay eggs near water. Also, If you have a septic tank, repair cracks or gaps. Cover open vent or plumbing pipes. Use wire mesh with holes smaller than an adult mosquito.
Tampa Bay Pest 2: The Bedbug
This problem you’ll find less around the towns like Oldsmar and Eastlake and more near the heart of Tampa. Bedbugs spread almost entirely through travel, so any hotel, motel, or holiday inn puts you at risk for exposure. And Florida even has the unique tropical bed bug species.
So check any bed you stay in that’s not your own closely. An adult bed bug is the size of an apple seed or 3/16 to 1/4 of an inch long. They are brown and usually flat unless they’ve fed then they become balloon-like. Bed bug nymphs are smaller and whitish-yellow (almost translucent) in color. Nymphs are commonly mistaken for booklouse nymphs. Both are light-colored but the bed bug nymph has a less elongated body. It doesn’t look like it has a neck, whereas the booklouse does. Bed bug eggs are tiny (the size of a pinhead) and pearl white in color.
Tampa Bay Pest 3: The Tick
Maybe the scariest pest on this list. A bite from these little parasites can lead to anything from Lyme Disease to a red meat allergy. Thanks to the warmer summers happening every year, tick-borne illnesses and tick populations are on the rise. In fact, in the last decade,e we’ve seen tick-borne disease cases rise by fifty percent.
“Zika, West Nile, Lyme, and chikungunya—a growing list of diseases caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, tick, or flea—have confronted the U.S. in recent years, making a lot of people sick. And we don’t know what will threaten Americans next,” CDC Director Robert R. Redfield said in a news release. “Our nation’s first lines of defense are state and local health departments and vector control organizations, and we must continue to enhance our investment in their ability to fight against these diseases.”
What to do?
Honestly, outside of basic hygiene, awareness, and lawn care, there isn’t much you can do. If you believe you or someone you know has a risk of infestation, you have to call a pro. Florida is too wet and too hot for you to beat these bugs by yourself. Call in someone that uses a natural pest control method and get it over with before it gets worse.