As the temperatures increase, so does pest activity! Summer can bring a drove of pests, where they not only become a nuisance, but they could cause damage to your home. We breakdown the most common summer bugs in Florida and ways you can prevent them.
Common Florida Summer Bugs
- Ants: In search of food, especially sweets and grease, ants will invade our kitchens and pantries if they’re able to find an entry point into our homes. While most ant species are harmless to humans, some ants, like the carpenter ant, can cause structural damage to homes.
- Roaches: These pests are highly adaptable in environments and will eat about anything for a food source. Once these pests find a way inside your home, they will reproduce quickly, leaving you with a full-blown infestation, making them difficult to eliminate. Roaches are known to spread bacteria and can cause allergic reactions.
- Mosquitoes: Florida homeowners often deal with these pests year-round, as mosquitoes thrive in warm, tropical environments. These pests can cause itchy bites, as well as transmit serious diseases like Zika and West Nile Virus.
- Termites: Subterranean and drywood termites can be silent destroyers, both going undetected for extended periods of time. These pests can also cause costly damage to homes if left untreated by eating the wood from the inside out.
- Bed Bugs: With more travel in the summer, we often see an increase of bed bug activity at home! These expert hiders will hitchhike onto items, like purses or secondhand furniture, to get inside homes. Once inside, these pests can be found in mattresses, couches, and even bed frames.
Preventing Common Florida Bugs
One of the best ways you can prevent these common summer bugs from invading your Florida property is to implement easy, do-it-yourself preventative measures. Consider using the following prevention tips:
- Seal all gaps and holes in the exterior of your home to remove any entry points
- Keep a clean kitchen, wiping up food crumbs and drink spills after each meal
- Before bringing in any secondhand furniture, make sure to inspect it for pests like bed bugs and termites
- Repair any leaky faucets to eliminate excess moisture
- Declutter throughout your home by throwing away any old newspapers and magazines; consider utilizing plastic bins with lids for storage
- Continue your lawn maintenance that includes mowing regularly and trimming down shrubs
If you’ve seen more pest activity on your property, consider calling a pest control company near you. These pest control professionals will provide a free inspection and recommended treatment and prevention plan to avoid a future pest infestation.
