In our 33 years of pest murder journey, people always asked us, “how bad are the bugs in Florida?”
And we used to get quite sad to know that there’s so much fear in people for bugs in Florida.
It’s a beautiful place, with warm weather, tropical climate, and lots of nature. So, the presence of bugs and other types of insects is natural.
But that doesn’t mean that the creepers infest every home in the great state of Florida.
We’ve some experience in traveling abroad. To tell you the truth, Florida’s bug situation is way, and we mean way better than other countries.
But if you’re moving to Florida, you need to keep in mind four things –
- There’s no bug season like in the north. All the bugs are active from January to December.
- Florida is warm and humid. It makes Florida an ideal state for various types of bugs to live, thrive, and breed.
- It would be best if you keep your home, yard, and guard clean. Dirt and garbage attract bugs and insects.
- And don’t forget to use pest control services as a precautionary measure at least once a year. It’ll save you from a lot of financial loss.
Let us give you some of the bugs that you may encounter in Florida.
Common House Bugs In Florida
These are the seven common house bugs in Florida that you may come across in your home –
- Termites.
- Carpenter ants.
- Spiders.
- Roaches or Palmettos.
- Bed bugs.
- Mosquitoes.
- Lovebugs.
Out of the above five bugs, termites are the ones that pose the highest threat to your home and property.
Termite infestation is highest in Florida and causes the most damage.
There are four termite types: subterranean termites, Formosan termites, drywood termites, and dampwood termites.
Subterranean termites and Formosan termites are the worst bugs in Florida.
Both the termites are the most common home invaders. They cause a lot of damage to homes. They don’t even spare mobile homes in Florida.
Termite infestation in mobile homes in Florida has gone up in recent years.
So, always be on the lookout for signs of termite infestation.
How Bad Are The Roaches In Florida?
The other bug that has made Florida famous is the Palmetto or the wood cockroach.
Palmettos look ugly, they are big, and the worst part is that they can fly.
Data from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development says that 30% of Florida homeowners get cockroach infestation at least once a year.
Florida has the highest density of the cockroach population in the US.
Cockroach infestation isn’t a good sign at all. If you’ve got a yard, then most of the time, these Palmettos will enter your home from the yard.
So, the roach situation in Florida is quite alarming.
But it would help if you don’t lose your sleep on that. It’s very typical of any state with warm and humid weather.
With some useful tips, you can quickly get rid of these roaches fast.
Check out our post on how to get rid of cockroaches from your yard.
To get rid of cockroaches from your home, check out our post on how to get rid of roaches.
How Bad Are The Mosquitoes In Florida?
It isn’t as bad as you’ve thought. It isn’t bad at all.
There are only two Florida cities, Fort Lauderdale and Miami, in the top 20 list of the US’s worst mosquito cities. And these two cities are not even in the top 10.
But overabundance of termites and roaches in Florida makes it the on our list of 5 states with most bugs.
Most of the mosquito-infested cities are from the South East with North Carolina and Tennessee representing most cities.
Given mosquitoes’ problem that all the other regions, in and outside of the US, have, Florida fares well in this category.
Again, it’s normal for a place with tropical weather to have mosquitoes.
But it can get out of control if you’re not careful. Keep your yard clean and make sure that there’s no stagnant water around your home.
To know more about eliminating mosquitoes, you can check out our post on how to get rid of mosquitoes on stagnant water.
Mosquitoes are most active in Florida from April to October. It’s always safe to use an EPA-registered mosquito repellent to keep your home mosquito-free.
Lovebugs In Florida
Another very Florida specific bug is the lovebug.
Lovebugs in Florida are annoying rather than destructive. They don’t pose any threat to you or your property, but they can be a nuisance.
Lovebugs swarm in huge numbers along the highways and they can splash themselves on the windshield or the body of your car.
It’s not a good sight to see gluey guts splattered on your motor vehicle.
If you don’t quickly remove the fatty splashes of lovebugs from the car’s body, then it’ll cause a dent.
Lovebugs can also sneak into the car and home through open windows. And if they get crushed by your bodyweight, the stain of their fat is hard to remove.
There are quite a few insecticides to get rid of lovebugs. The insecticides are suitable for home use.
But lovebugs’ birth rate is so high that they swarm in millions across the state of Florida.
It’d be better that you vacuum clean your home and your car, especially in the corners and confined areas, to get rid of hiding lovebugs.Â
Florida homes are also at risk of biting midges. These tiny black bugs in Florida homes are quite common, especially in homes that are near swamps or marshes.
So, How Bad Are The Bugs In Florida?
The bug situation in Florida isn’t as bad as you think or hear from others.
The situation with bugs in Florida is far better than in any tropical state or country. There are some of the best pest control services across Florida that you can avail of.
Even if you talk about Palmettos, it’s normal to have roaches at home in a tropical climate, especially if you’ve got a yard or garden.
But given the humidity level in the Sunshine state, you need to be very eagle-eyed on the signs of infestation. And do your due diligence when it comes to cleanliness and checking your home for pests by a reliable pest control company at least once a year.
Termites are the only bugs that are a severe threat to your home and property in Florida. Neither Palmettos pose as much a threat as termites do.
Mobile home owners in Florida are not spared by termites either.
To know more about the termite problems that Florida mobile home owners face, check our post on termites in Florida mobile homes. It’ll give you a deep insight on how termites work and what are the signs of infestation.
We’re Mark and Jim, and we’re retired pest controllers who made homes pest-free for more than three decades. We, along with our team of experts, founded this site to give you the pest control hacks that work.