The humid and warm tropical climate in Florida makes for ideal conditions for many species of insects and bugs to reproduce and thrive. Florida’s year-round warm temperatures allow some bugs to remain active all year. The most common bugs in Florida include:
Mosquitoes
With about 3,500 species of mosquitoes worldwide, about 80 species can be found in Florida. The most common mosquito species that feed on people in Florida are:
o Aedes Aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) – vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses
o Aedes Albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) – vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses
o Culex Quinquefasciatus (Southern house mosquito) – vector of dog heartworm, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and West Nile virus
o Aedes Taeniorhynchus (black salt marsh mosquito) – vector of dog heartworm
o Psorophora Ciliata (Gallinipper) – not known to vector any mosquito-borne pathogens but their bites cause more pain than other mosquito species
Termites
Prevalent in Florida, termites cause $5 billion worth of damage annually in the US. Native drywood and subterranean termites, along with aggressive and invasive Asian and Formosan subterranean termites cause damage to homes that is not covered by homeowner’s insurance. According to a 2016 University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study, over half of the structures in Florida will be infested with termites by 2040.
Ants
Mostly nuisance pests, ants in Florida can be annoying and difficult to eliminate, except by contacting a professional pest control company to place baits that are transported to nests outside your home to destroy ant colonies. The most common ants that live in Florida include:
o Big Headed Ants
o Carpenter Ants
o Fire Ants
o Ghost Ants/Sugar Ants
o Pharaoh Ants
o White Footed Ants
Roaches
Cockroaches are prevalent in most parts of the world, except Antarctica. Resilient, fast-moving, and prolific breeders, roaches like moist, dark places to breed. Once you suspect you have a roach infestation, a professional pest control company will be needed to eliminate roaches, along with making your home unattractive to roaches.
Lawn pests
Chinch bugs, armyworms, sod webworms, and fire ants are all common to St. Augustine turfs and can cause problems in Florida lawns, along with fungus conditions. Scale, mealy bugs, aphids, and whiteflies attack landscape plants.
Bed bugs
Since the resurgence of bed bugs, these unpleasant pests have been found everywhere humans recline and sleep. Attracted to exhaled CO2, bed bugs are nocturnal and feed on humans as they sleep. A professional pest control company is your best bet for dealing with bed bug infestations.
Contact Petri Pest Control Services in Broward and Palm Beach County for any of your pest control needs.
What Are The Most Common Bugs In Florida in South Florida
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