While nothing beats the summertime in Florida, it can come with a small, pestering price. Florida’s summer weather offers an ideal paradise for creepy crawlers, as the warm temperatures and humidity tend to increase insect activity. Common summer pests that flock to the Sunshine State such as ants, termites, and spiders can wreak havoc on your backyard barbecues and outdoor gatherings. At Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter, we’ve helped numerous residents and commercial businesses successfully remedy their pest control problems quickly and efficiently. If you’re interested in learning more about the most common summer pests in Florida or you need assistance effectively eliminating pests from your home or property, contact our exterminators today.

Florida Summer Pest #1: Fire Ants

If you see small, aggressive red ants running throughout your home or commercial building, you may be infested with fire ants. In Florida, fire ants are commonly found in large open fields and lawns since they prefer to nest in dry, flat, and sunny locations. These red bodied ants can build dome-like nests or mounds that reach as tall as three feet high. Large fire ant colonies can reach up to 250,000 worker ants and they have been known to repeatedly sting unwanted intruders. If you notice heavy fire ant trails around your driveway, windows, or throughout your hard, contact Palm Coast Pest Control immediately. We’ll come to your property and complete a thorough inspection before recommending the best pest treatment control solution for you.

Florida Summer Pest #2: Whiteflies

Whiteflies have become a severe problem facing many Florida homeowners. These flies get their name from the white, waxy substance that covers their wings and bodies. Similar in shape and size to a small moth, whiteflies can cause serious damage to plants. The most noticeable sign of a whitefly infestation are white spirals that can be found on the bottom of leaves. They are known to lay their eggs on the undersides of leaves, making them almost invisible to the human eye at first glance. Once their eggs hatch, whiteflies get their nutrients from sucking sap from the plant’s leaves with their needle-like mouths. As these Florida pests feed on plant juices, leaves will dry out, turn yellow, and eventually drop off to die.

If you start to notice the plants or shrubbery around your property dying, it could be a sign of pest infestation. Contact Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter to learn more about our lawn care solutions and how we can help.

Florida Summer Pest #3: Drywood Termites

Drywood termites are another common summer pest in Florida. These pesky critters love establishing colonies in wood above ground level. Your residential and commercial fences, doors, window frames, and furniture are all at risk of drywood termite infestation. One of the best ways to identify a drywood termite infestation is the presence of fecal pellets. If you start to notice fecal pellets around your property, contact your local pest control company right away.

Florida Summer Pest #4: Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs are another common Florida pest that can wreak havoc on your lawn and plants. These damaging pests feature small black bodies and silver wings and they have been known to cause damage along driveways and sidewalks. If you start to notice large yellow or brown patches appearing throughout your landscape, you may have a chinch bug infestation and should seek professional help immediately.

Florida Summer Pest #5: Spiders

Spiders love to lurk in cool, dark places where they can spin their webs and trap food. While most spiders throughout Florida are completely harmless there are two notable spiders that can pose serious safety risks for you and your family.

Black Widow Spiders

As one of the most notable and venomous spiders, the black widow features a black body with a red hourglass marking on its abdomen. There are also other varieties of black widow spiders featuring red and brown bodies. Their bite is much to be feared, as their venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than that of a rattlesnake. If you are bit by a black widow spider, you may suffer from muscle aches, nausea, and even death. Fortunately, fatalities are fairly rare and these spiders only tend to attack as a form of self-defense.

The animals that are most at risk from the black widow’s bite are insects and other male black widow spiders. Female black widows sometimes kill and eat their male counterparts after mating.

Brown Recluse Spiders

Brown recluse spiders love to hide in dark, sheltered places like barns and basements. Mostly known for its appearance and poisonous bite, this spider gets its name from its color and its “shy nature.” They can go months without eating and are adapted to hot and dry weather conditions of Florida, making them even more difficult to control. Like most spiders, the brown recluse only bites when they are disturbed or feel threatened.

Florida Summer Pest #6: Bed Bugs

While bed bugs are not necessarily considered seasonal pests in Florida, they do tend to become more of an issue during the hot summer months. These small, nocturnal insects feed off of blood and they can easily be transported from place to place by unsuspecting travelers. If you notice any signs of a bed bug infestation in your home, such as blood spots on your sheets or the unsuspecting scent of ripened raspberries, it could be time to contact a professional exterminator.

Florida Summer Pest #7: Cockroaches

Cockroaches have become a Florida public health concern due to their association with human waste and disease and their unique ability to move from sewers into homes and commercial buildings. Cockroaches can often be found in dark and cool places and an adult cockroach can live up to a full year. While these little critters can be found dwelling outside, they love to wander indoors in search of food and water. In Florida, populated areas of trees, woodpiles, and garbage facilities all provide an adequate food supply for these peridomestic cockroaches.

Florida Summer Pest #8: Mosquitoes

While most of us have been bitten by a mosquito before, these pests can be especially bothersome during the Florida summer. These tiny insects are notorious for sucking blood and leaving behind red, itchy bumps. Most mosquitoes tend to favor warm and moist environments and often require a nearby source of standing water to survive. These pests are also known to harbor a variety of transmissible diseases including malaria, yellow fever, and more.

Looking for professional pest and termite control near Jupiter? Contact the pest control professional at Palm Coast Pest Control today!