Pest Control Archives - Page 8 of 13 - Florida Pest Control - Pest Control and Exterminator Services

What’s the Difference Between Bee Stings vs Wasp Stings?

What honey bees look like in Florida - Florida Pest Control

Quick Facts About Bee & Wasp Stings

Bees leave their barbed stinger behind and can only sting once, while wasps retain their stinger and can sting repeatedly.
Bee stings inject roughly 50 micrograms of venom, whereas wasp stings inject two to 15 micrograms per sting in rapid succession.
Bee and wasp venom differ, but both can cause redness, swelling, soreness, and itchiness due to histamine release.
Both types of stings can trigger allergic reactions, including severe anaphylaxis with symptoms like difficulty breathing and throat swelling.
Identifying whether bees or wasps are present helps determine sting risk and guides proper nest removal.

Not sure whether you were stung by a bee or a wasp? While the pain may initially feel similar, the way these insects sting (and the risks that follow) are pretty different. Knowing the key differences can help you recognize symptoms, avoid additional stings, and respond safely. If you’re unsure which stinging insect is active on your Florida property, Florida Pest Control can identify the species, locate their nest, and remove it safely.

Wasp vs Bee Stings in Florida

Bee stings and wasp stings can feel almost the same in some cases, but the processes of their stings are quite different. There are three main differences between bee and wasp stings:

Stinger: When a bee stings you, it ejects its stinger into your body, rendering it unable to sting again. On the flipside, wasps’ stingers remain intact. They can sting you many times in a row.
Volume: Bees sting just once, but inject all of their venom into their victim. This usually totals 50 micrograms of venom. Wasps only inject 2-15 micrograms of venom per sting, but they can issue many stings in a short amount of time.
Venom: Wasps and bees have different allergens in their venom. Despite this, though, their stings both result in the release of histamine in our bodies, which causes a breakout of hive-like patterns on the skin.

Do Bee and Wasp Stings Cause Allergic Reactions?

It is possible to develop an allergic reaction to both wasp and bee stings. You might be allergic to one and not the other, both kinds of stings, or neither. Bee and wasp stings usually only result in mild symptoms, like:

Pain and soreness
Swelling
Itchiness and redness

Unfortunately, severe allergic reactions occur more commonly than many people expect. Thousands of people visit the emergency room annually for complications resulting from anaphylaxis, the most dangerous reaction that results from bee and wasp stings. The most serious symptoms of anaphylaxis are:

Difficulty breathing
Swelling of the throat and tongue
Vomiting
Fainting
Pain and itchiness all over the body

Wasp and Bee Control in Florida

Bee and wasp stings should be taken very seriously. It is possible to experience an allergic reaction to a sting without experiencing severe symptoms in the past. If you can’t tell which kind of stinging insect is inhabiting your yard in Florida, ask your local pest control company. Our experts at Florida Pest Control can identify any type of bee or wasp on your property, locate their nest, and remove it safely and promptly. Contact us today for a free estimate on nest removal services!

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Fire Ants in Florida: What You Need to Know

Quick Facts About Fire Ants in Florida

Fire ants deliver painful stings, can attack in large numbers, and may cause dangerous allergic reactions.
Florida’s warm, humid climate supports fire ant populations, which often build outdoor mounds in lawns, parks, fields, and along concrete edges.
Fire ants are dull red, 1/8–¼ inches long, with two bumps between the abdomen and thorax; their mounds can reach up to 18 inches high and have no opening at the top.
Disturbed fire ant mounds trigger a coordinated attack, with ants emerging together and stinging repeatedly.
Queen fire ants can lay up to 800 eggs per day, producing colonies of 100,000–500,000 ants with extensive underground tunnels.

Fire ants are a serious threat throughout Florida, known for their painful stings and aggressive colony behavior. These reddish ants thrive in the state’s warm, humid climate and often build large mounds in yards, parks, and other open areas. Because their colonies can contain hundreds of thousands of ants, and they attack in groups when disturbed, recognizing fire ant activity early is essential for safety. Florida Pest Control provides expert identification and safe removal to help protect your family and property from these dangerous pests.

Are There Fire Ants in Florida?

Yes, there are fire ants in Florida. Fire ants’ range stretches across most of the southeastern United States.

Are Fire Ants Dangerous?

These small, yet powerful, insects bite and sting approximately 14 million people each year. For most people, fire ant bites are not a big deal. They will hurt but you are unlikely to need medical attention. However, for those hypersensitive to bug stings, the venom from these ants can be life-threatening. Additionally, getting large numbers of bites can be highly dangerous to people. If you’re ever attacked by fire ants and start feeling tightness in your chest, difficulty breathing, or onset of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical care.

What Do Fire Ants Look Like?

Fire ants measure from 1/8 – ¼ inch and are a dull red color. Fire ants are most known for their stinger, which in accordance with their aggressive nature, can lead to bad encounters. Fire ants are best recognized by two bumps that they have between the abdomen and thorax.

The easiest way to identify fire ants is through their mounds. These mounds range in size—some are small bumps, others can be up to 18 inches high. If you run into a fire ant mound, it won’t feature an opening on the top like other ant mounds. A mound that is about 7 inches high can house over 200,000 ants, which is precisely why these ants pose such a huge threat.

5 Facts About Fire Ants

Fire ants differ from your typical house ant in a number of ways. The most important things to know about these potentially dangerous pests include:

If a fire ant mound is disturbed, they will attack as one unit. When disturbed, the ants will begin spilling out ready to attack—and each ant will sting repeatedly.
To begin a fire ant colony, queen fire ants mate with males, killing the male in the process, and fly to the site at which she’ll begin the new colony. The queen will lay up to 800 eggs per day, growing the colony to an average size of 100,000 to 500,000 ants.
Fire ants don’t bite—they sting! Their stings can result in a burning sensation, hence their name. The sting site may swell and itch. A small pustule sometimes develops where the stinger enters the skin.
If fire ants get on you, it’s important to quickly and repeatedly brush them off your skin. The ants can latch on tight, meaning shaking won’t repel them. If you develop symptoms from fire ants, it’s important to seek medical attention.
Fire ants typically nest outdoors in open areas. Parks and fields are usually primary targets, but yards can be as well. The mounds are often found lining your grass and concrete, and they typically form on humid days.

Fire Ant Control in Florida

Trying to get rid of a fire ant mound yourself is dangerous. Their colonies extend far under the ground and feature multiple queens. If you have noticed a fire ant mound grow in your yard, the safest and most effective solution is contacting your local ant control experts to get rid of them.

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4 Tips to Prevent Summer Lawn Pests

Grubs are a common summer lawn pest in Florida lawns - Florida Pest Control

Here in Florida, maintaining a healthy and lush lawn doesn’t come without its troubles. With our climate, it can be difficult to keep a lawn in good shape throughout the seasons—especially in the warm summertime. To make matters worse, lawn pests are a common nuisance dealt with by homeowners all year long. Lawn insects target grass and yards that are unkempt and unhealthy to begin with, making it all the more important to take proper care of your lawn and grass. The lawn care experts at Florida Pest Control are dedicated to helping our customers achieve a green, healthy lawn. We’ve provided our top 4 tips to prevent summer lawn pests to assist you.

Summer Lawn Pests in Florida

Florida is home to many types of pests, including a number of lawn pests! These insects commonly live just under the grass in your lawn, making it difficult to notice them until they’ve done their damage. Here are the most common lawn insects in our region during the summer:

Sod webworms chew through small areas of grass. They create tunnels out of their silky web that will run under the grass. Signs to look for include raggedly-chewed grass and smaller brown spots- around the size of a baseball.
Armyworms are small caterpillars that grow into moths. The females lay up to a thousand eggs at once in patches of fresh grass. These can hatch as quickly as 2 days. To spot these guys, you’ll want to look on the outside of dead or damaged grass areas.
Chinch bugs attack your lawn by sucking the liquid out of grass blades. In doing so, patches of grass on your lawn will dehydrate, turn yellow, then brown and die.
Mole crickets feed on and chew through the grassroots, causing your grass to die off. When dealing with mole crickets, your grass will feel spongy when stepped on and be covered with brown patches.
Grubs are beetle larvae that remain dormant through the winter. In the spring, they make their way toward the surface to feed on grassroots.

Top Tips For Lawn Pest Prevention

The key to lawn pest control is prevention. The key to preventing lawn pests is taking care of your yard! To ensure your lawn is healthy, thriving, and pest-free, follow these tips:

Learn how to properly mow your lawn. Long grass that is never cut will attract all types of pests and weeds. Mowing your lawn in a timely manner will deprive lawn insects food and shelter.
Avoid over- or under-watering your lawn. Pests of all kinds love moisture. If your lawn is soggy from overwatering, you are sure to create a haven for lawn pests. Learn how to properly irrigate your lawn depending on the season.
When you see weeds, remove them! Wild, unkempt weeds attract a number of insects and pests. Weeds also negatively affect the health of your grass, leading to a number of diseases and problems.
Fertilize your lawn as needed. Similar to your irrigation system, failing to fertilize your lawn correctly can lead to a plethora of problems. A lawn made unhealthy due to over-fertilization can contribute to pest problems.

Your Local Lawn Pest Control Experts

At Florida Pest Control, we know how frustrating it can be to diagnose your lawn problems. If you think you have a lawn insect problem, our lawn care experts can help. Contact us today to get started!

armyworms chinch bugs grubs lawn pests mole crickets sod webworms

Coronavirus FAQ for Residential Customers

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As a business, Florida Pest Control is committed to protecting people, therefore we are closely monitoring the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation and providing informative updates to our customers via our websites and direct communications. In the interim, we want to reassure you that we are taking steps to remove potential risk factors, both for you in your day-to-day interactions and in those with our Colleagues.

1. How is Florida Pest Control working to help protect its customers and Colleagues?
To best protect our customers and Colleagues, we are focused on education. With our Colleagues, we continue to reinforce the enhanced need for good hygiene practices during this period of heightened concern around Coronavirus Disease 2019, such as the importance of frequent hand washing, wearing gloves, face masks and cleaning with disinfectant for common areas.
Florida Pest Control Colleagues who are sick are encouraged to speak with their Manager and stay home when they are ill.

2. If my Pest Specialist is diagnosed with Coronavirus, what precautions has the organization established to prevent exposure to me or my family?
We are taking all precautions to reduce the chances that a Florida Pest Control Colleague would have exposure to Coronavirus. However, should one of our Colleagues be diagnosed with Coronavirus, we will:
• We are educating our Colleagues on the signs and symptoms of the virus. If a Colleague feels ill, they have been instructed to not continue to work and to notify their manager immediately.
• If a Colleague has been diagnosed, we will remove that Colleague from their work environment or service route immediately.
• We will follow all U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health department guidance on notifying anyone who has been in close contact with that individual.
• Guidelines have been established to maintain our Colleague’s privacy by following all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) guidelines.

3. Should I alert Florida Pest Control if a member of my household is diagnosed with Coronavirus Disease 2019?
Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that if you or a member of your household is diagnosed with Coronavirus Disease 2019, that you please alert Florida Pest Control by calling your local Florida Pest Control office. Customer confidentiality is of the utmost importance and this information will only be used to help us modify your service plan to ensure your home remains protected from pests.
Florida Pest Control is committed to doing our part to limit the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in our communities. Because Coronavirus Disease 2019 can be spread person-to-person, if you or another member of your household is diagnosed with Coronavirus Disease 2019, your Florida Pest Control Branch Manager will contact you to discuss modified service options for a limited period of time.

4. How do I keep up-to-date on Coronavirus Disease 2019?
You can keep up-to-date with local government guidance and the current recommendations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC.

5. How contagious is Coronavirus Disease 2019?
According to the CDC, it is important to note that how a virus can spread from person to person will vary greatly. Sustained person-to-person spread in the community has been reported in countries around the world. As this is an evolving situation, there is still more to learn about the transmissibility and severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019. Visit the CDC in the U.S. for more information.

6. What can individuals do to prevent the spread of the virus?
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. (Close contact is defined as 6 feet.)
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray and wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds.

7. Is pest control considered an essential business?

Our services are critical for many businesses because we provide protection from the risks emanating from pest infestation. There are significant risks for both people and institutions; from food supply chain to hospitals to utilities to aged care. At a time of increased pressure on the core areas of food and health it is crucial we protect these premises from further risks. For that reason, we are still considered essential in most areas across the United States.

Pest Control is an Essential Business

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Dear Valued Customers,

As communities around North America band together to determine the best course of action to stop the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), I wanted to reach out to let you know how Florida Pest Control is planning to move forward during the coming weeks.

As it always is, our mission is to protect and enhance lives by providing safe, reliable pest control to keep your homes or businesses pest-free. As such, we want you to know that we are here to serve you and are conducting scheduled services without interruption.

With many cities and states ordering shutdowns of non-essential businesses, in most areas, Florida Pest Control is able to continue operations because pest control is considered an essential service critical to the protection of public health. Rodents and insects that can invade your home and yard can carry and spread diseases to you, your family, and your pets. In addition to homes, we also provide pest control to businesses that serve the public, such as hospitals and grocery stores, as well as critical organizations in the supply chain, such as pharmaceutical facilities, food processing, and consumer goods manufacturers.

Our Pest Specialists remain equipped with all needed materials to ensure that your service is conducted safely. In this time of heightened awareness, we are also taking the following additional steps:

Our business is adhering to U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus, including enhanced cleaning schedules at our offices.

We continue to regularly update and reinforce with our Colleagues the increased need for safety, sanitation, and hygiene measures, such as frequent hand washing.

Our teams are closely monitoring the need for additional resources in our branches in the event of increased call volume.

We’ll continue monitoring the situation and provide additional information should it become necessary.

Thank you for your continued business with Active. As your local pest control experts, we believe in the importance of community and are committed to working with our customers to ensure that their homes and businesses are protected from pests, even in these times of uncertainty.

Sincerely,
John Myers
President & CEO
Florida Pest Control

Winter Cold and Frost Damage

A patch of grass affected by frost damage - keep pests away form your home with florida pest control

It seems that winter is almost over! In the past, some parts of Florida have experienced freezing temperatures well into April. So, there’s still plenty of time for some freezing cold winter nights that could take a toll on your lawn and shrubs.

With all that being said, if you suspect your lawn has received some cold or frost damage, there are some steps you can take to determine the extent. Start by raking the dead areas to expose the base of the grass. If it’s cold damage, all parts of the grass will be dead all the way down to the roots. With frost damage, the base of the grass will still be green. Frost-damaged grass should recover when the spring warm-up rolls around. Any areas that have died should be renovated to prevent weeds from taking over.

A heavy layer of leaves still left on the grass can promote disease, so these leaves should be raked up or mowed. Mowing the leaves will allow the smaller pieces to decompose faster and return nutrients back into the soil.

Don’t be tempted to remove or prune a shrub that may appear dead or damaged from the cold. The brown leaves are just a sign of what is happening on the surface of the plant. If you scrape a small section of a branch, you’ll reveal what’s going on below the bark. If it’s green at the cambium layer, which is just below the bark, the branch is still alive. If it’s brown, then that part of the branch is dead.Some branches may fail to show signs of life in the spring while other branches are sprouting buds. If this occurs, you should prune back the dead branches on the shrub. If you have plants that don’t respond in the spring, replacing those plants is recommended. Now is a good time to transplant shrubs while they’re still dormant. Transplanting during dormancy will help prevent the plant from going into shock, allowing a smoother transition into the spring greening.

Spring is a great time to fertilize your shrubs. Your shrubs will be healthier, look better and the fertilizer may even help in resisting next year’s cold weather. Florida Pest Control has a wonderful program that controls pests on your shrubs and fertilizes your shrubs, as well. For more information, contact us. Your shrubs will thank you for it!

Spanish Moss and Your Florida Landscape

Spanish moss hanging from a tree - keep pests away form your home with florida pest control

This is a very good time of year to evaluate the condition of your trees concerning the amount of Spanish moss they may have. Most will agree that a large oak tree draped with Spanish moss is a familiar image of the “Old South.” However, in many cases the limbs are heavily laden with moss and many twigs have no leaves because the moss is competing for space on the limb. The tree may be struggling and the moss is contributing to a slow decline. Consider the following moss facts:

Spanish moss is an air plant.
Just like other air plants, Spanish moss receives its nourishment through photosynthesis and rainwater, not from the plant it’s attached to.
Moss will not kill the tree; however, it will compete for space on limbs and twigs.
Because moss adds considerable weight to limbs and twigs, broken limbs can occur, especially when the moss is wet.

So, how much moss is too much moss? How much is acceptable? That decision is entirely up to you. Florida Pest Control can apply a product that will control Spanish moss. This treatment is less expensive and more complete than hand pulling. If your trees are overwhelmed by Spanish moss and you’d like them treated, contact us.

Keeping Pets Safe During Pest Control Treatments

When you have a pest problem, it’s likely you have a lot on your mind. And while it may be easy to overlook things when scheduling your appointment, keeping your pets safe should not be one of those things! Most treatment methods used for household pest control are pet-friendly, but there are still some precautions you can take.

Your first step should always be to speak with your pest control professional. They will be able to help you determine what treatment is necessary for your home, and what preparations should be made prior to your appointment.

Regardless of the scale of the pest control treatment, you should always make an effort to contain your pets, both for their safety and the safety of the pest control technician. Although your dog may seem docile and harmless around family and friends, she may not behave the same when a stranger enters her home.

Also, your pets may simply want to figure out what is going on with a stranger in their house – but it is this curiosity that could put them in a harmful situation during a pesticide application. An easy solution is to make sure that they are kept in a kennel or carrier while the pest control expert is in your home. If a carrier is not available, simply move them to an area of your house that will not be included in the pest service.

Most common household treatments are confined to cracks and crevices in areas of pest activity, but spraying for fleas and other more involved treatments may require extra considerations – possibly finding a safe place for you and your pet to stay away from home for a short time.

Different types of pets may require different preparations, and some pets are more sensitive than others. Based on the treatment being performed by your pest control professional, they will tell you any additional preparations to make.

Please inform your pest control expert of all the pets you may have living in your home. Oftentimes, we think of pets only as the furry four-legged variety, but birds, reptiles and fish are common pets as well. Making your professional aware of these friends with feathers or scales before your appointment will allow you ample time to prepare should they need to be removed from the home on treatment day.

When it comes to in-home services, it’s always a good rule of thumb to consult with the experts – pest control is no different. Florida Pest Control has a team of well-trained and certified professionals to help you make any necessary decisions, and make sure that your family is safe throughout the entire process.

How to Identify a Hidden Wasps’ Nest

You may not realize you have a wasp problem until one chases you around the yard. Fortunately, most wasp nests are easy to find if you know where to look. Under the eaves, attached to soffits or on exterior walls – all are likely locations for a wasp nest. However, many wasps’ nests often go undetected for weeks or months, and these can quickly become more than a nuisance!

In the case of many common wasps, their nests are often not easily visible. They may be hidden within gaps in the exterior of your home, in shrubbery, or in the case of yellow jackets, they may be hiding underground! If you’ve been pestered by wasps, here’s how to track them back to their nest.

Areas to Check for Wasps’ Nests

Springtime is typically when wasps begin to re-emerge, but it takes until about mid-summer for most nests to fully establish themselves. By summer, you’ll definitely notice any wasps that are in the area.

Wasps commonly build nests in protected areas: along exterior walls, under wooden decks, on nearby trees and, occasionally, inside a home. Once a wasp nest becomes fully established, you’ll typically see a steady stream of wasps hovering around the nest entrance. So, if you know where to look, you can usually spot an active nest without much trouble. If you know you have wasps, take a look in these usual spots:

Along your eaves
Underneath windowsills
Garden sheds or garages
On or under playground equipment or lawn furniture
Gaps in soffits, exterior fascia or wooden decks
Around electrical equipment or wiring, such as your utility box or swimming pool equipment
Check trees near your garden if you’re being pestered during the day. Scout wasps often alert the nest to sources of food commonly found in gardens.

If You Find a Nest, Should You Leave It Aline?

While it may make sense to remove a wasp nest near your front door, porch or garage, some wasp nests can be very beneficial, especially if you spend time gardening or are plagued by other pests. Even though wasps can be intimidating (and painful), they are also incredible predators of other pests. Unless the nest is actively bothering you or causing you to run away from your front door each morning, you may want to consider allowing the nest to remain – at a reasonable size – to help control other pests.

How to Remove a Nest

Of course, nests in trafficked areas usually have to be dealt with. Small, free-hanging nests can usually be removed using retail sprays with minimized risk, but no wasp removal is without risk! For nests that are hidden within the fascia or in the ground, it is much safer (and cheaper) to get professional help for wasp control. At Florida Pest Control, we have decades of experience dealing with wasps and can safely destroy a dangerous nest. Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive inspection.

Lone Star Ticks in Florida

The adult female Lone Star Tick displays a white spot near the center of her back while the male has white streaks or spots along the margin on the top side of its body. They are found throughout most of Florida and the Southeastern United States with populations spreading to the Midwest and the Northeast.

A female Lone Star Tick can lay up to 5000 eggs all in one sitting. Imagine seeing thousands of tiny seed ticks emerging all at one time, but that’s what happens day after day. You can see right away how populations can get out of control and why they are spreading to new areas so rapidly.

Lone Star Ticks have three life stages (larva, nymph and adult) and must feed on a host before moving on to the next stage. Upon hatching, the six legged larvae will feed mainly on mammals and birds. They rarely, if ever, feed on small rodents. The nymphs will feed on birds, small rodents and other mammals. Adult Lone Star Ticks host on medium to large mammals, but will also feed on wild turkeys and rodents.

Lone Star Ticks are known to carry several pathogens including Rickettsiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia. They have also been said, by some scientists, to be carriers of Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI).

There have been many red meat allergies reported over the past several years that are said to be associated with Lone Star Tick bites. Symptoms are swelling, hives, problem with breathing, diarrhea, vomiting and a drop in blood pressure. Scientists say that Lone Star Ticks have a sugar in their system that humans don’t called alpha-gal. This same sugar is found in red meat. When the tick bites, it transmits this sugar which triggers a response from our immune system which in turn sends out antibodies to deal with it. Then later, when a person eats red meat, an allergic reaction could develop.

If you’re concerned that you may have Lone Star Ticks or any other tick species on your property, contact the Florida Pest Control office nearest to you. We’ll be glad to come out and perform an inspection.