The holiday season is upon us! This is the time of year we gather with friends and family to give thanks for our blessings. Hopefully, we can all be thankful to have a pest-free* home. Nothing is more unnerving than knowing you share your domicile with invaders (no, we are not talking about pesky family members). Here are some tips to keep your holiday celebrations pest-free*:

• If you are traveling, be alert for bed bugs. These hitchhikers have been found in all modes of transportation, as well as hotels and restaurants. Check your luggage, purse, and other personal items to make sure you do not bring these pests back home with you.

• The best pest control method is prevention. Your warm home is not only inviting to guests, it’s also where many pests will try to seek refuge as temperatures drop. Take time to inspect the outside of your home for pest entry points. Check seals around windows and doors, including door sweeps. Look for areas where pipes, wiring, conduit, etc., enter the building. Any entry points you find should be sealed to prevent pests from easily entering your home.

• The fewer pests you have living around your home, the fewer you have trying to get into your home. Remove pest hiding places outside. Trim tall vegetation. Remove yard debris and fallen leaves. Make sure the gutters on your home are clean. Trim shrubs to create a gap between them and your home. Keep trash can lids on tight. Pretty much, you want to remove any food, water, and hiding places for pests from around your home.

• Sometimes, the pests sneak their way in, right under your nose. Christmas trees are notorious for helping their tenants crash your Christmas party. Dried food items (flour, pasta, rice, grits, cereal, etc.) can also be culprits for sudden pest sightings. Make sure you check any pantry items for small beetles, moths, webbing, or holes in the packaging. This is especially true if the items are not used frequently and have been sitting for some time.

• You may find yourself crashing a secret pest party in your own home. Be prepared to find pest activity in those cardboard boxes of holiday decorations and wrapping paper you had stowed in the attic or garage since last year. Pests such as silverfish, roaches, and even rats love to make their home in cardboard boxes, especially when those boxes have remained undisturbed for an extended period of time. Whenever possible, use plastic bins with tight-fitting lids to store items.

The previous tips should help you reduce the likelihood that your home will be invaded by creepy pests this holiday season. If you are concerned that pests may crash your festivities, contact us for help.  We want to keep you from having the “bah humbugs.”

When people hear rustling noises coming from their attic, their first response is that they may have a rat or squirrel problem. Rarely do people think they may have a problem with bats. From time to time, bats become displaced from their natural home (a dead tree or a cave, for example) and end up residing in manmade structures where they can become a nuisance.

Bats are protected animals in the state of Florida. With this being said, what can be done to remove bats if they are in a building?  The Florida Bat Conservancy and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommend exclusion of bat entry points and the use of one-way devices that allow the bats to exit the building, but not re-enter.

Bat exclusions cannot be performed year-round. From April through August, mothers may be rearing young. If a building were sealed with pups (baby bats) enclosed and no way for their mother to take care of them, they would die. For this reason, there is a window from Fall until Spring when bats can be excluded from buildings.

So, how do you know if you have bats in the belfry? Because bats are nocturnal, you won’t see them flying about during the day, but you may notice them emerging from openings at dusk. Rustling noises and squeaking coming from ceilings and walls may be heard. Staining may be seen around the openings that the bats are using to enter and exit the structure. Guano may also be found by the openings on ledges, sidewalks, patios, attic woodwork, etc.

In the event you suspect you have bats in a building, this is the time of year to address the issue. Contact us today! We can help.

Halloween brings with it creepy-crawly, scary creatures! People decorate their homes with store-bought cobwebs, fake spiders, rubber snakes, and plastic cockroaches. Even these harmless substitutes can make the faint of heart squeamish, let alone the real thing! Why are some people so afraid of spiders, bugs, or snakes? Just as we stated that “bats aren’t all bad” in a previous article, these creepy crawlers aren’t all bad either.

First off, let’s talk about the fear of spiders – arachnophobia. For many, the idea of walking through a cobweb causes goosebumps to appear. Where there are cobwebs, there are spiders…and one could possibly be crawling on you after you walk through its web! Yikes! Spiders want no more to do with you than you do with them. If threatened, they may bite you in defense, but more often than that, they will try to escape to a protected place. There is a group of spiders that you should steer clear of in Florida – They are the Widows. If these spiders were to bite you, depending on your overall health and sensitivity to their venom, you could become significantly ill.  Most often, people think of the notorious Brown Recluse as a possible threat, but cases of this spider being an issue in Florida are usually due to people bringing recluse spiders back from out-of-state travel.

If spiders aren’t an issue with you, what about snakes? The fear of snakes is referred to as ophidiophobia (or ophiophobia). Maybe this fear is due to a snake’s beady eyes, its shiny scales, or flickering tongue? Although these characteristics don’t make the snake an ideal “snuggle buddy” like a cat or dog, we shouldn’t hold this against them. Snakes assist in insect, amphibian, reptile, bird, and rodent control. Without snakes, populations of rodents, for example, in an area could explode. There are even snakes, such as the Indigo and Kingsnake, that control other snakes (including the venomous ones).

Our last group for discussion is of the six-legged variety, the insects. The fear of insects, in general, is entomophobia. There are even names assigned for the fear of specific insects! For example, katsaridaphobia is the fear of cockroaches. There are a few species of cockroaches that can live in our climate-controlled homes and wreak havoc (the German cockroach is a good example), but most of the roaches we see would rather be outside. They don’t want to be in your home any more than you want them there. These outdoor roaches are beneficial in the wild as they help to break down organic material. Think of them as nature’s recyclers, rather than the creepy thing you find crawling on your bedroom wall at night. If spiders aren’t an issue with you, what about snakes? The fear of snakes is referred to as ophidiophobia (or ophiophobia). Maybe this fear is due to a snake’s beady eyes, its shiny scales, or flickering tongue? Although these characteristics don’t make the snake an ideal “snuggle buddy” like a cat or dog, we shouldn’t hold this against them. Snakes assist in insect, amphibian, reptile, bird, and rodent control. Without snakes, populations of rodents, for example, in an area could explode. There are even snakes, such as the Indigo and Kingsnake, that control other snakes (including the venomous ones).

Hopefully, if you suffered from arachnophobia, ophidiophobia, or entomophobia before reading this article, you feel a bit more at ease about these stereotyped bad guys. Sure, there are spiders, snakes, and insects you should avoid for health reasons, but they are the minority. The majority are beneficial in their natural environment and aren’t as spooky or creepy as people think.

Do Hurricanes Lead to More Mosquitoes?

Hurricanes bring devastation with them with their high winds and excessive rainfall. On top of the damage to personal property and people’s lives, yes, hurricanes also create another menace: breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are not just a nuisance, they also carry disease. What species do we find in Florida, and what can you do to make them QUIT biting you? Read on to find out.

Which Mosquito Species Are Found in Florida?

One of the more commonly encountered mosquitoes is the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which is an exotic, invasive mosquito now found throughout the Florida peninsula and panhandle.  The Asian Tiger Mosquito is known to transmit several diseases including West Nile Virus.  There is also some indication they may be able to carry the Zika Virus.  This species lays its eggs in Autumn in moist areas.  Come Spring and a little rain, it is out and about and ready to feed.

Another mosquito found throughout the Florida peninsula and panhandle is the Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti).  As its name implies, this mosquito is capable of transmitting Yellow Fever, as well as Dengue, Chikungunya Virus, and Dog Heartworm.  It is said to be the primary vector of the Zika Virus, as well.  Thankfully, none of these pathogens are common in the United States with the exception of Dog Heartworm.

The Eastern Treehole Mosquito (Aedes triseriatus) is another species that can be found in much of the state.  The larvae develop in tree holes (hence the name) but will also breed in other types of containers including rain barrels.  It is the primary carrier of La Crosse Encephalitis.

The Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) is found throughout Florida.  This mosquito can develop in almost anything that holds still water.  The Southern House Mosquito is known to carry the viruses that cause West Nile and St. Louis Encephalitis (SLE).

Culex nigripalpus, which has the unofficial name of the Florida SLE Mosquito, is quite common and found throughout the state.  What makes this such an important species is they are vectors of SLE, West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Dog Heartworm.  Much like its cousin, the Southern House Mosquito, it will inhabit almost anything that holds still water.

The granddaddy and largest mosquito found in the southeast is the Gallinipper Mosquito (Psorophora ciliate).  Although research has shown that many of the aforementioned pathogens have been tested for and found in Gallinipper Mosquitoes, there are no studies confirming it is a vector of those viruses.  This mosquito becomes a major nuisance after heavy rains which cause flooding and puddling in low-lying areas such as pastures and drainage ditches.  The Gallinipper Mosquito is quite capable of penetrating clothing and delivering a painful bite!

How Can You Prevent Mosquitoes After a Hurricane?

Now, what can be done to minimize mosquito populations?

• Do not allow water to stand in artificial containers for long periods of time.
• Clean and refill birdbaths and pet water bowls every few days.
• Use mosquito dunks in ponds and other bodies of water that can’t be drained.  These floating dunk cakes release bacterial agents that kill mosquito larvae.
• Use mosquito repellent for protection when working or playing outdoors.  Remember to follow the label guidelines when using repellents and insecticides.
• Clean roof gutters and downspouts.  This will go a long way in preventing mosquitoes and other pests that could breed up there.

If you’re tired of cleaning your gutters, call your local Florida Pest Control office, we have several programs that can help you accomplish this.  You may never have to clean your gutters again!

To help protect you and your family, Florida Pest Control has developed our Pro Star Mosquito Program.  Skilled technicians will inspect your property for potential mosquito breeding areas.  In conjunction with this inspection, they will also provide recommendations of what you can do to reduce the mosquito pressure around your home.  Treatment of mosquito resting areas associated with the structure will also be performed, thereby reducing the adult population of mosquitoes in that vicinity.  Contact us to schedule an inspection today.

When people hear the word bat, they either think of baseball or Dracula! Bats of the animal variety, with their leathery wings and tiny sharp teeth, seem to strike fear into the hearts of most people. Maybe this is because of a common misconception that all bats drink blood like the vampire bats in the Dracula movies. Actually, there are only three species of bats in the world that feed on blood and they reside solely in South America.

The following are more interesting facts about bats:

• Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. Their wings are actually “hands” with elongated fingers and a leathery membrane.
• 70% of the world’s 1,000⁺ species of bats feed on insects. The remainder feed on nectar, fruit, lizards, birds, frogs, or even fish. All 13 species of bats found in Florida are insectivores (bug eaters).
• Besides being natural pest controllers, bats help to pollinate plants and spread fruit seeds (carried in their nutrient-rich guano).
• Speaking of guano, some bats can produce several times their body weight in droppings per week, depending on how much they eat. Bat guano is reported to be a great fertilizer, but like other excrements, there are hazards associated with handling the raw product.
• Most bats prefer to roost in trees or caves. Unfortunately, when these roosting sites are not available, bats can take up residence in buildings and become a nuisance.

As you can see, bats aren’t the bad guys they’re made out to be. In the event you encounter a bat problem in your home, we have humane methods to remove the bats. This will not only make you happy, but the bats will benefit, as well

The months of July and August are often referred to as the “Dog Days” of summer. This term comes from ancient times where it was believed that Sirius the Dog Star would make temperatures even hotter when they align with the Sun. Although the Dog Star doesn’t actually increase the temperature during its appearance in the summer, I think we can agree it is hot-hot-hot outside! While doing any outdoor activities, be careful of overheating and insect stings.

There are two heat-related illnesses we must be aware of: Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion.

Heat Stroke

This is life-threatening. Symptoms are Hot skin, elevated temperature, disorientation, bizarre behavior, convulsions, rapid breathing, and pulse.

What to do? Seek medical attention immediately.  Before help arrives, move the person to a cool place.  Cool the person the best way possible. Place ice packs or damp rags on the neck and armpits. Fan the person. Slightly elevate their head and shoulders.

Heat Exhaustion

This occurs when you sweat too much and don’t replace body fluids.  Symptoms are Heavy sweating, normal temperature, pale color, headache, dizziness, nausea, and weakness.

What to do?  Move the person to a cool place. Elevate the legs. Cool the person with cool wet rags. Give water or Gatorade. Fan the person. Call for medical help if the person doesn’t improve in 30 minutes.

An old rhyme will help you remember which treatment is needed:  “If the face is red, raise the head (heat stroke). If the face is pale, raise the tail/legs (heat exhaustion).”

Insect Stings

Each year several people die from Hymenoptera stings to the back of the throat.  Their throat swells shut and they suffocate.  If someone accidentally ingests a Hymenoptera and is stung in the back of the throat, the esophagus, or stomach, get immediate medical help!

Stay cool and be careful while enjoying the “Dog Days” of summer.

The beginning of a new school year presents certain problems we all have to deal with.  One common problem is head lice. Let’s talk about how they spread, and what you can do about them.

How Do Head Lice Spread?

Head Lice can be transferred from person to person through personal contact or by sharing certain items such as combs, brushes, caps, clothing, etc.  At school, children often play in close contact with each other and share many of these items.  Since Head Lice don’t fly or have strong jumping legs like fleas, close contact is the primary avenue of spreading from host to host.  It’s best that children are taught not to share personal belongings such as hats, brushes, and combs with other classmates.

When Are Head Lice Most Common?

August through November is normally the time when lice are transmitted.  By December and January, Head Lice infestations are vast.  Children should be inspected weekly for head lice during the early fall months of August through November.

On occasion, lice may fall off their host onto another surface; however, they cannot survive off a human for more than 24 hours.  Therefore, they do not live for very long in furniture, carpet, beds, vehicles, etc.  They want to remain on their host in order to survive.

How Do You Get Rid of Head Lice?

Head Lice eggs are called nits.  They are very tiny, white, oval, and cylindrical in shape.  Nits are glued by the female to the hairs near the scalp normally behind the ears and along the back of the neck.  Nits must be removed by using a special fine-toothed louse comb.  This is done by combing from the root to the tip of the hair and repeating until the entire scalp has been combed several times.  A regular plastic comb will not remove nits.

One female louse will lay 6-7 eggs each day.  A child could have several dozen lice living on his/her head in just a few weeks.  You can see why weekly inspections during the school year are so important.

There are several over-the-counter products that can be applied to the scalp for the control of head lice.  However, it’s important to note that nit removal is the key. This is because up to 80% of nits survive control products applied to the scalp.

Head lice are a medical problem.  There’s no application that can be performed by a pest control company for the control of Head Lice.

Remember, children who are taught not to share personal belongings such as hats, brushes, and combs with other classmates and have weekly inspections performed are less likely to experience head lice during the school year.

Mosquitoes are more than just pests; they can be dangerous – and even deadly – for people and animals alike. Here, in Florida, we have our share of mosquitoes, especially during the summer. While the bites themselves cause mild irritation and itching, diseases that may be transferred as a result of a bite are a big health concern.
Here are some mosquito-borne viruses that may infect Floridians:

West Nile Virus

First identified in Uganda in 1937, West Nile Virus made headlines in the United States in 2012 when an epidemic of this mosquito-borne illness resulted in the second-highest number of cases ever reported in Florida – and claimed the lives of 286 people nationwide. West Nile Virus has been identified in 48 states and all 67 Florida counties.

Only about 20% of infected people show any symptoms, and less than 1% of infected people develop the most severe form of the disease. In these severe cases; however, West Nile may lead to meningitis and encephalitis and cause permanent nerve damage, paralysis, coma, or death.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus

As you may have inferred from the name, Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus was first identified in horses. The virus is now known to infect mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. Most outbreaks occur in summer, but they are possible throughout the year in Florida.

Symptoms including fever, muscle pains, and a severe headache generally appear within 10 days of a person being bitten by an infected mosquito and get worse over time. If the patient doesn’t recover within a couple of weeks, encephalitis-like symptoms including seizures, vomiting, and neurological issues set in, and coma or death may follow. Approximately 30-45% of people with encephalitis from this virus will die from the disease.

Dengue Virus

This virus is responsible for Dengue Fever, also sometimes referred to as Breakbone Fever. The symptoms of this disease are similar to that of the flu: joint pain, headaches, fever, and muscle aches. An additional symptom seen is a rash similar to measles. In severe cases, hemorrhagic fever may develop, which can be fatal.

Cases have been reported in the Keys during 2009-2010 and in Martin County, Florida, in 2013. Most of these cases were due to people traveling to an area such as the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Asia.

Chikungunya Virus

Chikungunya is a fairly new virus. Most of the reported cases in the U.S. have been due to people returning from areas where the disease is prevalent (certain parts of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean). In July 2014, two locally transmitted cases were diagnosed in Florida.

The principal symptom of the Chikungunya Virus is excruciating joint pain. It’s not usually fatal, but the pain can last several weeks.
Zika Virus

Zika virus found itself in the news a few years back, as multiple cases were reported in the United States. The cases originally found in the United States were the result of people returning from areas where the disease was found in high numbers of the population (namely Central and South America, Puerto Rico, and certain parts of the Caribbean). Later, cases of Zika in a Miami neighborhood had authorities concerned, as the virus was spreading among its residents. Increased mosquito control and citizen education programs began in that area to combat the further spread of the virus.

Symptoms of Zika are flu-like. In most cases, those infected either have mild to no symptoms. There is a disturbing phenomenon seen in pregnant women who become infected with Zika. It seems they run a higher chance of giving birth to a child with microcephaly (a birth defect causing small head size and brain abnormalities).
In Conclusion:

All of the diseases previously listed have no human vaccines available, so you can see how important it is to protect yourself from mosquitoes to avoid exposure to any of these nasty viruses! To protect yourself from mosquitoes, wear protective clothing and use insect repellents outdoors. You should also check door and window screens for holes or tears and eliminate standing water near your home. We have a mosquito reduction program, as well, that will assist in lessening the mosquito pressure around your home.

Mosquitoes are one of the most well-known (and most hated) backyard pests known to man. They’re the bane of many a summer barbecue, and they can even just ruin a night inside your home. But even though they’re so common, many people don’t understand much about mosquitoes – which is why they can be so prevalent around the home.

Learn what you don’t know about mosquitoes to discover how you can give yourself a “skeeter-free” summer.

Every Mosquito is the Same

There are actually more than 3,000 varieties of mosquitoes around the world, and about 36 species in Florida. Only a handful of varieties can carry disease and will bite humans, but most prefer to bite amphibians and reptiles. But even though most mosquitoes may not bite you, they are still a nuisance.

No Water, No Mosquitoes

Standing water is the most common breeding place for mosquitoes, and most people know enough to remove things like tires, birdbaths, rain barrels, and empty children’s pools from their yard, but that’s only part of the battle. Many people are often stumped that they continue to be attacked by mosquitoes even after removing water sources from their yards. While standing water is the most common culprit, your yard probably offers many potential homes to a mosquito.

Yard trimmings create a perfect place for mosquitoes to breed and hide in plain sight. Trimmed grass, fallen leaves, and shrubs provide the cool, dark, and damp environments that mosquitoes love, so it’s important that you actively manage your yard maintenance to avoid mosquito infestations. In Florida, fallen pine needles in your backyard or on your roof are a common breeding ground for mosquitoes, so make sure you don’t fall behind on raking them up.

While trimmings and shrubs may not immediately cause more mosquitoes to appear, mosquito eggs can survive in a safe place for months, waiting until there is enough water to feed the larvae. This means that if you don’t regularly clean your yard, the next big Florida rainstorm can create a whole crop of new mosquitoes.

In addition to your trimmings, it’s not uncommon for your gutters to fill up with debris that can quickly become home to a number of pests, including mosquitoes. Florida Pest Control offers the Clear Gutter Pest Defense gutter cleaning service, which ensures that your gutters don’t become a home for annoying pests.

All Mosquitoes Bite

Though it’s natural to want to get away from any mosquito around you, female mosquitoes are actually the only ones that bite. They need protein from blood to help develop eggs and continue the mosquito cycle, while males generally feed on plant nectar or sugar. It can be hard to identify a male mosquito on the fly, obviously, but they’ll generally tend to avoid people – since they aren’t a food source – while females will be attracted to people and pets. Of course, while male mosquitoes don’t bite, they do make more biting mosquitoes.

Natural Remedies Can Drive Them Away

With its warm, humid climate, Florida makes a terrific home for termites of all kinds. There are four basic groups of termites present in Florida. Subterranean termites require a moist environment. Dampwood termites require constant moisture and prefer water-saturated wood. In the case of the drywood termite, as its name indicates, it requires very little moisture in the wood it infests. There is also a fourth group of termites called conehead termites. This exotic termite can be found in isolated parts of South Florida. It requires a moist environment similar to the subterranean termite but performs its foraging and nesting in a unique manner.

So how can termites get into your home? One way subterranean termites find their way into buildings is through foraging. Most of the members of a subterranean termite colony get the job of looking for food to feed themselves and their nestmates. They will travel hundreds of feet to find cellulose material (wood, cardboard, paper, etc.) to take back to their nest. During their travels, they may stumble upon the wood members of your house and begin feasting.

Another way termites could end up infesting your home is through a process called swarming. As the population of a termite colony grows over time, winged termites called swarmers may be sent out to start new colonies elsewhere. You may have even noticed these swarmers flying in large numbers at certain times of the year. Different varieties of termites will swarm at different times – so you could see swarms throughout the year, even in fall and winter. However, most termite species will swarm in spring and summer.

Before we discuss some signs of termite infestation, we should understand the types of termites that could damage your home:

Subterranean termites – Subterranean termites (both native and Formosan) are very common in Florida. These pests live in the soil and will create mud tubes as they forage for food above the soil surface. The food might be a fallen log, scrap wood, or your home! As a result, it’s important to make sure you’re protected from these hungry pests before they cause damage to your biggest investment. Another way subterranean termites could establish themselves in your home is during their swarming season. Native subterranean termites typically swarm in the spring on humid afternoons. The Formosan subterranean termite (an introduced species) starts swarming in the spring and may continue to swarm into the summer. Their flights consist of tens of thousands of swarmers and tend to occur in the evening.

Drywood termites – Homes are also at risk of drywood termite attack. Unlike their subterranean counterparts, drywood termites need no contact with soil to survive. They can inhabit sound wood and have even been known to nest in wooden furniture! These termites generally swarm during summer evenings. Preventive treatments are available to protect your home from these pests; the alternative is waiting until you have an infestation and possibly having to fumigate your home!

Dampwood termites – Dampwood termites are not considered significant structural pests. They require such a high amount of constant moisture that structural infestations of these termites are rare.

Conehead termites – Conehead termites were first discovered in the early 2000s in Broward County. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has been involved in an eradication program to keep this pest from spreading to other parts of Florida. Because of its limited area of known activity in south Florida, it is not yet considered a statewide pest.

Signs of Termites

If you have a termite problem in your home, you may notice this during the spring and summer months. As mentioned previously, this is the time of year many species of termites in Florida swarm to start new colonies.  If your home is infested, you might find large numbers of termite wings from swarmers inside your home on windowsills, in light fixtures, etc. Many people mistake flying ants for termites, but the two have different characteristics when inspected closely.

In addition to swarming termites, subterranean and drywood termites also show more subtle signs of their activity.

Subterranean termites will usually leave a sign of their activity: the termite mud tube or dirt build-up in places where dirt should not be (such as inside walls, baseboards, window sills, etc.). Since these termites tunnel in and feast on wood, one way to check for subterranean termites is to look for buckling wood, warped wood, hollow-sounding wood, or even areas that appear to have water damage. Probing these areas may cause you to break into their tunnel, exposing dirt material and possibly the termites themselves.

Drywood termites will colonize directly inside wooden members, such as inside of walls or within the furniture. One of the first signs of a drywood termite infestation is the presence of their tiny fecal pellets. Drywood termites are better housekeepers than their subterranean cousins. In order to keep their termite tunnels clean inside the wood, they will create “kick out” holes to discard their fecal pellets. If you see small holes in furniture or walls, probe the area and knock lightly to see if fecal pellets fall out of the hole. Be on the lookout for additional pellets dropping from the hole after you’ve cleaned them up. If fecal pellets do reappear, you may have an active colony, especially if your home has never been fumigated.

Removing an Infestation

With termites, an ounce of prevention is definitely worth more than a pound of cure. The easiest way to avoid a termite problem is to protect your home from termites before you have a problem with them. Contact Florida Pest Control today to schedule a termite inspection to safeguard your home against termites.