Tampa Bay's Tropical Threat: Common Pests and How to Combat Them
Residents of Tampa Bay have their pick of gorgeous attractions like Busch Gardens or the Tampa Riverwalk or soak up the rays on Clearwater Beach. With over 240 days of beautiful sunshine and warm weather, getting outside is every Tampa Bay local's number one to-do. But while you are figuring out what to do outside, bugs and flying insects are figuring out how to get inside your home. Learn what pests want to pester you in Tampa Bay and what works best to get them to leave you alone.
Cockroaches
The American cockroach, Australian cockroach, German cockroach and Brown-Banded cockroach are the common cockroaches in the Tampa Bay part of Florida. Normally found in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and basements, they can invade almost anywhere.
To Battle Cockroaches
Sealing your home's foundation is an important step to keeping these bugs out of your home. Adding door sweeps and weather stripping around every window, especially in your basement, will help. Check on all of the pipes for leaks and make sure food is put away properly in a sealed container.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs like to feed on the blood of humans, mostly at night. These bugs thrive where there are a lot of people in larger numbers, and since Tampa Bay is a hot tourist spot, that means they can quickly become a problem, infesting rooms rather quickly. They are more annoying than dangerous, but you do not want to leave an infestation alone.
How to Banish Bed Bugs
Since the majority of bed bugs get into your home from traveling, when you are out and about, keep your belongings off of the ground in all public spaces. Try not to let your personal belongings touch anyone else's, and if you stay in a hotel, inspect the room before opening any of your luggage.
Vacuuming and washing all bedding at home is a great step to keeping bed bugs and other pests away from your family. Investing in mattress covers wouldn't be a bad idea.
Wasps, Hornets and Bees
Flying insects are annoying enough, but when they are the stinging kind, it is so much worse. While everyone knows bees are important for the environment and ecosystem, wasps and hornets are, as well, just in different ways. Each one can sting with venom that people and pets could be allergic to, so if you find a nest near your home, it needs to be taken care of.
How to Remove These Flying Insects
Keeping these flying insects away from your property to start with means being mindful of which plants and flowers you have in your yard, making sure your windows and doors are sealed and not letting any standing water sit on your property.
If you do find a hive, you should call a professional to have it removed and rehomed immediately.
Ants
Ants are a problem pretty much anywhere you go. They are usually nothing more than a nuisance to humans, but an infestation could be a threat if you have the type that bites and transmits diseases. Florida carpenter ants can cause serious damage to the structural integrity of homes and businesses, and fire ants can do damage to a person.
How to Keep Ants Away
To keep ants away from your yard and home, give your outdoor space a bit of attention. Mow your lawn as short as you can regularly and keep all greenery, bushes and trees trimmed. You could add a barrier of mulch around the foundation of your home to deter ants, as well.
Mosquitoes: A Year-Round Concern
In the Tampa Bay area, mosquitoes thrive due to the warm climate and abundant moisture. While these insects are most active during dawn and dusk, they can disrupt outdoor activities and potentially transmit diseases throughout much of the year.
Mosquito Control Solutions
Professional mosquito control offers two primary options: automated misting systems and targeted fogging treatments. Misting systems provide continuous protection through strategically placed nozzles that release timed bursts of mosquito control solution around your property. For immediate relief or special events, QuickNix® fogging treatments offer up to two weeks of protection by treating dense vegetation and problem areas where mosquitoes breed and rest.
Rodents
Mice and other rodents can enter anyone's home as they look for food sources. These critters could spread disease and could damage your plants and yard. Though some rodents are important for the environment due to aerating the soil and spreading seeds, you don't want them in your home.
How to Keep Rodents Out
Sealing gaps in windows, doors and walls is one line of defense to keep rodents out of your home. Keeping your home clean and crumb-free and storing food in containers with lids is another. If you find traces of rodents inside your home, depending on the type, you could use traps to take care of them.
Pest Proof Your Home Against Any Pesks
It doesn't matter what type of bug or flying insect you find in your home or yard, basic upkeep and monitoring will keep them all away.
- Keep your yard neat, tidy and mowed short
- Dump any standing water as soon as you notice it
- Don't stack piles of wood or other materials too close to your home
- Seal all windows and doors and check over your screens
- Check all faucets and pipes for leaks
- Always put food away properly, in sealed containers
If all else fails, don't forget about a compassionate and knowledgeable pest control company like MosquitoNix®. You can call for a consultation and see what personalized plan the team can come up with. There are plenty of sunny perks of living in the Tampa Bay area. But if you don't want them to get too close to your home, take these precautions to keep your home safe.
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