Pest Library

Bed bugs have adapted to living inside structures, the controlled temperatures enabling these pests to breed, feed, and develop large populations. Bed bugs don’t live outside, so they don’t move inside from our yards; instead, they are introduced into homes and businesses by people. Bed bugs don’t fly or jump, but they are exceptional hitchhikers; they move inside on people’s clothing or our belongings like pieces of furniture, rugs, or electronics. Once inside, these pests quickly make themselves at home and establish large, difficult-to-control populations.

Florida is home to many different species of ants, with the following being the most common:

Once we’ve determined what pest problems are occurring in and around your home, we’ll develop a treatment plan for your house. Inside, this usually includes treating cracks and crevices, treating behind appliances, setting out bait, and targeting specific areas of concern. Outside, we’ll treat around your foundation, as well as windows and doors. We’ll also treat various portions of your landscaping, including pavers, the lawn, and around the pool area as needed.

Bed bugs are common in our Florida homes and businesses because their sole source of nutrition is blood and their preferred hosts are people. Bed bugs hang out in places where people spend a lot of time and regularly move in and out of. Some places people regularly come into contact with bed bugs include hotels, resorts, amusement parks, movie theaters, hospitals, shopping centers, and schools. After bringing them into your home, these reddish-brown insects that are about the size and shape of apple seeds hide out in areas that put them into close contact with people. Bed bugs are nocturnal and feed at night while we sleep, making the seams of mattresses and box springs, upholstery, furniture, wall hangings, or cracks in footboards or headboards common hideouts.

To help protect your home from being overtaken by bed bugs, reach out to us at Pro Pest Control. We will provide the services necessary to find and eliminate bed bugs from your home.

We have put together a list of our most helpful bed bug prevention tips to provide additional assistance:

• • Place bed bug-proof protective covers on your mattresses and box springs.
  • Regularly wash bedding.
  • Always be vigilant when purchasing secondhand furniture or mattresses for your home. Inspect and clean them thoroughly before bringing them inside.
  • Regularly vacuum your home to remove stray bed bugs.
  • Be cautious in public places keeping your belongings up off the ground and away from other people’s belongings as much as possible.
  • When traveling, always inspect your room for bed bugs before moving inside.

Southern chinch bugs are common invaders to lawns in South Florida and can cause massive damage. These insects can be identified by an oval shape with black and white shiny wings. When they are in their nymph stage they are a light brown color. 

Once these insects are infested in a lawn they will start to feed and turn the lawn light brown. Chinch bugs are attracted to lawns that are under stress. Lawns can be stressed out due to a variety of factors:

•  Lack of water
• Nutrient deficiency
• Fungus

Applying water to the lawn while these insects area present will actually increase activity. Chinch bug infestations look similar to lawn dehydration and chinch bugs are commonly tried to be resolved with applying more water. In return, this makes the infestation even worse.

Chinch bugs are know to lay up to 250 eggs in a lifetime. On average it takes about 1-2 weeks for eggs to hatch nymphs. Once they hatch the chinch bugs go through 5 molts before fully maturing to adults. In the South Florida area chinch bugs are active all year round, with a seasonal decline in winter due to colder weather conditions. These insects are mostly common in St. Augustine grass and have high activity season in the summer months. Chinch bugs thrive in the warm South Florida weather. You can test your grass by scanning for these insects by peeling back grass in areas of concern for these insects. By looing for the insect markings you will be able to see if chinch bugs are visible in lawns.

Next to ants, cockroaches are the most problematic pests Florida home and business owners have to contend with inside their structures. Many cockroaches live outside in wooded or swampy areas and our backyards; when the weather becomes too hot and dry, or there is a lack of food, they will migrate indoors. Other species have adapted to living indoors with people they move into and infest new locations by hiding in boxes, furniture, and appliances.

Florida is home to many different species of ants, with the following being the most common:

Once we’ve determined what pest problems are occurring in and around your home, we’ll develop a treatment plan for your house. Inside, this usually includes treating cracks and crevices, treating behind appliances, setting out bait, and targeting specific areas of concern. Outside, we’ll treat around your foundation, as well as windows and doors. We’ll also treat various portions of your landscaping, including pavers, the lawn, and around the pool area as needed.

In other parts of the country, people may have to contend with a couple of species of roaches, but in Florida, we deal with quite a few different species, with some of the most common listed below.

• American cockroach
• Australian cockroach
• Florida wood roach
• German cockroach
• Smoky brown cockroach

Cockroaches are a year-round problem in Florida so staying vigilant to keep these pests out of your home is important. One of the reasons these pests are dangerous inside our homes is because they can spread human pathogens, bacteria, and parasites. They also contaminate food, stain surfaces, produce unpleasant odors, and trigger allergies and asthma attacks.

When it comes to cockroaches knowing where they like to hide is important; regularly checking these spots will help identify an infestation before it becomes large and out of control. Cockroaches generally are found in areas of a house that are naturally warm, damp, and near food sources like bathrooms, kitchens, pantries, utility rooms, and crawl spaces. These nocturnal pests will hide in the backs of drawers, behind large appliances, behind wood trim or baseboards, inside boxes or clutter, and inside wall voids during the day.

As soon as you notice cockroaches on your property, reach out to us at Pro Pest Control. We will provide the services necessary to find and eliminate all the cockroaches from your home.

To provide additional assistance, we have put together a list of our most helpful cockroach prevention tips:

• Reduce humidity levels in your home by using dehumidifiers and air conditioners.
• Quickly repair leaky pipes and fixtures both inside and outside your home.
• Seal up openings in your home’s exterior, cracks in the foundation, spaces around windows and doors, and damaged siding or roofing.
• Inspect things coming into your home like packages, grocery bags, and secondhand furniture and appliances for cockroaches before bringing them into your home.
• Always keep lids on trash cans, recycling bins, and compost bins and store them away from the outside of your home.

Fleas are small insects that feed on animals or humans as defined by the CDC. The bites from fleas can cause discomfort and sometimes infect people with their germs. These insects like many in South Florida thrive on the weather conditions. These insects can survive in lawns and be passed on to dogs or people.

There are multiple ways flea infestations can happen, such as:

• Trips to dog parks
• Pets being brought over
• Neighbor brings home animal
• Stray animals active in neighborhood
• Multiple pets in home

When these qualities are present its very common for fleas to become a problem. But, these issues can be resolved using lawn insecticide treatments. Using a liquid or granular applications on a routine basis can prevent these issues from happening.

The best methods to prevent flea infestations is to have routine lawn treatments for insect control.  Also, by having your animals routinely treated for fleas is a good practice as well. Insecticide treatments are common way to get rid of fleas and prevent them from arising in the future. These can be liquid or granular applications. There are also green methods that use all-natural products to solve lawn grubs, but they may take a little longer to be effective. There are some cases where the all-natural treatments do not provide the satisfactory results fast enough and can take years to fully eradicate aggressive issues.

There are many types of flies that can infiltrate your South Florida home. Many items around the home can actually promote activity for certain types of flies. Keeping windows and doors closed is one of the best methods to keep flies out of your home. Also, to make sure all the weather stripping and seals around the house are in good condition as well.

There are multiple types of flies, such as:

• House fly
• Fruit fly
• Horse fly
• Botfly
• Drain fly

Depending on what type of flies are in your home can be an indicator to the source that the flies are attracted to. If you are having drain flies it can be an indication of backed up plumbing in your drains. Leaving fresh fruits out can attract fruit flies because they are attracted to sugar.

Having flies in your home can be annoying. These insects spread germs very fast by flying around and landing on different objects. Spreading their germs everywhere they have a chance to rest their wings. Most flies are attracted to bright florescent lights. By having light traps in place around your home is an effective way to solve general fly issues around your home. If the fly issue is related to a source, the source must be fixed in order to solve the problem.

These Insects are worm like larvae that live in the dirt, just below the grass. Grubs are similar to chinch bugs by how they feed on roots of lawns. When these insects are present and left untreated they are known to cause severe damage.

It is natural for you lawn to have a few grubs in isolated areas, and does not indicate that there is an active issue. But, if you start to notice brown spots in your lawn that is not caused by chinch bugs or lack of water. It may be a good idea to test your soil.

To test your soil dig into your lawn located in the area of concern (dry and brown) at least three inches deep and you’ll most likely find grubs. If you do here are some tips:

•  Less than five: no problem and no treatment needed.
• More than five: small issue, no treatment needed unless unhealthy.
• More than ten: major issue, need treatment to prevent further damage.

The best methods to prevent lawn grub infestations is to have routine lawn treatments for insect control. Insecticide treatments are common way to get rid of active grub infestations and prevent them from arising in the future. These can be liquid or granular applications. There are also green methods that use all-natural products to solve lawn grubs, but they may take a little longer to be effective. There are some cases where the all-natural treatments do not provide the satisfactory results fast enough and can take years to fully eradicate aggressive issues.

Mealybugs are insects that are on plants and ornamentals. These insects can commonly be found on the stems or leaves feeding on the plant juices. When left untreated these insects can cause severe damage and cause plants and ornamentals. These insects are commonly found in South Florida due to the moist, warm habitat.

The insects can be identified by their white color and oval shape. They are commonly confused with Whiteflies because they are both white insects. But mealybugs start to take the shape of wasps in the final stage of their life cycle.

A noticable sign that mealybugs are active on your plant ornamental has the following:

• Honeydew residue on leaves which they excrete.
• Visual plant or ornamental defeciency 
• White cotton-like bumps on leaves or stem (eggs)

Be on the lookout for these types of indicationsfor mealybug activity. If you find these qualities on your plants or ornamentals give our office a call to prevent any damage.

Mealybugs are know for spreading different plant diseases. When they transfer to different locations they bring the nutrients from the previous location. If the previous location the mealybug colony was at had a plant disease , the mealybug can act as a vector for that plant disease. Mealybugs can also attract other insects to infest your plants or ornamentals from the honeydew they excrete. Because of this mealybugs have a symbiotic relationship with ants because the ants feed on the mealybug excretion.

Mosquitoes are native to the South Florida area and they are something that everyone has to encounter especially living down here. The nice weather is not only good for us. It is perfect for the mosquitoes to nest and flourish in. 

Ponds, lakes, sewage, and standing water areas are all places that promote mosquito activity, especially after it rains. Leaves on trees, blades of grass, and the leaves on ornamentals are also areas that can harbor mosquitoes.

If you live in the South Florida area you are probably near the Everglades National Forest or another natural preserve in near your property. These are all areas that promote high insect activity. 

Combining at-home methods with a professional routine mosquito service is a proven solution to limit the amount of mosquitoes on your property.

All these mentioned qualities are why mosquitoes are highly present in the South Florida area. Making it one of the hardest insects to regulate and maintain. The consistent rain also makes it extremely difficult for at-home methods to be successful and can require a lot of time and money. Here is a list of some at home methods that you can do to help limit the amount of mosquitoes around your property.

• Dry up any standing water areas on your property.
• Use a blower to dry up standing water on your blades of grass and ornamentals (be careful around the leaves)
• Use scented candles for mosquito prevention
• Use mosquito spray as a repellent

 In other parts of the world mosquitoes are a severe issue and transmit diseases from different animals to people. Thankfully we do not have to worry about those issues here. With modern sewage, plumbing, healthcare, and living standards we are not exposed to those types of mosquitoes. 

Another pest that unfortunately frequents our Florida homes that we wish would find anywhere else to live is the rodent. Norway rats, roof rats, and mice have learned how to live successfully with people. As we have developed more and more land for our own use, rodents have learned to use our yards and homes to their benefit. Gardens, fruit trees, outdoor eating areas, pet food, and bird feeders provide food, and leaky pipes, poor drainage, and filled containers provide water sources. Our homes and our yards, landscaping, and outbuildings provide rodents with ample amount of shelter.

Rodents are capable of living outside year-round in Florida but will look for a way inside if the weather becomes too hot or there is a sudden reduction in food. Some of the rodent’s most common entry points include open doors, gaps around windows and doors, holes in masonry walls, and cracks in exterior walls or the foundation. Spaces around vents or around air conditioners also provide entry points into our homes.

Living with rodents is not only a nuisance but dangerous. Their sharp front incisors can chew through wires and cause short circuits or fires; their chewing habits will also damage furniture, clothing, and other belongings. Rodents can also spread diseases, bacteria, and parasites, and they contaminate food sources.

To help eliminate or protect your property from rodents, reach out to us at Pro Pest Control. We will provide the services necessary to find and eliminate rodents from your property.

To provide additional assistance, we have put together a list of our most helpful rodent prevention tips:

• Limit their access to food in your yard by regularly harvesting fruits and vegetables from trees and garden areas.
• Keep lids on trash cans and compost bins.
• Outdoor eating areas should always be free of crumbs and leftover food.
• Inside, regularly clean your kitchen and store food in the fridge or containers with tight-fitting lids.
• Keep clutter in your house and yard to a minimum; these shy prey animals love to hide and nest in cluttered areas.

To help protect your home from being overtaken by bed bugs, reach out to us at Pro Pest Control. We will provide the services necessary to find and eliminate bed bugs from your home.

We have put together a list of our most helpful bed bug prevention tips to provide additional assistance:

• • Place bed bug-proof protective covers on your mattresses and box springs.
  • Regularly wash bedding.
  • Always be vigilant when purchasing secondhand furniture or mattresses for your home. Inspect and clean them thoroughly before bringing them inside.
  • Regularly vacuum your home to remove stray bed bugs.
  • Be cautious in public places keeping your belongings up off the ground and away from other people’s belongings as much as possible.
  • When traveling, always inspect your room for bed bugs before moving inside.

The stinging insects living in Florida that are most likely to find their way into your yard to nest or forage for food include bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and honey bees. Most stinging insects have stingers extending from the end of their abdomen they use as a means of defense or to paralyze their insect prey. Some stinging insects, like honey bees, are only are capable of stinging once, while others like wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can deliver multiple stings.

These pests are in our yards because they provide them with plenty of places to hunt for food, find water, and safe nesting locations. When they nest in a high-traffic area of a property, these beneficial pollinators and predators become dangerous pests. They need to be removed or relocated to avoid their painful and potentially life-threatening stings.

Another pest that thrives in Florida due to the hot, humid weather and also delivers painful “stings” is the mosquito. Female mosquitoes require blood meals to create viable eggs. To feed on the blood of people or animals, the mosquito doesn’t use a stinger but rather a proboscis (an elongated piercing mouthpart) to pierce the skin of a victim and suck out their blood. These bites can be painful and generally leave behind red, itchy welts that can become infected.

In addition to their unrelenting bites, having mosquitoes on your property in large numbers is problematic because, through the feeding process, they can transmit diseases and parasites to people and animals that cause serious health problems.

As soon as you notice a problem with stinging insects on your property, reach out to us here at Pro Pest Control. We will provide the services necessary to find all the nesting and breeding sites and eliminate them.

We have put together a list of our most helpful stinging insect prevention tips to provide additional assistance:

• Remove as much standing water as possible from your property; mosquitoes use standing water as breeding sites, and bees, wasps, hornets, and other stinging insects use standing water as a water source.
• Cut back overgrown vegetation and trees back away from your home’s exterior.
• Keep your grass cut short.
• Make sure to place covers over vents and chimneys to prevent stinging insects from making their way inside.
• Reduce the amount of flowering vegetation planted next to your exterior doors.

TTicks are parasitic mites and can grow to about 3 to 5 mm in length depending on age, sex, species, and “fullness”. The insects are considered external parasites, by feeding on the blood of mammals, birds, and even reptiles and amphibians.

An interesting fact about ticks is that they approximately date back 100 million years ago. Ticks can be found all over the world. But are most popular in warm, humid climates.

There are four stages to the lifecycle of ticks. The lifecycle is:

1.  Egg
2. Larva
3. Nymph
4. Adult

These insects can have serious diseases that harm humans and other animals. Due to their blood-ingesting diets, ticks can be vectors of diseases. It’s important to check yourself for ticks when go on outdoor adventures with tall grass and heavy bushes. Ticks tend to flourish in warm, humid climates which promotes successful metamorphosis for ticks to evolve. Lower temperatures inhibit their ability to morph from eggs to larvae.

Termites are pests that live throughout Florida in large numbers and are well-known for causing expensive damage by feeding on structural wood and other wooden structures located in homes and businesses. Each year across the country, termites are responsible for generating more than five billion dollars in damages, typically not covered by insurance. Termites are tough pests to identify because, depending on the species, they live underground or within the wood they’re feeding on.

One of the best ways to determine the presence of termites is by spotting termites swarmers. A termite swarm usually occurs in the spring when mature reproductive termites fly from the nest to find a mate and start a new colony. Spotting flying termites or their shed wings should immediately alert you to a problem and cause you to seek help!

In Florida, we regularly deal with three different species of wood-eating termites; drywood termites, Formosan termites, and subterranean termites. While each feeds on and damage wood, there are some major differences between the species:

• Subterranean termites live in large colonies, prefer damp or water-damaged wood, have high moisture needs, and nest underground. They are the most widespread species living in Florida and across the country.
• Formosan termites are a type of subterranean termite that can nest both underground and above the ground. They maintain their moisture needs above the ground by building carton nests. These termites live in extremely large colonies and can enter homes both at the ground level and aerially.
• Drywood termites have lower moisture needs than other species and prefer to feed on dry or sound wood. They often enter homes in furniture and other wooden materials. They tend to live in smaller colonies than subterranean termites, and they nest within the wood they feed on.

To help eliminate or protect your property from termites, reach out to us at Pro Pest Control, Inc. We will provide the services necessary to find and eliminate all the termites from your yard and home.

To provide additional assistance, we have put together a list of our most helpful termite prevention tips:

• Remove wooden debris from your yard.
• Replace any water-damaged wood in your home with sound wood.
• Always inspect antique furniture, wooden flooring, beams, and other structural wood for signs of termites before bringing it into your home.
• Make sure that gutters are working to direct water away from the outside of your house, create a barrier between any mulch and your foundation, and repair leaky pipes.
• Reduce humidity levels in your home through the use of dehumidifiers and air conditioners.

These insects are commonly found in stored grains and in pantries. There are different types of weevils such as:

• Rice weevil
• Grain weevil
• Wheat weevil
• Strawberry root weevil

The best way to prevent these insects from invading your pantry is to upgrade your storage of grain and wheat products. A common method is for plastic storage instead of cardboard boxes. Weevils are known to be found in the boxes of stored products.

Methods for treatment are baits, trapping, and spraying in areas of concern. Prior to a liquid spraying treatment it is best to empty out cabinets and draws for the application.

Weevils are attracted mainly to the kitchen area due to a couple of factors. These insects are commonly known as “pantry bugs” because they are often times found in the pantry. Having small leaks can also bring weevils into your home, and other bugs too. By substituting pantry storage for plastic instead of the box products come in it can help prevent weevil infestations. However, that alone will not eliminate weevil problems. The best methods are trapping or letting pest profesionals handle these issues. These pest are invasive and common to the South Florida area.

Whiteflies are invasive to South Florida and primarily attack Ficus. These insects can be identified by their all white markings and wings. They leave a white pasty reside on leaves that they are actively on. You can tell the activity is severe if many leaves have a pasty white residual on them. The next stage is for the leaves to start falling due to the Whitefly infestation. When left untreated these insects can destroy ficus and turn them into just sticks. Combined with the brittle nature of ficus these insects can quickly destroy ficus when left untreated. They can also spread to other ficus very easy too. 

In order to prevent Whiteflies from destroying your South Florida Ficus you will need systemic and insecticide treatment. This will help protect new growth and fight off whiteflies. During the summer months these insects are very active and start to seasonally taper off in the winter. 

In South Florida, we regularly deal with Whiteflies. When they are present on your ficus it is best to not trim your ficus at that time to avoid excessive leaf fall. To prevent damage to your ficus it is best to leave Whitefly treatments to professionals for the best results. If not acted upon fast when Whiteflies are present it can cause severe damage.