Although Florida is home to beautiful weather and a diverse population looking to lay out in the sun, it is also home to some of the nation’s worst pests, rodents, and insects. From bed bugs to cockroaches pest control in Pompano Beach, Florida is not optional in many cases. You must take care when dealing with pests because of the possibility of transferring diseases, viruses and bacteria that can affect the health of you and your loved ones.

Insects are generally found and drawn to places where there is a readily-available food and water supply. Weather conditions are also a factor and, depending on the mating patterns of different species, can cause infestations at a much quicker rate than anticipated.

Here is a quick list of the most common pests you’ll find in South Florida:   

Bed bugs

Bed bugs can infiltrate your mattress, your headboards, even inside light switches, plugs, cracks, or voids in your walls and baseboards. They are also commonly found in hotel rooms, at summer camps, and other public places. Bed bugs have also been known to live behind picture frames and in other furniture so once you get them, ridding your home of them can be costly. The challenging thing about bed bugs is that they travel effortlessly and thus you get bed bug infections rather quickly. There have been many outbreaks of bed bugs in recent years so being extra careful or consulting a pest control expert at the first sign of bedbugs is recommended.

Cockroaches

These insects are normally found in moist and warm places like in attics, kitchens, or laundry rooms that are located close to air conditioners – wherever a water source is available. These pests are the hardest of all to control as they can hold their breath for nearly 45 minutes and even live without food for up to a 30 days. To control these insects they must be baited.

Silverfish

These bugs are also found in hot places like your attics and they love feeding on glue products such as the wallpaper backing, paper bags, books, wheat flour, and cereals. They wander around until they find food and water in the kitchen, the bookshelf or bathtubs, in the closets, and even near baseboards.

Spiders

Normally, spiders are found on the outside, on the walls, and webs in ceiling corners. Spiders rely on webs to catch insects for food so once destroyed, webs are often recreated. Spiders also reside in  other dark moist places in the house such as basements or storage closets. Many spider species can be poisonous so consulting pest control specialists in Pompano Beach, Florida can protect you and your family.

Subterranean Termites

These are one of the most common termites in the area and can build living colonies that go underground up to 100 feet from your home. These living areas have thousands of termites that only look for water and cellulose – which is often found in wood and materials made of wood. The damage caused by termites every year is more than the damaged caused by water, wind and even fire, combined.

Dry Wood Termites

These termites are often called ‘furniture termites’ and cause a little less destruction than their cousins mentioned above. They build colonies in wood and wooden furniture, especially antique furniture. This species is particularly challenging because they don’t require moisture for survival and can thrive in nearly drought circumstances. There are several options for treating termites such as tent fumigation and these options are very effective.

Rodents

These pests are mostly found in homes near bodies of water such as canals, lakes, or other rivers. Rodents mostly come inside homes to find a place that’s warm and for food. It is important to keep doors closed during cooler weather to prevent infestation. Rodents can survive on any kind of food and typically carry diseases so pest control is important to protect your family.

Fleas

Fleas are parasites and live off of mammal blood to thrive. While fleas lays their eggs and build nests in carpets and cushions, adult fleas live on pets like cats and dogs. Fleas lay up to 50 eggs each day and are high jumpers. To keep fleas at bay, it’s important to take your pets to visit the vet at regular intervals and have them treated for fleas.  In the meantime, have an exterminator treat your home and outside areas like the garden and lawns where fleas reside.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are known to carry diseases such as dengue, West Nile virus, and others. It’s the female mosquito that stings humans to collect blood to feed its larvae or babies. The best way to exterminate mosquitoes is to have a professional come in to spray your lawn and other areas with insecticide. Mosquitoes prefer standing bodies of water so removing them is imperative to control these pests in South Florida.