Common Florida Winter Pests 

Even though the weather has turned cold in Florida—at least as cold as it gets here—that doesn’t necessarily mean that you no longer need to worry about pest control. In fact, we get asked all the time by our customers, “Do I need pest control in the winter?”

The simple answer is yes, but you might be surprised at how many insects, rodents, and arachnids still come around this time of year. Here are some of the most common winter pests in our state:

Cockroaches

Given the fact that cockroaches could survive a nuclear winter, it should come as no surprise that they don’t go away during a normal one. These pets are typically regarded as the dirtiest of all insects and carry dirt and bacteria with them wherever they go. It’s a myth that they only show up in dirty homes. They can be found anywhere.

Rats and Mice

Rats and mice can survive in cold weather, but they certainly don’t like to suffer through it. They’ll do whatever they can to get into your home for food, water, and shelter.

This includes chewing through vulnerable areas. These rodents not only carry disease but will also contaminate your food. They can also take refuge under the hood of your car and chew through wires in both your vehicle and home.

Silverfish

The good news is that silverfish, unlike many other pests, are not harmful to your health. The bad news is that they’re a creepy annoyance that often shows up during the winter months. Perhaps the biggest problem is that they chew on anything made from starch, including documents, book pages, and old photographs.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites are the ones that build mud tubes, which are often one of the first signs that you have an infestation. They burrow into the ground in part because they can’t stand Florida’s heat. While it’s true that these insects don’t like the cold and will slow down their activity, they simply burrow deeper into the ground to survive and await the end of the season.

Bed Bugs

We hate to break the news to you, but bed bugs don’t slow down at all in the winter. These creepy, blood-sucking insects will still take every opportunity they can to crawl into bed with you and chow down. In fact, because there’s so much traveling during the winter season, their numbers sometimes increase because of hotel stays and visits to relatives.

Various Ant Species

Even though ants often stay out of sight during the winter, Florida doesn’t typically get quite cold enough to deter them entirely. You may find carpenter ants and other species entering your home at various points during the season. On the plus side, although ants can be quite annoying and hard to get rid of, at least they’re little more than a nuisance insect.

Spiders

First and foremost, we’d like to go on record as saying that having a few spiders around your home is a good thing because they eat a lot of bugs every year. The problem is that it’s very easy for all types of spiders to get out of control. The biggest danger is probably the black widow and its cousins. Even though they’re not aggressive, kids and pets may disturb them and get bitten.

How You Can Avoid Pests During the Winter Season

Now that we’ve covered some of the pests that might try to enter your Florida home during the winter, here are some basic tips to help you avoid several of them:

• Reduce Food/Trash — Clean up crumbs, put leftovers into plastic containers, and take your trash out on a regular basis to remove food sources.
• Reduce Water/Moisture — Clean up moisture in your kitchen and bathroom, remove any standing water after it rains, and be careful of leaks.
• Seal Entry Points — If you find any gaps or cracks in areas like the edges of your doors and windows, seal them with either caulk, weather-stripping, or spray foam.
• Look for Warning Signs — Be watchful of warning signs that might point to specific insects, including red, itchy skin (bed bugs), mud tubes or discarded wings (termites), and chewed boxes or droppings (rats and mice).

Contact ProHealth Pest Control for Elimination of Winter Pests

Now that you know there’s a good chance that you may need pest control in the winter season, you should put your trust in the hands of ProHealth Pest Control. We handle all residential and commercial pest control needs. If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment, reach out to us at (727) 308-3470 today.