How to Prevent Common Summer Pests in Florida
The summer pests in the state are famous, with flies, stinging insects, and more all converging during the warmer months to ruin your backyard barbecues and gatherings. Check out these tips on how to prevent common pests in the summer here in Florida, so you can take your home back!
Spiders
While many native Florida spider species are beneficial to keeping your home and landscape free of other bugs, not everyone wants a spider as a houseguest. You can generally find spiders in dark, secluded areas inside and outside of your home where they can quietly spin their webs and make a home.
Here are a few natural ways to prevent spiders in your home:
- Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and spray around your home.
- Fill a spray bottle with peppermint essential oil and spray around your home.
- Be sure to keep your home neat and free of dust or webs.
- Keep boxes, leaves, wood, and other popular spider hangouts away from the outside of your home.
House Flies
House flies in Florida area a particular nuisance because the high heat in the summertime means food left out spoils quicker, attracting more flies to the food source. To prevent house flies in your home, install screens on windows and doors, so your home is protected even when you want to catch a breeze or two. As a preventative measure, be sure to keep food stored in airtight containers or in the refrigerator to make sure you aren’t attracting unwanted visitors.
Stinging Insects
Bees, hornets, wasps - oh my! Far from being just a nuisance, these bugs pack quite a punch, and can even be dangerous for those with allergies. To avoid a nasty sting, check soda and drink containers before you drink out of them, as many stinging insects land on them when they attracted to the sweet treat inside. In addition, look for and avoid nests and hives, which are generally built in warm places where they won’t be disturbed.
Mosquitoes
If being outside for any amount of time during the summer leaves you with itchy red bumps, you’re not alone. Mosquitoes are a huge problem for thousands of homeowners in Florida, and other than leaving annoying bites, they also common carriers of various diseases like:
- West Nile Virus
- Yellow Fever
- La Crosse
- and many others.
To prevent these pests, make sure there is no standing water for mosquitoes to breed in around your property, and use citronella or lavender oil to repel the insects.
Trust the Professionals in Pest Control
Keeping track of all the bugs in your home this summer can easily turn into a full-time job. With careers, children, and pets to take care of, and general responsibilities of being a homeowner – this can seem like a lot of work to juggle. Luckily for you, there are professionals who make keeping common summer pests away from your home a priority. We offer pest control in both the Tallahassee and Jacksonville metros.