There is no doubt that you want to move into a home that is freshly painted, inspected and free of pests. That is why it is important to ask your home inspector if he or she does pest inspection. Yes, they will most likely do a termite inspection, that almost goes without saying. But, will your inspector look deep into corners for signs that a pest infestation is present?
When purchasing a home, you will want to find out if it is currently or has ever been infested by pests. This will help you make a decision as to whether you want to purchase that home or not.
Common pests to look for are:
- Rodents like mice or rats
- Racoons in the attic or garage
- Ants behind the walls
- Roaches in the walls, attic or pipes
- Spiders in the storage space
- Fleas in any furniture or cloth that may be in the home already
- Bats in the attics or under the eaves
- Wasps in or around the home
- Yellow jackets in the grounds
There are so many pests to watch out for we could go on for days. But you get the idea. You don’t want to move in and be stuck dealing with a pest problem which you didn’t know existed.
Call a Pest Control Company
A pest control company will often inspect a home for a fee. They can tell you if there is an infestation or if there has ever been one. They use telltale signs like stains in the drywall, spider webs and their contents, and first piles around the home to make this determination. And of course, they will check the termite situation out as well.
A pest control agent has a better idea and a more thorough approach to investigating pests than a home inspector has. They will get down in the dirt and look for evidence. “When you do something every day for 20 years, you know exactly what to look for.” says Paul, a pest control in Rockledge Florida. “Nothing will get by you if you have been at this as long as we have.”
Paul went on to say “Some of the worst cases we have seen were after a person bought a house sight unseen and trusted a shady inspection company. You have to get an expert in there to take a look at your potential new home. The ramifications if you don’t are just too severe not to.”
Paul works in Florida, one of the most populous states in the Unions. This goes for humans as well as pests. I mean, what’s not to like? Warm weather year round and plenty of potable water and a constant food source make Florida a dream for pests.
Let’s take a look at the pests in Florida to give you an idea of what you may be dealing with. These are the top 5 offenders in the Sunshine State. They are pretty common in all southern states, not just Florida.
The Most Typical Florida Home Pests
A list of some of the typical pests you could encounter in your house is provided below. You’ll learn about their traits and the likelihood that you should get rid of them before they cause more damage to your property. To aid with your pest identification, we’ve also included some of the greatest images.
1. Ants
Since ants are the most prevalent pest in Florida, they rank first on our ranking. Antics are a problem that every Florida home has encountered occasionally. Ants in your kitchen, bathroom, garage, basement, or utility room can be quite harmless, or they can cause a lot of issues. The following is a list of some of the most prevalent ant species.
Ants are highly invasive, easily transported, and can infest areas if left unchecked. In Florida, common ant species are:
- Fire ants
- Carpenter ants
- Argentine ants
- Big-Headed ants
- Acrobat Ant
After being bitten by an ant, people may experience allergic reactions that cause swelling or itching. Usually located outside, fire ants cause more trouble in your backyard than inside your house.
You should be mindful of the fire ant in this picture. Ants that cause destruction are little, destructive insects. They are typically found in sunny, level places, particularly in the summer. These ants are capable of eating through paper and will sting fiercely if they sense an intrusion. They are typically found near windows, driveways, garages, and nearly any other area of your house that gets plenty of light.
These annoying little insects are the last thing you want in your house. Because these ants may bite extremely painfully, it is preferable to contact a pest control and management company if you have a child in your house.
2. Cockroaches
Often just called roaches, these pests are naturally considered as insects that are restricted to unclean and filthy areas such as toilets, garbage bins, sewers, and many more. Just picture these in your house. They might convey to guests the incorrect idea about you and your degree of hygiene.
In Florida, cockroaches are present everywhere there is rubbish. From the sewage, where they feed, they may move inside houses. They most likely reside in your house at this very moment, hiding in obscure nooks and spaces until late at night. You can never be sure how wholesome your groceries are when there are bugs in your house.
One of the most common pests in all of Florida is the cockroach. They can be found in up to 90% of homes and are carriers of harmful pathogens like E. Coli and Salmonella. Additionally, they cause asthmatic reactions in humans, particularly in little children.
3. Ticks
Ticks in Florida can cause major harm to both people and pets, much like spiders do. It’s crucial that you frequently check yourself, your kids, and your pets for ticks. If you spend a lot of time outside close to trees, this is especially true. Ticks can sometimes be undetected until a person, their child, or their pet is extremely bored.
4. Termites
Drywood termites are the worst kind of termites. It’s no accident that they go by the name “dry wood termites.” They devour furniture, fences, roof wood, window frames, and pretty much any wooden structure above ground, wreaking havoc on dry wood and building colonies.
In addition to the harm that termites do to wood, you might hear a hollow sound coming from some areas of your walls and see paint peeling if you have drywood termites in your house. Any wooden item in your house will have holes drilled through it until the inside becomes weak.
Termites in Drywood
As soon as you see these pests, get in touch with a pest control firm to stop them from causing more damage to your property. For assistance with your severe drywood termite problem, contact Florida Environmental.
5. Rats
Florida is home to a fair number of house mice and rats. The Norway rat and black rat are two varieties of rats that are not only prevalent but also well-known for their propensity to cause havoc in homes. Rats are mostly blind, although mice usually stay away from bright lights. Rats have developed ultrasonic hearing to compensate. Because of their propensity to spread disease to people and the harm they inflict to roofing, insulation, and electrical cables, mice and rats need to be controlled.
