Every state has its fair share of insects and bugs, like mosquitoes and spiders, but Florida tops the chart for all types of bugs. If you live in Florida, you must have noticed an insane amount of insects, especially when the weather is hot and humid.
However, there are tiny bugs in Florida homes you do not know about because of their size. These bugs invade almost every home in the sunshine state, and if you are not careful, they may turn your house into a breeding ground.
They are usually so small that you only notice them when they become an infestation or bite you. By then, you will have a real problem on your hands. This article discusses various tiny bugs that are prevalent in Florida homes, what attracts them, and possible solutions to their infestation.
Tiny Bugs Prevalent in Florida Homes
One of the best ways to take care of any insect is to understand it. For example, bed bugs are difficult to handle, but heat kills them and decimates their number. Therefore, you can employ steam and other forms of heat, applying them to areas of concentration.
Similarly, you must identify the tiny bugs in your home before deciding how to eliminate them. Some bugs have benefits, and learning about them can make all the difference. Others are simply dangerous because they can destroy food or bite you.
Therefore, we have created a shortlist of common tiny bugs and insects for Florida homeowners. From the list, you can tell which are harmless and which you must avoid as much as possible.
1. Fleas
These tiny insects are popular, and you may be familiar with them if you have pets. Solitary fleas are not dangerous or threatening, but they can make you notice them when they are in large numbers. Fleas can suck your blood as well as that of your pets.
Florida has several species of fleas, but the cat flea is one of the most common house bugs. This does not mean it focuses only on cats; these fleas also bite dogs and other hairy pets. One way to know if you have a flea infestation is to check your dog or cat.
If it looks disheveled, with its hair looking like it is always scratching, there may be a significant amount of fleas under its fur coat. Your pet may become anemic or lose its fur in severe flea infestation cases; you should be alarmed at this point.
You may also notice red bite spots on your skin, which may be noticeably itchy, although this is not always the case. It should be a cause for concern if they are already biting you.
In such a case, get a flea shampoo or flea comb for your pet. Treating your pet first is the best step toward reducing the infestation. Also, take your pet to a vet for proper examination and treatment.
Furthermore, dispose of carpets, clothes, and bedding your pet uses. Vacuum and clean the house, paying more attention to areas your pet loves. Ensure you carefully tie and dispose of trash bags after cleaning. However, get professional assistance if the issue persists.
2. Weevils
Weevils thrive in your kitchen or pantry because of the availability of grains and other foods. They love it because they do not have to move to other places to look for what they need. Staying in the kitchen provides everything they want, so they lay eggs in rice and other grains.
You may miss one or two weevils, but large numbers are hard to miss. These bugs fly when trying to evade your hands as you try to kill them. But they are not avid fliers so you will notice them in different areas of your kitchen, always close to the grains and other foods. The rice weevils are also black or brown.
Finding weevils in your Florida home is easy, especially if you store beans, flour, and other foods. The female weevil typically bites into a grain, nests, and lays eggs. The larvae bite their way through the grains when they hatch, eventually destroying the entire stock.
You may opt to eliminate these pantry pests from your house, but it is not entirely necessary. They are not harmful bugs; the only downside is that they destroy your foods when they appear in large numbers. Even accidentally ingesting them does not harm you in any way.
Nevertheless, you can have an exterminator rid your house of the flour beetles if there are too many of them. Otherwise, remove as many as you can yourself and save money.
3. Ticks
These are tiny, almost invisible bugs prevalent in Florida homes. But while they are common, you do not want to have them around, especially in large numbers. Ticks are dangerous because they can transmit Lyme disease and other infections. The good news is that most Florida species do not transmit Lyme, but you must be aware of it.
You may have a tick bite if you notice red marks that appear like circles with a concentrated red center on your skin. And if you contract Lyme disease, you may notice chills, fever, tiredness, and headache. You may also notice muscle pain and itchiness. Contact your doctor if you notice these symptoms with bite marks.
Since ticks are abundant from October to May, take precautions to prevent bites. Wear protective clothing when going to tick-infested areas and shower after being outside. Additionally, clear your yard of debris and use repellent creams such as DEET.
4. Sugar Ants
Every home has its fair share of sugar ants, and these ants do not follow only sugar. They are called sugar ants because they follow the trails of sweet foods or other food crumbs. While they are common, Florida has a high prevalence of these ants, although they are not always obvious due to their size.
These ants are not easy to eliminate if you have an infestation in your house. Sometimes, only chemical methods can get rid of them. If you try manually killing them, you will notice they keep coming back, which means there are many from where they come.
So, what do you do? Keep your house as clean as possible. Remove food crumbs and vacuum the kitchen after you cook.
Clear your yard and gutters, and dispose of trash as often as they accumulate. If cracks or crevices are in the walls or around other areas in the house, fill them with caulk or other appropriate agents.
Using chemicals to rid your home of sugar ants, also known as pharaoh ants, may expose kids and pets to harm. The best step is to ask other homeowners what they have tried and do the same. You can also check online safe elimination methods because eliminating sugar ants from homes is a popular topic, especially in Florida.
5. Drain Flies
As their name suggests, drain flies live out of the drains in your bathroom and sinks. They thrive from eating decaying nails and hair in the drains, and you may notice an increase in their number when the weather is humid. They like wetness or moisture, so always inspect the drainage systems around the house.
Furthermore, you may notice more of them if your drainage system is compromised. Cracks and leaks in the pipes draw them like moths to a flame, so have a plumber inspect the pipes for damage.
The flies spread fast because the males mate with the females and lay eggs in the thousands. Although they are tiny, you can hardly ignore thousands of drain flies.
They are not harmful but irritating. Therefore, eliminate them by cleaning your bathrooms, sinks, and other parts of the house. Ensure no stagnant water is in your yard or house to discourage them. The cleaner and less cluttered your house is, the fewer the flies become.
6. Carpenter Ants
These ants are hardly tiny compared to some on our list, but you can miss them in smaller numbers. Carpenter ants are reddish brown and about ½ an inch long. You will find many species burrowing in wood because they love it. However, Florida carpenter ants do not eat wood like termites but prefer voids in walls or other hidden spots.
You may not have an infestation if your home has no damaged or rotting wood; carpenter ants love decaying wood. But if there is water-damaged wood in or around your house, the ants may find a nice nesting place within and eventually lead to an infestation.
Therefore, clear the house and yard of dead wood, tree stumps, garbage, and other similar items. Also, have a professional check your house for water damage, especially if the ants keep returning after thoroughly cleaning your environment.
Conclusion
Few people in Florida discuss these bugs and insects, and the reason may be that they are used to seeing them. However, they should not be the norm, especially if they harm people and pets. Learning about them is crucial to know how to eliminate them for good.
The list in this article has only a few of these tiny bugs, but there is an extensive list to consider. We have explained how to identify, handle, and eliminate them. However, speak with a pest control company for other steps to ensure they stop infesting your property.