JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Living in Florida means dealing with plenty of insects and other pests, but some can create problems inside the home beyond simply being a nuisance.
Wade Wilson, vice president of technical services for Turner Pest Control, spoke with In Depth with Kristine Bellino about common pests in Florida, what homeowners should watch for and ways to make their homes less inviting to them.
Pests and allergies
Cockroaches can hide in warm, dark areas with moisture, including behind refrigerators and dishwashers. Wilson said they also leave behind waste and shed skin that can dry out and become airborne, potentially contributing to allergy or asthma symptoms.
And those big “palmetto bugs” Floridians know well? Wilson explained that’s simply a common name for larger types of cockroaches.
Rodents can also go unnoticed inside a home. Droppings and scratching sounds at night are among the signs homeowners can watch for.
Termites are another concern in Florida. Beyond the damage they can cause to a home, Wilson said material from termite mud tubes can dry out and potentially become an airborne irritant.
Keeping pests out
Some preventive steps are fairly simple.
Wilson recommends checking around doors, windows and foundations for cracks or gaps, keeping firewood away from the house and trimming shrubs and tree branches back from the home.
He also recommends keeping indoor humidity at 55% or lower since many insects need moisture to thrive.
For people trying to handle pest problems themselves, Wilson cautioned against overusing products such as flea or cockroach bombs. He said using more product doesn’t necessarily solve the problem and could lead to unnecessary exposure.
Wilson said pest control has also become more targeted over his 38 years in the industry, with baits and other treatments applied to specific areas instead of broadly spraying inside homes.
For homeowners, he said regularly checking for possible entry points, controlling moisture and paying attention to signs of pest activity can help catch a problem before it grows.
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