Sep 26, 2023 | Florida Pest Control
Did you know that most spiders are venomous? It’s true! Luckily (if you can look at it that way), only a few types of spiders have venom powerful enough to harm humans. These include the widows and the recluses. Check out our list of venomous spiders in Florida and their characteristics to easily identify them.
Common Venomous Spiders in Florida
- Black Widow: The black widow spider female has a shiny black body and a red hourglass-shaped figure on her abdomen. These are the easiest of the venomous spiders to identify.
- Red Widow: These spiders have the same shape as the black widow but have a red-orange head and thorax. They are often found in palmettos and sand-pine scrub.
- Brown Widow: These widows have an hourglass figure on their abdomen. They have striped patterns of varying shades of brown across their legs and their bodies and are more likely to build webs on man-made structures.
- Brown Recluse: These spiders do not have an active population in Florida, but they can travel to the state through hitchhiking onto our items, especially while in the process of moving. This spider is considered the most venomous spider outside the widow family. You can easily identify them by their violin-shaped marking on their back, small size, and pale brown colorations.
Spiders will bite as a defensive mechanism and these bites usually arise when we place our hands or feet in areas where we don’t see these spiders. A bite from any of these venomous spiders can lead to swelling, severe pain, nausea, sweating, and intense muscle cramps. If you think you’ve been bitten by a venomous spider, seek medical attention immediately.
How to Avoid Venomous Spiders
Spiders will hide out where they know high populations of pests reside. This means they can find a safe space inside your home. Here are some easy tips to follow to ensure they don’t take up residence in your home:
- Declutter the inside of your home, including attic or other storage areas
- Trim trees away from home to lessen access points
- Assess moisture problems to prevent insect breeding grounds
- Call your local Copeland spider removal company for a free property inspection!
Sep 25, 2023 | Mosquito
The southeast is home to states with warm climates, which means that mosquitoes are a common problem. Mosquito season typically begins in March or April and peaks around June to August. The season ends around October, once temperatures begin to drop.
A few factors can impact the sand finish of mosquito season, including the weather, the amount of rainfall, and the presence of standing water. If the weather is wet and warm, then mosquito season can start earlier and last longer.
There are many things you can do to protect yourself from mosquitoes before the season ends. These include:
- Wearing long sleeves and pants when you are outdoors
- Using insect repellent that contains DEET
- Avoiding areas where mosquitoes are common
- Draining standing water around your home
If you are bitten by a mosquito, it is important to clean the bite area with soap and water. You may also want to apply over-the-counter insect bite cream to help relieve the itching and reduce the urge to scratch at it, causing further irritation.
Here are some additional tips to help you lessen the population of mosquitoes in your home or yard:
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Install screens on your windows and doors
- Empty birdbaths or other containers of standing water on a weekly basis
- Clean your gutters and downspouts regularly
- Plant mosquito-repelling plants, such as citronella, lavender, and marigolds
If you follow these tips and are still seeing large populations of mosquitoes, give your local mosquito control a call today for a free inspection.
Sep 22, 2023 | Florida Pest Control
Florida homeowners know that the climate rarely changes in their state, typically staying well above 50 degrees year-round. With the warmer climate, pests tend to stick around year-long, sometimes invading our homes in the process! Spiders are a likely pest that homeowners might come across throughout the year. Check out the reason Florida spiders might be invading your home and how you can prevent them.
How Did Spiders Get into My Home?
Spiders thrive in Florida’s humid climate, which provides plenty of opportunities for several spider species to invade our homes! Spiders, such as wolf spiders, brown widows, and black widows are all common to our area. These pests are small and will sneak into the home through the smallest hole, gap, or through packages without being noticed. Spiders prefer to be secluded and hidden away from human activity, and they’ll often find dark areas in the home to habitat such as behind furniture, in basements, under dressers, and in attics.
How to Prevent Florida Spiders from Your Home
Taking precautions is the best way to ensure spiders don’t enter your home. Consider the following prevention tips to keep spiders away:
- Inspect your foundation for cracks and repair them as soon as possible
- Check your windows and doors throughout the year and repair any cracks or tears in screens
- Declutter throughout your home by throwing away cardboard boxes, old newspapers, and keeping clothes off the ground.
- Vacuum and dust frequently, especially in the rooms that are not often utilized
- Check items that are prone to be infested with spiders, including firewood, plants, boxes, decorations, and even pets
- Consider investing in a routine pest control plan to eliminate other pests and in return limits food sources for spiders, leaving them to search other places for a meal.
If you notice more spiders than you’re comfortable with on your property, reach out to your local pest control company for a free inspection!
Sep 22, 2023 | Pest Control
Sep 18, 2023 | Pest Control
Smokybrown cockroaches are commonly found in the southeastern United States, from central Texas eastward to Florida and as far north as North Carolina. They prefer living in areas that are warm and have high humidity, preferring wooded areas where they are often found under mulch or in tree holes.
The smokybrown cockroach is about 1.5 inches long and has a dark brown to black body. They have a distinctive mahogany color, which is why they are sometimes called mahogany cockroaches. They are also known for their ability to fly, which makes them more difficult to control than other types of cockroaches.
What are the signs of a smokybrown cockroach infestation?
Typically found outdoors, these nocturnal creatures are most sighted in:
- Ground coverings, such as ivy
- Landscaping beds
- In and around gutters and in between siding on home and structures
More signs of these roaches include roach droppings and egg cases. The smokybrown egg casing can appear dark brown to black in coloring.
How serious of a problem is the smokybrown roach?
Being attracted to interior lights, they can enter your home through openings in windows, doors, and other gaps. They can contaminate any surfaces they touch, spreading bacteria. Proteins found in these types of roaches may also trigger asthma or allergic reactions.
If you see an increase of roaches in your home be sure to reach out to your local pest control company for a customized pest control plan to keep your home pest-free!
