Most Common Insects You’ll Find Around Your Tampa, Florida Home

There are over 12,500 insect species in Florida.

Most insects tend to come out in full force during the summer, especially in Tampa, Florida. A variety of conditions can attract bugs to your Tampa home or business, including:

• Moisture during the rainy season
• Heat
• Standing water
• Trash sitting out
• Humidity
• Overripe fruit
• Dirty recyclables
• Unkempt yards
• Clogged gutters
• Bushes near your home
• Dirty grills
• Pet waste
• Pet food
• Cracks and torn screens
• White lighting

The following are some of the most common insects you might see in Tampa, Florida.

Ants

These are common household bugs in Florida that come to look for shelter, food, and water.

Often seen flitting around the kitchen, most of us will kill ants when we see them and will be shocked when they’re quickly replaced by more. Killing ants manually won’t stop the problem. Instead, it can even make it worse.

Ants live in their thousands in huge colonies, so it’s best to contact one of the many pest control companies in Tampa if you notice ants in your home. They’ll ensure that the whole colony is destroyed.

Spiders

Oh, we know spiders can send a chill down your spine! Most people are frightened of them anyway, so don’t worry! And if you live in Florida, you’ll want to be extra vigilant.

There are at least 30 different spider types and species in Florida. From the predatory species like the wolf spider all the way down to the smallest black jumping spiders, Florida has all sorts of spiders.

Palmetto Bug

This huge cockroach measures 1.2 to 1.6 inches (3cm-4cm) when mature. It’s mostly found outside the house, where it feeds on leaf litter and detritus. It’ll occasionally sneak into homes though.

Bed Bugs

Although bed bugs aren’t seen as ‘seasonal pests’, these little critters seem to be more of a problem in the summer and it’s probably down to increased travel at this time.

Bed bugs are small, nocturnal pests that feed on human blood. They’re carried from one place to another by unsuspecting travelers.

Signs of a potential bed bug infestation include blood spots on beddings, shed skins of bed bugs, and signs of live bugs. In extreme cases, they might smell like overripe raspberries.

Stable Fly

Also called dog fly, stable fly is one of those Florida bugs that bite. It originated in Asia but it’s now found all over the world.

It mostly attacks cattle and dogs but will bite humans too. Stable flies usually gather in masses in seaweed washed to the shore and will attack people who get too close.

Wind currents affect these little flies, and how the wind blows can determine the severity of bites.

Final Thoughts on the Most Common Insects in Tampa, Florida

We all want a yard and home that’s free of ants, bed bugs, and biting insects to name a few.

If you notice these most common insects in your Tampa, Florida home, get in touch with the pest control experts at Chet’s Termite and Pest Management.

Contact us today to learn about our free 57-point inspection.