[JenniferLynn]

Florida residents complain a lot about bugs. I have a few questions. What kind of annoying bugs does Florida have? Do you have them year-round? Are some areas of Florida less buggy than others? Are they flying bugs or crawling bugs? What are some of the ways you cope with bugs in your area?

Thanks for your input.

[compelled to reply]

What kind of annoying bugs does Florida have?- The same as other states: roaches (yes, including flying roach), flies, ants, beetles, but add fireants (nasty bite) and lovebugs (harmless). You also may occasionally find a scorpion in scrubby areas. Some people also seem to think that palmetto bugs (American Cockroach, or the famous huge flying roach) are unique to Florida, but their range is all over the eastern US and they rarely infest homes although occasionally come inside by accident. They are actually more likely to infest buildings in urban areas in cold climates where they come inside to stay warm. I saw tons of them at a Co-op in NYC.

Do you have them year-round?- Like most other states, yes, we do.

Are some areas of Florida less buggy than others? - I live in Weston and the only insect I have seen in my house are "ghost ants" which are a minuscule tropical ant that is attracted to water. You exterminate them by leaving borax goo or traps along their trails and they go away. However, when I lived in Orlando I occasionally saw roaches.

Are they flying bugs or crawling bugs? - Don't all bugs fly and crawl? There are both.

What are some of the ways you cope with bugs in your area?- What is there to cope with?

[JenniferLynn]

Well, ctr, you ARE sarcastic, aren't you?

I like to read forums in most of the 50 states and I don't think any other state complains about bugs as much as Floridians do (although other Southern states could probably give you a run for your money, but I'm interested in Florida because I would like to visit).

I have lived in CA most of my life and I would say it is rather unbuggy, at least in my area. We have flies, sometimes mosquitos in the summer, and more rarely ants. Of course, I will see other bugs now and then, but would never list that as a reason for moving out of the state.

Obviously, bugs are a problem for many Florida residents or they wouldn't mention it.

[compelled to reply]

Oh, I see what you are saying, but a lot of people in Florida that post on here are malcontents who are afraid of their own shadow, thus you will find a lot of people who use bugs as an excuse to move.

One thing Florida does in the urban areas is that they treat canals for mosquitoes, and people tend to be educated on ways to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. The mosquito populations in urban South Florida in particular is very low. In the more swampy areas, there are more mosquitoes.

In the more forested areas or BRAND new areas, the bug population however is HUGE, and I failed to mention that. Also, the coastal areas tend to have lower general bug populations. However, I would say the number one truly noteworthy creature of Florida would be the FIREANTS. These things give off a nasty bite and are all over the place! Watch your step if you are wearing flip flops.

[Lilybeans]

Fire ants first and foremost. They are terrible. You can try to treat mounds, but it is a losing battle. You learn to look where you are walking.

Formosan termites are a problem.

Mosquitos can be bad until the first cold snap. Municipalities spray for them, but they can be bad. Nothing we can do really-most of south Florida is a swamp.

No See-ums on the beach can be maddening. Deet can help, but those little things can bite.

Those are the worst bugs that I can thik of. We have a whole panoply of bugs such as ticks, leeches, crickets, mole crickets, wasps, and such, but they don't really bother you too much.

Interestingly, flies don't seem to be much of a problem.

[JenniferLynn]

Thanks lilybeans. And ctr, too. ctr, I have read many of your posts and enjoyed them. I have been living in NE PA for a short while (but will soon return to CA) and have been annoyed myself by something the locals here call May flies. They are little gnatty flies that travel in swarms and as soon as you go outside they swarm around your head and WILL NOT leave you alone. I found myself staying indoors more this month just because of those flies. Are what you call "no see-ums" like these swarming little flies?

About the fireants. Does their bite cause any other problem besides just the sting? Are they in your grass, or just on sand, or pretty much anywhere? I'm not a nervous nelly about bugs, just curious.

[ssg II]

There are several threads about Florida insects, complete with pictures , I think.

You can spot a fire ant mound. Get out the Amdro! You won't kill them, they'll just re-locate!

The most annoying to me are deer flies. Their bite hurts like hell. They're only around for a short time, though (right now.)

[compelled to reply]

I have no clue whatsoever what may flies are, however, the no seeums are nearly invisible, thus their namesake. They are gnat type flies that fly in swarms and have mosquito type bites. As far as fireants, they are most common in grass, but are also VERY common on pavement and sidewalks. Fortunately they don't seem to be common inside. I have also seen fire ants in CA although I'm not sure how common they are out there but they are all over the desert and the southeast. Honestly (thank god), I haven't seen many around here though.

[sunrico90]

Just do a search for bugs in the Florida forum and you will get a lot of feedback...

[palmcoasting]

Fire ants first and foremost. They are terrible. You can try to treat mounds, but it is a losing battle.

Go to Home Depot and get Over & Out. Spread it like you would fertilizer. Trust me, they'll be gone.