[Songbird42]

Along with bugs, love bugs which ruin the paint job on your car, you can enjoy plenty of red ants.........you will have to show your children what a hill of red ants look like and make sure they understand that if they get bit, it will hurt and itch.

One of the many plesant things about Fl.!

[lovelucy]

Sadly, we found out about the red "fire" ants a little too late. We let our dog stay outside during the day ( not all day) and after a few days of it, she ended up with swollen pads on her paws, mouth, butt, and everywhere else. She was in misery, and also ended up with a bad case of mange? and then we humanely put her down after 9 yrs of having her since she was 5 weeks old. She hid under the bed and growled at everyone and wouldn't come out. It would be very costly treatment, money we didn't have and there were no guarantees it would help her. The vet said she was not the type of dog for Florida weather. She was half Boston Terrier and half Chow Chow.

Also, one of our birds (Parakeets) ended up egg bound, and died! We called an vet, and by the time they would see us two days later, she passed away.

So, with two pets dying on me, being homesick, freaking out by bugs, and having someone sick back at home, we left and went back up north.

Not the introduction we were expecting.

[coryjan]

Originally Posted by VAFury

Love bugs you just get used to as they have basically two seasons that last about two weeks each..... Palmetto bugs??? Well, can one EVER get used to a 2 inch bug flying around the house sounding like a B-17 Bomber???

Just what are the two seasons? When is it safe to open your slider to your deck for some fresh air. Do they navigate day and night?

[Sarasota_Blues]

I think the "two seasons" someone referred to, was about love bugs. I know love bugs are prevelant right around late May (Memorial Day weekend). Palmetto bugs don't really have a season that I know of, although I would assume that they are more warmer weather creatures (like summertime).

[sharon08742]

I really want to move to FL (from NJ) but there is just no way that I'm going to be able to deal with palmetto bugs (and live to tell about it).

I almost fainted just looking at the pics posted here.

Yes, I am that bad.

Is there a better area in FL where these disgusting creatures are less prevalent...or better still, non-existent?

[compelled to reply]

I haven't even seen a roach in 6 years and I live outside of Fort Lauderdale (which I guess is a "Better area"). Still, my friends say I am just lucky. LOL! Plus Palmettos actually live in the NY/NJ area too indoors. They are a tropical roach, but they thrive in large indoor environments all the way up to NYC. I don't know why people see the palmettos as being a Florida exclusive either, because they are prevalent throughout the Southeast.Some people think they are going to move to Ga. to escape ROACHES! Now THATS funny!!!!!! Just keep your sanitation levels high in your home, and you won't have a problem.

[tallrick]

I just had one land on me last night when I walked outside to take out the trash can. So what, I still survived! The worst time was when I was getting ready to go to a friend's wedding and a roach landed on me and pooped on my collar. I was so steamed and smashed that thing so hard that I broke the brush on the wall. Other bad time was when one got on me while camping and bit my arm.

[compelled to reply]

I actually think that roaches are funny. I could do with out the poo though.

[Sarasota_Blues]

Just remember to sleep with your mouth closed! (Ooops, there goes MY reputation)

[valicky]

I'm too scared of opening the first page of this post! I'm deathly afraid of roaches. I don't know why, I know they're harmless, but sooooo gross. I can deal with spiders, earwigs, the regular roaches that don't have those horrible antennas, ants, etc. I see a roach and I lose it. I have 2 cats so maybe that's why I haven't seen a Palmetto bug in years. I'm a clean freak too. I've lived in this house for almost 5 years and I know I haven't seen one in it, so it's been longer than that. We don't even have an exterminator service. I spray every once in awhile for those little teeny ants, that's it. In my other home, we had mulch by the sliders so I think that's why we had a roach ocassionaly. We don't have lovebugs in Miami so far. I saw one at a gas station a couple of months ago and was surprised. When we were at Disney last Sept, I though my 11 yod was going to have a nervous breakdown. She's worse than me about bugs. She just couldn't believe the amount of lovebugs everywhere. She was miserable the whole time there.