The bug topic....one more time (Jacksonville, Orlando: home, living in, spiders)

[mawipafl]

Do they actually fly or do they just jump far? Recently I've been finding deceased bugs about that size (sesame seeds) around the base of lamps. Turns out they're fleas. And I now have live ones discovered on my dog -- which means probably on the cats, too.

[agreatlife]

After reading these posts, my skin is beginning to crawl. Palmetto bugs really are the worst. Even a spatula isn't long enough to pick one up after stomping it. I have to drag out the vacuum cleaner. No way am I getting near that thing.

[riveree]

Originally Posted by mawipafl

Do they actually fly or do they just jump far? Recently I've been finding deceased bugs about that size (sesame seeds) around the base of lamps. Turns out they're fleas. And I now have live ones discovered on my dog -- which means probably on the cats, too.

That's what I was thinking too.......their jumps are so fast and far, it could look like flying?

Fleas do "crunch" when you crush them (they're really hard to crush, actually).

Mawipafl, I used to give my dogs a health food store biscuit that was made with Brewer's Yeast and Garlic, both of which are natural flea deterrents. I think it really did help. I only stopped buying it because the store was not storing it properly and I ended up with bags with flour moths on/in it twice. It's such a hassle to return things at that store (Native Sun) that I just buy a different biscuit elsewhere now (though I still love Native Sun, just hate their return process ).

Also, depending on the Heartworm prevention you use, you might find it works as a flea deterrent too (Heartguard seems to do that for my dogs, but it does nothing to prevent ticks).

[riveree]

Originally Posted by agreatlife

After reading these posts, my skin is beginning to crawl. Palmetto bugs really are the worst. Even a spatula isn't long enough to pick one up after stomping it. I have to drag out the vacuum cleaner. No way am I getting near that thing.

They're hideous .

I was repotting a banana plant today, and one had the nerve to crawl up on my planter (I was outside)! I took my spade and smashed him! It was soooo grooooooss!! But I had to do it......ugh! Disgusting!

[lcurtisss]

Thank you all for the roach information. My husband and I are considering moving to Jacksonville from Virginia; I think we would like it there, but the potential roach issue might be the largest hurdle for me in making that decision.

From what I understand, the folks here are saying the large palmetto bugs/roaches normally live outside but will sneak in the house especially when it rains or if they are attracted by food, is that correct?

When they come in, are they just passing through? (You see an errant roach inside, you get rid of it, it's a singular event and you may not see another for a long time.) Or if you see one inside, does that mean he and his friends have already set up shop (that if you see one in your house, you can bet there are many more hiding out somewhere else in the house) and things are probably about to get worse?

When you are walking around town going about your business, do you see them all over the place? I worry about the restaurants and office buildings...if many or all of the homes have them, I would think it's even worse at the commercial places. If we go to the movies at one of the older theaters--do we need to worry that something will crawl over us in the dark? Do you have to check over your groceries before you bring them in side to make sure nothing comes with them?

If my main consideration is not having roaches, does that mean I will need to exclude the thought of buying one of the older, more "charming" homes perhaps with some landscaping or backing to trees, in favor of a brand new home in a new neighborhood with bare landscaping and no trees?

The reports are a little differing -- some of them make it sound like no one in Jacksonville, no matter how clean your keep your house, is exempt from having roaches, that it is inevitable no matter what (even for a new home, eventually). Others make it sound like it is possible to not have them, or to rarely see one (and if you see even just one, what does that mean??) Some have said that you will get used to them...again sounding like

Also...do people find them in their cars???

Thanks for all the information already provided. Sorry to be ignorant on the subject and I know I probably sound overly paranoid. We haven't even gotten to visit the city yet (just have it targeted as a place to move!) and it seems like it has a lot to offer; I just don't want this issue to be our downfall. But hoping my fears might be allayed!

[Since 1972]

Palmetto bugs do only come inside sorta by accident. I don't think they come inside to set up shop. It's the small species (American and German) that do that, and they aren't hard to control No, commercial businesses are not teeming with insects. However, I did once see the very small variety of cockroaches all over the cakes displayed at a popular local bakery downtown once. That was an extreme exception. I've never heard of them infesting cars, but if you're in the habit of eating in your car and occasionally dropping food where you can't reach it, you might get ants.

Our house was built in 1951, and we don't have roach problems.

Boric Acid powder is effective against roaches. Roach-Pruf is one brand. We spray the outside of our house, around the perimeter of all doors and windows about once a year with an insecticide (the ones that come in the pump-spray cans) and we have very very few indoor roaches (knock on wood).

Mosquitoes are the most annoying insect 'round here. The Thermacell device works well (Wal Mart camping department). Also, bathe with Zote soap - it contains citronella. Look for it in the Spanish section of some grocery stores. But if you don't like sticky, humid weather, you won't be outside much to be bothered by them anyway.

After that, fire ants are annoying. Since you didn't ask about them, I won't bring them up!

[riveree]

The new houses are generally built tighter, and that helps to keep things out (assuming you keep your doors closed and use your screens).

The initial treatment to the slabs on new houses really helps for the first five years or so. After that, it's like any house and you'll need to keep an eye out, get treatments if needed, etc.

Some older houses were treated with Chlordane which lasts forever (it's no longer legal due to the never-ending-halflife ). If you end up with an older home that's been treated with Chlordane, be kind to the Chlordane - it is your friend . Don't disturb the soil around the perimeter of the home and you'll have one of the best defenses against roaches you can find....they cross the perimeter and they just drop dead .

There's a lot you can do to deter roaches, here are a few tips:

*cardboard: they love it, so don't keep it around - it's a preferred source of food for them.

*plants: keep plants trimmed at least a foot away from your foundation - it helps with circulation (roaches love damp areas).

*standing water: don't let water stand in your sink or elsewhere - roaches are attracted to water.

Overall, I don't find it to be such a big deal. They're a part of living in Florida and you get used to it.....just like the heat .

[riveree]

Originally Posted by lcurtisss

Also...do people find them in their cars???

I've never found one in my car, but I generally don't eat in my car, I think that might make a difference.

[Karla with a K]

I can not remember the last time I saw one in our house. lol time to knock on wood, you know the minute I say this one will come a visiting.

I have never seen one in my car

I really would not worry

[mawipafl]

lcurtisss -- I'm new here to Florida from up north, so my concerns were also the new kinds of crawlies. We live in a house built in 1998 in an established neighborhood and treated with whatever bug stuff as normal when built. None of our bushes are against the house, and we have the red cedar mulch that's supposedly yukky tasting to bugs. Inside, I just live a normal life except for the fact that packing boxes have been part of my decor for the past six months. I've seen one palmetto in the house which I'm pretty sure was a hitchhiker when I was lazy and cut through my house to the backyard with some potted plants I had purchased. Other than that one (and I just caught him in a cup and disposed of him outside), I've not had any in the house nor in the garage nor in my car. I saw a couple of deceased ones at the base of my gutter, and one was living in my hose reel container, but I've not encountered any others (none have crawled on me when I've sat outside or have been gardening, and none when I've been at the movies or at restaurants.)

Just because it sounds like catching the single palmetto in a cup was a piece of cake, let me tell you that I do not like bugs at all and they creep me out -- I'm always on the look out - but it's for naught because, although expected and anticipated because of reputation, the bug population is far less than rumored. I can imagine that it's different out in the country, but in established neighborhoods where people treat their properties, it's my guess that seeing roaches would be a rarity.