[Moving from Ohio]

In October, we moved to Riverview, FL. As with another post I read, we, too, are considering a move to Wesley Chapel, to a new apartment complex on Rt 56, where the Audi showroom is located. We noticed the land is undeveloped to the east of the apartment complex, and also, behind it. Saw two white cranes in the tall grass. The land is wild. I wondered about how bad the mosquitoes would be, since the apartment's balconies are not screened in. I seem to have an unseen bulls-eye when it comes to those bloodsuckers. They target me like bomber planes in formation. Whereas, my husband does not have a problem. Does this area have more mosquitoes than most areas? Also, I wondered about gators, of which we are aware that areas do have them. Are the gators more numerous here, due to the undeveloped land? Thank you.

[Novalidusername]

Orlando is heavily developed and it still didn’t stop a gator from making a snack of some tourists’ kid inside the park at Disneyworld a few years back. Gators can be found in waters all the way up to South Carolina. As far as the bloodsuckers go, I suggest getting a few mosquito repellant plants on that balcony and run your arms through them when needed or pick some parts off and put them in a small sack around your neck. Mosquitos tend to breed in still and stagnant waters. The fact that there is a body of water nearby holds little to no significance as anything that holds water for more than a day or 2 can serve as a mosquito nursery. IE: the entire state is a giant breeding area. Good luck.

12 Mosquito And Fly Repellent Plants You Can Grow Easily – The Self-Sufficient Living

[kyle19125]

I wouldn't worry about alligators unless you have tendency to wander off into the wetlands. Gators aren't free-range and stick close to the water. If mosquitoes are an issue with you as is the case with certain blood types (Type O) I would highly recommend finding a community with screened balconies. The fact that they don't is highly ridiculous anyway as it renders them useless for much of the year due to the bugs. A quick online search found about half a dozen apartment communities in the same area on Rt 56 with screened in balconies.

[Moving from Ohio]

NonvalidUserName and Kyle, thank you both for your thoughts on the mosquitoes and gators. Appreciate the link about the plants and also, I didn't know mosquitoes liked "O" type blood. Anyway, we ended up going for a different apartment with a screened-in porch and not in Wesley Chapel.