Seasonal Guide to Common Pests in the Tampa Bay Area

Florida is home to many different pests. However, each of them have different times of the year when they’re most active or more likely to enter your home. We’re here to provide you with a guide on the seasonal pests of Tampa Bay. 

Fall

Autumn is the beginning of nicer, cooler weather for us here in Tampa Bay. With the holidays just beginning and the Florida heat beginning to subside, you’ll want to go outside and enjoy the beauty the Tampa area and beyond has to offer. But there are still pests during this season to look out for.

Ants 

While we may be enjoying a reprieve from Florida’s heat, for ants, it means it’s time to harvest and store up food for their colony. Because of this, you may notice an increase in ant activity during the fall season as they’re preparing for winter. 

Another contributing factor is with the fall comes holiday feasts. Ants are going to be more drawn to your home with this increase in food. Making sure your trash is properly disposed of and that leftovers are securely sealed can help deter this fall pest. 

Stinging Insects

Similar to ants, stinging insects, such as bees, hornets, and wasps, see cooler weather as a threat to their food resources. Having spent the summer increasing their hives’ numbers and population, stinging insects (particularly wasps and hornets) may become increasingly aggressive as there are more of them to feed but less food to gather. 

While cleaning up your yard or house, be mindful of any nests. You’ll want to have these removed—preferably by a professional.

Winter

The holidays are in full swing, and Tampa’s rainy season has finally ended. You may notice a decrease in the pests and bugs outside, especially mosquitoes or flies. However, that doesn’t mean all pests are suddenly gone—here are some winter pests you may come across. 

Rodents

Rodents like to be warm and have an abundance of food. Unfortunately, this makes your home the perfect shelter for mice, rats, and other rodents during the winter months. These little critters can cause all sorts of problems—from damaging your home’s structure or wiring to spreading disease. 

Rodents can sneak into your home through small cracks or holes in your walls. Making sure your walls are sealed and repaired will be the first line of defense against keeping rodents out. For more tips on how to keep rodents out during the winter, check out our guide to rodent control in the winter!

Roaches

Roaches thrive in warm, humid climates. This is why they are so prevalent in the Tampa Bay area. You may think that winter would see a decrease in roach activity, and you’d be partially correct. However, warm, moist areas in your home (such as your bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen) can become a shelter for roaches looking to make it through the winter—meaning you could begin to find more of them in your home during this time. A roach infestation can be a tricky thing to deal with, so if you think roaches have made themselves unwelcome holiday guests, call in the professionals to get rid of them. 

Bed Bugs 

Often during the holiday season, there is an uptick in travel as people go on vacation and visit family and friends. While you may not want to think about pests during your travel plans, keeping an eye out for bed bugs is going to be vital to making sure you don’t bring any pests back home. 

Bed bugs can spread very quickly during the holiday season as people are traveling and using hotels. Unfortunately, if you sleep on a bed that has bed bugs, you may unknowingly bring them into your home. Checking for signs of bed bugs when sleeping in a new space and washing all your clothes and sheets when you get home are just a couple of ways to avoid bed bugs.

Spring

Spring is here, and the sun is shining. The Tampa Bay area is beginning to warm up again, and with warmer weather comes a new array of pests to watch out for. 

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are an annoying pest that are unfortunately common in Tampa. They usually lay their eggs in the fall; however, these eggs will lay dormant and only start to emerge in the spring. This means a sudden increase in the mosquito population as these eggs hatch and mature. 

Mosquitoes can carry dangerous diseases, so it’s important to make sure to keep their population under control and away from your home and family. You should remove standing water, use insect repellent, and invest in professional mosquito control as their populations rise during the spring. 

Ticks

As the weather warms a bit and before it becomes rainy again, you may want to spend your time outdoors or on nature trails to soak in the lovely weather. While you’re out in more wooded or grassy areas, it is important to be aware that ticks also become more active as the weather warms up. 

These pests are notorious for spreading Lyme disease and other illnesses, so protecting yourself from them is essential. Using insect repellent while you’re outside and conducting a full body inspection when you’re done can help protect you from tick bites.

Subterranean Termites

Although termite season is year-round in Florida, subterranean termites are most active in the springtime. These termites live in colonies and build mud tubes. Oftentimes, the wood damage left by subterranean termites is not able to be seen from the outside – you must peel away the upper layer to expose the damage. Termites cause more than 5 billion in  property damage each year, and subterranean termites are the most destructive termite species. Subterranean termites are known to collapse houses. If you suspect you have termite, Anti-Pesto can help. Call us immediately. 

Summer

The Florida summer is known for its high temperatures, humidity, and storm activity. These conditions are great for enjoying Tampa’s beaches, but they also help tropical pests thrive and become increasingly active. 

Spiders

Spiders like cool, dark places. So while other tropical pests may be enjoying Tampa’s summers, spiders may begin to seek shelter in your home—away from the heat and the bright sun. Despite popular belief, most spiders are harmless, but they can be a nuisance when they’re in your home. Some species, like black windows and brown recluses, can pose a threat to your health.

Use caution when in dark, cool spaces, and avoid reaching your hand into dark corners where you can’t see. Natural scents like peppermint will deter spiders from settling in your home, and removing webs can help prevent any spiders currently in your home from returning. 

Drywood Termites

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites don’t need moisture or soil to survive. You can often find them in dry spaces, living inside the wood they feed on. Most commonly, they can be found in attic wood beams or other places with dry, unrotted wood. 

It’s fairly easy to confuse a termite for an ant, but if you see an ant-like creature with straight antennae and wings that are equal in length, you likely have a termite infestation on your hands. If you believe you have termites, call in a professional immediately for an inspection.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes, like many other pests on this list, are an unfortunate year-round problem. Florida, especially the Tampa Bay area, does not have huge changes in seasons, so most pests can stay all year with varying degrees of population growth or decline. 

These mosquitoes love the rainy season that comes with the Florida summers, so you may see an increase in mosquitoes in the summer months—particularly around standing water such as lakes and ponds. 

Get Year-Round Protection with Anti-Pesto

Whether you’re preparing a family barbeque for the summer or a holiday feast in the winter, Anti-Pesto is here to ensure your home is pest-free all year long. We provide Tampa Bay with same-day pest control services for mosquitoes, rodents, termites, roaches, and more—all while striving to use solutions that are environmentally friendly and considerate of little ones or pets in your home. If you’re ready to experience a pest-free home all year round, get a free quote from us today!