Even small pests can cause big problems. The tiny flies known as midges commonly take up residence in and around coastal Florida towns. Some midges leave uncomfortable, unsightly bites; others cause distraction, deface property, and make public activities all but impossible.

If you maintain a home in the Bradenton or Sarasota area, you need to understand how these pests live, why they bother humans, and what you can do to discourage them from taking over your property. Check out these frequently asked questions (and answers) about midges.

What Types of Midges Infest Coastal Florida?

Entomologists don’t classify a midge as a specific species or family. The world of midges can encompass just about any recognized family of small flies, including sand flies, and dung midges. The two primary types of midges that may commonly coastal Florida areas include biting midges and non-biting midges.

Midges lay their eggs in bodies of water or on moist ground. The larvae that hatch from the eggs may take up to a year to enter the pupal stage, after which they quickly transform into adult midges. Salt marshes, lakes, swaps, and wet mud banks commonly host swarms of midges, but any standing water will do.

What Do Midge Bites Look and Feel Like?

Biting midges, also known as no-see-ums for their tiny size, can attack their victims in swarms, typically at daybreak and around sundown. Female midges do all the biting, with an anti-clotting substance in their saliva facilitating the extraction of blood.

Midge bites usually leave tiny red welts that may itch. Individuals who spend most of their time outdoors near the water may either grow accustomed or partially immune to effects of midge bites. Others, however, can find these bites extremely irritating. Sensitive individuals may also experience blistering.

While biting midges don’t usually transmit disease, they can sometimes infest their hosts with parasites. Midge saliva can inject the immature form of worms known as nematodes into the bloodstream.

How Do Non-Biting Midges Cause Trouble?

Non-biting midges may not threaten your skin, but they can cause trouble in other ways. Although a moderate midge population actually helps to clean and feed the local ecosystem, large swarms of these pests can congregate on walls, underneath porches, and in carports, staining vehicles and surfaces.

Even without the bites, thick clouds of midges can rapidly make outdoor activities too unpleasant to enjoy, from reductions in visibility to the concern over getting these tiny flies in your mouth, nose, or eyes. They seem especially attracted to light sources such as exterior porch lights and street lamps.

How Do Pest Control Specialists Eliminate Midges?

Midge control over large coastal or swampy areas can prove a difficult proposition. As long as those large bodies of water exist, the midge populations will continue to proliferate. You’ll have better luck reducing the midge population immediately surrounding your personal or commercial property.

Pest control experts can use a combination of chemicals to eliminate your local midge population. Adult insecticides kill individual midges on contact, while thermal foggers can kill entire swarms of midges in yards or along shorelines. Chemical larvicides can eliminate midge larvae from standing water. 

What Can Homeowners Do to Reduce Ongoing Midge Problems?

Chemical applications to kill midges may only help temporarily unless you also take steps to keep those midges from returning in large numbers. Your pest control team can advise you on best practices for modifying your home environment to discourage midge growth.

Moisture control will prove critical in your efforts to control midge problems. For instance, your pest control experts may point out small areas of standing water that you can eliminate from your landscape, or areas or your lawn or garden that need improved water runoff.

Light control can aid your midge control efforts. Consider reducing your number of exterior lights or going with lower-wattage bulbs that produce less light.

When midges make your everyday life uncomfortable, you can rely on Southern Greens Pest Control to get that infestation under control. Contact us today to let us know how we can help you.

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Suspect you might have termites? Termites are more than just a nuisance in your home. They are one of the pests that can extensively damage your house. You should understand the signs to seek out the assistance of a pest control company to stop these vermin as soon as possible.

Look for Drooping or Discolored Drywall

Termites are notorious for devouring wood, but they do not stop there in terms of the destruction they cause. For example, they drill tiny holes through your drywall. You might notice small tunnels through the walls they choose to eat. The tunnels they create gain them access to the studs behind the walls, where the real damage can occur.

As they munch through your drywall, they compromise the integrity of the sheetrock. The destruction causes a chain reaction of sagging or discolored drywall.

Examine Your Walls for Bubbling Paint 

These insects eat through your paint to gain access to the drywall and wood behind the sheetrock. Once they eat through your paint, it causes bubbling.

Keep in mind that bubbling paint not accompanied by other signs of termites may have other possible causes.

Listen for Audible Clues

Use a hammer and tap wooden surfaces with it. Listen carefully for a hollow sound. This noise may indicate that termites consumed some of the wood and left empty space. 

Hold a stethoscope to any walls that look like they have damage or, just as a routine, check on different walls throughout your home. As you listen through the stethoscope, note any rustling sounds. These sounds may indicate pests are scurrying around in your walls. 

Look for the Pests 

The most obvious sign of termites in your home is finding a culprit in or outside of your home. They are difficult to spot, but if you find one, examine it carefully and look at their traits. 

Three different types of termites exist: 

• Worker termite
• Soldier termite 
• Winged termite

The winged termites have wings and appear dark brown or black. They are the largest, and often the first ones, you notice. Their antennas are straight, and their bodies are soft.

​Worker termites, on the other hand, do not have wings. They have straight antennas and are either white or translucent in color. 

Like the workers, the soldiers do not have wings either. They have the same antennas as the workers and winged termites, but they also have pincers located close to their heads. The soldier termites’ color is usually brownish.

Generally, all termites are around three-eighths inches long. 

Evaluate Your Floors 

Look at your floors for signs of sagging. The flooring might appear as though it is buckling from the damage. Also, tiles may loosen. The termites enjoy the softer wood of subfloors, which is what causes flooring to separate from the subfloor.

You might hear your floor squeaking as you walk on it from the termite damage.

Look for Patterned Holes in Your Wood

When you look at termite holes, you want to look near them for patterns in the damage. For instance, subterranean termites are little artists that bore patterns that look like honeycombs.

If you suspect you have termites because you notice holes in your wood or you caught one of them in the act, a pest control company can help. Sometimes, these pests go beyond eating your woodwork and start to munch on your drywall and flooring. Therefore, early detection is a preventative measure that can protect your home.

Contact Southern Greens Pest Control, serving Tampa Bay, FL, and the nearby region, today if you have signs of termites. We look forward to hearing from you.

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If you have a pet-free home, you may not worry about fleas in the house, but fleas can infest the home in a variety of other ways. Through various stages of life, fleas can grow, lay eggs, and cause a nuisance for your home.

When you learn the source of fleas in your home, you can take the proper steps to eliminate both the fleas and the source of the infestation.

1. Wild Critters

We typically associate fleas with domesticated animals like cats and dogs, but fleas will attach to any warm-blooded animal. When wild animals get into your home, you could see increased signs of fleas. Wild critters range in size from a small mouse to a larger animal like a raccoon.

For example, if a squirrel or skunk gains access to an attic or crawl space, the fleas could easily spread to the rest of your home even if animals do not. In some cases, the animal doesn’t even need to enter the home. If a raccoon is on your porch, fleas could land on doormats and jump onto humans as they enter the home. 

Smaller critters may spread the fleas into even more areas of the home. When mice carry fleas, the fleas can easily spread through the home as mice crawl through ceilings, go into cabinets, and access multiple rooms. 

To deter the fleas, you need solutions to keep wild animals away from your home. A pest control worker will not only help you with the elimination of fleas, but extra steps will keep larger pests away. For example, a trap may help you relocate animals like squirrels and raccoons.

Pest control workers may use traps or poison to eliminate smaller pests from your home. The workers also use their experience to remove mice nests and prevent pest population growth.

2. Previous Home Owners

The people who lived in your house before you could have had pets with flea problems. Long after the pets are gone, the flea problem could remain. Carpets and rugs are ideal places for flea eggs and larvae to remain until you have moved into the home, and a flea cocoon in the cracks of hardwood floor could lie dormant in the cracks for up to five months.

With no pets to latch onto, the fleas may turn to you instead, and you could suffer flea bites from the infestation.

You can remove carpets and replace them to help eliminate the flea problem. You also can perform a deep cleaning on the carpets to keep them clean. A pest control worker will perform an inspection and identify any potential danger zones the fleas are located in.

3. Visiting Other Homes

Not only could you get fleas from previous homeowners, but you may bring fleas home when you visit other homes. While adult fleas will not likely travel with you back home, you could easily pick up flea eggs or young larvae during a visit to another home.

There are multiple ways you could transfer the fleas. One of the more obvious is by interacting with a pet like a cat or dog. Through petting, you could initiate a direct transfer of the flea eggs from the pet to your body or clothing. 

Another example includes the clothes or extras you bring. For example, you may have your coat placed on a coat rack or in a bedroom as you visit another home. Flea eggs and larvae could transfer onto the clothing and then become a problem in your home. 

When you visit other homes with a flea problem, you may not be aware you carried the fleas home. If you were aware, then you should wash all of your clothes when you arrive home to help minimize the chance of a flea infestation.

For information on flea treatments for your home, contact us at Southern Greens Pest Control. We have years of experience dealing with pests like fleas and will help keep your home pest-free.

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If you’re a pet parent, you might wonder if mosquitos irritate your dog as much as they irritate you. The short answer is yes, they do. The long answer is that not only can mosquitos pester your dog, but the insects can be dangerous for your pet’s health. Be on the lookout for signs the mosquitos in your yard are causing issues for your dog, and then get rid of the pests.

Symptoms of Mosquito Bites in Dogs

Dogs respond to mosquito bites the same way people do. When the mosquito’s saliva enters their bloodstream, their body reacts with a histamine response. This immune system response causes the area to become swollen and itchy.

Unfortunately, your dogs can’t tell you they’ve been bitten and that it bothers them. Instead, they’ll scratch and bite at the area in response to the itch. They may also try to rub the area against the ground or another hard substance. If you see your dog doing this, check the area for the telltale red bump. You can wash the area with a mild soap and top it with a dog-safe topical cream.

Dogs sometimes keep biting and scratching the bite, which can make it worse. If the bite doesn’t go away, call your vet. Likewise, if you see any of the following symptoms, take your pet to emergency vet services:

• Face swelling
• Lethargy
• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of appetite

Those symptoms indicate your dog is suffering a severe allergic reaction.

Mosquito-Borne Diseases That Affect Dogs

The bite itself isn’t usually that dangerous for your dog. Rather, mosquitos carry some illnesses that can be harmful or even fatal to your pet.

The most common disease that affects dogs is heartworm, the larvae of which live in mosquito saliva. The larvae will work their way through the dog’s bloodstream and into the heart. Adult worms can grow up to one foot long. This disease can kill a dog.

The other common mosquito-borne disease is the West Nile virus. The virus isn’t as harmful to dogs as it is to humans. The caveat is dogs with compromised immune systems, such as puppies and senior pets. These dogs can contract more serious cases.

Holistic Protection Against Mosquitos and Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

A first step for protecting your dog from the mosquitos themselves is to make sure your backyard isn’t a mosquito haven. For one, get rid of any standing water around the yard, including bird baths, ornamental ponds, and even your dog’s water dishes. Standing water is where mosquitos breed.

Next, consider planting some mosquito repellent plants in your yard. Mosquitos don’t like the following plants:

• Catnip
• Lavender
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Lemon balm
• Peppermint

All of those plants are safe for dogs, so you don’t have to worry about introducing an additional danger to your pet if you plant these mosquito-repellants.

Finally, to protect your dog, make sure their heartworm treatments and preventative care is up-to-date. If you have to take them into the vet to look at the bite, your vet might suggest a boost of the heartworm treatment.

Mosquito Control Service to Protect Your Pets

Unfortunately, unless you cover your entire house and yard in mosquito netting, you can’t keep the pests entirely away from your dog or the rest of your family. To that end, consider enrolling in a mosquito control service.

With these services, your local pest control company will send out contractors with a tank on their backs. They’ll blow an insecticide around your yard, especially targeting vegetation, groundcover, and the undersides of leaves — any cool, dark areas mosquitos like to live. The spray kills mosquitos on contact and leaves behind a residue that repels future generations.

The pest control specialists typically use insecticides registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. The chemicals are often derived from plants or synthetic versions of those derivatives. These chemicals are typically safe for dogs, but talk to the contractors about your concerns. They need to service your yard every three or four weeks during peak mosquito season.

Watch out for your dog’s health by protecting them from mosquitos and mosquito-borne illnesses. Call Southern Greens Pest Control to discuss mosquito control services.

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Spring has traditionally represented a time of rebirth, growth, and renewal not only for trees and plants, but for animal and insects as well. Even if you’re delighted to see this season come around again, you may feel less overjoyed about greeting a new generation of household and garden pests.

As temperatures rise during the spring months, you’ll probably see more and more annoying, potentially destructive insects infiltrating your residence. Take a look at these common examples so that you can prepare a sensible preventative strategy.

A New Awakening for Fleas and Ticks

Florida serves as an ideal breeding ground for fleas and ticks, which thrive on both warmth and moisture. In fact, these pests reach their peak of activity in temperatures of 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’ve lived in Tampa or Sarasota for long, you know to expect such temperatures each spring.

Although fleas and ticks prefer warm weather, they also hide in shady places such as thick shrubbery, tall grass, and piles of raked leaves. They emerge from these areas to latch onto pets or humans (who may then bring the pests indoors). Flea and tick bites cause skin irritation and may transmit diseases.

A Busy Time for Termites

Spring means termite season for Florida homeowners. Subterranean termites can invade your home as early as December and continue to cause destruction through May. Drywall termites prefer to invade homes and other structures between April and June, gnawing away at paper and wood alike.

You’ll find drywall termites much easier to spot than their subterranean cousins. They tend to move in swarms out in the open, leaving telltale fecal traces and other signs of their presence around chewed-up surfaces. Subterranean termites move through characteristic mud tubes, so look for these structures as well.

A New Generation of Ants

Ants have a reputation as a springtime annoyance for homeowners, not just in Florida but nationwide. These creatures emerge from their sleeping places during this time of year, causing personal nuisance and/or outright destruction.

Carpenter ants make up about 20 percent of the ant infestations in Florida’s metropolitan areas. These ants destroy wood just as termites do, but they leave the chewed-up wood behind instead of eating it. You may also lose food in your kitchen pantry to pavement ants or odorous house ants.

A Smart Springtime Pest Control Strategy

Fortunately, you can protect your home and yard against common spring pest infestations. Start by walking through your home, checking for signs of infestations. Look for tiny, dot-like droppings, pieces of insect wings, and evidence of wood or paper damage. Seal up any cracks or gaps around pipes.

Don’t let your lawn serve as a breeding ground for bugs. Do you have shaggy shrubs, a lawn in need of mowing, or a leaf pile you never got around to discarding? Clear out the debris and perform any necessary landscaping, keeping your grass trimmed to a neat, short level.

Don’t forget to keep up your pet’s pest prevention treatment plan. When pests such as fleas and ticks can’t thrive on your pet’s body, they’re that much less likely to hitch a ride into your home. Vacuum your carpets and upholstery frequently to make extra sure that they’re not harboring flea or tick eggs.

If you discover a springtime pest problem, you need to take care of it as quickly and effectively as possible. Get into the habit of scheduling a spring pest inspection every year. An experienced inspector can see even the most subtle clues that you might need professional pest treatment.

Contact Southern Greens Pest Control to set up an inspection and learn more about seasonal pest issues. The right mix of knowledge, preventative care, and professional services can help you keep your home pest-free all year round.

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Turfgrass is a term that covers a wide variety of grass species for residential lawns. In Florida, St. Augustine grass is the most widely planted species of turfgrass. St. Augustine grass is popular in the South because the dense turf has a good salt tolerance if it’s planted by the coast and it grows well in most soils in the southern regions.

However, if you notice that your St. Augustine grass is struggling despite your best efforts, the problem may not be in your landscaping. You may have a pest problem. Learn what chinch bugs are, how they can damage your grass, and how to get rid of them.

What are Chinch Bugs and What Do They Look Like?

Southern Chinch bugs are pests that cause the most damage to turfgrass in Florida — especially to St. Augustine grass. Turfgrass is a Chinch bugs main source of food.

If your lawn has patchy brown or yellow spots of dead grass, you may assume that it suffers from drought-like symptoms. However, these patchy spots can be a tell-tale sign of Chinch bug damage.

You’ll want to survey your yard to see if you can spot any Chinch bugs. They are very small — only 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long. However, they are distinctly colored: they have brown legs, black bodies, and white wings with yellow and red markings.

Younger chinch bugs are easier to spot since they have bright-red bodies with a white stripe that runs across their back. Younger Chinch bugs are lighter in color, and they darken as they reach adulthood.

How Do Chinch Bugs Damage Grass?

No matter the age, all chinch bugs have pincers that they use to puncture and eat grass blades. As a Chinch bug eats, it sucks the moisture out of the grass blades. They also can feed on other plants and trees in your yard by sucking the sap out.

Because they suck the moisture out of the grass, your lawn can dry out and die quickly. Not only do they eat the grass, but Chinch bugs inject a toxin into your grass. This toxin interferes with the plant’s ability to gather moisture and nutrients from the soil.

While Chinch bugs are most active when it’s warm out, they can cause damage to your yard year-round. Once chinch bugs have feasted, they will travel to find more sources of food, so you can often spot them on the border of a patchy area between new grass and dead grass.

How Can You Get Rid of Them?

If you notice that your grass has turned patchy, it’s important to inspect the blades for Chinch bugs. It’s easier to get rid of them early on. If your St. Augustine grass is totally destroyed, it may be worthwhile to look into an alternative turfgrass sod that isn’t as palatable to these pests.

If your St. Augustine grass only has a few patches, then you can still save it. It may be frustrating and futile to keep up with your lawn maintenance, but it’s important to do so since Chinch bugs thrive in lawns with leafy debris and heavy thatch.

When you do mow your lawn, be sure to use a bag to catch clippings. While it’s true that grass clippings can be a good source of nitrogen and make a healthy yard, these piles are unfortunately another source of food and shelter for Chinch bugs.

You can avoid Chinch bugs by aerating the soil and by using slow-release fertilizers since heavily fertilized lawns are prone to infestations.

Lastly, contact us at Southern Greens Pest Control for more help. We can spray your lawn with chemicals that will kill these bugs. We can also help you come up with a good lawn maintenance plan to prevent future infestations.

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Florida homeowners must deal with a variety of annoying insects in their landscapes. One pest that probably receives less attention than it should is the whitefly. This tiny bug can cause a large amount of damage to your trees and plants if it’s not kept under tight control. Here is a brief guide to this important pest control topic.

What Are Whiteflies?

Whiteflies are very small winged insects that are members of the Aleyrodidae family. Scientists have identified over 1,550 separate species of whiteflies. Despite the name, whiteflies are not actually flies but are related to insects such as aphids and mealybugs. The name comes from the white color of the adult whitefly’s wings and body.

Eggs

A female whitefly can lay up to 400 eggs at a time. Whiteflies lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves of the affected plant. The eggs hatch anywhere from one week to one month after the females lay them. The hatched eggs then go through four growth stages before becoming adults.

How Do Whiteflies Affect Plants?

Whiteflies tend to proliferate during hot weather and in areas with warm climates, such as Florida. When present in large numbers, whiteflies are capable of doing significant damage to many plants, such as vegetables, ornamental plants, and certain types of trees. Of particular interest to Florida property owners is the vulnerability of many types of palm trees to the pesky bug. 

Whiteflies damage plants in a variety of ways. First, the insects suck sap from the target plant, which, in many cases, causes the plant to wilt and the leaves to turn yellow and fall off.  Second, whiteflies secrete a sticky substance called honeydew that attracts ants to the affected plant. Also, a sooty mold grows on honeydew and this can damage the plant further.

Diseases

Another important way that whiteflies cause damage is by spreading disease. Whiteflies can transmit a variety of viruses into plants such as palm trees. Researchers have identified over 60 viral diseases that are spread by the whitefly.

How Do You Identify Whiteflies?

In some cases, it’s not easy for homeowners to determine if a whitefly problem exists because the insects are so small that identification can be tricky. Look for white insects flying around a plant. Check the plant for yellowing or dropping leaves. Also, examine the leaves of the plant for any signs of sooty mold or sticky honeydew.

A good method of determining if a whitefly infestation has occurred is to purchase traps called yellow cards. The cards have a sticky backing. When a whitefly lands on the trap, it will stick to the card. If you catch a significant number of whiteflies with this method, it tells you that whiteflies are present in large numbers.

How Can You Control Whiteflies?

Unfortunately, once a whitefly infestation breaks out on your property, it can be rather hard to bring the issue under control. One problem concerns beneficial insects, which are insects that feed on harmful bugs such as whiteflies. 

For example, ladybugs and spiders are natural predators of white flies, but using chemical insecticides to kill the whiteflies could also kill off the beneficial insects, which are needed to keep the whitefly population under control for the long term.

The best way to solve a whitefly outbreak is to let a professional pest control firm handle the job. These firms have the knowledge and experience to make certain that any infestation is brought under control quickly and without any unnecessary harm to your plants and trees.

If you have a whitefly issue on your property, let the experts at Southern Greens Pest Control resolve the problem. Contact us to learn more.

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Ants may be the best-known of all pests. They have songs about them, story books about them, and entire aisles full of products intended to get rid of them. One reason ants are so common is that there are just so many varieties — different species suited for different climates.

In Florida, one common type of ant is called the acrobat ant. Since it can cause damage and can be a real nuisance to get rid of, the acrobat ant is an important type of ant to understand as a homeowner.

How Can You Distinguish Acrobat Ants From Other Ants?

At first glance, acrobat ants don’t look too different from the average pavement ant. They’re brown or black in color, about 1/8 inch long, and have obvious antennae. Look a little closer, however, and you’ll notice that the ants periodically raise their abdomens towards the sky, all while holding their heads and thoraxes in place. They appear to be contorting their bodies — thus, their name.

What Damage Does Acrobat Ants Cause?

Acrobat ants are pretty destructive, which is why you should take the time to identify them. Outside, in their natural habitat, they love building tunnels and nests in rotten wood. If you happen to have some rotten wood in your home and the ants find it, they could weaken the structure. Homeowners sometimes find acrobats tunneling in rotten window or door frames or around drain spouts.

Acrobat ants do not cause as much structural damage as termites or carpenter ants, but you still don’t want them in your home. Their frass, or feces, can stain your home and cause allergy symptoms.

Acrobat ants also bite. You’ll know if one has bitten you because the area will burn and itch. Thankfully, an over-the-counter antihistamine should take away your discomfort.

How Can You Prevent an Acrobat Ant Infestation?

Keeping these ants away from your home and yard really comes down to four main steps, which can be summarized in the acronym SETS.

S: Seal All Entryways

If there are acrobats outside in your yard or in a neighbor’s yard, sealing all possible entry points will help keep the bugs out of your home. Use caulk to seal any cracks in your door frames or window frames, and seal gaps around pipes or wires that pass through your walls.

E: Eliminate Water

Since acrobat ants love rotten wood, and water leads to rotten wood, removing any and all sources of moisture on your property will help keep the ants away.

For example, if your yard frequently develops puddles, have those low spots filled. Clean your gutters regularly, and make sure they drain away from your foundation. Eliminate water sources inside, too. Have a plumber fix leaks promptly, and use a dehumidifier to keep moisture levels down.

T: Trim Trees

Trim the trees close to your home, especially. Acrobat ants may take up residence in the tree, and then crawl down the long branches, jumping onto your roof or windows. If you keep the tree well trimmed, the ants won’t be able to make this leap.

S: Store Firewood Properly

If you have firewood, store it at least 20 feet from your home, and preferably on a palate or rack. Ants are less likely to invade the wood if it is raised off the ground, and if they do invade, at least the wood will be far from your home.

How Can You Get Rid of Acrobat Ants?

If you spot ants in your home and suspect they are acrobat ants, your best bet is to hire a professional exterminator. These ants often live between walls and in other hard-to-reach spots, and a professional can locate and treat their nest, eliminating them more effectively than you can with conventional baits and traps.

Acrobat ants can be quite a nuisance. If you suspect these six-legged creatures are calling your house a home, contact the experts at Southern Greens Pest Control.

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When fall arrives, you’re probably thankful for some reprieve from high temperatures and relentless sunshine. A little cool breeze and the occasional cloudy day feels nice. But while fall in Florida is a lovely season, it is not a season that brings relief from pests. In fact, Florida homeowners need to be especially vigilant to protect against these three bugs in the cooler autumn months.

1. Lawn Grubs

Lawn grubs are the larval life stage of several forms of beetles, including June bugs and Japanese beetles. They burrow into the topsoil of your lawn, and they feed on the roots of your grass. The primary sign of lawn grubs is dead patches in your lawn. If you try to pick up some of the dead grass, it will peel back like a piece of carpet since the roots have all been eaten.

You may also see birds frequently picking at your lawn; they are eating the grubs.

Lawn grubs are active in the spring and summer, but they tend to have a boom of feeding activity in the fall. This is when the beetles lay new eggs, which quickly hatch into hungry grubs.

If you suspect your lawn is infested with grubs, call your pest control company quickly. Pesticides are most effective when the grubs are newly hatched. With any luck, your lawn will be grub-free by spring, and then you can reseed and repair the dead patches left behind.

2. Palmetto Bugs

Palmetto bugs, also known as American cockroaches, are those slender, black-brown bugs you’ve probably seen on trees and in leaf piles. They’re everywhere in Florida, and they are active all year-long. In the summer, they tend to be satisfied outside in their natural habitat. But when the weather starts to cool off, they begin looking for a warm refuge inside your home. 

The most common way for palmetto bugs to enter a home is through the roof. They climb trees, descend onto your roof, and explore until they find a little crevice or hole they can crawl through. As such, caulking and sealing your home goes a long way to keep them out. Also make sure you keep your gutters cleaned, as the bugs are attracted to dampness. Rely on roach baits and sprays to get rid of any bugs that do make their way inside.

3. Florida Carpenter Ants

Most ants are simply annoying, but Florida carpenter ants are downright destructive. They’re between 5.5 and 11 mm long and orange-brown and black in color. These large ants account for about 20 percent of the ant population in Florida, and since they feed on wood, they can cause extensive property damage.

Many ants become less active in the fall and winter, but carpenter ants continue to cause trouble. They are especially attracted to moist wood, so if fall rain collects in your doorway, along windows, or on your roof, you may notice ants begin to appear. The ants are most active at night, which is when they forage for food.

If you notice carpenter ants inside your home in the fall, contact a pest control professional ASAP. These are not just ants wandering in. They probably have a nest somewhere in your home, which needs to be located and eliminated. They reproduce quickly and can cause serious damage to wooden structures, so the sooner you get rid of them, the better. 

Make sure you take the time to enjoy the beautiful, cool weather this fall, but don’t grow too lax in your pest control efforts. If you do have trouble with palmetto bugs, carpenter ants, grubs, or some other pest, contact the experts at Southern Greens Pest Control. 

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Here are a few tips to help keep slugs out of your garden and how to get rid of a slug invasion.

Clean Your Garden

Slugs prefer areas that are damp and provide plenty of hiding spots. Remove any leaves, damp mulch, branches, or garbage throughout the year. Avoid using large chunks of wood or any other types that retain mulch. Instead, use stones or rubber mulch to create an attractive garden and prevent weeds from growing without attracting slugs.

Watch for slug trails, which will appear silvery on the ground or stones, and for slug eggs. The eggs are laid in bunches, are translucent, and are covered with a slimy substance. Wipe away the slug trails with a damp rag and pick up the slug eggs and toss them out. Slugs follow trails, and if the trails are gone, the slugs might become confused.

Water Your Garden Only When Necessary

Slugs are slimy, don’t have a shell, and need moisture to survive. Your damp, well-watered garden is an ideal spot to find moisture and a perfect food source. Water your garden when necessary and only enough to keep your plants alive to keep the soil from becoming oversaturated and attracting slugs.

Avoiding watering your garden first thing in the morning or when it is still dark. Instead, water your garden in the mid-afternoon or when it is warm. The plants will get the water they need it and excess water will evaporate more quickly under the warm sun.

Create Slug Traps and Barriers

Unfortunately, if your soil holds moisture or there is a lot of rain, you can’t keep your garden dry and slugs will gravitate towards it. Creating a barrier around your garden with diatomaceous earth is one option to keep them away from your plants and vegetables. Diatomaceous earth is made from diatoms, which are fragments of fossilized algae.

The pieces of fossilized algae are small, but when the slug tries to get across them, they will feel sharp and painful. In addition to deterring slugs, the diatomaceous earth will act as a desiccant by drawing moisture out of the slug.

Slug traps are available at your local hardware or home improvement store. Ask a professional about how to create your own slug traps. For example, you can fill a shallow basin, such as the top of a spaghetti jar, with a small amount of beer. The beer’s smell attracts the slugs and they become trapped inside the shallow jar lid.

Check your traps in the morning and throw away any slugs you find.

Call a Professional for Help

Finally, if you cannot seem to keep slugs out of your garden on your own or there are many slugs wreaking havoc on your property, it is time to call in the professionals for assistance. A professional pest control agent can use several pesticides or other techniques to help keep the slugs out of your garden and eliminate any slugs that are feasting on your prized vegetables and flowers.

Slugs are a common garden pest that can devour your plants, crops, and flowers. If you have a slug problem or need any assistance getting pests off your lawn and out of your home, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Southern Greens Pest Control.

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