Top 5 Miami Pest Control Nightmares

5. Ant Invasion!

Ants are the pest we are all most familiar with. Generally they are outdoor insects who do important agricultural work including aerating and fertilizing the soil. However, an ant outbreak in the home can be a real pain. Ants can contaminate food and negatively impact your quality of life. In the garden certain species of ants will destroy your vegetation. Some ants in Miami, such as harvester ants have a nasty sting which can cause allergic reactions in those people sensitive to their venom. Fire ants, which nest in mounds of up to 2 feet in diameter, are omnivores which eat meat as well as vegetation. 

4. Bed Bugs

Bed bugs used to be generally limited to flophouses, campsites, Skid Row, and Navy submarines. However as humans move into tighter living spaces such as Miami condos and apartments more ordinary people are coming into contact with them. Bed bugs are parasitic, blood sucking insects which feast on sleeping mammals. They find their prey by sensing the carbon dioxide you exhale. Bed bugs give bites which lead to sleeplessness, swelling,, and perhaps severe allergic reactions. Untreated, 1,000s of bed bugs can occupy a single room.

3. Palmetto Bug

The palmetto bug, also known as the American cockroach or water-bug, is a familiar sight to anyone who has spent time in Miami-Dade. Generally harmless, they do have the ability to bite but rarely do so. They are a major nuisance due to their large size and ability to fly. You will know when palmetto bugs have entered your home and will have a tough time sleeping until they are gone. Even though they are rather large, they have no problem squeezing into the smallest openings of cracks and cupboards. Palmetto bugs are mainly just a nuisance, but if the outbreak is left untreated they will begin to contaminate food.

2. The Mighty Alligator

As far as pests, the Florida Gator is in a class of its own. These throwbacks to the dinosaur age generally tip the scales at around 800 pounds. The largest alligator ever recorded in Florida was 17 feet and 5 inches long. Sedentary animals, alligators present little risk if left to their own devices. However, folks with children or pets that live near water should be careful and keep a watchful eye out. Once a gator is encroaching on your property you should immediately contact a Miami pest control professional. Do not attempt to trap the alligator yourself because when threatened they can instantly turn into a truly dangerous animal. 

1. Released Exotic Pets

Released exotic pets present a unique challenge to Miami pest control experts. Some are dangerous, many are poisonous, and all don’t belong in South Florida. Throughout the 1980s and 90s Miami saw an influx of wild animals including large lizards, poisonous snakes, and even small exotic mammals. As these creatures mature it is made abundantly clear to the owners that these are not pets. At this point irresponsible owners release their "pets" into the wild. Due to the rich vegetation and warm and rainy climate of South Florida many thrive in the wild and have since firmly established populations of their own. This displaces native animals, upsets the eco-system, and throws the environment off-balance. The Everglades now has a significant population of poisonous snakes and large lizards where this simply wasn’t the case twenty years ago.

Do not keep exotic animals as pets. If you have one do not release it, contact a shelter instead. Most importantly, if confronted by a large lizard or snake do not attempt to trap it. You will only hurt the animal and yourself. Instead, contact a qualified South Florida pest control expert.

Are any of the above creatures bugging you?  Get a better night sleep by calling Palmer Pest Management to schedule a free consultation. Our experts will arrive promptly and resolve your pest problem.