Palm Valley Pest Control

Most Common Pests in Jacksonville, FL 

Take a moment to discover which insects, rodents, and wildlife are commonly found in your area and around popular attractions such as Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Little Talbot Island State Park, MOSH (Museum of Science and History), Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, and Kingsley Plantation.

Understanding the types of pests that are common in your area can help with your pest prevention efforts and in finding the right pest control provider.

Common pests in Jacksonville, Florida include:

Termites

There are two types of termites that are common in Jacksonville, Florida – the Eastern subterranean termite and the Formosan termite; both are subterranean species. Eastern subterranean termites live underground, build mud tubes along the foundation and walls of buildings, and can have up to 2 million members in a colony. Wood mulch and landscaping that come in contact with the outside of structures offer the ideal environment for the colony to thrive. Florida drywood termites live solely in the wood they infest, making early detection more difficult. Once termites gain access to a structure, they can infest and damage wood flooring, window frames, and even certain structural elements as the colony grows and feeds. Termite swarming season in Jacksonville typically occurs from March through May. During this time, subterranean termites will swarm, or fly in large groups, in search of a new location to establish a colony. Homeowners in Jacksonville should be aware of the signs of termite swarming season, including the presence of swarmers and discarded wings along windowsills, door frames, and near outdoor light fixtures.

Cockroaches

Jacksonville is home to several types of cockroaches. The types most commonly found in Florida homes and businesses are the American, Florida wood roach, smoky brown, brown, German, Asian, and Australian cockroach. Although most of these would prefer to live outdoors, cockroaches can easily make their way indoors. Cockroaches are attracted to structures with moisture problems, such as bathrooms , leaky plumbing, and dripping air conditioner units. They can also be problematic when food is left out, food containers are left open, and crumbs or food scraps are not cleaned up. It's important to note that cockroaches may contaminate food and spread disease-causing bacteria. Inspecting items before they enter your property as well as sealing entry points(exclusion) on the exterior of your property can help prevent cockroaches from entering your home or business.

Mice

As a homeowner, the last thing you want to find in your home is mouse droppings. Unfortunately, house mice infestations are a reality for thousands of Jacksonville residents. Connected units and standalone homes are prone to mouse infestations year-round. Even though homes in Jacksonville are built on slabs, mice can easily sneak their way indoors through small gaps and openings around the exterior of your home. Once indoors, mice can chew through food packaging and wiring, potentially causing electrical issues which could result in a fire hazard. As mice move about your home, they can leave behind large amounts of droppings and urine. They may also leave behind oily "rub marks" as they scale walls or enter and exit small spaces. Because mice are active at night, it's not likely that you'll see one crossing your path, but the evidence they leave behind is a sure sign that you have a rodent infestation. If you suspect mice activity, give your local Jacksonville Terminix team a call to schedule a free pest inspection.

Rats

There are two types of rats that are a common issue for home and business owners in Jacksonville – the roof rat and the Norway rat. Roof rats, as their name suggests, are skilled climbers, making their nests in higher areas like attics and drop ceilings. The Norway rat, also known as the brown rat, does not prefer heights and nests in burrows underground. Both species of rat can be found in urban and suburban areas throughout Jacksonville, particularly in areas with a high concentration of food and shelter sources. It is important to take steps to help prevent rat infestations, such as keeping food stored in sealed containers, maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment, and sealing up cracks and gaps in the exterior of buildings. Don't risk handling rats on your own. Call a Terminix pest control professional for help with rodent issues.

Silverfish

Silverfish are small, silver-gray, fish-shaped pests that live in high humidity environments, which describes the majority of homes in Jacksonville, Florida. Without sufficient pest control in your home, silverfish can infest. Silverfish have long, flat bodies allowing them to easily slip through cracks on the exterior of your home and travel throughout your house unnoticed. Bathrooms, attics, garages, sunrooms, and kitchens are especially vulnerable to silverfish activity. Silverfish feed on foods with carbohydrates and proteins including paper, small insects, and paste in addition to other things commonly found around homes such as cereal, clothing, and insulation. Using a dehumidifier can help in reducing silverfish populations.

House Ants

No matter where you live in the Jacksonville area, you have probably had to contend with ants at one point. House ants are attracted to food and water, both of which can be found in and around your residence. House ant colonies live outdoors, sending scout ants to find nourishment. Once a scout ant finds a leak under your bathroom sink or crumbs on the kitchen counter, they will signal the other workers of the colony to follow. That's when you may see hundreds of small ants in your kitchen or bathroom. Keeping food in airtight containers, regularly cleaning your kitchen, and repairing any leaking appliances and pipes will help reduce the chances of an ant infestation in your home.

Clothes Moths

Clothes moths are small moths that can damage wool, carpets, upholstered furniture, clothing, and rugs. If you open your closet one day only to find holes in your favorite sweater, you may have a clothes moth infestation. They are not a health threat, but they are still bothersome because of how destructive they can be to garments, rugs, or anything made of animal fibers such as wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt, and leather. If you suspect you have clothes moths in your home, contact your local Terminix branch in Jacksonville for a free inspection.

Spiders

There are several species of spiders that plague homeowners in Jacksonville, FL. Here are a few that are most frequently encountered: house spiders (harmless) live indoors in sheltered areas and build webs in corners; yellow sac spiders (small and yellow) are found indoors and outdoors, they are not aggressive, but may inflict a painful bite if provoked; jumping spiders (small and colorful) are found indoors and outdoors, they are known for their ability to jump long distances. Most spiders will hide in areas of your home or business with the least amount of foot traffic and airflow. This may include the corners of rooms, garages, cabinets, closets, and attics. To avoid being bitten by any spider, wear gloves when reaching into dark areas. Can't stand the thought of creepy spiders lurking in the dark? Terminix's ongoing pest control plan can help.

Fleas

These incredibly small pests can plague Jacksonville pet owners. Even homes without pets can still experience flea activity, especially if flea-infested squirrels, mice, raccoons, rats, opossums, or other wildlife live nearby. Fleas thrive in temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to reproduce, they rely on blood meals and will feed on animals and humans to ensure their survival. When bitten, humans and animals can have an allergic reaction, resulting in itchy welts. Additionally, fleas can carry disease-causing pathogens, potentially putting your health and the health of your pets at risk. Professional flea control will help significantly reduce infestations and your risk of being bitten.

Ticks

Ticks can be found in all 50 states, Florida included. However, different types of ticks live in different areas and may carry different disease-causing pathogens. The most common ticks found in Jacksonville are the Lone star tick, black-legged tick, American dog tick, and the Gulf Coast tick. Ticks require blood meals to reproduce and grow and will readily feed on animals and humans. If a tick feeds on a person or animal with a blood-borne infection, it can pass on the bacteria or parasite to the next host. Some common tick-borne illnesses include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis, southern tick-associated rash illness, and heartland virus. Ticks are typically found in grass prairies, densely wooded areas, and coastal uplands. Keeping the vegetation around your property trimmed back and implementing a preventative tick control program can help keep ticks away from your home and help keep these pests away from your family and pets.

Mosquitoes

Due to year-round mild temperatures and high humidity, Jacksonville is a prime breeding ground for several species of mosquitoes, many of which have the potential to transmit disease-causing pathogens to humans and pets when they bite. Help protect yourself, your family, and your pets from mosquitoes by hiring a certified mosquito control professional before the height of mosquito season. Ongoing preventative mosquito treatments will help reduce overall mosquito populations in your yard and keep them from coming back. And, treatments continue to work, eliminating any new visitors that may drop by after they have been applied. You can also help reduce populations around your property by eliminating areas with standing water, removing dead/rotting trees, and keeping vegetation trimmed back.

Earwigs

Jacksonville's humid subtropical climate provides the perfect environment for earwig activity. Typically found living in garden soil, amongst decaying organic matter, and within moisture-rich areas, earwigs are primarily a nuisance pest. However, they have been known to feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits. To help prevent earwigs from entering your home, it's important to seal any cracks or gaps around doors and windows, and to keep the area around the foundation of the home free from organic debris such as leaves and mulch – areas where they can hide and breed.

Stinging Insects

There are several species of stinging insects that are common in Jacksonville, FL including:

● Yellow jackets: These aggressive wasps are typically black and yellow in color and build nests in the ground, in trees, and in structures such as attics and wall voids. Yellow jackets can sting multiple times and their stings can be painful and cause allergic reactions in some people.

● Paper wasps: These slender wasps are typically brown or black in color and build papery nests that look like upside-down umbrellas. Paper wasps are less aggressive than yellow jackets but can still sting if threatened.

● Mud daubers: These slender wasps are black in color and build their tube-like, mud nests in sheltered areas. They are not aggressive and are mostly considered a nuisance.

● Bald-faced hornets: These large, black and white wasps build papery nests in trees and on buildings. Bald-faced hornets can be aggressive when their nests are disturbed, and their stings can be painful.

When it comes to stinging insects, it's best to call an expert who can safely treat and remove the nest. Your local Terminix pest control professional can help.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small parasitic pests that can be found in homes and businesses in Jacksonville, Florida, and throughout the country. Unlike most household pests, bed bugs do not live outside. They exclusively live indoors where there is climate control and a live host. Bed bugs prefer to hide in tight spaces such as mattress seams, bed frames, upholstered furniture, dresser drawers, and even behind light socket covers and hung artwork. If you find bites on your skin or notice small, dark mildew-like marks on your bed sheets, bed bugs could be the culprit. Unlike mosquitoes and ticks, bed bugs do not transmit disease-causing pathogens. If you suspect that there are bed bugs in your home, call your Jacksonville Terminix branch for a free inspection right away. Bed bugs can multiply quickly and move to different areas of your home, making them more difficult to eradicate.

Wildlife

Raccoons, skunks, opossums, and squirrels can quickly take shelter in and around your home. In Jacksonville, wildlife pests such as these will commonly live under decks and porches, and in sheds, attics, wood piles, rotted-out trees, and abandoned structures. When wildlife lives nearby, your home is at a higher risk of being invaded, which can create a number of problems. You may see signs of damage to the exterior of your home from where these pests gnawed or clawed their way into an area of your home. There can be health risks associated with these pests as well. Raccoons, skunks, opossums, and squirrels are known for carrying fleas and ticks, parasitic bugs known for transmitting disease-causing pathogens to people and pets. Having wildlife living anywhere but their natural environment is never ideal. Call your local Jacksonville Terminix team to help deter wild animals from invading your home.