Brickell Pest Control

Most Common Pests in Miami, FL 

Miami is home to many species of insects, rodents, and wildlife. Learn more about the most common pests in the area by reading below.

Termites

Formosan and drywood termites are the most common species of termites in Miami-Dade County. Termites start to swarm in the spring, beginning in March and May. However, termite swarming can happen any time of year because of our especially warm climate. Homes in the Miami area are especially vulnerable to termite infestation. Wooden structures can be damaged by termites if an infestation goes unaddressed. Termites are not parasitic pests, so they do not actively seek humans or bite.

Mosquitoes

Living in Miami, you know how bothersome mosquitoes can be. The warm, humid weather we experience in the area creates an environment that allows mosquitoes to breed and thrive year-round. Mosquitoes breed in still water that could be gathering around your property. Anything from clogged gutters to water gathered in bird baths and potted plant saucers can be a perfect place for mosquitoes to multiply. If you're getting bitten by mosquitoes every time you try to spend time on your patio or in your backyard, it's time to schedule a professional inspection.

Ticks

There are many tick species that live in Miami, including the blacklegged tick, lone star tick, American dog tick, and Gulf Coast tick. Tall grasses, unmanicured lawns, and piled or unkempt foliage can harbor ticks on or around your property. Ticks patiently wait to latch onto a host, clinging onto blades of grass or beneath fallen plant material. Humans, pets, and wildlife can all be hosts for ticks as they feed on blood. Not all tick bites will cause illness, but there are many tick-borne disease-causing pathogens that can be transmitted. These can include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and more.

Cockroaches

Miami is one of the most cockroach-infested cities in the US. There are several cockroach species in Miami, but the most common are the smoky brown, German, and American cockroaches. Cockroaches of all species are exceptionally resilient pests that have adapted to living alongside humans, whether we like it or not. They can live in manmade structures, underground in sewers, and outdoors. When indoors, cockroaches can feed off fallen crumbs, piled-up unclean dishes, and overflowing trash cans. They can get moisture from leaky pipes and excess moisture. Even if your home is spotless, cockroaches are good hitchhikers and can be introduced on packages and other items from cockroach-infested warehouses. Connected units are especially susceptible to cockroach infestations. Like bed bugs, cockroaches can travel between units, causing your neighbor's cockroach problem to become yours.

Mice

Mice are small rodents that frequently infest homes throughout the Miami area. When mice enter your home, they can cause unsanitary conditions. Not only do they leave excessive amounts of droppings wherever they go, but they multiply quickly. Because mice are nocturnal, you probably won't see one scurrying around and crossing your path. No matter what type of home you live in, mice don't discriminate between connected units and standalone structures. Gaps as small as a dime can provide access to these pesky rodents as they seek sustenance and shelter in a climate-controlled space. Small cracks in the foundation of your home, uneven garage doors, and gaps around exterior utility piping are easy entry points for mice. Mice can also contaminate food in easily penetrable or unsealed food containers.

Rats

Roof rats and Norway rats are the most abundant rat species in the Miami area. If you've ever experienced a rat infestation, you know how stressful it can be. Rats are especially intelligent and challenging to get rid of compared to other pests and wildlife in the Miami area. Roof rats prefer to nest up high in places like trees, ceilings, and roofs. In contrast, Norway rats prefer to nest in the ground outside and on lower levels of houses when indoors. Rats are especially destructive because of their need to gnaw. Rats have large teeth that constantly grow. This natural process causes rats to gnaw to gain access, whether that be through cinderblock, electrical wiring, concrete, drywall, or other tough materials. Rats often can resist store-bought and DIY pest control measures. Call Terminix to schedule a rat inspection in Miami area if you believe rats are infesting your home.

Silverfish

Silverfish are pests that can be found darting across bathroom floors or hiding amongst storage boxes. They are small, silver/gray, and carrot-shaped with antennae. Paste, paper, books, paper goods, dead insects, clothing, insulation, and foods with starches, like cereal, are easy food sources for silverfish when indoors. Although they are not an immediate threat to your health, when conditions are right silverfish populations can be large and difficult to control compared to most other common household pests.

House Ants

No matter where you live in the Miami area, you have probably had to contend with house ants at one point. Tiny black ants can trail around your kitchen or bathroom, searching for a food and water source. Once they find a leaky dishwasher or open cereal box, ants signal other colony members, and they invade. That's when you will see hundreds of trailing ants crawling throughout your house. They can contaminate food and some species sting.

Clothes Moths

Webbing clothes moths are the most common clothes moths species in Miami and throughout Southern Florida. Adult webbing clothes moths are rarely seen because they avoid the light. It's not uncommon that people rarely know they have an infestation until the damage becomes apparent. Holes that suddenly appear in clothing, rugs, carpets, felt, upholstered furniture, and stored wool can all indicate a clothes moth infestation. They are not an immediate health threat to humans, but they still are bothersome because of how destructive they can be to your garments and rugs. DIY products and methods can be costly, time-consuming, and ineffective against these challenging pests. Call Terminix for a Miami area Terminix branch to come for a free inspection.

Spiders

House spiders and wolf spiders are among some of the most likely spider species you'll encounter in the Miami area. House spiders are small brown spiders that hide in areas of your home with the least foot traffic and airflow. This can include the corners of rooms, your garage, cabinets, closets, and attics. They are not dangerous, but their presence can be alarming to some individuals. Wolf spiders are much larger than house spiders and can be found both outdoors and indoors. At night, wolf spiders hunt their prey which includes smaller insects. If you find a web with a large hole in the center, a wolf spider may be close by. Like house spiders, wolf spiders are not aggressive towards people.

Scorpions

The Florida bark scorpion is the most common across Florida, so it's no surprise that homeowners in Miami frequently contend with infestations. Along with them being equipped with the power to sting, their venom can be dangerous to humans. Florida bark scorpions live outdoors but can migrate into manmade structures such as residential homes when summer heat reaches its peak or after continued heavy rains. Being nocturnal and reclusive, Florida bark scorpions recede into dark closets and garages during the day. At night, they hunt for tiny insects and even rodents.

Centipedes

Florida blue centipedes are native to Florida and can be found in homes throughout Miami. These crawling insects are about two inches long and blueish-gray. They can bite and cause localized mild pain, but they are not lethal to humans. Florida blue centipedes can live indoors when humid conditions exist. Poor moisture control in your home can lead to unwanted infestations.

Earwigs

Earwigs are nocturnal pests that can invade your home year-round. Their need for moisture results in them living under boards and rocks, within soil and mulch, and around garden beds. Therefore, you'll most likely find earwigs on the ground floor of your home. Earwigs can make their way indoors when wandering through an open or improperly sealed exterior door or when hitching a ride in soil from potted plants in garden centers. Heavy rains that we experience in Miami can push earwigs out of the soil and into your home. You've probably heard about earwigs because of the common myth that they can crawl into your ears and lay eggs. They are nothing more than a nuisance when they enter your home.

Fleas

Fleas are small biting insects that feed on dogs and cats but may also bite humans. Fleas are only 1/16 of an inch long, but they can jump up to eight inches vertically. They are flat on the sides and have backward-facing spines on their bodies. Fleas can be spread through the house as their eggs fall off the pet as it moves through the home and the yard, but adults spend most of their time on the host animal. They can become an even larger issue when they breed in your home. These tiny jumping pests are a true nuisance and plague Miami-Dade County residents that experience their activity.

House Crickets

House crickets are very common house pests that can be found in Miami and throughout Florida. Cricket infestations can be irritating because of their loud chirping and are hard to control on your own. While indoors, crickets aren't too picky and can eat fruits, vegetables, paper, wool, silk, and rubber. Secluded spaces in your home that retain heat are ideal for cricket nesting. This can include kitchens, behind baseboards, cracks, and crevices, and more.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps are stinging insects that create nests, hanging under covered services, beginning in the spring in South Florida. They scrape wood shavings off decks, wooden railings, wooden patio tables and chairs, and other wood around your property turning it into a paste when mixed with their saliva. This mixture is used to construct their nest. Most paper wasp nests are light gray, but they can be different hues based on the color of wood available in the area. Paper wasps can sting but rarely bother humans unless they are provoked.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are small parasitic pests found throughout standalone homes and connected units in Miami. No matter how clean you keep your house, bed bugs can infest. Travelers and vacationers alike are especially prone to bed bug infestations by spending extended time in hotels and traveling on planes. That's why it's no surprise that a popular tourist destination like Miami can easily be a magnet for bed bugs. Thrifting and purchasing secondhand goods can bring bed bugs indoors. Items such as wicker furniture, dresser drawers, and upholstered furniture harbor bed bugs, moving the infestation from a secondhand store back to your home and from one unit to the next in multi-unit dwellings. Bed bugs prefer to hide in tight spaces such as around mattress piping, in the corners of bed frames, within upholstered furniture, inside dresser drawers, and even behind light socket covers, peeling wallpaper, and hung artwork.