Florida has no shortage of creatures, and you don't have to go very far to find them. Here in Polk County, we continually see reports of a wide variety of animals, from our famous gators to harmless Ibis flocks popping up in the yards of people in subdivisions. In other words, you don't have to live in the wilderness to experience wildlife, and if you don't know how to distinguish friend vs. foe, you could end up removing creatures that you should actually keep around.
So, who might be hanging out in your backyard? Should they stay...or go?
Ants
General consensus: They gotta go.
Fire ants, "sugar" ants, and pretty much any other kind of ant are notorious for messing up your lawn with their hills and underground nests, invading your home in search of water, food, or shelter from rain, and (in the case of fire ants) even doling out painful stings if you invade their space. In addition to routine pest management of your home's interior and exterior perimeter, our lawn sprays also help keep ants away from your home AND your lawn, and let you get back to enjoying your space.
Bees
You need to know your species...or find someone who does.
When it comes to bees, many people react with fear, because STINGS! However, bees are hugely beneficial to all of us, as they pollinate the flowers on plants that grow our food, and without them, farmers are facing a crisis wth the health of their crops and size of their harvest. However, not all bees are created equal, and some of them truly are a nuisance while others are considered a friend here in Florida. Carpenter bees are the large, "chubby" bees that you often see flying around the eaves of your home's exterior. They can destroy the wooden portions of your home, and we continually get calls asking about removal and elimination. These bees don't build a "hive" or nest on your home, but rather bore ridiculous amounts of holes on your house (or fence, wooden play set, etc.). Honeybees on the other hand are smaller, fuzzy, and will swarm. They do build hives and if you see a group of them on your home, your best bet is to call us ASAP! We can remove them safely and relocate them somewhere they can continue to benefit our environment without posing a risk to you and your family. No matter the type of bee, it's important to know how to handle them to prevent injury, so you're best to call in the pros.
Snakes
Have a hands-off policy.
Here in Central Florida, the most common types of snakes you'll see are black snakes, rat snakes, and other non-venomous varieties. These are great to have around and kill off mice, rats, lizards, and a wide variety of insects and nuisance pests around your home. We do have venomous species here in Florida though, including Pygmy Rattlesnakes, Water Moccasins, Copperheads, and Coral Snakes. For this reason, it's best to have a hands off policy when you come across a snake. If you don't worry about pets and small children, you can just leave the snake alone and let it go its own way. However, if you're concerned that a venomous snake is living near your home and are worried about your children and/or pets being harmed, calling in the pros for identification and possible removal is a good plan.
Mosquitoes
Kill them...kill them all!
That's pretty much all she wrote. There is no reason to keep them in your yard, so call in the pros (like Country Boy) who offer removal services that kill them at the source, and let you get back to enjoying your backyard.
Beetles
Which is which?
We have a wide variety of beetles in Florida, and knowing who is who will be important in determining if you need to remove them, or leave them be. For example, ladybugs, or ladybird beetles, are beneficial to gardeners and farmers as they kill and feed on aphids and parasites that can harm plants. However, other types of beetles, like Billbugs (a black weevil) can kill your lawn in short order, since they burrow and eat the roots of your grass. Therefore, as mentioned above, knowing your species is important when deciding whether insects should stay or go, and oftentimes having a pro come in is the best way to do that.
Obviously, this is just a small sampling of the types of pests that are here in Central Florida and its nearly impossible for many suburban residents to know how to identify each and every insect or creature that pops up in their yard. That's why Country Boy Pest Control is here for you. We offer on the spot estimations and will come out to identify your issue(s) and help come up with a potential treatment and prevention plan for your unique situation. Give us a call for your appointment!