THE SWFL PEST LIBRARY / LEE · COLLIER · CHARLOTTE · SARASOTA
What’s bugging
you?
Ten pests that Southwest Florida homes, apartment communities, and businesses call about most: the signs to look for, when each is typically active here, and what State Shield does about it. Seasonal timing comes from University of Florida (UF/IFAS) research, with every source linked.
Peak seasons in SWFL
Southwest Florida
- Subterranean termitesMar–May
- Drywood termitesMay–Jun
- MosquitoesJul–Sep
Termite flights run from winter into spring. Mosquitoes follow the summer rains.
Year-round: German cockroaches and roof rats.
Full 12-month calendarTypical patterns from UF/IFAS publications and Lee County research. Weather moves them.
THE LIBRARY
Ten pests.
One straight answer each.
Open a card for the signs, the season, why it matters at home and on a commercial property, and what State Shield does next. Not sure which pest it is? Describe what you’re seeing and we’ll take it from there.
German cockroach
Small brown roaches that scatter when the lights come on.
- What you’re seeing
- Adults run about 3/8 to 9/16 inch long, brown to dark brown, with two distinct parallel bands down the shield behind the head. UF/IFAS notes they can’t survive away from people, and that water, food, and hiding places decide where they settle.
- When
- Year-round. Per UF/IFAS, German cockroaches “breed continuously with many overlapping generations,” and the full life cycle takes about 100 days.
- Why it matters
At home. UF/IFAS notes they can carry disease-causing organisms and may cause severe allergic responses.
At a property. UF/IFAS calls this “the species that typically plagues multifamily dwellings.” Units share walls, plumbing, and trash areas, so the response has to cover the building, not only the unit that called.
- What State Shield does
- A focused German roach plan: the affected rooms or units first, clear preparation instructions before the visit, then follow-up and monitoring. For apartment communities, service runs unit by unit, coordinated with your leasing office.
German roach control
American cockroach
the “palmetto bug”The big reddish-brown roach that wanders in from the yard.
- What you’re seeing
- A large roach, about 1.5 inches long on average and reddish-brown, with a pale band around the edge of the shield behind the head. UF entomologists note it is often called a “palmetto bug.” Outdoors it lives in moist, shady spots like mulch, woodpiles, and hollow trees.
- When
- Watch after heavy rain and through summer. UF/IFAS says it “is rarely found in houses; however infestations can occur after heavy rain,” and that in summer, alleyways and yards “may be overrun.” It wanders indoors for food and water or to escape extreme weather.
- Why it matters
At home. One in the kitchen is usually a visitor from outside, which makes the real question how it got in.
At a property. UF entomologists note it is more common in commercial buildings than in homes. UF/IFAS lists restaurants, grocery stores, and bakeries, and it turns up in sewers and drainage systems.
- What State Shield does
- Inside and out: home pest control for houses, and a commercial service plan for restaurants and properties, with attention to the moisture, mulch, and openings that bring them in.
Home pest control
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-141, American Cockroach · UF Entomology & Nematology
Subterranean termites
Mud tubes on the foundation, or a burst of winged swarmers in spring.
- What you’re seeing
- Winged swarmers indoors, or the wings they leave behind. Mud tubes running between the ground and the structure: UF/IFAS says looking for them “can reveal early infestation.”
- When
- It depends on the species. Per UF/IFAS, native subterranean flights run from early December (light southern) through late May (dark southern). Asian subterranean flights peak in March–April and Formosan flights in April–May. Statewide, termite activity is most visible from March to June.
- Why it matters
At home. UF/IFAS says winged termites in a house don’t by themselves mean an infestation, but wings collected in several areas call for a proper inspection.
At a property. Every building sits on soil. For builders, termite pre-treatment can be timed to the pour schedule and documented for the project file.
- What State Shield does
- Inspection first, then a plain-language conversation about treatment, prevention, and termite bonding where available, with coverage and terms in writing. New construction: pre-treatment coordinated with your build.
Termite protection
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-212 · UF/IFAS News, 2025 · UF/IFAS News, 2022
Drywood termites
Tiny pellets piling up under trim, furniture, or a ceiling.
- What you’re seeing
- Small piles of fecal pellets pushed out of “kick-out” holes about 1 to 2 mm wide. UF/IFAS notes the pellets are hexagonal in cross section and can be cream, red, or black. Blistering or peeling of thin wood surfaces or paint is another sign.
- When
- West Indian drywood termites make mating flights from April to June, peaking in May–June, “though flights are possible any time of the year” (UF/IFAS).
- Why it matters
At home. Pellets and flights, UF/IFAS says, can indicate the presence of the West Indian drywood termite in the structure.
At a property. The same signs show up in units, offices, and furnished common areas. Photograph a pellet pile and report it before it gets swept away.
- What State Shield does
- An inspection to confirm what’s there, then treatment options and termite bonding where available, explained in writing.
Termite protection
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-79, West Indian Drywood Termite · UF/IFAS News, 2025
Ants: ghost, bigheaded & fire
Trails on the counter, soil piles along the sidewalk, or mounds in the lawn.
- What you’re seeing
- Ghost ants: extremely small (1.3 to 1.5 mm) and pale, trailing across kitchen and bathroom counters. They nest in wall voids, behind cabinets and baseboards, and in potted plants.
- Bigheaded ants: piles of soil along the edges where lawns meet walkways and driveways, with foragers around doors and windows.
- Fire ants: soil mounds, seldom wider than 18 inches, that pour out ants when disturbed.
- When
- Fire ants make six to eight mating flights between spring and fall, usually midday on a warm (above 74°F), sunny day after rain (UF/IFAS). Ghost and bigheaded ants are established pests in southern Florida.
- Why it matters
At home. Fire ant stings range from local pain and swelling to anaphylactic shock in hypersensitive people (UF/IFAS). Trouble breathing or swelling after a sting is an emergency: call 911.
At a property. Bigheaded ant populations “usually extend across property lines” (UF/IFAS), so lawns, walkways, and building edges work best under one plan.
- What State Shield does
- Ants are part of home pest control, starting with which ant it is: ghost, bigheaded, and fire ants nest and forage differently. Commercial plans can cover grounds and building perimeters.
Home pest control
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-195, Red Imported Fire Ant · EENY-310, Ghost Ant · EENY-369, Bigheaded Ant
Mosquitoes
Bites on the lanai, and more of them once the summer rains start.
- What you’re seeing
- Bites on the lanai, around the pool, and in shady corners of the yard, especially through the rainy season. Standing water is the tell: “dump standing water” is one of UF/IFAS’s prevention tips.
- When
- UF/IFAS: Florida’s mosquito season “coincides with rainy season, May–October.” A multi-year Lee County study found the high rainy season typically runs from the second week of May to the second week of October, with Aedes aegypti peaks concentrated from July to September and the population at its lowest by mid-to-late April.
- Why it matters
At home. The lanai, the pool deck, and the yard are a big part of living here.
At a property. Pools, courtyards, playgrounds, and retention areas are where residents and guests notice first. The Lee County researchers recommend starting interventions before mid-to-late April, when numbers are lowest.
- What State Shield does
- Mosquito service options built around how you use the outdoor space, plus a look at standing water and other conditions that keep them coming back.
Mosquito control
Sources: Morreale et al., PLoS One 2024 (Lee County) · UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, 2024
Rats & mice
Scratching overhead at night, or droppings in the garage.
- What you’re seeing
- Droppings that are black, banana-shaped, and a quarter- to half-inch long, plus gnawed areas. Roof rats are nocturnal and travel above ground along trees, wires, vines, and fences, so sounds often come from the attic or roofline.
- When
- Our UF/IFAS source names no season. It calls the roof rat the number one rodent pest in Florida and notes a female can have up to forty young a year. Nests favor attics, soffits, hollow trees, and old palm fronds.
- Why it matters
At home. Roof rats eat fruit, pet food, bird seed, and garbage, and they can squeeze through cracks half an inch wide.
At a property. Dumpster areas and trees near rooflines matter: UF/IFAS notes rats have been known to jump eight feet from a tree to a house.
- What State Shield does
- Trapping and exclusion with a focus on the conditions behind the problem: find the entry points, address them, and plan the follow-through.
Rodent exclusion
Source: UF/IFAS Charlotte County Extension, Roof rat best management practices
Bed bugs
Itchy bites and small dark spots on the sheets.
- What you’re seeing
- Live bugs, shed skins, and dark spots of digested blood on sheets, clothing, and furniture. Check seams, headboards, bed frames, and nearby baseboards. Some people notice a musty-sweet odor, and some don’t react to the bites at all (UF/IFAS).
- When
- They travel with people. UF/IFAS describes bed bugs arriving on luggage, clothing, bedding, and furniture, so trips, move-ins, and secondhand furniture are the moments to watch.
- Why it matters
At home. UF/IFAS notes that although bed bugs can harbor pathogens, transmission to humans has not occurred. The real costs are the bites, the lost sleep, and the spread.
At a property. Residents can carry them room to room and into adjacent units in multi-family housing (UF/IFAS), so a fast, organized response protects the whole building.
- What State Shield does
- An inspection, then a service plan with preparation instructions before treatment and follow-up where needed. UF/IFAS advises a licensed professional with bed bug experience. For apartment communities: unit-by-unit response coordinated with your leasing office.
Bed bug service
Source: UF/IFAS EDIS ENY2134, Bed Bugs
Spiders
Webs in the eaves and corners, and the occasional surprise in the garage.
- What you’re seeing
- Webs in corners, eaves, garages, and lanai screens, and spiders on walls or in stored boxes.
- When
- Spiders eat pest insects (UF/IFAS), so steady spider activity can point to the insects they’re feeding on.
- Why it matters
At home. UF/IFAS says few Florida spiders have medically significant venom. The widow spiders are the only ones native to or established in Florida that do, and the brown recluse is not established in most of the state. If someone is bitten by a widow, or a bite looks serious, get medical care.
At a property. Webs at entries, stairwells, and breezeways are among the first things residents and customers see.
- What State Shield does
- Spiders are part of home pest control, along with the insects that feed them. Commercial service can include entries, breezeways, and exteriors.
Home pest control
Source: UF/IFAS EDIS ENY2080, Common and Charismatic Florida Spiders
Wasps
A paper nest under an overhang, or yellowjackets coming out of the ground.
- What you’re seeing
- Paper wasp nests in sheltered spots; a UF/IFAS Extension agent describes one under the overhang of a stairwell. Southern yellowjackets nest both in the ground and above it, including in palm material (UF/IFAS).
- When
- Per UF/IFAS, yellowjacket colonies are founded in spring by a single queen. Workers take over as the colony grows, and new queens are raised in fall.
- Why it matters
At home. Unlike honey bees, these wasps “may sting as often as they find a target” and are especially defensive near the nest (UF/IFAS). Anyone with a known allergy or a strong reaction needs medical care; call 911 in an emergency.
At a property. Nests near entries, stairwells, mailboxes, and pool gates put residents and guests in the path. UF/IFAS also notes paper wasps prey on plant-eating caterpillars, so a nest well away from people may be worth leaving alone.
- What State Shield does
- UF/IFAS recommends a pest control operator for large nests or nests inside walls. Tell State Shield where the nest is and how big it looks, and get a straight answer on the next step.
See all services
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-081, Yellowjackets and Hornets · UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County, 2022
SWFL PEST PRESSURE CALENDAR
Twelve months of
pest pressure.
Shading shows when each pest is typically more active in Southwest Florida, drawn from UF/IFAS publications and a multi-year Lee County mosquito study. Every row names its source.
- Lower activity
- More active
- Typical peak
- This month
| Pest | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquitoesrainy season | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | More active | More active | Typical peak | Typical peak | Typical peak | More active | Lower activity | Lower activity |
| High rainy season runs about mid-May to mid-October. In Lee County, Aedes aegypti peaks cluster July–September, and the population is lowest by mid-to-late April. Sources: Morreale et al., PLoS One 2024 (Lee County) · UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County | ||||||||||||
| Subterranean termitesswarms | More active | More active | Typical peak | Typical peak | Typical peak | More active | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | More active |
| Native flights: light southern Dec–Feb, eastern Jan–Apr, dark southern Feb–May. Asian subterranean flights peak Mar–Apr, Formosan Apr–May. Activity is most visible March–June. Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-212 · UF/IFAS News 2025 · UF/IFAS News 2022 | ||||||||||||
| Drywood termitesflights | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | More active | Typical peak | Typical peak | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity | Lower activity |
| West Indian drywood flights run April–June and peak May–June, though flights are possible in any month. Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-79 · UF/IFAS News 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Fire antsmating flights | Lower activity | Lower activity | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | Lower activity | Lower activity |
| Six to eight flights “between the spring and fall,” usually midday on a warm, sunny day after rain. The March–October band is our reading of “spring to fall.” Source: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-195 | ||||||||||||
| German cockroachesindoors | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active |
| Shown steady: they breed continuously with many overlapping generations, and a full life cycle takes about 100 days. Source: UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-002 | ||||||||||||
| Roof ratsattics & rooflines | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active | More active |
| Shown steady: our source names no season. It calls the roof rat Florida’s number one rodent pest; a female can have up to forty young a year. Source: UF/IFAS Charlotte County Extension | ||||||||||||
Typical patterns, not a forecast. Rain, temperature, and the property itself move real activity, and termite colonies feed year-round even when swarms aren’t flying. Seeing something now? Tell State Shield what you’re seeing
FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS
Two pests in this library are built for apartment buildings.
UF/IFAS calls the German cockroach “the species that typically plagues multifamily dwellings,” and notes that residents can carry bed bugs into adjacent units. State Shield’s commercial service handles both unit by unit, coordinated with your leasing office, with a service record after every visit.
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Every season,
sourced.
Pest biology and timing on this page come from University of Florida IFAS Extension publications and peer-reviewed research. Open any source to read it in full.
- UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-002German Cockroach, Blattella germanica. S. Valles.
- UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-141American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana. K. A. Barbara.
- UF Entomology & NematologyAmerican cockroach, UF/IFAS cockroach photo gallery.
- UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-212Native Subterranean Termites. Chouvenc, Su, and Scheffrahn.
- UF/IFAS News, May 2025“Who’s that critter?” Florida’s termites and their flight peaks.
- UF/IFAS News, March 2022Termite season: a UF/IFAS scientist answers common questions.
- UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-79West Indian Drywood Termite, Cryptotermes brevis. Gordon, Scheffrahn, and Su.
- UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-195Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta. Collins and Scheffrahn.
- UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-310Ghost Ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum. Nickerson, Bloomcamp, and Pereira.
- UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-369Bigheaded Ant, Pheidole megacephala. Warner and Scheffrahn.
- Morreale et al., PLoS One 2024Seasonal insights from multi-year Aedes aegypti data in Lee County, Florida.
- UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, 2024“Mosquito Season is Coming!” Milligan and Carnevale.
- UF/IFAS Charlotte County Extension, 2015Roof rat best management practices.
- UF/IFAS EDIS ENY2134Integrated Pest Management in the Home Series: Bed Bugs.
- UF/IFAS EDIS ENY2080An Introduction to Some Common and Charismatic Florida Spiders. Powell and Taylor.
- UF/IFAS EDIS EENY-081Yellowjackets and Hornets. Grissell and Fasulo.
- UF/IFAS Extension Highlands County, 2022Tips from the help desk: paper wasps. D. Austin.
General education, not a diagnosis. This library helps you describe what you’re seeing. It is not a pest identification, a treatment plan, or medical advice. For a bite or sting reaction, contact a doctor, and call 911 in an emergency. For treatment, talk with a licensed pest control professional: 239-799-7378.