During hurricane season, Floridians must be prepared for all sorts of things… like alligators getting swept away to a new location due to flooding. While there’s already plenty to do when it comes to preparing for hurricane season, it’s important for homeowners to take some time to plan for the influx of critters this time of year.
Last year in 2022, Florida was greatly affected by two later-in-season hurricanes: Ian and Nicole. Hurricane Ian made landfall in the Florida Keys on September 28th, intensified to a Category 5 storm as it traveled towards Naples, and continued its path across central Florida before returning to the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Ian was responsible for over $112 billion in damages. On November 10th, Hurricane Nicole made landfall in Vero Beach before travelling across the state towards Orlando and Tampa. As the Tampa Bay Times wrote in November of 2022, many Floridians experienced a sharp spike in pest pressures following Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in addition to the catastrophic property damage.
Hurricane season in Florida comes every year and generally is thought to be from June to November. For the first time in seven years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted with 70% certainty that we will have “near-normal” hurricane activity in 2023. This is a slight improvement following the seven straight years of “above-normal” activity predictions.
According to the NOAA, we could see 12 to 17 named storms with winds over 39 mph. Of these named storms, the NOAA predicts that five to nine could become hurricanes with winds over 74 mph, and that would include one to four major hurricanes with winds over 111 mph.
Hurricanes can create conducive conditions for pests, especially those that thrive in wet environments or need water to breed, like mosquitoes. Occasional invaders, including American cockroaches (or Palmetto bugs to some Floridians), will also use hurricane season as their time to infiltrate indoor spaces. But do hurricanes bring bugs? Not necessarily in the sense of additional insects arriving with a storm. However, heavy storms can cause insects and wildlife to be displaced and to seek safer shelter.
If you find yourself asking “Why are bugs getting worse in my house?”, you’re not alone. This is very common during hurricane season, even before any storms hit. During the summer, many Floridians will find occasional invaders in their home. In general, bugs will seek shelter during extreme weather events, such as a hurricane. This could mean burrowing underground for some pests and sneaking into your home for others. Exactly what happens to bugs during a hurricane depends on a variety of factors such as where the bug in question is and how severe the storm is.
What are the most common pest problems after a thunderstorm? And do storms bring out bugs? Some of the most common pests Floridians encounter during hurricane season are mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches, and termites.
Yes. You can spray for bugs after rain; however, conditions should be such that the product can adhere appropriately. If an area is thoroughly soaked through with a significant amount of standing water, you will want to focus on drainage efforts first. And keep upcoming inclement weather in mind. If the rain is predicted to resume shortly, you are better served waiting until after the storm has passed completely.
Before any hurricanes make landfall, it’s important to inspect your property for vulnerability.
Taking these steps in addition to your regular hurricane preparation can help with avoiding unnecessary troubles when a hurricane does come.
As we mentioned with the travelling alligators earlier, hurricanes pose a significant risk when it comes to wildlife displacement. While alligators are a more extreme example, there are all sorts of critters this happens to in storms. Snakes, rats, and mice will seek higher ground to avoid flooding. Areas like garages, attics, and crawl spaces could provide some respite for them and they will seek those shelters out.
During and immediately following a big storm, be mindful when you go outside and do not send your pet outside by themselves. This could put you and your pet in great danger. If you believe a wild animal has made its way onto your property or into your home, please do not attempt to catch it on your own. Safety should always be the priority and sometimes that means getting professional assistance.
If you lose power during a hurricane, be mindful of food spoiling. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) provides the following guidelines:
When power outages are prolonged, there’s a chance all the food in your refrigerator and freezer could spoil. In that case, the food could attract some unwanted visitors into your space. Flies, ants, cockroaches, rats, mice, and other pests would love to take those unwanted foods off your hands. It is advisable to put spoiled food into sealed bags and then into sealed trashcans kept away from your home.
If you have a trashcan containing organic material (like discarded food) that won’t be collected before the storm or if you are disposing of food during the storm, take precautions. You will want to make sure that all outdoor waste receptacles are tightly sealed before the storm hits. Ideally, they should be placed inside of a structure to prevent them from being tipped over or otherwise made susceptible to insects or wildlife. The shelter and food provided by outdoor waste and debris is appealing to pests, making your home the next stop on their hurrication.
Hurricanes bring lots of water damage and debris with them. While the severity can vary from storm to storm and based on your location, it’s always important to address the situation as soon as possible after the hurricane passes.
The excess water following a storm attracts mosquitoes, termites, ants, cockroaches, and other pests. Sometimes there isn’t much to be done about this floodwater but try to do what you can if it’s manageable. For example, dumping out any water that has collected – that could be in anything from tarps covering items to a recycling bin to a tire. If water has collected in it, do your best to drain it. You may need to wait for the soil in your yard to dry out a bit.
You’ll also need to remove any debris around your house. Pests and critters can use debris as a highway into your home if it’s in contact with the exterior. Depending on the type of debris, it could also be a food source.
No matter the situation, the most important thing is to prioritize your safety. Be sure to confirm the conditions are safe for you to go outside and take proper precautions.
Throughout the year, different pests peak in different seasons. Florida’s summer bugs are aplenty. The most dangerous pest in the world (and unsurprisingly, Florida’s most dangerous pest, too) is the mosquito. That fact coupled with the immense increase mosquitoes during hurricane season signals the importance of understanding a bit more about them so you can protect yourself.
Are mosquitoes worse when it’s raining? They certainly can be! While most people know about standing water mosquitoes, many are unaware of floodwater mosquitoes. Heavy rains and hurricanes can open us up to both types of mosquitoes simultaneously, which makes the mosquito situation here in Florida even worse. Mosquito control in Florida is essential.
According to UF/IFAS, the estimated number of floodwater mosquito eggs per acre of land is between 700 thousand and 1.3 million. The floodwater mosquitoes lay their eggs in damp soil or in floodwater and over time those areas dry out. The eggs will survive this and then when the next hurricane season comes and resoaks these areas, the eggs are signaled to hatch. This is very different from what happens to standing water mosquitoes, whose larvae cannot survive drying out.
Unfortunately, hurricanes provide additional breeding grounds for both types of mosquito species. This means that it’s important to empty any standing water you have on your property after a hurricane, but even that might not have the impact you’re looking for because of the floodwater mosquitoes. It is recommended to get assistance from a professional.
Mosquito season can vary across the state of Florida, but spring and summer are thought to be the worst. Keep in mind that many mosquito eggs can survive overwinter and hatch in the spring. Not to mention the further south you go, the less likely it is that “winter” has any impact on mosquitoes at all.
Or if you meant time of day, not time of year, dusk and dawn are generally considered to be the most active feeding times for mosquitoes.
There are a lot of insects in Florida, some might even say Florida has a pest problem. The reality is that the climate in Florida is just as appealing to pests and critters as it is to us. That’s where we come in. From general household pest control to termite and rodent control, mosquito protection and wildlife exclusion services, our team of experts has you covered.
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