Free for homeowners
Pest control in Florida
What are the most common pests in this state, and who handles them?
Pest control in Florida runs year round: subterranean termite swarms start in February, Formosan colonies hold South Florida and the Gulf Coast, drywood termites often force fumigation, and roaches breed in mulch and palms. One independent local company, matched free by PestChief to a Florida ZIP code, handles each request.
Where can you read about each pest?
Pest pressure here is shaped by climate, geography and housing stock, so it varies across the state. The notable issues for this state are set out on this page. For how each pest is identified, what the signs look like and what treatment usually involves, read the pest guides.
What is the climate like here?
Climate is the biggest single driver of which pests live here and how long their season runs.
Which pest issues stand out here?
- Formosan subterranean termites established in South Florida and along the Gulf Coast
- West Indian drywood termites, often requiring fumigation
- Year-round American and Australian cockroach pressure from mulch and palms
- Roof rats in attics, tied to palms and fruit trees
- Mosquito activity effectively year round in South Florida
Which pests are active in each season?
Activity shifts through the year, so the pest worth treating in March is rarely the one worth treating in August.
Which pests are active in spring?
Which pests are active in summer?
Which pests are active in fall?
Which pests are active in winter?
How does pest pressure vary by region?
Pest pressure is not uniform across a state. Elevation, humidity, soil and the age of the housing stock all change which pests appear and when.
Which regions of the state face which pests?
When do termites swarm in each region?
Is your ZIP code in Florida covered?
PestChief is free to the homeowner. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code, not state by state. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company, and it contacts you directly.
What licensing should you ask a company for?
Licensing is the one check a homeowner can make before any work starts. Every state requires a pest control company to hold a license, and most require a separate certification for specialty work such as termite treatment. Ask for the license number, confirm it covers the pest you have, and check it with the state agency that issues it.
What does this state require of a licensed company?
What else should you know about this state?
A few state specific details that change how pest control works here, and what they mean for a homeowner.
Which metro areas are covered?
Coverage varies inside a state, not only between states. A company that covers one metro area may not cover a rural ZIP code two counties away, and the pests it is licensed to treat can differ as well. The metro areas listed here are where PestChief most often has a company to introduce you to. If your city is not listed, a ZIP code check is still worth doing.
What do homeowners ask most?
What pests are most common in Florida?
Florida pest calls cover ants, cockroaches, spiders, wasps and hornets, mosquitoes, and fleas and ticks, and almost none of them stop for winter:
- Formosan subterranean termites established in South Florida and along the Gulf Coast
- West Indian drywood termites, often requiring fumigation
- Year-round American and Australian cockroach pressure from mulch and palms
- Roof rats in attics, tied to palms and fruit trees
- Mosquito activity effectively year round in South Florida
When is pest season in Florida?
Pest season in Florida effectively never ends, and termite swarms start in February, earlier than in most states.
Spring: Subterranean termite swarms begin in February and run through spring. Summer: Rainy season drives mosquitoes, ants and roaches to peak levels. Fall: Drywood termite swarms continue; rodent activity increases. Winter: Mild winters keep most pests active at reduced levels.
Who licenses pest control companies in Florida?
Structural pest control in Florida is regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which licenses businesses and certified operators in general household pest, termite and lawn and ornamental categories. Ask which Florida license category the company holds, since those categories are licensed separately.
How much does pest control cost in Florida?
Florida spans everything from a single roach visit to tent fumigation, so published national estimates of about $171 (This Old House) for a single visit, $300 to $550 (HomeAdvisor) for a one time treatment program, and $300 to $900 (HomeGuide) a year on a recurring plan are only a starting point. They are not PestChief quotes; the inspecting company sets the price.
When do termites swarm in Florida?
Subterranean termite swarms in Florida begin in February, earlier than most of the country, and continue through spring. Formosan colonies hold South Florida and the Gulf Coast. West Indian drywood termites swarm later, with activity continuing into fall, and often force whole-structure fumigation. With effectively no cold season, Florida termite pressure never fully stops.
Does PestChief cover Florida?
Independent local companies cover ZIP codes throughout much of Florida; the covered metros today are Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville. Even in a well-covered state, coverage is decided per ZIP code and per company, so check the locations finder. One company that covers the ZIP and handles the pest receives the request and contacts you directly.
Where does this information come from?
Seasonality and pest biology
- US EPA, Integrated Pest Management principles
- UC Statewide IPM Program, Home and Landscape pests
- US EPA, Safe Pest Control
- Penn State Extension
Pricing
National estimates from published industry sources. Not PestChief quotes.
Licensing
Licensing is administered by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Ready to get this handled?
It costs the homeowner nothing. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company. It contacts you directly, and it sets its own price.
What should you check before you hire?
Every state we cover
Browse the full list of states and metro areas, and check whether your area is covered.
Pests, one by one
Identification, signs of an infestation and what to do first, for each pest we cover.
What pest control costs
National ranges by treatment type, with the basis for each figure stated plainly.
Season by season
Which pests get active when, and the months worth acting in before a problem grows.
Learn the basics
Plain explanations of treatments, prevention and the questions worth asking a company.
How PestChief works
We match a homeowner with one independent local pest control company. Here is what happens.