Question about insect control

[SusanZR*]

Hello. We are new to the Villages and wanted to know if the Villages itself has their own insect control measures. In other words, do they take care of treating all the common areas/rec centers/etc? Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the comminities so well sprayed (for lack of a better term) that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem? Thanks.

[Gpsma]

Surprised that you moved here without knowing that before.

The developer kills everything before building…but its florida…the bugs from hell will come back and eat you at night

We use Superior services for bug control…there are other companies here tht do it.

Better get it fast…….you will not survive long without ir

[villagetinker]

Hello. We are new to the Villages and wanted to know if the Villages itself has their own insect control measures. In other words, do they take care of treating all the common areas/rec centers/etc? Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the comminities so well sprayed (for lack of a better term) that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem? Thanks.

TV (or Sumter county) spray periodically for mosquitoes, they have some form of insect control and invasive species control for water features in coordination South West Florida water district(?).

If you are asking about the area directly around your house, this is your responsibility, I would suggest one of the larger pest control companies, we use Deans.

[Babubhat]

Get a pest control company. Went without for a bit. Huge mistake

[Tommyc6]

We switched from one of the biggies to Green Smiths and are very pleased.

[rjm1cc]

Do it your self. Both inside and outside.
Consider a professional for termite since they have insurance to cover any damage.

[Arctic Fox]

Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the communities so well sprayed that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem?

There are very few insects that are actually out to get you.

Mosquitoes are one and, while The Villages does spray occasionally, you should empty any standing water around the house.

Unless you plan to sunbathe naked in the garden slathered in honey, you will probably have very little interaction with insects. You just need to tackle the entry points into the house. For us, that means spraying every month around each external door (front door, sliding door to the lanai and door to the garage) to deter cockroaches and ants from coming in.

Leave the garden untouched - don't waste your money on having alarmist pest control companies spraying poisons into the air you breathe.

[AZ SLIM]

Everything said so far is right on.

I do my own by spraying around the perimeter of the house about once a month with a hand pump sprayer, and I spread granuals on the grass with the fertilizer spreader now and then.

I buy my supplies online at Do My Own - Do It Yourself Pest Control, Lawn Care, Gardening, Equipment & Animal Care Products & Supplies (http://www.domyown.com). Great source of products and information. You can talk to their experts and get factual information and advice.

I have used spray products containing Cypermethrin here, in Arizona and our place in Nicaragua for years with great results (lots of nasty bugs in all three). The landscaper for the public land in our village also uses a product containing Bifenthrin. Both of these products can be bought in liquid concentrate and granuals from domyown.com. The liquid appears expensive, but you only use about an ounce for a 1ga spayer which goes a long way. Maybe up to three treatments.

[Altavia]

Most people use a service, we see fewer insects here than up north.

Beware of fireants, they like grassy areas and quickly swarm in mass if you step on their mounds. Their stings are painful.

Fire ant bites: Treatment, symptoms, what they look like (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312484#what-are-fire-ants)

[ThirdOfFive]

Hello. We are new to the Villages and wanted to know if the Villages itself has their own insect control measures. In other words, do they take care of treating all the common areas/rec centers/etc? Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the comminities so well sprayed (for lack of a better term) that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem? Thanks.
TV seems to do a great job keeping the six-legged critters to a minimum in the common areas. Mosquitoes, biting flies, etc. seem pretty much nonexistent. I do a fair amount of stargazing and bought a can of Off especially for that. Haven't needed it even once. I do a lot of walking and see an ant from time to time but no anthills. I'm assuming that TV takes care of those too.

As far as my home and yard go, we use Florida Pest Control: pricey but good. Other than our first month here I've seen maybe three cockroaches: all three were dead, two on my garage floor and one in the driveway. They take care of things like wasp nests too: $100 if you don't have service from them $0 if you do. More than happy with them.

[retiredguy123]

I had Massey for pest control for 5 years and never saw any insects in my house. I started to do my own treatment 2 years ago and still have not seen any insects, except some tiny ants on my countertop. A few drops of Terro got rid of them in a few days. When I get a wasp nest under my eaves, I zap it with one of those long range spray cans, and that takes care of it.

[msilagy]

My 1st house I saw maybe 1-2 palmetto bugs over a 21 month period (no treatment). My 2nd house was a courtyard villa and had many palmetto bugs in the garage and several got in the house after I moved in. I treated the garage with an insect spray and my home also which seemed to help. One night one crawled up the wall next to my bed. That was it! I read about how to control them and the article suggested "boric acid" which is a white powder specifically for that. I went to Walmart and the worker there told me it is the #1 seller in that aisle! I believed it. I sprinkled it behind all my furniture and in closets and garage, problem solved. After my 6 month trip north I would come back to maybe 1 dead bug, maybe not. My third home which is a bigger court yard villa I have seen only 1 since 2018. I treat myself successfully. You can do it!

[NotGolfer]

Along with the answers to your question you will also hire to have your home power-washed at least once a year (some have it done twice). Any maintenance for your home is your responsibility unless it's brand-new it's under ONE year warranty for anything that needs fixing. It's not too much different than where you lived up north. When we moved here our real estate person had left and we'd closed online a few months prior. We asked our neighbors about most things we didn't know already. I'd suggest reading the paper-work you signed upon closing! Hope this helps!!

I forgot to say that when you hire pest control people they will put you on a schedule for once a year checking and maintenance. IF you have any issues with bugs etc. in between, you give them a call and they come out and take care of it.

[thelegges]

Have Deans at 2 houses for lawn, pest, termite. New house Massey was the original company. Will be switching to deans.

[NoMo50]

Whether you do it yourself, or hire a service, it needs to be done. We use Superior Services, and have been happy with them. It is a very rare occasion that we see an insect inside the house.

The yard is another matter. Certain areas in the Villages are known to have issues with chinch bugs and/or sod webworms. If you don't get on them quickly, and effectively, your lawn can be trashed in no time.

[Nana2Teddy]

Most people use a service, we see fewer insects here than up north.

Beware of fireants, they like grassy areas and quickly swarm in mass if you step on their mounds. Their stings are painful.

Fire ant bites: Treatment, symptoms, what they look like (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/312484#what-are-fire-ants)
Yep, the fire ants got me good at our postal station/rec center recently. My first ever experience with them. Their nest was down below the grass blades, so until they started biting/stinging me I didn’t even notice it was there. We see many visible mounds along the fence that borders a big preserve/marsh here, so TV isn’t really doing much to eliminate them.

[Nana2Teddy]

Yes, you definitely need a plan to manage insects. While new homes as we have are treated for termites the spiders, ants and other creepy crawlers seem to love the straw placed around the landscaping. Sometimes I spray daily to try to control spiders and sweep away cobwebs. Haven’t had a lot of luck with companies that do insect control. Plan is to remove the straw in the fall with mulch or stone
The pine needles mulch looks bad after awhile too. It gets matted down and turns gray. We will replace ours in the fall.

We have Superior pest control and have had to call them at least 3x in seven months to come back for bug treatments outside on our porch, and in garage. Mostly small spiders except for one large wolf spider, but also some small moths, wasps, tiny millipedes, and some kind of flying insects that looked like fire ants with wings. Inside our home we’ve only seen a tiny spider on occasion, though yesterday I found a fire ant crawling around my bathroom sink. That alarmed me enough that I called them to come do another perimeter treatment, which they scheduled for a week from now. I’m definitely not impressed with Superior enough to renew the annual contract when it’s up next January.

[daveczo]

There are very few insects that are actually out to get you.

Mosquitoes are one and, while The Villages does spray occasionally, you should empty any standing water around the house.

Unless you plan to sunbathe naked in the garden slathered in honey, you will probably have very little interaction with insects. You just need to tackle the entry points into the house. For us, that means spraying every month around each external door (front door, sliding door to the lanai and door to the garage) to deter cockroaches and ants from coming in.

Leave the garden untouched - don't waste your money on having alarmist pest control companies spraying poisons into the air you breathe.

I often lay around outside naked covered with honey. No skeeters to speak of. Several neighbors hover around.

[Arctic Fox]

I often lay around outside naked covered with honey. No skeeters to speak of. Several neighbors hover around.

Yes, even Massey refuse to get rid of THOSE pests :icon_wink:

[Gpsma]

One if tge best insect control is a cat….nothing survives her.

[dtennent]

If you are one to take your dog for a walk before going to bed or if you just like to walk in the cool off the evening, it is helpful to sign up with Sumter County to get alerts when they schedule spraying in your neighborhood. That way you aren't running home when you hear the spraying truck coming your way.

member portal (https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085614874#/signup)

[Deedle]

We use Superior and are very happy with them for our interior pest control and lawn pest control. Mitch and the team do a great job.

[Bonanza]

Hello. We are new to the Villages and wanted to know if the Villages itself has their own insect control measures. In other words, do they take care of treating all the common areas/rec centers/etc? Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the comminities so well sprayed (for lack of a better term) that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem? Thanks.

Well, here they are again . . . Welcome to The Villages where neighbors, friends, and pest control companies will (or try) to put the fear of God in you that cockroaches will carry you off to never-never land!

I originally moved to Florida in 1983 and have NEVER had a pest control contract with anyone. I never needed one and still don't have a need for treatment. When I have had a bug situation that I can count on less than one hand in all these years, I personally treated the problem myself. Yes, you will have an occasional roach or ants but this is Florida and they were here before us. The climate here agrees with bugs but you will never have a rampant problem unless something in your house or something you do, lends itself to that happening.

I am not a believer in indiscriminate spraying and The Villages is a horrible example of that being done. All these chemicals that are used month after month are poisoning the groundwater, land, and houses, and these chemicals do NOT dissipate! They are here forever!

PLEASE -- do not let your friends and neighbors tell you that you MUST spray as a preventative. Do NOT let a pest control company give you a deal. Play the wait-and-see game. Finding an occasional bug is not the end of the earth. An infestation warrants something being done but I will guarantee you that will not happen unless there is a damn good reason! And if it should happen, treat the issue yourself which is easy to do and a lot less expensive than calling someone in.

[TomSpasm]

The Villages does a great job of controlling the insects in the public areas. There are neighborhoods that have more problems than others due to proximity to preserves and such. Don't pay a year in advance for any service, bug related or otherwise.

[SusanZR*]

Thank you!
Can you please share the name of the specific product(s) you use around the doors/garage to deter roaches in particular and other pests in general?

[Arctic Fox]

Can you please share the name of the specific product(s) you use around the doors/garage to deter roaches in particular and other pests in general?

We use a can of Raid Ant & Roach spray, about once a quarter. You don't need to spray much and, if you're doors are a good fit, just along the bottom will suffice.

[Bonanza]

Boric Acid is effective (kills) roaches, silverfish, water bugs, ants, and fleas.
For ants inside your home, Terro works wonders (available at Walmart).

They are two terrific products for the do-it-yourself homeowner and neither product harms the environment!

[Pairadocs]

Hello. We are new to the Villages and wanted to know if the Villages itself has their own insect control measures. In other words, do they take care of treating all the common areas/rec centers/etc? Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the communities so well sprayed (for lack of a better term) that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem? Thanks.

Most important...take your time, don't let commercial people scare you ! It can be a selling tactic unless you have some unusual problem. We simply sprayed door entrances, garage perimeter, lanai perimeter, etc. about every other month, and use a borax powder in really inaccessible areas behind the furnace, under stove-oven, only occasionally. It is a VERY effective and less harmful alternative to dangerous chemicals. Have never had any insect activity. About 6 months ago, we switched to the new, supposedly even more people friendly, Zevo. It was an experiment, with summer just approaching, to see if we could switch to this even safer option. So far, we have not seen any upswing in insect activity since the switch, so plan so continue with this new option unless it proves to be less effective. Again, just be careful and go slowly to determine what you need in relation to insect control. You could end up signing contracts and paying hundreds of dollars for something you don't even need.

[Pairadocs]

I had Massey for pest control for 5 years and never saw any insects in my house. I started to do my own treatment 2 years ago and still have not seen any insects, except some tiny ants on my countertop. A few drops of Terro got rid of them in a few days. When I get a wasp nest under my eaves, I zap it with one of those long range spray cans, and that takes care of it.

Agree with everything you've written (except we never did sign up for a pest control "service". Family born and raised in Florida, so tried their advice, used premixed for years around lanai and door entrances, never have had roaches in garage where we use borax powder in the air squeeze bottle. The comment about $100 to spray a WASP nest under eves ! ? Like you, we've had wasps make small nests about twice in 14-15 years. A less than $5 can of wasp spray from the local hardware store took care of that in ONE spray which could be done from 12 FEET away. Nest just "dropped" off, wasps dead, about a 4 min. process. $100 for that would sure be a good living...LOL !

[Pairadocs]

My 1st house I saw maybe 1-2 palmetto bugs over a 21 month period (no treatment). My 2nd house was a courtyard villa and had many palmetto bugs in the garage and several got in the house after I moved in. I treated the garage with an insect spray and my home also which seemed to help. One night one crawled up the wall next to my bed. That was it! I read about how to control them and the article suggested "boric acid" which is a white powder specifically for that. I went to Walmart and the worker there told me it is the #1 seller in that aisle! I believed it. I sprinkled it behind all my furniture and in closets and garage, problem solved. After my 6 month trip north I would come back to maybe 1 dead bug, maybe not. My third home which is a bigger court yard villa I have seen only 1 since 2018. I treat myself successfully. You can do it!

Totally agree ! It's amazing how easy and it is to take care of insect "problems". I believe many people are frightened into spending large amounts of $$ and for such a simple, few minuted process. Boric acid power is great and poses little health hazard when used properly. We've found the new Zevo very effective, so have given up the brand spray we have used for years; still watching to see if there is any difference.

[Pairadocs]

Well, here they are again . . . Welcome to The Villages where neighbors, friends, and pest control companies will (or try) to put the fear of God in you that cockroaches will carry you off to never-never land!

I originally moved to Florida in 1983 and have NEVER had a pest control contract with anyone. I never needed one and still don't have a need for treatment. When I have had a bug situation that I can count on less than one hand in all these years, I personally treated the problem myself. Yes, you will have an occasional roach or ants but this is Florida and they were here before us. The climate here agrees with bugs but you will never have a rampant problem unless something in your house or something you do, lends itself to that happening.

I am not a believer in indiscriminate spraying and The Villages is a horrible example of that being done. All these chemicals that are used month after month are poisoning the groundwater, land, and houses, and these chemicals do NOT dissipate! They are here forever!

PLEASE -- do not let your friends and neighbors tell you that you MUST spray as a "preventative". Do NOT let a pest control company give you a deal. Play the wait-and-see game. Finding an occasional bug is not the end of the earth. An infestation warrants something being done but I will guarantee you that will not happen unless there is a damn good reason! And if it should happen, treat the issue yourself which is easy to do and a lot less expensive than calling someone in.


Such good and logical advice. Sadly, few probably take the time to follow it ! And YES, we ARE drinking the very chemicals "we" pour on the ground and spray in the air daily. Will probably never stop, most people fall for the fear mongering, before taking their time to actually see what they might need ! Fire ants ? Now that's a serious danger, and a canister of granules sprinkled on their mound takes care of the problem nearly instantly !

[Pairadocs]

Thank you!
Can you please share the name of the specific product(s) you use around the doors/garage to deter roaches in particular and other pests in general?

Boric acid power spray (squeeze squeeze, poof, poof) is one of the most effective and least hazardous deterrents we've found, especially for the roach/ palmetto bug type insects, but others as well ! Have also used the Home Defense premix ("safe for pets and humans" from Ace for years and never have had any insects, but recently switched to a new, and supposedly even safer alternative, Zevo. Seem to work just as well, still see no sign of insects. Time will tell !

[mtdjed]

Thank you!
Can you please share the name of the specific product(s) you use around the doors/garage to deter roaches in particular and other pests in general?

I do my own insect control (Except termites) using a product called Suspend SC by Bayer. I get it online for about $40 a pint. You apply it with a pump sprayer (2 or 3 gal size) using 1 to 2 ounces of Suspend SC. It is safe for pets after it dries and can even be used in food storage areas (Not on food containers).

I apply it outside around all entrances, in the garage along the walls and entrances, and in the house under sinks, closets behind washer and dryer, under kitchen appliances, sliding door tracks, under and behind furniture.

I do this once every 3 months. The only insects that I have had to handle differently are what I was told are Pharoah ants. These are very small ants that travel in lines from their nest to a food source. You need to feed them Terro by putting a drop on a small cardboard tap a placing along their path. Let them enjoy and they will carry it back to their nest and feed it to the colony which will disappear.

[DAVES]

Hello. We are new to the Villages and wanted to know if the Villages itself has their own insect control measures. In other words, do they take care of treating all the common areas/rec centers/etc? Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the comminities so well sprayed (for lack of a better term) that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem? Thanks.

Wise to ask. Like anything else you will find tons of different OPINIONS. Spraying. my view.

The chemicals are not good for people either. Nature is a balance. You spray for an insect and it actually reduces the animals, diseases etc that keep it under control. The lizards, are actually your first line of defense against insects. Mosquitoes, need standing water to breed so eliminate standing water We pay for termite spraying. Even that is debatable.
The fine print is it covers subterranean termites not the other kind that flies in. Butterflies? They start out as caterpillars. Spray, KILL EM DEAD, and wonder where all the butterflies have gone. Same is true of bees.

[SusanZR*]

Hi- we have, but they are all old and lazy and mostly just watch insects instead of getting them : )

[DAVES]

Hello. We are new to the Villages and wanted to know if the Villages itself has their own insect control measures. In other words, do they take care of treating all the common areas/rec centers/etc? Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the comminities so well sprayed (for lack of a better term) that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem? Thanks.

Like everything else no shortage of OPINIONS. this is Florida we are loaded with insects.
When you spray you change the balance. You not only kill what you want to kill but you kill the insects and animals that feed on them. Your first line of defense against insects are the lizards and bats. Mosquitoes need standing water to breed in. Look around your yard. Get rid of any standing water.

The communities do spray. They monitor the insects. There are boxes to sample the insects.
They spray as needed and at night.

Roaches. A perfect solution. We don't have any roaches. They call them waterbugs.