[bonnie3456]

I'm renting near Ft. Sumter Landing for the month of November, and am curious to know what kinds of bugs, snakes, etc. I may run into (or run away from!) Is it late enough in the year for me to relax? Thanks for any input on this.

[cathyw]

Originally Posted by bonnie3456

I'm renting near Ft. Sumter Landing for the month of November, and am curious to know what kinds of bugs, snakes, etc. I may run into (or run away from!) Is it late enough in the year for me to relax? Thanks for any input on this.

Welcome to TOTV.
RELAX...many people have lived here year round for YEARS and have never seen a snake or had any bugs in their home. Enjoy your stay. You will LOVE it.
BTW, its LAKE Sumter Landing.

[marianne237]

Since this is a semi tropical area, bugs and snakes are always around us. However, they are more afraid of you than you are of them. And as far as the anoles (small lizards), they eat the bugs. Don't be afraid. Just come on down and have a good vacation.

[bonnie3456]

Thanks, Cathy and Marianne -- I'm really looking forward to being there.

[gomoho]

The only bugs that we have been bothered by in TV (got here in June) were the lovebugs and they are seasonal so shouldn't be a problem. As far as I can tell no other bug is allowed to live here. Had a snake in the yard but it took off as soon as it saw me coming.

[Serenoa]

Have the boa constrictors & anacondas migrated up from the Everglades, yet?

[John_W]

I have lived in Florida since 1959 off and on and have never seen a snake. I've seen snakes when I lived in Maryland but never here. The only bug I've seen here are centipedes, right now they are on the decline but are very present, even spraying doesn't always wipe them out. Palmetto bugs I used to see occasionally when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's but haven't seen any in TV. If you seen one you will remember it, I normally only saw them when I visited Miami or Ft. Lauderdale. They are like a giant roach. If they fly then they are a female. I will never forget in 1959 a realtor showing my parents a home at night and when we stepped out into the lanai and he turned on the light, about 200 female palmetto bugs took off, it is still a nightmare to this day.

[aussiemom]

All you who have lived here years and never have seen a snake........LUCKY. We moved in only a month ago and the first week here was a fat 3 foot snake in our driveway and just yesterday morning went into the garage (door was closed) and there was another 3 foot snake in the garage. Couldn't open garage door fast enough to get him out. Not sure what kind, both were dark brown & black, no rattles, or whether or not he was venomous. Watch your pets and just be aware.

[Mimivillager]

Sorry to say we do have brown widow and black widow spiders. I saw 2 brown recluse(widow) in Amelia at my home. (poisonous)

[buggyone]

You usually find brown recluse spiders in dark garage corners where there are boxes, etc. There have been many found, also, in the tall weeds by the golf courses so be very careful when getting your golf ball out of those places.

Their bite is very painful and the skin around the wound will die off. Infection is the most common problem with a brown recluse bite.

[billethkid]

None!!!!!!!!!!!!!

btk

[Skybo]

I have come across several brown widows on my property since I’ve lived here. I most frequently find their egg sacks in the corners of my front porch, beneath the eves of the house, under the seats of outdoor furniture and under the rims of outdoor flower pots. On two occasions when opening the screen door on my lanai first thing in the morning, I’ve disturbed webs and had a brown widow fall out onto the ground in front of me. I had one fall from some foliage that I was trimming and into my work glove! Google brown widow spiders to see what they (and their egg sacks) look like.

Are brown widows and brown recluses the same? I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. It seems that many websites infer that they are the same spider, but others seem to make a distinction. The photos I've seen look different. The spiders that I’ve found on my property have been identified by Massey as brown widows.

<need an icon for totally creeped out, the "eek" icon doesn't do it>

[bonnie3456]

Thanks for all the info. Such a wide variety of experiences -- I guess I'll just keep my eyes open! ;-)

[Mimivillager]

Jeff at Massey called mine brown recluse and told me horror stories about their bites. He said to call him if I see anther one and don't go near it.
I did call him immediately when I saw one on the front porch. The first one was on the lanai screen and he pointed it out to me when he was doing his inspection. They are very tiny and have a bright orange spot on the belly.

[Skybo]

Originally Posted by Mimivillager

Jeff at Massey called mine brown recluse and told me horror stories about their bites. He said to call him if I see anther one and don't go near it.
I did call him immediately when I saw one on the front porch. The first one was on the lanai screen and he pointed it out to me when he was doing his inspection. They are very tiny and have a bright orange spot on the belly.

Then they are definitely different than the ones I am seeing. "My" spiders (brown widows) are pretty big with a bulbous body. They have the orange hourglass shape on their undersides like the black widow spiders.