PestControlBasics
Menu

Identify

Treat

Local

About

Pests and pest control in Florida

Pests to know in Florida

Why each one matters here is cited in the sections below.

Pests documented in Florida

From public GBIF occurrence records since 1990. A record means a species was documented in Florida, not that it's common near you.

Many public records (733)

Fewer public records (129)

Range named by extension sources (16)

Termites in Florida

  • Twenty-one termite species have been recorded in Florida, including at least six established invasive species, more than in any other state.[2]
  • The eastern subterranean termite and the dark southern subterranean termite are both found statewide in Florida.[3]

Invasive species reported here

  • The invasive Formosan subterranean termite is found throughout Florida, mainly in densely populated urban areas.[4]
  • Asian subterranean termite infestations in Riviera Beach, Florida, are the northernmost established colonies of this tropical species in the world.[5]
  • The red imported fire ant was introduced to the U.S. from Brazil through either Mobile, Alabama, or Pensacola, Florida, between 1933 and 1945.[6]

Pests local experts flag

  • Although the brown recluse is often blamed for bites in Florida, a UF entomologist who examined several hundred spiders submitted by the public found only one that was actually a brown recluse.[8]
  • Florida has more than 80 mosquito species, and nearly a quarter are considered public health threats because of viruses such as West Nile and Eastern equine encephalitis.[9]

Public agencies that handle pests

Florida's state-approved mosquito control programs are regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and use integrated mosquito management, which includes population surveillance.[10]

Hiring a licensed company

Florida's pesticide regulatory agency is the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (Agricultural Environmental Services).[1]

Licensing agency: Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services — Agricultural Environmental Services[1].

See also how to check a pest control license.

Free local help

The UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center offers a free termite identification service for samples mailed in with location and contact information.[11]

Local guides in Florida

Through the year

Spring to Summer
In Florida, the Formosan subterranean termite usually swarms just after sunset between early April and late June, with peak swarming in May.[4]
Spring to Fall
Lovebugs appear in huge numbers throughout Florida for a few weeks each April–May and August–September.[7]

Sources

  1. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, “Termite Types.” flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/termites-in-florida/termite-types/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
  3. UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS), “Native Subterranean Termites: Reticulitermes flavipes, R. virginicus, R. hageni (EENY-212/IN369).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN369 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  4. UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS), “Formosan Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (EENY121/IN278).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN278 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  5. UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS), “Asian Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes gestroi (EENY128/IN285).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN285 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  6. UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS), “Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (EENY-195/IN352).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN352 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  7. UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS), “Living with Lovebugs (ENY-840/IN694).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN694 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  8. UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS), “Brown Recluse Spider, Loxosceles reclusa (EENY299/IN576).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN576 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  9. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “Mosquitoes: General Information.” www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Mosquito-Control/Mosquitoes-General-Information (accessed 2026-10-06)
  10. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, “Mosquito Control Programs.” www.fdacs.gov/Business-Services/Mosquito-Control/Mosquito-Control-Programs (accessed 2026-10-06)
  11. UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, “Send Samples.” flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/termites-in-florida/send-samples/ (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-06. Every statement on this page comes from the cited state, federal or university source. Spot an error? Tell us.