1. DO-IT-YOURSELF PEST CONTROL
   Sprays, powders, and other products purchased off the shelf at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. can only hide your bug problems, while they get worse.  Using these products can make household pests disappear from sight, but not from your house.  Also, professional pest service providers do have access to stronger materials than you do.  “Do-it-yourself” may save you money in the short-term but it will allow your problem to multiply and ultimately cost you more
   
   
2. USING UNQUALIFIED PEST CONTROL SERVICE PROVIDERSMake sure that the pest control company you use is Certified by the Department of Agriculture and can show you documents to prove it—this Certification is EARNED, and cannot be bought.  Further, consider issues such as number of years in business and experience, training, licensing and bonding of technicians.
   
   
3. RELYING ON THE “BRAND NAME” OF A BIG NATIONAL
   COMPANY-AND NOT READING THE “FINE PRINT” ON THEIR CONTRACTS
   Refer to separate sheet, enclosed titled: FACTS ABOUT BIG NAME NATIONAL PEST CONTROL COMPANIES.  Note: be very careful NOT to sign long-term or continuing service contracts not backed by straightforward guarantees you fully understand.
   
   
4. NOT GETTING COMPLETE, THOUROUGH, PROFESSIONAL PEST
   AND TERMITE INSPECTIONS FOR YOUR HOME
   Florida is such a “bug area” it is simply dangerous to go without these inspections.  We recommend getting these inspections once every year, or twice, then continuously as part of regular pest control service-but not that few companies automatically include continuous re-inspection in their service.  FAILURE TO HAVE YOUR HOME PROFESSIONALLY INSPECTED CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS PEST INFESTATIONS THAT MAY REQUIRE VERY COSTLY, EXTREME REMEDIES.

Florida Fire Ants: In recent years, certain types of ants have risen from #4 to #1 on the pest problem list in Florida homes.

Florida Carpenter Ants: Florida Carpenter Ants create many separate “satellite” colonies throughout and around a home, often close to food sources.  They forage mostly at night, so you many not see them- or if you find and destroy one colony, other colonies undoubtedly still exist.  There are over 25 places to look for these ants, and several pieces of professional equipment required.

Termites: Termites do more damage than fires, earthquakes and storms combined.  They often get a lot of damage done within the interiors of homes before they are detected by homeowners or even by “ordinary” pest control techs providing routine monthly services.  There are 3 types of termites: drywood, subterranean termites and Formosan, each requiring different preventative methods and/or treatments.  Failing to get a complete termite inspection for your home once a year is a big mistake with very costly potential consequences.  Florida is home of the worst and most extensive termite damage of any US state, so your risks here are exceptionally high.

German Cockroaches: This is the most common type of cockroach.  They inhabit bathrooms, kitchens, anywhere there is water supply: eat just about anything, including toothpaste, food waste, etc. and can contaminate everything from your food, dishes in your cabinet, toothbrush on your counter.  They carry and transmit disease, and about 1/3 of asthma-related health problems in children have been linked to cockroaches.

Perio-domestic Cockroaches: This “large” roach can reach a length of 1.5 to 1.75 inches, often found inhabiting sewers, pipes, basement and other warm, moist areas.