JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Roaches, ants, fleas and spiders are just a few of the pesky bugs already invading homes here in Northeast Florida.
Exterminators say species of all kinds are off to a running start this spring because of mild winter temperatures.
Recommended Videos
If someone were to look closely at most yards in our area, they would see that theres a whole lot more going on than one might expect this time of year.
The ants are aggressive early, but that's not the only insect thriving in North Florida's mild March.
Terry Shepard with Peninsular Pest Control said, "Cockroaches, ants, and fleas have been particularly bad for this time of year."
Fleas are one of the hardest pests to eliminate according to exterminators who say the blood suckers are out in numbers in yards and in houses.
If they can't find a way to latch onto a pet, they'll latch right onto a person.
"A blood meal. They prefer the animal but in the absence of an animal they'll bite a human to get a blood meal," Shepard said. "We have a quarterly service that covers roaches, silver fish, that's a quarterly service."
At Peninsular Pest Control, the phones have been ringing off the hook. They expect a busier than normal summer time season with a higher population of bugs.
One pet owner said he's staying ahead of the game against the fleas and is preparing for a summer filled with fighting off the pests. "We've had two cold winters. It's been so mild, I guess it's payback time."
"I would just step up your preparations," Shepard said. "things that you would be doing in late March and April, go ahead and do them now."