Bugs and spiders in Florida

What to watch for in Florida

Three widow spiders are established in Florida: the brown widow, the southern black widow and the northern black widow. Brown widow bites are usually much milder than black widow bites, but it is a true widow and easy to mix up with a young black widow, so get medical advice after any bite you are worried about. Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222.

Ticks established here are the lone star, blacklegged, American dog and brown dog tick. The lone star tick is the most recorded, and its bites are linked to alpha-gal syndrome, a red-meat allergy. All can carry disease. Red imported fire ants are established, eastern yellowjackets are common, and the yellow fever mosquito and house mosquito are both established.

Through the year

Spring

Eastern carpenter bees are busiest in April through June, lone star tick adults are most active about April through June, and pill bugs turn up after long rainy periods.

Summer

American cockroaches and house flies peak in the heat, greenhouse millipedes appear after heavy rain, and mosquito season can run longer than the usual June through October.

Fall

Yellow garden spiders are most noticed in late summer and early fall, and Asian lady beetles, the most-recorded species here, move in during October and November.

Winter

Brown widows can be found year-round in Florida, and German cockroaches, pharaoh ants and cat fleas stay active indoors through the cooler months.