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 Carpetner
Ants
The Florida carpenter ant complex is comprised of several species, two
of which are common around structures: Camponotus floridanus (Buckley)
and Camponotus tortuganus (Emery). These bicolored arboreal ants are among
the largest ants found in Florida, making them apparent as they forage
or fly indoors and out.
 Cockroach
The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus), is the largest
of the common peridomestic cockroaches measuring on average 4 cm in length.
It occurs in buildings throughout Florida especially in commercial buildings.
In the northern United States the cockroach is mainly found in steam heat
tunnels or large institutional buildings.
Flies
The family Tabanidae, commonly known as horse flies, and deer flies, contains
pests of cattle, horses and humans. In Florida there are 35 species of
Tabanidae that are classed as economically important. Horse flies are
in the genus Tabanus, deer flies are in the genus Chrysops. The yellow
fly, Diachlorus ferrugatus (Fabricius), is known as a fierce biter in
Florida. Like mosquitoes, it is the female fly that is responsible for
inflicting a bite. The males are mainly pollen and nectar feeders. Tabanids
are most likely encountered in hot summer and early fall weather. They
are active during daylight hours.
 Fruit
Fly
Anastrepha edentata
Stone has been collected in the Florida keys in every month of the year,
but its host plants still are unknown. It is one of six species of fruit
flies of the genus Anastrepha which occur in Florida or which have been
established in Florida at some time. According to Division of Plant Industry
records, it has not been found in Florida since 1936. There is a possibility
that this species has not survived in Florida. It is not considered to
be of economic importance anywhere within its range.
 Little
Fire Ants
Prior to the advent of chlorinated hydrocarbons, organophosphates,
and carbamates the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger), was
a problem in Florida. The use of persistent pesticide chemicals reduced
the populations of the ants until they were no longer a menace. With the
reduction in the use of these persistent pesticide chemicals populations
of little fire ants have been allowed to increase, and in some areas,
to develop into a serious problem.
 Fleas
There are over 2,000 described species of fleas. The most common domestic
flea is the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. The adult cat flea, unlike
many other fleas, remains on the host. Adults require a fresh blood meal
in order to reproduce.
The dog flea,
Ctenocephalides canis, appears similar to the cat flea, but is rarely
found in the United States. Cat fleas are commonly found on both cats
and dogs in North America, while dog fleas are found in Europe. The two
species are distinguished by a slight morphological difference which is
detectable only under high magnification.
 Mosquitoes
Culex nigripalpus mosquitoes are the most important disease vectors in
Florida. They are the proven primary enzootic (normal level of virus transmission
from mosquitoes to wild birds) and epidemic (unusually high level of virus
transmission from mosquitoes to humans) vectors of St. Louis encephalitis
SLE virus throughout the southern half of the state. In addition, they
are likely involved in the transmission of eastern equine encephalitis
(EEE) virus in Florida, from Titusville north to Jacksonville and west
to Pensacola.
 Red
Ants
Two species of fire ants are found in Florida. Most notorious is Solenopsis
invicta Buren, the red imported fire ant (RIFA), followed by the much
less common S. geminata (Fabricius), the tropical or native fire ant.
Other more common U.S. members of this genus include S. xyloni McCook,
the southern fire ant, S. aurea Wheeler, found in western states, and
S. richteri Forel, the black imported fire ant, found in southeastern
states.
 Termites
As a member of the highly specialized termite family Termitidae, Amitermes
floridensis is unique among all termites found in the eastern United States.
Occurring only in Florida, it is an ancient scrubland relic of a once
broad distribution of Amitermes that extended across Texas and the Gulf
region. Although astute pest control operators knew of this termite decades
before, Amitermes floridensis was not described until 1989 from specimens
collected in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is the most recent native termite
species to be recognized in the United States.
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