Controlling the “FAMS” Before They Become a Summer Buzzkill
Summer in Florida is prime time for multifamily communities. Pools are packed, and community courtyards are full. Resident activity increases, but so does structure-invading, outdoor-ruining pests.
For property managers, pest complaints during this and next month may not be simple nuisances but could be direct threats to your retention and your community’s reputation. When pests invade indoor comfort or ruin outdoor amenities, residents quickly become annoyed. How do you counteract this surge of summer pests at your property?
To assist you in your property management, WellTech Pest Solutions is here to help with education and solutions to put you back in control. We have compiled four of the most infuriating summer pests put into an acrostic of
F-A-M-S (Flies, Ants, Mosquitoes, Spiders).
1. Flies: The Unsanitary Indoor Intruders
Nothing ruins an indoor summer gathering faster than the relentless buzz of a fly. Whether a resident is hosting a casual family dinner or a leasing agent is guiding a prospective renter through a model unit, flies signal filth. Filth flies are at their height of annoyance during this time, which includes common houseflies, bottle flies, fruit flies, and drain flies.
They land on rotting garbage, animal waste, and decomposing organic matter. Then they transfer bacteria directly to kitchen counters and prep surfaces. Likewise, they land in prepared meals and freshly poured beverages the second your resident’s attention goes elsewhere.
2. Ants: The Multi-Family Marchers
In Florida, the summer heat and heavy afternoon downpours send ant populations into overdrive, forcing them out of the saturated soil and straight into your buildings. Because multifamily units share walls and utility lines, a single untreated ant colony can quickly spread across an entire floor. Here are the types of ants you can expect your residents to encounter:
- Ghost Ants: These tiny, pale pests are nearly microscopic. They target kitchens and bathrooms, looking for moisture and sweets (sometimes referred to by your residents as “sugar ants”).
- Carpenter Ants: These ants are drawn to wood structures softened by Florida’s high humidity and rainy season. Carpenter ants can chew through structural framing and insulation.
- Fire Ants: Fire ants build mounds along walking paths, pet areas, and courtyard lawns. A single step near a mound can result in painful, burning stings for residents and their pets.
3. Mosquitoes: Ruining the Summer Splash
Your pool deck, outdoor grilling stations, and community courtyards are your property’s best gathering areas. However, if residents are “eaten alive” in the middle of their fun, this pest will be the ultimate summer buzzkill.
Mosquitoes require only a tiny amount of stagnant water to breed. A saucer of a patio plant, a clogged gutter, or a puddle on a pool deck canopy is enough to create new generations of swarming blood suckers. When high populations take over common areas, residents may completely abandon the amenities they pay rent to enjoy. Even worse, mosquitoes are serious public health vectors, capable of transmitting diseases.
4. Spiders: A Feast Season Visual Nightmare
Summer is “feast season” for spiders because the abundance of other insects gives them an endless food supply. While spiders are natural for pest control, their presence is a major visual issue for a multifamily property.
Spiders weave heavy, sticky webs across breezeways, around outdoor lighting, underneath balcony railings, and right over resident doorways. Some people get creeped out by the mere presence or evidence of a spider near their living space. Moreover, heavy webbing makes an upscale apartment community look neglected and may hurt your curb appeal.
Don’t Let the FAMS Be Your Summer Buzzkill
Managing a multifamily property requires keeping residents happy, healthy, and comfortable. You shouldn’t have to spend your summer fielding angry emails about bugs in the breezeways or bites at the pool.
At WellTech Pest Solutions, we specialize exclusively in the multifamily residential sector. We understand the unique challenges of shared-wall environments, high-traffic amenities, and Florida’s intense seasonal pest pressures.
That is why we engineered a targeted, proactive summer defense program designed specifically for apartment communities: “Don’t let the FAMS (Flies-Ants-Mosquitoes-Spiders) be your summer buzzkill.”
Our Associate Certified Entomologists (ACEs) and highly trained technicians deploy specialized, low-impact strategies to knock down existing populations and establish a protective barrier around your entire perimeter. We secure your pool decks, clear your breezeways, treat your trash enclosures, and protect your interiors.
Let us handle the summer pests so you can focus on filling vacancies. Contact WellTech Pest Solutions today to schedule your comprehensive property evaluation and keep your community pest-free all summer long. Contact your account manager or your technician for more information about our offers.