Which states have the biggest bug problem?

California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Georgia.

Which states do each kind of insect bother the most?

Bed bugs are most problematic in California and Texas. Termites are most prevalent in Florida, California, and Texas. Mosquitoes are most problematic in Florida, Texas, and California. Ticks are tricky in Texas, California, and New York. Spiders bother California, Texas, and Florida the most. Cockroaches and ants infest California, Texas, and New York the most. Finally, wasps are the worst in California, Texas, and Washington.

How can HOAs deal with a bug problem in spring?

Homeowners associations should find out if they're in a buggy state and which bugs bother their state the most. Using this information, they can focus on targeting pest control efforts toward specific insects. For many HOAs, this means hiring a vendor that is familiar with the target insect. HOA boards must also learn more about the bug in question. This can help them re-evaluate their common areas to control the infestation.

Does Your State Have A Bad Bug Problem In Spring?

It’s no secret that many states have a bug problem in spring. After all, insects usually die off during the winter and increase in number during the springtime. As such, HOAs must watch out for bug infestations in their common areas during the season.

Bug Problem in Spring: The Buggiest States

According to search data, the pesky bug problem in spring is more prevalent in certain states. Let’s examine which states have the most online monthly searches regarding pest control.

California. Each month, the residents of California log roughly 47,000 searches for pest control. The predominant insect is bed bugs, with over 17,000 searches. Meanwhile, termites follow closely behind with 10,000 searches, while ants generate 8,000.
Texas. Texas logs around 42,000 searches related to pests. Like California, bed bugs are the most concerning as residents look for solutions 15,000 times monthly. In second place are termites, with over 9,000 searches. Meanwhile, ants have become somewhat problematic, with 6,000 monthly searches.
Florida. The Sunshine State sees over 33,000 searches a month for pests. However, bed bugs only account for 8,000 searches, unlike the previous states. Termites top off at 12,000 searches, while ants get around 4,000 searches monthly.
New York. The residents of New York log 23,000 searches on pests. Like California and Texas, bed bugs are the predominant concern with 8,000 searches. Ants come in second with around 4,700 searches. Finally, there are over 3,000 termite-related queries.
Pennsylvania. There are approximately 16,000 queries in Pennsylvania. Bed bugs are in first place with 5,600 searches. After bed bugs, ants have roughly 4,300 pest-related searches. Lastly, termite searches account for 2,500 of those queries.
Illinois. Over 15,000 pest-related monthly searches are done in Illinois. Again, bed bugs are the highlight, with roughly 7,000 searches. Ants come at 3,600 searches, while termites generate 1,600 queries.
Georgia. The state of Georgia generates roughly 14,000 monthly queries for pest concerns. Like most other states, bed bugs are the primary concern, with over 6,200 searches. They’re followed by termites and ants at 2,500 and 2,100 queries, respectively.

The States Each Bug Bugs the Most

Which states do certain insects bother the most? Let’s examine which states are most concerned about bed bugs, termites, mosquitoes, etc.

Bed Bugs. These pesky insects are causing the most sleepless nights in California and Texas. They’re a big concern because they cause itching and can travel anywhere by someone who picks them up.
Termites. It’s looking like Florida, California, and Texas have the biggest problems with termites. Florida is humid, California has many wooden structures, and Texas has a diverse climate. Termite bites also carry the risk of infection.
Mosquitoes. Florida, Texas, and California take the lead regarding mosquito problems. Their climates create a perfect environment for mosquitoes. Moreover, Florida has a lot of standing water in the Chain O’Lakes and the Everglades. Mosquitoes bring many diseases, including Dengue, Zika, and Malaria.
Ticks. The most ticked-off states are Texas, California, and New York. They have their large outdoor areas, warm climates, and varied ecosystems to thank for this. Ticks carry and transmit diseases like Tularemia and Lyme Disease.
Spiders. These multi-legged creatures are most concerning in California, Texas, and Florida. Their climates are humid, warm, and mild, perfect for various spider species. Spider bites are toxic, causing skin lesions and systemic illnesses.
Cockroaches. Roaches are unwelcome, mainly in California, Texas, and New York. They have bustling cities and perfect climates with just the proper humidity to welcome cockroaches. Roaches can cause salmonella, E. coli, and urinary tract infections.
Ants. These hard-working insects are the most problematic in California, Texas, and New York. They’re pervasive and come in all kinds of species. Most people also don’t know that ants can transmit food-borne disease organisms, causing salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella.
Wasps. California, Texas, and Washington are the most annoyed by wasps. Their stings cause allergic reactions and can be fatal. Along with hornets and bees, these pesky insects account for 72 deaths a year.

Bed bugs are the peskiest pest most Americans want gone. They generate a whopping 154,240 queries monthly. Meanwhile, ants and termites pose a significant concern as they are prolific and damaging to homes.

Dealing With a Bug Problem in Spring for HOAs

Homeowners associations are generally in charge of common area maintenance.

Depending on state law and the governing documents, this may also include pest control. This is true whether the association is in charge of a single-family home, townhouse, or condominium community. However, it can be hard to manage the pest population when you don’t know which ones to target.

Therefore, homeowners associations should use the above information to know what to focus on. If your HOA is in a state that has the biggest bed bug problem, then concentrate on bed bug control might be the best idea. Meanwhile, if mosquitoes are the most prolific in your area, using anti-mosquito pest control methods might be wise.

For many HOAs, this means hiring a vendor familiar with the target insect. HOA boards must also learn more about the bug in question. This can help them re-evaluate their common areas to control the infestation. For instance, do the insects breed on still water? Consider covering the community pool when it’s not in use. Do the insects love certain types of flowers or plants? Consider replanting or replacing the plants in your community garden with other plant species.

Working With Homeowners

Homeowners associations are often only in charge of maintaining common areas. Hence, individual residents are responsible for pest control in their own homes. They’re also typically in charge of controlling pests in exclusive-use common areas.

However, pests don’t usually live in a vacuum. If a specific pest infests one home, they can easily migrate to other homes or the common areas. As a result, it’s best to educate the community about the habits of these pests, their dangers, how to keep them away, and how to exterminate them. The HOA can also help by letting them know who to call to address the issue.

Be Prepared This Season

It’s not uncommon for HOAs to find a bug problem in spring. HOA boards must examine the data and understand which pests will likely pose the biggest problem. Afterward, it’s only a matter of contacting the right vendors to do the job.

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