What bugs and critters will I find around a Florida home?

You see them when the winged ones fly: Asian subterranean termites in March and April, Formosan in April and May, and West Indian drywood termites in May and June. A few wings indoors usually means they flew in from outside; wings collected in several parts of the house mean it is time for an inspection. Before you buy, a licensed pest control company can fill out the state's wood-destroying organism report, but it covers only what the inspector can see and is not a structural damage report. Lovebugs fly twice a year, in April and May and again in August and September. They do not bite or sting, but wash them off the car within a few days or they can pit the paint. Fire ants, reddish brown to black, give a burning sting whose blister and itch can last up to 10 days; baits help, and grits and club soda do not. A palmetto bug is the Southern name for a cockroach, usually one that came in from outside by accident. Against mosquitoes, the Department of Health says to drain standing water around the house and empty birdbaths and pet bowls at least twice a week. In central and south Florida, generally south of I-4, keep dogs away from cane toads: their poison can kill a pet in as little as 15 minutes. If your dog bites one, rinse its mouth outward with a hose for 10 minutes and get it to a vet.

Where to go from here.