Description: Fire Ant colonies contain workers of different sizes ranging from 1/8" to 1/4" in length. They are generally uniform in color and are dark brown to red.

Seasonality: Year-round, may swarm several times from spring to fall.

Attractions: Warm, humid environments with annual rainfall of 10" or more.

They're here! The most recognizable sign of Fire Ant infestation is the dome shaped mounds they create in the ground and the protective behavior of workers who pour out of disturbed mounds to attack and sting intruders. AVOID THESE MOUNDS and call Nozzle Nolen immediately for treatment.

Damage: People, pets and other animals unknowingly disturb their mounds and are quickly covered with stinging ants. Significant illness and deaths have occurred from allergic reactions to their venom. Fire ant venom is unique in the insect world as it produces an immediate and painful stinging, burning sensation. Later, white pustules will form on the skin at the site of the sting.

SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY IF SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION OCCURS

Description: Chinch Bugs are 1/8" to 1/10" long. They have black bodies and white, shiny wings which fold on their backs.

Seasonality: March through November in central Florida and year-round in southern Florida.

Attractions: Plant and grass roots. Most commonly infest and damage St. Augustine lawns.

They're here! Chinch bugs eat the roots of the grass, creating yellow spots in the turf which grows larger over time.

Damage: Infested plants and grass have slower growth, turn yellow and eventually die.

Description: Grubs are ¼" to 2" depending on their age. They are creamy white, C-shaped, with tan heads and six legs.

Seasonality: Year-round in Florida with larvae hatching in late May to June.

Attractions: Grass and tree roots.

They're here! Grass thins, yellows and eventually dies in patches where the grubs have eaten away the root system. The turf may feel soft and spongy in damaged areas.

Damage: Scattered brown patches in the grass indicating dead areas with no root system. A grub infestation can quickly eradicate your lawn if left untreated.

Description: Mole Crickets are 1" to 1 ½" long and resemble a common cricket. They have long rear legs, are grayish brown in color and have a slightly darker head.

Seasonality: Year-round.

Attractions: Mole crickets can eat plants but their preferred food source is Bahia Grass and Bermuda Grass.

They're here! The most common evidence of Mole Crickets are piles of soil on the surface of grass. These piles are created when the crickets drill through the sod. You may also see small clumps of grass on the surface, severed as a result of the same drilling activity.

Damage: The drilling action of Mole Crickets severs the roots and uproots individual grass plants. If you have an infestation, it's best to mark the areas for future reference and treatment as this pest returns to the same spot year after year.

Description: Fall Army Worms are moth caterpillars. They are 1"-2" long and about the size of a #2 pencil in width when fully grown. They may be light tan to shades of gray or green. The head is usually shiny black or brown, with a prominent yellow or white inverted Y marking on the front. The body has stripes and many black, round, mole-like structures.

Seasonality: Spring to fall with peak activity in June through September.

Attractions: Corn, cotton, peanuts and other crops, pasture and turf. They prefer to feed on foliage and grass but can also attack stems and roots.

They're here! Females lay their eggs on the underside of leaves and cover the egg sacks with soft, yellow material, which looks and feels furry. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the plants and grass close to their hatch area.

Damage: Swift movers and voracious eaters, they can strip a shrub overnight if they are moving in large numbers. Their damage is equally extensive to grass where they will strip the grass blades completely.