[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by SusanZR*

Hello. We are new to the Villages and wanted to know if the Villages itself has their own insect control measures. In other words, do they take care of treating all the common areas/rec centers/etc? Do residents have their own home insect control companies, or are the comminities so well sprayed (for lack of a better term) that individual houses really don't need it unless they develop a problem? Thanks.

Well, here they are again . . . Welcome to The Villages where neighbors, friends, and pest control companies will (or try) to put the fear of God in you that cockroaches will carry you off to never-never land!

I originally moved to Florida in 1983 and have NEVER had a pest control contract with anyone. I never needed one and still don't have a need for treatment. When I have had a bug situation that I can count on less than one hand in all these years, I personally treated the problem myself. Yes, you will have an occasional roach or ants but this is Florida and they were here before us. The climate here agrees with bugs but you will never have a rampant problem unless something in your house or something you do, lends itself to that happening.

I am not a believer in indiscriminate spraying and The Villages is a horrible example of that being done. All these chemicals that are used month after month are poisoning the groundwater, land, and houses, and these chemicals do NOT dissipate! They are here forever!

PLEASE -- do not let your friends and neighbors tell you that you MUST spray as a preventative. Do NOT let a pest control company give you a deal. Play the wait-and-see game. Finding an occasional bug is not the end of the earth. An infestation warrants something being done but I will guarantee you that will not happen unless there is a damn good reason! And if it should happen, treat the issue yourself which is easy to do and a lot less expensive than calling someone in.