[champion6]

Originally Posted by rshoffer

I think when northerners see the lanais and bird cages they assume it's because were infested with bugs here.

Roger that, rshoffer. That's why I posted the question.

I sure appreciate the input from everyone... very informative!

[LELANDJANE]

I was there this weekend andf the fruit flies were bad. What's with that?
Of course, that's a teeny aggravation for being in such a great place!

[susieq31]

Musicman is right about the lovebugs. I haven't been at TV during lovebug season (coming up at end of March-beginning of April) but I was at Disneyworld last year and at some places (by the pool especially) you couldn't even go outside. I had hundreds of them outside my hotel room.

[punkpup]

I was told the major reason folks build bircages is beacause of the love bugs!!!

[Felice]

Those annoying love-bugs, fireant hills and a few encounters with Palmetto bugs has been the worst we've encountered. Coming from PA, they don't compare to the gnats, mosquitoes, carpenter ants, and Japenese beetles that we constantly fought! The quarterly bug service keeps most everything at bay and our screened lanai and birdcage keep out the treefrogs and lizards, too! Up north we had yellow jackets - down here we have wasps. The spiders are pretty much a given no matter where you live, but I had more of a problem with them in the house up north than I have had down here. I look at them and the lizards as free bug control!

[graciegirl]

We have fireant hills and that is all, but have been warned about their nasty bites and so Sweetie "salts" them right away with some fireant getter stuff. No bugs inside but my folks lived for years in Florida and I know to keep foodstuffs contained and keep the pest guys coming. I must say I have not seen any bugs but if ever I see a Palmetto, I will be heard all over the south side yelling! YUCK!!

We saw our first gecko last week. The new areas are pretty much cleared of all vegetation before they build and it takes a while for the little "wildlife" to come back. Our neighbors saw a couple of snakes but our other neighbors have five birdfeeders in the back yard and I heard that somehow that draws snakes. (shiver)

I was gonna get a birdfeeder, but decided against it.

[Yoda]

I learned this on a 2 week to the central American jungles. The natives take a 500 mg Vitamin B1 capsule and a garlic capsule every day. I just took the B1. One mosquito landed on me but none bit. I now take B1 all summer and never get bitten. It doesn't work for those damn horse flies.

Yoda

[Dutch1962]

Just park your car in your screened lanai.....problem solved

[Walt.]

Any lightning bugs in TV? We'll be moving to TV in late August and I think my cat would enjoy laying around on the lanai watching them. Even a tiny gnat can keep her absorbed for an hour or two; spotting a lightning bug (firefly?) would be like watching the Super Bowl.

[babbs455]

i was just going to mention love bugs..they come twice a year in the spring and in the fall..has anyone noticed that this past year the love bugs were very few?
we hardly had any this spring...wonder if they are saving up for the fall? they are just plain nasty...

[villages07]

Walt...I have not seen lightning bugs (aka fireflies) here in TV. But, your cat will be infinitely amused by the anoles (small lizards) that crawl all over lanai screens.

Babbs....you're right, love bugs have not been bad for last 3 seasons (this spring, last year). They were bad in 2007. Maybe because of the drought last year and then the intense rain during this year's spring season (drowned 'em all). Even with that, love bugs are just annoying...they don't buzz or bite and they are not active all day long. Just from about 10am til 6pm.

[duffysmom]

I've been perplexed by this bug thing for some time. We moved from an area three hours south of here and lived on a barrier island. Bugs like skeeters and no see ums were a major problem. Playing golf I would be covered with bugs unless I applied a layer of replellent which I hated. Comtemplating our move to central florida I imagined I would be living in bugville. Neighbors were looking at me with pity in their eyes when they heard we would be moving the central florida. Now I'm feeling sorry for them. I have not encountered many bugs, especially the dreaded mosquitoes and love living the the bugless good life in The Villages.

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by champion6

My wife and I are learning about TV by reading messages here. In March we will also be doing a Lifestyle Preview as well as staying with friends.

I have read about birdcages and have seen them in property listings - all shapes and sizes!

Hence my questions... How bad are the bugs, um excuse me, insects? Which ones are the nastiest? What months are they worst? Are the birdcages a necessity or a luxury? Would you consider sitting in your yard without a birdcage?

Thanks,
Mike

bugs????....what bugs?
not an issue here.
yep, snakes and gators with an occassional psycho mocking bird attacking..... but no bugs (my apologies to copulating lovebugs)

[katezbox]

Originally Posted by rshoffer

bugs????....what bugs?
not an issue here.
yep, snakes and gators with an occassional psycho mocking bird attacking..... but no bugs (my apologies to copulating lovebugs)

...and don't forget those intrepid monkey squirrels....

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by katezbox

...and don't forget those intrepid monkey squirrels....

I heard one hijacked a golf cart loaded with snacks on the 6th hole at hibiscus on Cane last week.