Learning to Live With Bugs

Not the kind big government has in place. Those critters that seek food whether human, animal, fabric, wood, sand or whatever.

Even George says he doesn't recall this many bugs when he lived in Florida 12 years ago. Whatever the case, they've about driven us to the edge.

We've mowed our lawn and trimmed bushes; removed all old, wet or rotting wood; spread insecticide throughout our lawn, shed, beneath and inside our home and still, they find us.

The latest victim is Kitty Kitty who had two rounds of fleas. Frontline helped but every surface in the house and outside had to be treated too. We're holding our breath that they are gone for now.

Food is NEVER left on the counters and I've vacuumed every day this week! Mattresses and upholstered furniture have been treated. Walls have been washed; holes and cracks caulked. Insecticide is routinely sprayed or spread and bug bombs were deployed while we took a drive. And still, they crawl or fly among us. Not as much, but by now we thought they'd be gone.

After Kitty Kitty once again had fleas and another Scorpian was found inside, I visited the hardware store for help. The owner informed me this is the worse outbreak of fleas they've had in years. He advised rotating insecticide products each month because, "They seem to build up an immunity."

Immunity? I think they could survive an Atomic blast.

Make no mistake, we like Florida. Sure beats the snow, ice and cold. But we've had our fill of Palmetto bugs (in the porch), flies, mosquitoes, beetles, four types of spiders (including a few Scorpians), four to five types of ants and FLEAS. Add a Bobcat walking across the yard and rattle snakes and, well, I just wanted to hibernate.

When doing our budget we included "pest control" - a first for us.

And the weather hasn't helped. Rain gives many ideal breeding conditions. But, we're vigilant about eliminating any water catchment. The mosquito control truck comes by every couple weeks too but the rain is daily.

This whole frustration got me wondering: "What would we do without pesticides?"

Forget about Zombies. The bugs would drive us away.