We booked a condo in Pompano beach.We heard on this travel talk that there are lots of bugs in Florida. Are there also bugs in the direct area of the beach? And so yes, what kind of bugs? We intended to buy bug repellent when we arrive, but maby it is better to take it already with us?

There are the ever so popular "palmetto bugs" every where (better known as cockroaches).

You shouldn't have to deal with roaches & if you do complain to the owners/rental desk immediately. The only way you should have roaches is if they have come in in paper bags & reproduced. Though be warned, some roaches in Florida do fly!

Now, on the beach you may run into yellow flies, noseeums (gnats, mostly at dusk) & sand flies but you won't see roaches crawling around on the beach! Skin So Soft (by Avon) will help with the flys.

Are you joking?

Palmetto bugs! And don't fool yourself, they are everywhere. They have the nice little name to make us all feel a little better.

Please don't worry about the bugs Martine--from reading these boards it does sound as if you'll have to clear paths to walk, but that is not the case. Most of the posts on bugs are from people coming here who have the same concern as you do, having "heard" it's terribly buggy here. As Nancy said, unless your condo has a problem you should not see a roach. If you do, complain. Flying roaches by the way are't restricted to FL you all. We've also lived in LA and TX and they were in both places.

Noseeums/gnats are a problem only on very still days and then primarily early morning and dusk. They are a nuisance, no more. If they happen to be around, put on a hat, use some Skin So Soft and you'll be fine. These aren't restricted to FL either...they are as much a problem along the coasts of GA and SC.

Mosquitoes are controlled here. Having grown up in New England, I can vouch for the fact that they were far more a problem in the Berkshires than they have been the 6 years we've lived in the Tampa Bay area.

That's about it for problematic bugs. It's only the noseeums that can be a real nuisance, but as I mentioned, they are restricted to very still times of day and not every day then. They are so teeny any wind carries them off. They are not going to spoil your fun. Hope you have a great trip!

The last I checked, there are bugs everywhere.

If you do see a flying cockroach, just do what I do: Have Jim Fowler go out and wrestle it to the ground so you can tag it.

I remember the first day I moved in to my apartment (the grove)I was introduced to the Palmetto Bugs. I 'bout had a heart attack. I rushed out to get some Raid and waited...
The next day as I was watching T.V. I felt like someone tapped my hand, I looked over and there was the biggest roach I have ever seen staring me down.
I punched it in the face and it absorbed the blow without a problem. Sensing a confrontation, the mammoth insect sprinted for the door. Instinctively I grabbed the Raid and fired a stream consistent and true. The Roach was getting so saturated that he changed from his ever creepy scurrying to the breaststroke. BUT HE WAS STILL MOVING!!! Finally as he made it to the door, I summoned enough courage to kick him FIFE-style and let loose.
To my horror, I miscalculated and heard the most disgustingly clear crunching sound I ever care to witness. I smashed that Palmetto Bug right there at the threshold of my apartment and screamed out in warrior fashion. "Any of you bastards want to get in here and you'll meet the same fate!"
Unfortunately they ignored my threats and made cameos off and on until I moved a year later.

Orkin Man: you are a great writer!I didn't understood everything very well, so I took my dictionary and I had a lot of fun. I begin to think you don't like tourists in Florida... The first thing I am gonna do next mornig is go to an adventure store to buy a large bottle of bug repellent that works in the tropics!
PS. Does your cockroaches are dangerous? Do they bite?

The flying roaches and other little nasties are fine. But let's not forget the twice-yearly Love Bug convention! May and September if I recall correctly. Totally benign yet massively annoying they are.

Palmetto Bugs... these are cockroaches that FLY. I never thought God could make cockroaches worse

As Orkin Man found out, they really are impervious to Raid.

One afternoon, I noticed my cats were fascinated by something near our front door. I had the screen open, and they were staring intently at the bottom of the door jam. I went over and found the biggest palmetto bug I had seen literally forcing it's way into my house! It was jamming itself under the door to try to get in! My cats were no dummies, they knew better than to mess with one of those!

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Fire Ants or Banana Spiders. Fire Ants are mean little buggers who bite and inject poison into an unsuspecting soul's feet. The resulting rash is a pimply-type infected bumpy area. Banana Spiders are as big as your hand, but harmless. They just look nasty!

Unless you do any hiking in the forest I wouldn't think you'd have to worry about Fire Ants or spiders. You might, however, get a little visit from the Palmetto Bug Association Welcoming Committee! My advice is to bring along a pair of stompin boots!

Palmetto bugs are the equivalent to the creatures from the 1950s nuclear/cold war movies (Godzilla and less common creatures on steroids). They are big and indestructible. Raid, stomping on them, bug repellant - only makes them morph into even bigger creatures.

But seriously, they are gross but don't do anything but look scarey. I hate bugs that buzz or bite and had few problems with either in Florida (not counting the time in the Everglades that I stepped on a fire ant nest with sandals on my feet)

I wonder how your palmetto's look like. I searched on the net, but did not found yet. In our country they are not, except for dirty restaurants and so. So I never saw one. Somebody said: never step on a cockroache;the eggs can stick between the ribbles of your shoesoles and so you can take them home. What must I do when I see (and hopely recognize) one? Run???

They will run from you Martine, you don't need to do anything. They hate being seen and you probably couldn't catch one if you tried. They are present in FL because of the heat and humidity--they love dampness and generally are outside, not in. Occasionally one sneaks in or is carried in with groceries. It is not a sign of dirt here, though the little German variety may be. They are mahogany brown, (on the island of St John they call them Mahogany birds!) 1-2" long, and wider than the variety you are familiar with, and with two long antennae. You'll know it when you see it, even if you never get a better despcription than this. It just looks like an overgrown sibling of the German variety. They don't bite, they don't do anything--just not pleasant to see as most of us have an aversion to any bug that appears out of nowhere and is fast to boot.

We had them when we lived in New Orleans too, actually worse there than here. Our next door neighbors named theirs even, "Oh, there goes Louis", when one would come out of hiding. lt; Ugh...my own reaction was usually much more vocal than that.

Thanks Olive, now I am reassured, but still very curious to see one.

I have visited Florida around 15 times staying in hotels, condos, and private homes and have yet to see a cockroach indoors. I know they exist in Florida in abundance but as long as owners have regular pest control service it doesnt seem to be a big problem. At least not for the vacationer.

Roaches, frogs, mosquitoes, love bugs, spiders, sharks, lizards, cancer causing sun and lots of hot humity are part of life in south Florida.

I squirm or scream atleast daily. 30 years and I'm still not used to it. I go through lots of Raid and sunscreen.

Mosquito repellent is always good to have on hand for the mosquitoes, strong stuff if you're heading into the everglades, basic stuff if you're staying at the beach.

The hotels should not have any roaches inside (at least not when the lights are on). They tend to come out in the kitchen during the night. No matter how clean I think things are. They hang out in grocery bags, produce boxes, creep in through pipes when it rains, etc...just gotta spray them quickly. I can rarely smash them fast enough.

Lizards are everywhere but they won't bother you at all. Spiders are a nusance but the hotels should keep the place maintained and spider free.

Sharks are out there, some basic precautions and luck will keep them away.

Sun - is always there, even if you don't see it. JUST WEAR sunscreen every morning, and reapply even if you don't think you need it.

My 10 year is still peeling from a bad burn last week during a rainy, cloudy day at the beach.

Frogs - are my least favorite and they hide in bushes, landscaping and my front door. They really are harmless but I hate them the most. When I scream my family assumes I saw a frog.

Drink lots of beer on vacation and none of these things will bother you.

You won't even notice them, even if you don't drink.

If you leave any food out, dirty glass or anything sugary the ant trail will appear. They're a household problem and not usually in hotels.

Just complain if you see any of these.
If the room/ condo you're renting is really low priced there might be a chance of more nature inside but if it's a reputable, decent place you'll be ok.

Remember our alligators bite too.

gosh, south Florida can be an adventure.
The malls are good and creature free.

The love bugs are a problem for the cars but if you have rental don't worry about it. They crash into the car when you traveling long distance on the turnpike, Alligator Alley, etc...

I wouldn't put a can of bug spray in my suitcase and I'm sure you can't carry it on board. Just by it when you get here if you need it.
Some people are more attractive to mosquitoes than others...I attract everything, my husband will be right next to me and not get any bites.
Avoid perfume, wear light clothes, and have fun.

Ab, I know you already from another question. You are a sympathetic joker.
Very soon I shall see if you are right.

If you really get bored & are unlucky enough to find a roach or some other bug in your room/condo - use hair spray on them!! They will never squirm again!

Trust me on the yellow flies though, they can ruin a trip to the beach!!