Southeast Florida Winter 2026 Bug and Rodent Trends Report
Last year, we started analyzing and categorizing each and every call and contact form we receive at Nozzle Nolen. Now, we’re excited to introduce a new pest trends series that will cover specific bug and rodent trends in southeast Florida, to be produced quarterly. We’ll continue to leverage our own phone call and contact form data to create content that provides value and insights for local homeowners and businesses.
This report will review bug and rodent trends in southeast Florida from Dec 2025 to Feb 2026. We analyzed over 9,000 phone call transcripts from incoming calls to our branch offices from Broward County up to Indian River County. We tallied the various bugs, rodents, and other critters that we get calls about every day and ranked them in total call volume activity, as well as compared them to the prior 90 days .
Winter Bug and Rodent Trends Results:
Overall call volume increased slightly compared to the prior period, with a 4.4% increase in total call volume. However, almost all of the growth came from just a few pest types! In fact, many pests saw decreases in call volume activity. Let’s dig in.
- As you can see from the first chart, the very top driver of phone calls in the last 90 days was termites, accounting for 35% of all calls. This particular pest was also the #1 pest in the prior period. However, termite call volume has grown dramatically, with a 27% increase compared to the prior period. Almost all of the total call growth is coming from termites.
- General pest control calls, which either mentioned multiple pests or just “pest control” generally, was the 2nd highest reason for calls, at 16%. This was also ranked #2 in our prior period.
- Rodents came in 3rd for total call volume, with 14% of all calls. This jumped up a ranking spot from the prior period. While call volume cooled a little bit in February, it was still higher than prior months when call activity peaked in December and January. Overall, rodent call activity over the last 90 days grew 26% compared to the prior period.
- Ants and Roaches were the 4th and 5th highest call topics over the last 90 days, with roughly 10% shares each. In the prior period, ants were a top 3 concern. Total call volume for ants dropped significantly with a 24% decrease compared to the prior period. Roaches also saw a drop, with a -17% decrease in call volume.
- All other call types saw single digit shares of the total call volume. Tree & lawn and spiders came in 6th and 7th for call volume with about 4% of calls each. Both saw modest drops compared to the prior period (-6% to -10% declines).
- Bees and mosquitos brought up the rear ranks with the 8th and 9th ranks in call volume. Both saw slight 1% to 2% shares of call volume, alongside steep drops in overall call activity compared to the prior period: -14% for bees and -24% for mosquitos.
Main Takeaways and Recommendations
- Termites Are Driving Winter Pest Activity in Southeast Florida: Termites drove 35% of all phone calls to Nozzle Nolen, more than double any other pest. Even more noteworthy, termite calls increased +27% compared to the prior 90 day period. This demonstrates what pest control professionals in the area already know: termites can remain active even during the cooler winter month.
Nozzle Nolen Tip: Don’t assume that termite activity is constrained to warmer months or during “swarmer” season. Many homeowners discover termite problems well after they have begun. The best prevention is proactive, so schedule regular termite inspections and consider long-term solutions and protection plans. - Rodent Activity Peaks During Winter Months: Rodents were the #3 most common reason for phone calls in our report period. They drove 14% of total calls, and like termites, saw a notable lift in overall call volume: a +26% increase compared to the prior 90 day period. Activity peaked in December and January, with signs of a cool-off in February.
Nozzle Nolen Tip: Cooler temperatures will drive rodents indoors, as they seek out food, shelter, and warmth. Inspect your home seasonally for potential entry points: rooflines, ridges, vents, soffits, gaps in windows and door framing, and utility line entrances. Read tips on keeping rodents out of your home or business. - Many Common Pests See Winter Declines: While termites, rodents and general pest control concerns all saw increases in call activity, the other 6 pests saw declines. Pests like ants, roaches, spiders, bees, and mosquitoes all saw clear drops in call activity, ranging from -6% to -24%. These shifts reflect how these pests never really go away throughout the year, but are definitely impacted by the temperature, rainfall, and overall outdoor weather activity.
Nozzle Nolen Tip: Be proactive and focus on prevention. Take the temporary lull in activity as an opportunity to get back to pest prevention basics. Trim your landscaping back away from the home, clean up lawn debris and litter from the yard, and handle standing water pools that can become trouble spots in warmer months. Be sure to secure your garbage bins and store pet or bird food in secure, sealed containers. - Prevention > Reaction: Even though total call activity grew by only 4%, a small range of pests drove nearly all the growth. This is the reality of living in southeast Florida, where the pest threats can fluctuate month by month, but there’s always something peaking or spiking at any given time.
Nozzle Nolen Tip: Ongoing diligence and a prevention-first approach are a Florida homeowner’s best friend. Treat pest control as just another form of home maintenance, and not an emergency service. Regular inspections, seasonally appropriate treatments, and early detection will not only effectively manage the full spectrum of ongoing pest pressures, but will save you peace of mind and prevent more costly home damages.
We will update the Nozzle Nolen southeast Florida bug & rodent trend reports with new numbers every few months. For more tips and ways to prevent or remove pests, visit our YouTube Channel.
