Pests

Last week, a CV Director asked about cockroach infestations at residential buildings. To many CV unit owners “a roach is a roach” but knowing what species of insect is being reported will help the board and their manager or pest control company address the problem. First job is to differentiate "cockroaches" from "palmetto bugs". Palmetto bugs (Eurycotis floridana) are, as their taxonomic name suggests, native to Florida and are not associated with filth. Palmetto bugs are water seekers, so seeing them in a unit may be a sign that something is leaking in the unit, or that water is collecting somewhere in or around the building. If the problem is german cockroaches (Blattella germanica), an infestation could be linked to unsanitary conditions or improperly stored food, but these insects also can affect units that are spotless. Many of us have grocery and other deliveries and paper shopping bags and cardboard boxes can harbor roaches.

Some associations have regular interior and exterior pest control service performed by their management company or a pest control company. At my association, Seacrest performs periodic exterior pest control treatments and interior infestations are treated by Marty Bugs on an as-needed basis.

Century Village associations need to be careful about allowing unit owners or directors to self-apply pesticides at common elements or in units other than their own. Pest control in multiple unit housing is regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and licensure is required by anyone performing pest control service at your association. Quick rule of thumb: A unit owner can perform pest control in their own unit (sugar/borax, roach motels, Raid), using any product that can be bought at Publix, but only licensed pest control vendors should treat their buildings, grounds and inside other residential units. Unlicensed use of pesticides in multi-family housing can result in fines and expose the Association to liability. The same rule applies for rodent control poisons and devices.

There is an increase in animal activity in the community. This influx is brought on due to the number of planned construction projects in motion, such as Reflection Bay, South and North Canal. The associations should plan accordingly with the increase of rodent infestation issues for your property. Also, it is important that regular cleaning and maintenance be performed to eliminate possible food sources and nesting sites.

Remember, UCO maintains a limited rodent control program in areas of Century Village that are prone to rat infestation: along waterways and fence lines, at irrigation pump stations, and at the five buildings that are owned by UCO. This program is not intended to substitute for each CV Association having their own rodent control program in place.

For additional information or to discuss preventative pest control programs, contact your Customer Service, and place a work order requesting inquiry from the Interior Pest Control Department.

The board members want to keep in mind the safety and security of your community.

Although you should expect to see bees in Century Village as they visit the landscaping of the buildings, hives should be removed if they decide to make themselves neighbors. Last summer nearly a dozen hives were removed from trees, walls, and water meters to protect the residents from being stung.

Should you notice signs of a possible beehive, the most telling simply being a large number of bees coming and going from the same area, you should notify Seacrest right away. Although the removal of a hive is something that we can offer to do, we have several bee removal companies that can come to the Village as quickly as possible to address the situation.

If you find that a hive has possibly been built inside a water meter box, you can reach out directly to the Palm Beach County Water Dept. PBC Water will remove the hive, at their expense, to protect their equipment and their technicians. All other hives will have to be removed at the expense of the Association by a qualified company.