Lake Worth Beach, known simply as Lake Worth until 2019, has one of Florida's largest collections of early cottages, small wood-frame homes built between the 1910s and the 1940s. That charm comes with a cost: older wood homes are a favorite of drywood termites, roof rats and moisture pests. Toro Pest Management has protected South Florida since 1969, and we know how to care for older homes without treating them like new construction.
- Since 1969Third generation, protecting South Florida
- 110% GuaranteeIf the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost
- Within 24 HoursResponse guaranteed
- Free InspectionPlus $25 off your first service
Why Lake Worth Beach Has Its Own Pest Challenges
Lake Worth Beach sits in east-central Palm Beach County, about 63 miles north of Miami, and is named for the Lake Worth Lagoon along its eastern edge. The town of Lake Worth was incorporated in 1913. In 2019 voters narrowly approved a new name, Lake Worth Beach, and the city has phased it in gradually, so you will still hear “Lake Worth” all over town. About 42,200 people lived here in the 2020 census.
What sets the city apart is its housing. Between 1913 and 1949 builders put up a great many small wood-frame cottages, and about 1,000 of them remain, described as the largest concentration of this type of home in Florida. Lake Worth Beach protects that history through several city historic districts, including College Park, Old Lucerne, Northeast Lucerne, Southeast Lucerne, South Palm Park and Old Town, and College Park, Old Lucerne and the Old Town commercial district are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Decades-old wood framing, siding, porches and attics give drywood termites a lot to feed on, and older homes usually have more gaps where rodents, roaches and silverfish can get in.
The city has a long beach tradition too. After a bond issue in 1920, the Lake Worth Casino and Baths opened two years later, and the casino building reopened in 2013 after a two-year, $6 million renovation. The William O. Lockhart Municipal Pier dates from 1954. On the lagoon side, the 118-acre Snook Islands Natural Area is a restored wetland with a boardwalk and kayak launch, just north of the bridge.
Downtown, Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue are lined with restaurants, bars, galleries and shops, and Dixie Highway runs through the historic Old Town district. The city’s Finnish heritage still shows in the annual Midnight Sun Festival at Bryant Park. With a humid climate, a rainy season from May through October and about 62 inches of rain a year in the area, pest activity rarely slows down.
Common Pests in Lake Worth Beach and Why They Show Up
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are the signature pest of old wood houses. They nest right inside rafters, siding, door and window frames, porch posts and furniture, with no need for soil. In a cottage that has stood for 80 or 100 years, several separate colonies are common, which is when tenting is usually the most practical option.
Signs to watch for: small mounds of pellets that look like coarse sand or ground coffee.
Subterranean Termites
The Formosan and Asian subterranean termites come up from the soil through mud tubes, and wood that touches the ground, such as old steps, posts and fences, gives them an easy start. Asian subterranean swarms come in March around dusk, and Formosan swarms start in late April.
Signs to watch for: mud tubes on foundations, steps and porch framing.
Roof Rats
Mature trees, palms, fruit trees and overhead lines lead roof rats straight to the rooflines of small older homes, where loose soffits and vents are easy to push through. Downtown restaurants also deal with rats around trash areas. Our rodent control combines sealing, trapping and follow-up checks.
Signs to watch for: scratching overhead at night and droppings in the attic.
Cockroaches
American cockroaches, or palmetto bugs, live in drains, sewers and mulch and come indoors through gaps in older doors, windows and plumbing. German cockroaches are an indoor problem in apartments and restaurant kitchens. Our cockroach guide explains the difference.
Silverfish
Silverfish prefer dark, humid spaces like bathrooms, closets, attics and bookshelves, and they feed on paper, glue and starchy fabrics. Older homes with less insulation and more humidity are especially prone to them.
Mosquitoes
The lagoon, wetlands and backyard containers keep mosquitoes coming in the wet season. The Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds in small pockets of water such as bromeliads, saucers and buckets, and it bites during the day. Our mosquito control treats the yard where they breed and rest.
Lake Worth Beach residents also call us about ghost ants and white-footed ants, spiders on porches and in sheds, whiteflies on hedges, fleas in yards with pets, and wildlife such as raccoons, opossums and iguanas.
Residential Pest Control in Lake Worth Beach
A historic cottage needs a different approach than a modern condo. Older wood homes usually need regular checks for drywood termites, attention to the roofline and soffits where rats get in, and moisture control in bathrooms and attics. Apartment buildings, duplexes and condos need treatments that keep roaches and bed bugs from moving between units.
Our residential pest control starts with a free inspection, inside and out. We check the attic, the foundation, wood trim, porches and the yard, explain what we find in plain terms and recommend a plan that suits the house and your budget. With ongoing service, protection stays in place all year, and our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee means that if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Buying one of the city’s older cottages? A termite inspection before you close is one of the smartest small investments you can make.
Commercial Pest Control for Lake Worth Beach Businesses
Lake Worth Beach’s downtown is built around independent restaurants, bars, cafés, galleries and shops on Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue, and the beach complex draws visitors to the casino building and pier. Many businesses operate in older buildings, which makes prevention even more important.
We provide commercial pest control for:
- Restaurants and food service, where cockroaches, flies and rodents are a health code matter.
- Retail stores and shops, including galleries and boutiques.
- Lodging, from small inns to vacation rentals.
- Property management firms that run apartment buildings, duplexes and condos.
- Schools and government buildings.
Every commercial plan includes written service reports for inspections and audits, and visits fit around your hours. Our technicians train at the TORO Institute, the training facility at our Miami headquarters, where our on-staff entomologists teach food safety, sanitation, structural practices and pest management techniques.
Lake Worth Beach Pest Calendar: What to Expect Each Season
| Season | What is active in Lake Worth Beach | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| January to February | Roof rats nesting in attics, cockroaches and silverfish indoors | Repair loose soffits and vents and run a dehumidifier in damp rooms. |
| March to June | Drywood termite swarms, Asian subterranean swarms at dusk in March, Formosan swarms from late April | Look for wings and pellets on sills, turn off porch lights at night and schedule an inspection. |
| May to October (rainy season) | Mosquitoes at their peak, ants and palmetto bugs coming inside after storms | Empty containers weekly and flush bromeliads every few days. |
| June to November (hurricane season) | Rodents and wildlife displaced by wind and flooding | Check the roof, attic and yard after each storm and clear debris fast. |
How Our Lake Worth Beach Pest Control Service Works
- Free inspectionA Toro technician looks over the whole property, from attic to yard, and identifies the pests and their source.
- Honest recommendationsWe explain the findings and suggest the right level of service, from spot treatment to full protection.
- TreatmentWe treat the places pests nest, feed and enter, using products and methods chosen for an older or newer home and applied as their labels require.
- Follow-up and guaranteeOur 110% Satisfaction Guarantee: if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Why Lake Worth Beach Chooses Toro Pest Management
- In business since 1969. Founded by Dr. Jose Perez Linares and now run by its third generation.
- Response within 24 hours, guaranteed.
- Experience with older homes, where drywood termites, roof rats and moisture pests are the norm.
- Entomologist-led training at the TORO Institute at our Miami headquarters.
- Hablamos Español. We are glad to help in English or Spanish.
Free inspection and $25 off your first service in Lake Worth Beach.
Schedule Your Free InspectionLake Worth Beach Pest Control FAQ
Is Lake Worth the same as Lake Worth Beach?
Yes. The city was incorporated as Lake Worth in 1913, and voters approved the new name, Lake Worth Beach, in 2019. Many people and some addresses still use the old name. We serve the whole city either way, including College Park, the Lucerne neighborhoods, South Palm Park, downtown and ZIP codes 33460 and 33461, with a response within 24 hours, guaranteed.
My cottage was built in the 1920s. How do I know if it has drywood termites?
Look for small piles of hard, sand-like pellets under windowsills, door frames, trim or furniture, and for discarded wings in spring. Tiny round holes in wood and paint that bubbles over hollow-sounding wood are other clues. Many older cottages have more than one colony, so a full inspection is the best way to decide between spot treatment and fumigation.
Will fumigation also take care of subterranean termites?
No. Tenting targets drywood termites inside the structure. As University of Florida researchers note, subterranean termite colonies live in the soil, so they survive fumigation and keep feeding. They need a soil treatment or a bait system instead, which is why we confirm the species before recommending anything.
Why do I see silverfish and roaches in my older home?
Older homes tend to have more gaps, older plumbing and spots where humidity collects, such as bathrooms, closets, attics and under sinks. Silverfish and American cockroaches love those damp, quiet places. Reducing moisture and sealing openings, combined with targeted treatment, solves most cases.
Do you work with shops and restaurants on Lake Avenue and Lucerne Avenue?
Yes. We provide commercial pest control for downtown restaurants, cafés, bars, galleries and shops, with visits scheduled outside business hours and written reports for health inspections.
Is the inspection free, and do you offer service in Spanish?
Yes. The first inspection is free, new customers get $25 off the first service and our team speaks Spanish. Call 305-594-4767 or use the Free Inspection form on this page.
Pest Control Near Lake Worth Beach
Toro also serves the communities around Lake Worth Beach:
Last updated: October 29, 2026
110% Satisfaction Guaranteed
If the bugs come back, so will TORO at no additional cost to you. TORO will respond with in 24 hours Guaranteed. Our technician will arrive quickly and deal with the pest problem to prevent recurrence.
