Marathon is the hub of the Middle Keys, a city of canal homes, marinas, hotels and working waterfront strung across a dozen islands between Tom's Harbor and the Seven Mile Bridge. Boats, salt air, rebuilt and older homes sit side by side here, and pests take advantage of all of it. Toro Pest Management has protected South Florida since 1969, and we build every Marathon plan around the property and the water around it.
- 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 Marathon Has Its Own Pest Challenges
Marathon sits in the middle of the Florida Keys, from the east end of the Seven Mile Bridge near mile marker 47 to Tom’s Harbor near mile marker 61. It became a city in 1999 and had about 9,700 residents in the 2020 census. Within its limits are more than a dozen islands, including Vaca Key, Boot Key, Knight’s Key, Fat Deer Key and Grassy Key. The name goes back to the building of the Florida East Coast Railway, when the work on this stretch was said to be turning into a real marathon.
Boats are part of the city’s identity. Boot Key Harbor lies entirely inside Marathon and holds a city-run mooring field of 226 buoys, a well-protected harbor that boaters use as a refuge from storms. Add canal homes with private docks, fishing charters and dive boats, and Marathon has a lot of wood, water and traffic from other ports. That matters for pests: the University of Florida has shown that boats are one of the main ways invasive termites spread.
Marathon also carries the mark of Hurricane Irma. After the storm made landfall in the Lower Keys on September 10, 2017, city surveys found that every property in Marathon was affected, with 394 homes destroyed and more than 1,400 with major damage. Today rebuilt homes stand next to older houses, mobile homes and condos, each with its own weak spots. Storms also scatter debris that hides rodents, soaks wood and leaves standing water behind.
Common Pests in Marathon and Why They Show Up
West Indian Drywood Termites
UF/IFAS Monroe County Extension names this drywood termite as one of the two termites that cause real damage in the Keys. It lives in wood that stays dry, including framing, trim, furniture and the interiors of boats, and its swarms run from April to June. See our drywood termite page.
Signs to watch for: little piles of six-sided pellets under wood surfaces.
Asian Subterranean Termites
The Asian subterranean termite flies from February to April, from dusk through the night, and goes straight for lights. UF researchers have documented it infesting a boat near Key West, and UF/IFAS reports it damaging mature native trees in the Keys, so it does not need deep soil to cause trouble.
Signs to watch for: mud tubes on slabs and pilings, and wings piled near doors.
Roof Rats
Coconut palms and fruit trees are ideal shelter for roof rats, and fronds and power lines lead them to the roof. Marinas, bait and trash bins, and restaurant dumpsters add plenty of food. Our rodent control traps rats and closes the openings they use.
Signs to watch for: droppings, gnawed wiring and movement in the attic at night.
Mosquitoes
The Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds in small containers and bites during the day. It is the target of an ongoing Florida Keys Mosquito Control District effort that, in 2021, included release sites on Vaca Key for a trial with Oxitec's modified mosquitoes. Around your home, our mosquito control treats resting areas and removes breeding spots.
Green Iguanas
Green iguanas are established in the Keys, according to UF/IFAS. They strip hibiscus and other ornamentals, foul docks and pool decks with droppings, and dig burrows at the foot of seawalls that can weaken them where iguanas are numerous. Ask about our wildlife services.
Cockroaches
American cockroaches move in from drains, mulch and storage areas, and German cockroaches ride in on boxes and bags and breed in kitchens. Hotels, restaurants and multi-unit buildings give them room to spread. Visit our cockroach guide.
Marathon homeowners and businesses also call us about bed bugs in rentals and hotel rooms, ants that move indoors after heavy rain, spiders and wasps around docks and boat lifts, and birds roosting on commercial buildings.
Residential Pest Control in Marathon
Marathon homes vary from canal houses and new elevated builds to older cottages, mobile homes and waterfront condos. Elevated homes have open space below, where storage, plumbing and wood meet. Canal properties add docks, boat lifts and seawalls. Seasonal homes and rentals can sit empty long enough for rats or termites to settle in. If you live aboard in Boot Key Harbor or keep a boat on a lift behind the house, we can check the boathouse, dock boxes and stored wooden gear during the same visit.
Our residential pest control starts with a free inspection of the home, the yard and the waterfront. We check for drywood pellets and mud tubes, rat entry points at the roofline and soffits, and the standing water and plants that keep pests close. Then we lay out a plan for a full-time, seasonal or rental home. The 110% Satisfaction Guarantee backs every service: if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
If you just rebuilt or are about to buy, ask about termite control and a pre-purchase inspection. Furniture and lumber brought in from elsewhere can carry drywood termites into an otherwise new house.
Commercial Pest Control for Marathon Businesses
As the commercial center of the Middle Keys, Marathon has hotels and resorts, marinas, restaurants, grocery and retail stores, Fishermen’s Community Hospital, and the Florida Keys Marathon Airport. Visitors also come for attractions such as the Turtle Hospital and the Crane Point hammock.
We provide commercial pest control for:
- Hotels, resorts and vacation rentals, with bed bug, cockroach and rodent programs.
- Restaurants and food service, where roaches, flies and rodents are a health code issue.
- Health care facilities, where pest control must follow strict standards.
- Airports and transportation facilities.
- Retail stores and shopping centers along the Overseas Highway.
- Property management firms and condo associations.
Commercial plans come with service reports for health inspections and audits, and we work around your hours. Marinas can add dockside buildings, ship stores and storage sheds to the same plan. Our technicians are trained 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.
Marathon Pest Calendar: What to Expect Each Season
| Season | What is active in Marathon | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| February to April | Asian subterranean termites swarming from dusk into the night | Keep dock, porch and boat lights off during swarms and save wings for identification. |
| April to June | West Indian drywood termite swarms, ants expanding | Inspect wood trim, furniture and boat interiors for pellets. |
| Summer and fall (wet season) | Mosquitoes at their peak, roaches and ants moving inside after storms | Tip out buckets, tires, boat covers and planters every week. |
| June to November (hurricane season) | Rodents displaced by storms, debris piles, mosquito surges after flooding | Clear debris quickly and check the attic and under elevated homes after every storm. |
| Winter (visitor and cruising season) | Bed bugs and roaches in busy rentals and hotels, rats in attics | Inspect rooms between guests and trim fronds away from the roof. |
How Our Marathon Pest Control Service Works
- Free inspectionA Toro technician inspects the house or business, the grounds and the waterfront and identifies the pests and their source.
- A plan for your propertyWe walk you through the findings and recommend one-time treatment or continuing protection that fits how the property is used.
- TreatmentWe treat where pests live, breed and enter, selecting products and methods for your situation and following their label directions.
- Follow-up and guaranteeOur 110% Satisfaction Guarantee: if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Why Marathon Chooses Toro Pest Management
- Since 1969. Dr. Jose Perez Linares founded Toro, and his family’s third generation runs it now.
- Response within 24 hours, guaranteed.
- Waterfront experience, with plans that account for docks, boats, seawalls and seasonal homes.
- Residential and commercial service, from a canal home to a hotel, restaurant or medical office.
- Hablamos Español. Get help in English or Spanish.
Free inspection and $25 off your first service in Marathon.
Schedule Your Free InspectionMarathon Pest Control FAQ
Which parts of Marathon do you serve?
All of it. The city runs from the east end of the Seven Mile Bridge, around mile marker 47, to Tom's Harbor at about mile marker 61, including Vaca Key, Boot Key, Knight's Key, Fat Deer Key and Grassy Key. Marathon uses ZIP code 33050, with 33051 and 33052 for post office boxes. Key Colony Beach is a separate city. We guarantee a response within 24 hours.
What termites cause the most damage in Marathon?
UF/IFAS Monroe County Extension identifies the West Indian drywood termite and the Asian subterranean termite as the two economically important termites in the Keys, while Formosan and eastern subterranean termites are very rare. Drywood termites live entirely inside wood and furniture. Asian subterranean termites build mud tubes and can attack trees. Each needs its own treatment.
I live aboard or keep a boat in Boot Key Harbor. Should I worry about termites?
It is worth checking. A University of Florida study found that recreational boats are a significant pathway for invasive termites, and that infested boats can release winged termites that start new colonies on land. UF researchers have also documented Asian subterranean termites infesting a boat in the Key West area. Woodwork inside the cabin and stored wooden gear are the places to look.
We rebuilt after Hurricane Irma. Do newer homes still need termite protection?
Yes. A newer house has fewer old timbers, but termites can still arrive in furniture, lumber or from the yard and nearby boats, and they target new wood as readily as old. Preventive termite protection costs far less than repairing hidden damage later.
Why are there so many mosquitoes after it rains?
Rain fills every container that can hold water, and the Aedes aegypti mosquito lays its eggs in exactly those places: buckets, boat covers, tires, planters and uncovered trash cans. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District handles area-wide control and takes requests from residents, while emptying containers weekly and treating your yard keeps the bites down at home.
Is your inspection free, and can I get help 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 Marathon
Toro also serves the communities around Marathon:
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.
