Westlake went from citrus groves to Palm Beach County's 39th municipality in just a few years, growing from 906 residents in 2020 to an estimated 6,419 by 2024. New homes feel pest-proof, but fresh sod, young landscaping, stormwater lakes and old farmland all come with insects of their own. Toro Pest Management has protected South Florida since 1969, and we help Westlake homeowners and businesses stay ahead of them from the first year.
- 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
From Callery-Judge Citrus Groves to the City of Westlake
Westlake became Palm Beach County’s 39th municipality on June 22, 2016, but the land has a much longer working history. Callery-Judge Grove farmed here from the 1960s, growing citrus until canker and greening cut into production. The owners then tried pine, peaches, ornamental trees, cattle and row crops before selling. The Seminole Improvement District, a special purpose government created in 1970, has handled water, drainage and roads across the same roughly 4,100 acres.
Minto closed on the property in September 2013, and Palm Beach County approved a plan for 4,546 homes and 2.2 million square feet of non-residential space in 2014. Growth has been fast. The 2020 census counted 906 people, and the University of Florida estimated 6,419 by April 2024, a gain of more than 5,500 in four years. The city’s comprehensive plan looks ahead to 6,500 housing units by 2038.
The city’s own planning documents explain why this matters for pests. Westlake has no natural water bodies or mapped wetlands, because more than 50 years of agriculture removed the native habitat. In its place, the ground was crossed with irrigation ditches, and the new drainage system is a network of man-made lakes that discharges to the M-2 Canal.
That leaves a landscape in transition. Former farm soil, fresh sod, young trees and new stormwater lakes are being assembled in a short time, and nearby rural land in The Acreage and Loxahatchee Groves keeps supplying wildlife and insects. Pests do not need decades to settle into a place like this. They arrive with the plants and with the first rains.
Pest Protection for New Homes in Westlake, From The Hammocks to The Orchards
Neighborhoods such as The Hammocks, The Meadows, The Groves, The Estates and The Orchards are mostly new single-family homes, and townhomes and active-adult homes are part of the mix too. Modern block construction and tight windows help, but they do not stop every pest. Sod rolls, mulch and nursery plants can carry ants and other insects, and lots backing onto a lake see more traffic from wildlife.
Our residential pest control begins with a free inspection of the home, the yard and the lake edge if you have one. We find what is there, explain why, and suggest a plan that follows your HOA’s rules. Regular service keeps a line of defense around the home, and our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee means that if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
A new home is also the right time to set good habits:
- Keep mulch a few inches away from the foundation.
- Do not store boxes against garage walls for long; they feed roaches and silverfish.
- Water lawns in the morning, as directed by your community, and avoid overwatering.
- Clean gutters and remove standing water from plant saucers and pool toys.
- Trim new trees before branches reach the roof.
If your community is still building around you, expect some extra activity for a while. Graders and crews stir up ants, rodents and wildlife on neighboring lots, and those pests often test the nearest finished homes first. Sealing garage door gaps and keeping trash in lidded bins makes your house a less attractive stop.
Moving into a resale home? Book a termite inspection. Even a home only a few years old is worth a look, since termites stay hidden behind baseboards and drywall.
Six Pests That Find Westlake’s New Neighborhoods
Ghost and White-footed Ants
These tiny ants nest in mulch, sod seams, wall voids and potted plants, then trail indoors for water and sweets. White-footed ant colonies can reach into the millions. Baits outperform sprays, which tend to scatter them. Our ant guide has more detail.
Signs to watch for: trails along baseboards, counters and bathroom fixtures.
Fire Ants
Disturbed soil and open lawn suit fire ants perfectly, and new communities offer both. Mounds pop up after rain in yards, common areas and playgrounds. Treating a whole yard with bait, along with individual mounds, works better than chasing mounds one by one.
Signs to watch for: loose soil mounds with no visible entrance hole.
Lawn Pests
Southern chinch bugs feed only on St. Augustine grass, and they begin in hot, dry spots along pavement. Sod webworms and mole crickets also thin out turf. Our lawn spray service confirms the pest before treating, since new sod has other reasons to struggle.
Signs to watch for: yellow patches that do not recover with water.
Subterranean Termites
A 2026 University of Florida study reported that the invasive Asian and Formosan subterranean termites are spreading across Florida. Irrigated yards keep soil moist for them. Ask about termite control before any builder coverage ends.
Signs to watch for: mud tubes on the slab and in the garage.
Mosquitoes
The Aedes aegypti and Asian tiger mosquito breed in the smallest bits of water around a patio, and they bite by day. Plant saucers, downspouts and pool toys are the usual culprits. Our mosquito control treats where adults rest.
Signs to watch for: daytime bites in shade, and larvae in saucers.
Roof Rats
Young trees give fewer ladders than a mature yard, but roof rats still find palms, fences and utility lines, and construction nearby can move them around. Our rodent control starts with soffits, vents and garage door seals.
Signs to watch for: scratching in the attic at night and droppings in the garage.
Westlake homeowners also ask us about whiteflies on young hedges, spiders in lanais, wasps under eaves, silverfish in stored boxes and wildlife around lake edges.
Commercial Pest Control Along Westlake’s Seminole Pratt Whitney Corridor
Westlake’s comprehensive plan designates a Downtown Mixed-Use area along Seminole Pratt Whitney Road as the city’s commercial and employment center. A Publix-anchored plaza, restaurants, convenience stores and Christ Fellowship Church have already joined the area. The Grove Marketplace, Seminole Ridge High School and Golden Grove Elementary lie within city limits, and the master-planned community’s Westlake Adventure Park offers a lagoon pool, splash pad, dog park and pavilions.
Newly opened businesses are often the easiest to protect, because pest pressure has not had time to build. We provide commercial pest control for:
- Restaurants and food service, where roaches and flies threaten inspections.
- Retail stores and plazas.
- Property managers and HOAs, including clubhouses, pools and common areas.
- Schools and medical offices.
- Government buildings.
Early prevention is simple. Before opening day, we check door sweeps, utility openings, dumpster placement and kitchen drains, because a gap left over from construction can stay unnoticed until the first pests use it. Visits are scheduled around your business hours, and you receive written service records. Our technicians train at the TORO Institute at our Miami headquarters, where on-staff entomologists teach food safety, sanitation and structural practices.
How Toro Works With Westlake Homeowners and HOAs
- Free inspectionWe inspect the home or building, lawn, plantings and lake edge, keeping your community's gate and access rules in mind.
- Plain-English planWe explain the findings and suggest one-time service or recurring protection that fits your HOA guidelines.
- Focused treatmentTreatments go where pests nest, feed and enter, and all products are applied according to their label directions.
- Peace of mindThanks to our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee, if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Westlake Seasons and the Pests They Bring
| Time of year | Showing up in Westlake | Keep ahead by |
|---|---|---|
| December to February | Roof rats looking for attics, ants in kitchens, roaches in garages | Checking soffits and door seals, and storing items in sealed bins. |
| March to June (swarm season) | Asian subterranean swarms at sunset, Formosan from late April, drywood flights | Switching off porch lights and saving wings to show your technician. |
| April to September | Whiteflies on hedges, mole crickets and chinch bugs on St. Augustine lawns | Watching for yellow patches and checking leaf undersides. |
| May to October (rainy season) | Mosquitoes around patios, fire ants on new lawns, ants moving indoors | Emptying containers weekly and keeping gutters clear. |
| June to November (hurricane season) | Wildlife and rodents displaced by storms, mosquitoes after heavy rain | Clearing debris and inspecting the roofline after each storm. |
Reasons Westlake Neighbors Choose Toro
- More than five decades of local know-how. Founded in 1969 by Dr. Jose Perez Linares, Toro is led by the third generation.
- On-staff entomologists, who train our technicians at the TORO Institute.
- Response within 24 hours, guaranteed.
- Pest, termite, lawn and whitefly service in one place, so one plan covers the house and yard.
- A free first inspection, plus $25 off your first service as a new customer.
- Hablamos Español. Westlake families can call us in either language.
Free inspection and $25 off your first service in Westlake.
Schedule Your Free InspectionWestlake Homeowners' Pest Questions
My Westlake home is brand new. Why do I already have ants?
New construction disturbs the soil, and ants move in quickly. Fresh sod, nursery plants and mulch can also bring ants and other insects from elsewhere. Your home is sealed well, but the ground around it is still settling, so early perimeter service and baits usually solve the problem.
Does a new house need termite protection?
It is worth checking. Ask your builder what termite treatment was done at construction, and keep the paperwork. Slab joints and plumbing openings can still let subterranean termites through, and drywood termites need no soil at all. We can review what you have and explain your options.
Do you work in every Westlake neighborhood?
Yes. We serve Westlake in ZIP codes 33470 and 33411, including The Hammocks, The Meadows, The Groves, The Estates, The Orchards, The Pines, Sky Cove and Cresswind Palm Beach. We respect HOA rules and gate procedures, and our response within 24 hours is guaranteed.
The lakes behind my house look clean. Do they breed mosquitoes?
Open, moving water is usually a poor habitat for many backyard species, and fish eat larvae. The mosquitoes that bite you on the patio more often come from small containers, clogged gutters and bromeliads. We check those sources and treat shaded resting spots.
Why is my new sod turning yellow?
Stress from installation, irrigation problems and insects can all look alike. On St. Augustine grass, southern chinch bugs are a common cause in sunny, dry spots along pavement, while sod webworms and mole crickets are other suspects. Our lawn spray service identifies the cause before treating.
Is the inspection free, and do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Your first inspection costs nothing, new customers receive $25 off the first service, and our team speaks Spanish. Call 305-594-4767 or use the Free Inspection form on this page.
Close to Westlake? Toro Is Too
Toro also serves the communities around Westlake:
Last updated: November 2, 2026
110% Satisfaction Guaranteed
If the bugs come back, so will TORO, at no additional cost to you. TORO responds within 24 hours, guaranteed, and our technician will arrive quickly and deal with the pest problem to prevent it from coming back.
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