Key takeaways
- Drain standing water about a week before the party: Aedes mosquitoes can go from egg to adult in 7 to 10 days.
- The Asian tiger mosquito bites in the daytime, peaking in the early morning and late afternoon, so an afternoon BBQ is not bite-free.
- Yellowjackets are drawn to soda, watermelon and ripe fruit and can sting repeatedly; pour drinks into cups instead of open cans.
- Florida health officials recommend repellents with 10-30% DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535.
- Check the lawn for fire ant mounds before setting up tables and play areas; disturbed mounds pour out stinging workers.
In this article
To keep pests away from your summer BBQ, start before the party: drain standing water, check the yard for fire ant mounds and wasp nests, and set the food area away from shrubs and trash. On the day, cover food and drinks, offer guests a repellent that actually works and clean up as soon as people finish eating.
South Florida cookouts face a tougher crowd than most. The rainy season, roughly May through October, keeps mosquitoes breeding, yellowjackets build their colonies over the warm months, fire ants nest in sunny lawns, and waterfront homes add no-see-ums at dusk. This guide covers who shows up, how to prepare the yard and what to do if someone gets stung.
Which Pests Crash a South Florida Cookout?
Each pest is drawn by something different, which is why one trick never covers them all.
| Pest | What draws it | When it is worst | Best defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquitoes | Standing water, people’s breath and skin | Asian tiger mosquito: daytime, especially early morning and late afternoon; many others at dusk | Drain water, repellent, treat resting shrubs |
| No-see-ums (biting midges) | Coastal marshes, mangroves, wet ground | Dusk, night and morning; on the coast, often daytime too | DEET repellent, fine-mesh screens |
| Yellowjackets and wasps | Soda, juice, ripe fruit, meat | Warm afternoons around food | Cups with lids, covered food, nest removal |
| House flies | Garbage, food scraps, pet waste | All day in warm weather | Lidded trash, covered dishes |
| Fire ants | Sunny lawns; sweets, proteins and fats | Any time a mound is disturbed | Locate mounds, keep tables and kids away |
A Week Before: Prepare the Yard
The most effective work happens days before the first burger hits the grill.
Drain Standing Water
According to the CDC, an Aedes mosquito egg takes 7 to 10 days to become an adult, so a walk-through a week ahead stops the mosquitoes that would otherwise hatch in time for your party. The Florida Department of Health recommends draining garbage cans, buckets, coolers, toys, flowerpots and pool covers, discarding old tires and bottles, and emptying and cleaning birdbaths and pet bowls at least twice a week. Our list of mosquito season tips goes through the full routine.
On the day itself, dry up small puddles on picnic tables, grill covers and plant saucers near the food area.
Look for Fire Ant Mounds
Fire ant mounds are made of loose soil and are rarely more than about 18 inches across, according to UF/IFAS. Workers pour out when a mound is disturbed and sting the intruder, and a white pustule typically forms about a day later. Walk the lawn where tables, chairs and kids’ games will go, and look along sidewalk edges and patio slabs too. UF/IFAS describes baits as slower acting but more effective than drenching or dusting a mound, because workers carry them back to the queen and brood; if you use one, follow the label, and give it time to work before the party. Learn more about the species on our fire ant page.
Spot Yellowjacket Nests
Florida’s yellowjackets nest underground. UF/IFAS suggests watching for a few wasps flying low to the ground and going in and out of the soil; many people find a nest by running over it with a mower. Paper wasps hang their open, umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and railings. The safest move for a nest near your patio is to have a professional remove it, not to attack it the morning of the party. Our wasp pest library shows the common species.
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Set Up a Bug-Smart Party Space
Where you put things matters almost as much as what you spray.
- Put the food table in the open, away from dense, shady shrubs. UF/IFAS notes that the Asian tiger mosquito rests in shaded shrubs near the ground.
- Place trash cans with tight lids at the edge of the party, not next to the buffet, so flies and wasps gather away from guests.
- Keep the grill area clean of old grease and food scraps.
- Keep doors closed and screens repaired so bugs do not follow guests inside. For a screened porch on the water, UF/IFAS notes that only special no-see-um mesh keeps biting midges out; regular screen does not.
Protect Your Guests From Bites and Stings
Even a perfect yard will have some mosquitoes, especially in summer. The Florida Department of Health says repellents containing 10-30% DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 are the most effective. Set a bottle out where guests can use it, and remind them to follow the label. For babies younger than 2 months, the department recommends mosquito netting instead.
Do not count on dusk-only precautions. The Asian tiger mosquito, now found in all 67 Florida counties, feeds during the day with peaks in the early morning and late afternoon, which is prime BBQ time.
For stinging insects, the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health suggests:
- Wearing light-colored, smooth-finished clothing
- Skipping perfume and cologne
- Staying calm and still if a single wasp or bee flies near you, since swatting may prompt a sting
Keep Food and Drinks Pest-Free
Food left uncovered is the main reason wasps and flies stay at a party.
- Cover every dish with lids, plastic wrap or foil as soon as people have served themselves.
- Serve from the kitchen when you can, and bring out only what is being eaten.
- Pour soda and beer into clear cups instead of drinking from cans. Yellowjackets love soft drinks, and a wasp that has crawled into an open can is easy to miss until it reaches your lips; UF/IFAS also lists watermelon and ripe fruit among their favorite foods.
- Use cups with lids and straws for kids.
- Keep raw and cooked meat covered, because yellowjackets eat meat as well as sugar, according to UF entomologists.
- Keep the trash bin closed at all times.
If small flies keep appearing in your kitchen after the party, they may be breeding in leftovers or drains; see our tips to remove fruit flies from your home.
Clean Up Right After the Party
The end of a BBQ is when pests move in. Plates with food scraps and cups with sweet drinks are a buffet for wasps, flies and ants.
- Bring plates, cups and utensils inside as soon as guests finish eating.
- Bag the trash, tie it and put it in a lidded bin.
- Rinse cans and bottles before they go in the recycling.
- Wipe sticky spills on tables, chairs and the patio.
- Scrape and clean the grill so grease does not draw ants overnight.
- Check the yard for cups and plates left in the grass.
First Aid for Stings and Bites
Most stings and bites are painful but minor. The CDC’s NIOSH guidance recommends:
- Bee and wasp stings: Have someone stay with the person to watch for an allergic reaction. Wash the site with soap and water, remove a stinger by wiping or scraping it out rather than squeezing it, apply ice and avoid scratching.
- Fire ant stings: Brush the ants off briskly. Antihistamines may help if used as directed.
- Multiple insects attacking: Run away and get indoors or into shade. Do not jump into a pool; some insects hover over the water.
Unlike honey bees, yellowjackets can sting repeatedly, so move away from a nest rather than standing your ground.
When to Bring In a Professional
If you have done the prep work and the yard still is not usable, or you have a nest or a lawn full of mounds, a professional treatment before the event saves the day.
Toro’s mosquito control service offers a one-time event treatment for parties and barbecues: technicians inspect your yard for breeding sites, apply a barrier treatment made with plant oils to the shrubs where adults rest and treat breeding sites with larvicide granules and growth regulators. For fire ants and other lawn insects, Toro’s lawn spray program identifies what is in your grass and treats it. For everything else that summer brings, read about the most common summer pests in Florida, and for more party-day ideas see how to enjoy a pest-free barbecue.
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305-594-4767Frequently Asked Questions
Do citronella candles keep mosquitoes away from a BBQ?
Why do yellowjackets show up every time I grill?
How far ahead should I schedule a mosquito treatment for a party?
What should I do if a guest is stung by fire ants?
What are the tiny biting bugs at waterfront parties if I can't see mosquitoes?
Sources
- Drain and Cover to Prevent Mosquito-Borne Illness, Florida Department of Health
- Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus (EDIS IN594), UF/IFAS Extension
- Biting Midges, No-See-Ums, Culicoides spp. (EDIS IN626), UF/IFAS Extension
- Yellow Jackets, UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta (EDIS IN352), UF/IFAS Extension
- Insects and Scorpions at Work, CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Educational content. This article is for general information about pests in South Florida and is not medical, legal or professional advice. If you have a bite, sting or allergic reaction, contact your doctor; in an emergency, call 911. Pest problems vary from home to home, so a licensed professional should inspect before treatment. When using any pesticide, always read and follow the product label.
