Bug Cops at the Florahome Fall Heritage Festival
Putting Pest Identification to the Test
There were plenty of suspects at this year’s Florahome Fall Heritage Festival. And we’re not talking about the people walking around!
Bug Cops brought pest identification out of the field and into the festival. We offered hands-on activities for children and adults. Visitors identified mystery insects and examined clues that pests leave behind. Everyone had a chance to see pest control through an investigator’s eyes.
And judging by the detectives who stopped by our booth, North Florida has some pretty sharp pest investigators!
Junior Bug Cops Took the Case
One of the festival highlights was our ID the Intruder challenge. Young investigators examined nine pest specimens. They used visual clues to identify each suspect.
Instead of simply guessing, we encouraged children to look closely. They studied the legs, wings, antennae, and body shapes. Children who identified at least five suspects solved the case. They earned their Junior Bug Cop status!
We prepared 50 Junior Bug Cop Home Investigation Kits. Our young investigators took home 42 kits to continue learning after the festival.
Every participating child identified at least seven of the nine suspects. Many correctly identified all nine! That’s well beyond the five needed to complete the challenge.
Investigating the Suspects
Examining the Evidence
Taking the Case Home
Prize Wheel Rewards
Investigator #1 Rule: Look, don’t touch!
Adults Investigated the Evidence
The kids weren’t the only investigators at the Bug Cops booth. Adults had their own case to solve at our Evidence Table. Instead of identifying pests alone, they studied the clues pests leave behind.
Visitors examined four types of evidence: subterranean termite mud tubes, wood-destroying beetle damage, carpenter ant frass, and fire ant activity. These clues can reveal pest activity even when the insects aren’t visible.
We also brought live suspects! Visitors observed subterranean termites, carpenter ants, and a red velvet ant. They learned about each pest’s appearance and behavior.
Pest evidence can tell an important story. Mud tubes along a foundation may signal termites. Small holes in wood or piles of frass can point to wood-destroying insects. Unusual lawn activity can also provide clues.
The goal was simple: look beyond the bug and investigate the evidence. Knowing what to look for helps homeowners recognize possible pest problems.
Visitors also voted for Putnam County’s Most Wanted Pest. They placed blue dots beside the pests giving them the most trouble.
The choices included ants, mosquitoes, cockroaches, spiders, termites, fleas and ticks, stinging insects, and occasional invaders. When we counted the votes, ants won with 22 votes!
Examining the Evidence
The Evidence Table
Most Wanted Pest Voting
PRECINCT NOTE: Sometimes the evidence appears before the pest does. Where the evidence is found, what it looks like, and the conditions surrounding it can all help narrow down the cause. That’s why Bug Cops starts with identification and inspection before deciding what—if any—treatment is appropriate.
Count the Suspects
Our adult investigators had one more mystery to solve. How many bugs were hiding inside the evidence jar?
The jar was packed with colorful plastic bugs and other creepy-crawly suspects. Visitors studied the jar and made their best guesses. Two free perimeter pest control treatments were up for grabs!
When we revealed the official count, 221 suspects were hiding inside!
We received 25 contest entries, and 17 qualified under the official rules. The two winners made the closest guesses—one above and one below 221. No tie-breaker was needed, and both winners have been notified.
CASE CLOSED — 221 SUSPECTS ACCOUNTED FOR!
Pest Identification Is the First Step
Not every pest behaves the same way. Ants, cockroaches, termites, spiders, beetles, and stinging insects have different habits, hiding places, and signs of activity. Understanding those differences is an important part of identifying a pest problem.
That’s what our Fall Festival investigations were all about. Whether visitors were examining live specimens or studying evidence left behind, the goal was to look for clues before jumping to conclusions.
Our Pest Identification Guides help North Florida homeowners recognize common pests, understand their behavior, and know when professional assistance may be needed.
Thank You for Visiting Bug Cops
A big thank-you to everyone who visited the Bug Cops booth at the Florahome Fall Heritage Festival! We enjoyed meeting local families and answering pest questions. Most of all, we loved watching children and adults put their investigation skills to work.
Our young investigators studied clues, identified suspects, and earned their Junior Bug Cop status. Adults examined the Evidence Table, guessed at Count the Suspects, and learned how pest evidence can tell a story.
Community events give us a chance to do more than talk about pest control. We get to share what we’ve learned, help our neighbors, and spend time with the families we’re proud to serve.
One of our favorite surprises came after the festival. A mother called because her daughter had enjoyed the Junior Bug Cop activity so much! She invited Bug Cops to another community event. It’s a wonderful reminder that a little curiosity can bring people together.
Thank you for making the Fall Festival such a memorable day for the Bug Cops crew. We hope you had as much fun investigating as we did!
See it. Identify it. Solve it.™
Have a Pest Mystery of Your Own?
You don’t have to wait for the next festival to put Bug Cops on the case. If you’ve found an insect and aren’t sure what it is, send us a pest photo or explore our Pest Identification Guides. If you’re seeing pest activity around your property, request a free inspection.
