In the northern states insects have to hide from the frigid cold weather to survive
. Most do what is called "over wintering" which is a chemical process whereby they pump an antifreeze type substance throughout their bodies. Other hibernate but that is usually inside a warm wall or quiet area of a heated home. In Florida both of these survival techniques are used but not nearly as much. Ocala is in the center of the state and the weather is often more favorable to the pests than one might believe.
While it does become cold in the central Florida mecca it isn't very often that low temperatures are sustained. Most insects survive because while the night time may get even to the freeze mark, day time temps rise more than enough to keep the bugs alive. Pests often find refuge in open homes for warmth because residents leave door or windows open to welcome in the cooler weather after seven straight months of brutal heat. It is often reported that bugs like roaches and fleas become more prevalent indoors during the winter time.
Cold is one thing but Ocala's heat and humidity during the summer is a perfect scenario for any six legged creature. Valuable moisture hangs in the air and the bugs thrive from this life giving source. Being that insects create very little heat like a cold blooded reptile they take full advantage of the long summer days in the sweltering sun. Fire ants build sand mounds and place their brood near the top for perfect incubation and flies find food very easily as odors from carrion and fecal matter arise in the midday heat. For some insects it is actually too hot and they may seek shelter inside a home or in the voids of a structures walls.
Water is a huge boost for insect populations and in a normal summer it rains every afternoon in Ocala. The breezes off the oceans meet in the middle of the state right over Ocala and as the midday heat rises you have the perfect recipe for a thunder storm. The rain gives so much life to the plant and insect world that colonies quickly grow in staggering numbers.
Even the night time bugs find plenty of puddles or standing water and make full use. Mosquitos come out in huge swarms at dusk looking for a warm blooded animal. Ants recycle dead insects on the ground and roaches have no trouble finding something on the menu. Ocala is situated in the most perfect place for pest abundance because the weather and is also perfect for the company that provides pest control.