bugs in the house

it is normal for the tropics. you could get a monthly exterminator to abate the problem

As long as the roaches and millipedes are dead and you're not seeing live ones, I wouldn't worry about it.
Just give the apt. a good cleaning.

For ants, you can pick up Terro liquid from Home Depot and place along ant trail. They pick up the liquid to take back to nest and it kills the nest.
Buy some flying insect/mosquito spray while at Home Depot.
Spray each room and inside closets, close doors.
Check to make sure screens are secured properly.

Welcome to life in de tropics!

Just a heads up but the very best mosquito/bug spray I've found is the Black Flag Flying Insect Killer. Unlike most other sprays it actually sticks (although not "tacky") to screens, walls, etc. and continues killing when bugs land on the surface. Ergo, very long lasting and very effective. I spray as little as possible but while one can of other products lasts a couple of weeks, one of the Black Flag cans lasts a couple of months. Plaza Extra carries it.

For roaches, the best product I've found is the Combat Source Kill Max which dispenses a gooey mix very easily. Just a very small dab where and whenever I see the odd roach (and I live surrounded by bush) quickly attracts them and kills 'em off quickly. One tube lasts a VERY long time.

My guess is that when your landlords rented you the place they exterminated prior to your moving in and the dead bugs you saw were the result of that. Good luck in your new home!

there are bugs everywhere: dead millipedes, couple of dead cockroaches, some ants walking the windowsills, mosquitoes in the living room. Is this normal?

Its basically like living one step out of the jungle.

You'll get used to seeing them.

Ants are very hard to get rid of - Terro works great - but it will require vigilance and daily awareness to keep ants away.
Any food products, crumbs, small drips on counters or floors, even dead bugs provide food for them - I use a very small garbage pail and take it daily to the dumpster, when we used a big can under the sink we could never control ant invasion.

I will also add here to get a lot of zip loc bags, they are indispensable especially on the Islands. You will also want to keep a lot of your dry goods like sugar, flour, Pancake mixes and so on in the fridge, it will keep longer and also help keep the ants away.

mike

Actually, Mike, theose do quite well just in Ziplocs as do boxed goods.
I generally get rid of cereal boxes. In a Ziploc and refrigerator, they'll last month's and be crispy.

The baggies can be rinsed, dried and reused when you've used the products.

Bay leaves in rice, flour keep weevils and other bugs away.
Larger (or small) containers of spices do very well in the refrigerator and freezer and stay fresh forever.

If I buy salt, I save an old Adobe plastic container to put it in and place in pantry. It always stays fresh without humidity turning it into a hardened block.

ants can and do cut holes in ziplocks to get into whatever..so refrig.or freezer is the way in our house

You must not have the usual sugar ants which are tiny and light in color?
Wow! Never had that happen, luckily.
Can you track their trail?

Those must be the roaches I keep away from my apartment! Go to Gallows Bay Hardware and in the Garden department pick up a can or two of Bengal Spray! Paul Harvey was rarely wrong and he got this one right as well. Bengal Spray, I've used for years and rarely see a roach, but, when I do, out comes my Bengal Spray. It truly works!

Welcome to the islands, bugs for everyone!

i have had bugs get into certain plastic containers before also. i like lock & lock the best. certain things i put in plastic bags first and then in plastic containers. makes it less likely the bugs will get in.

Actually, Mike, theose do quite well just in Ziplocs as do boxed goods.
I generally get rid of cereal boxes. In a Ziploc and refrigerator, they'll last month's and be crispy.

The baggies can be rinsed, dried and reused when you've used the products.

Bay leaves in rice, flour keep weevils and other bugs away.
Larger (or small) containers of spices do very well in the refrigerator and freezer and stay fresh forever.

If I buy salt, I save an old Adobe plastic container to put it in and place in pantry. It always stays fresh without humidity turning it into a hardened block.

Bay Leaves in Rice and Flour, I will have to try that one. I just had to go through a weevil infestation and threw away most all of the dry goods at my home in Florida. Thanks Alana.

Those must be the roaches I keep away from my apartment! Go to Gallows Bay Hardware and in the Garden department pick up a can or two of Bengal Spray! Paul Harvey was rarely wrong and he got this one right as well. Bengal Spray, I've used for years and rarely see a roach, but, when I do, out comes my Bengal Spray. It truly works!

Welcome to the islands, bugs for everyone!

Stay away from anything Gallows Bay Hardware/Garden. The place is a rip off. Went to buy bug bombs 3 pack cost $17--same brand Home Depot $8.50. Things that make you go hmmm.

they sell at that price because they can. great location for those out east.

Stay away from anything Gallows Bay Hardware/Garden. The place is a rip off. Went to buy bug bombs 3 pack cost $17--same brand Home Depot $8.50. Things that make you go hmmm.

One has to take into account the bother and expense of driving out to Home Depot. Sure you might save a buck or two, but, time is money and driving is gas. Personally, I support both stores. Sometimes I go to GBH sometimes I go to HD.

The brand that works...really works, Bengal, is NOT sold at Home Depot and one can alone is around $17! You are talking oranges to me talking apples...not the same!

Those must be the roaches I keep away from my apartment! Go to Gallows Bay Hardware and in the Garden department pick up a can or two of Bengal Spray! Paul Harvey was rarely wrong and he got this one right as well. Bengal Spray, I've used for years and rarely see a roach, but, when I do, out comes my Bengal Spray. It truly works!

Welcome to the islands, bugs for everyone!

Stay away from anything Gallows Bay Hardware/Garden. The place is a rip off. Went to buy bug bombs 3 pack cost $17--same brand Home Depot $8.50. Things that make you go hmmm.

Not the same spray as Bengal, which actually works! One can of Bengal is around $17 and NOT SOLD AT HOME DEPOT, only sold at GBH. You are talking oranges to me talking apples!

Those must be the roaches I keep away from my apartment! Go to Gallows Bay Hardware and in the Garden department pick up a can or two of Bengal Spray! Paul Harvey was rarely wrong and he got this one right as well. Bengal Spray, I've used for years and rarely see a roach, but, when I do, out comes my Bengal Spray. It truly works!

Welcome to the islands, bugs for everyone!

Stay away from anything Gallows Bay Hardware/Garden. The place is a rip off. Went to buy bug bombs 3 pack cost $17--same brand Home Depot $8.50. Things that make you go hmmm.

Nothing to waste a hmmmmmm over. Big box chain store buying at huge discounts vs single store. Gallows Bay is more convenient to many and offers a senior discount. They can and will charge what the market will bear.to get by. Capitalism at its best.

Gallows Bay is a little (and sometimes a lot) more expensive than HD but only because they charge MSRP.

Gallows Bay is a little (and sometimes a lot) more expensive than HD but only because they charge MSRP.

LOL.. No, that is not the ONLY reason.

GBH is competitive on some items and less competitive on others. And many items at GBH and for a reasonable price you can't find at HD. The plumbing supply at STX HD in particular is lacking. I've found plenty of items at GBH that I expected to find at HD but didn't.

Nothing to waste a hmmmmmm over. Big box chain store buying at huge discounts vs single store. Gallows Bay is more convenient to many and offers a senior discount. They can and will charge what the market will bear.to get by. Capitalism at its best.

Gallows Bay Hardware is part of the Ace Hardware franchise system and benefits from the huge discounts a big box store like HD gets.

But lets not forget that we all have to pay the hidden Paradise Tax (ie: extraordinary profit) that most businesses in the VI generate.

That said, I'm certainly not complaining.

Nothing to waste a hmmmmmm over. Big box chain store buying at huge discounts vs single store. Gallows Bay is more convenient to many and offers a senior discount. They can and will charge what the market will bear.to get by. Capitalism at its best.

Gallows Bay Hardware is part of the Ace Hardware franchise system and benefits from the huge discounts a big box store like HD gets.

But lets not forget that we all have to pay the hidden Paradise Tax (ie: extraordinary profit) that most businesses in the VI generate.

That said, I'm certainly not complaining.

Yes, you are right. They do benefit from the franchise. But Ace is an independent owner coop, small box store. Home Depot has about 6 times the sales revenue as Ace, far more HD branded items, much larger inventory (with full control over that inventory), higher square footage in fewer stores, and strict control over pricing. All of this translates into discounts that Ace can't reach. But I'm not complaining either. Compared to HD, it really is the helpful hardware store - more knowledgeable employees who have helped us out with some weird DIY problems more than once.

But I'll stop thread-creeping. I use Raid ant gel bait for the tiny ants with great success, and their Bug Barrier every 2-3 months on outside foundation. With our new fine-mesh screens, and diligent caulking and sealing, it's rare to find any bugs in our house, even though the dog frequently finds roaches wandering mere feet from the house. We had a nasty infestation when we bought the place.

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for all of your input! I put some of your tips to use, and I am happy to say that my new place is mostly de-bugged!