Brasilia - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
It seems every house has something - some battle ants, others roaches. We've even had a scorpion and giant centipede. I'm ready to leave the bugs - it's rather tropical here and the house is really poorly sealed with cracks and gaps, single pane glass, etc. - Jan 2024
Not more than what you expect at a tropical location. Having lived in many like that, we don't get too worked up with that. - Oct 2021
Not in the apartments, but I've heard the houses in Lago Sul can have ants, mosquitoes and sometimes the odd scorpion. - May 2020
There are lots of bugs. Some are really interesting. Its a tropical climate so you will get ants, roaches, mosquitoes and the occasional lizard in your house. But Brasilia is on a plateau, so its not as bad as other tropical climates. - May 2017
Again, one needs to be cautious of mosquitoes. Other than that, we have had few infestations aside from moths and small ants. - May 2017
Yes, but we haven't had any issues as of yet. Work with the embassy, but the houses have most of the issues. Keep food packages that are open in airtight containers. - Mar 2017
There are a lot of bugs--tiny ants, big biting ants, biting flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches--they, too, have a season. The biting flies were in April, the biting ants are in May, the rest are year round. A basic housekeeping plan keeps it manageable. Those little ants are everywhere despite our efforts. I am sure we have all eaten some. - May 2016
i hear people in Lago Sul complaining of insects and animals, but in our apartment it's tiny ants only. My husband claims to have been bitten by mosquitoes, but in two years i have not had a bite. - Aug 2015
There are a few different kinds of mosquitoes (or bugs that bite) here I've been told. There's one in particular that leaves you swollen for days. We've tried to be vigilant in wearing bug spray, but we've not be perfect and have fallen victim to it. Unfortunately my family's gotten some really ugly scars from the bites. - Aug 2015
Ants, lizards, mosquitoes, cockroaches and beetles are around. Malaria isn't a problem here, but there are some cases of Dengue. Ants get in the house a little. There are the kind that come after food, and the kind that like living in electronics. There are also grass cutters that will eat houseplants. I spray with water infused with peppermint oil and it keeps most away, although I don't think it is possible to completely eradicate them. Cockroaches are sometimes seen in my outside laundry area, but whatever they spray seems to keep them out of the house. - Aug 2015
Mosquitoes are common, as well as lots of other flying bugs, many that bite. We go through lots of bug spray. We are lucky to have few bugs in our apartment but I know of others who have major ant problems or difficulties with other crawling bugs. - Jun 2014
Nothing problematic. Some mosquitoes come out in the rainy season, although nothing that a citronella candle or long sleeves can't fix. In the dry season, you won't see an insect of any kind, except for maybe ants (that can get in the house) and termites (which seem to be happy staying put in their termite castles). Every year, right after October's first rain, a new generation of cicadas hatches out and makes an infernal racket that will leave you begging for mercy, but luckily, they do their thing and die within six weeks, at which point peace and quiet are restored. - Sep 2012
Ants, ants, ants. When the dry season switches to the rainy season, there is a plague of insects for several weeks. The occasional massive cockroach. - Dec 2011
Ants, but not so many that even a can or two of insecticide can't handle. Ask me again in the rainy season, as it may be different. - Aug 2011
Ants, ants, ants. We didn't have them inside the house, but outside they were everywhere. They come in all sizes, and some of them can really bite! - Dec 2009
Ants, ants, and more ants. My toddler would drop crumbs on our patio and within minutes the entire patio would have lines of ants criss-crossing it all trying to get the crumbs. Incredible really. - Nov 2009
Ants in the house not a big problem. - Jun 2009
