Arizona is known for having a dry arid climate from Phoenix down to the Mexico border. With that dry climate comes a multitude of pests such as scorpions, spiders, ants and bees. However, here are three common questions that are asked that you might want answers for yourself about Arizona pests.

Q. What makes homes attractive to pests?

A. Pests are attracted to food, water and shelter. Exclusion techniques and removing food and water sources will help deter pests. Simple measures such as keeping food in sealed containers and cleaning up after each meal to avoid leaving crumbs can help. Fix leaky pipes and drains to ensure that if pests do get in, they won’t have ideal conditions in which they can thrive.

Q. How do pests get into homes?

A. Pests enter structures through cracks and crevices around windows, doors, along foundations, ripped screens, uncapped chimneys, and also through holes where utilities enter a structure. Firewood, groceries, and other deliveries can carry pests in, too. Seal any openings with silicone caulk or steel wool, and to avoid hitchhiking pests, examine packages thoroughly before bringing them inside.

Q. Where are pests most likely to settle in?

A. Pests have direct access to basements and attics through roofs and foundations, so they should be kept well ventilated, dry, and clutter-free. Also, because of the concentration of food and water, kitchens and bathrooms are other common areas.

Arizona is home to many different species of insects, arachnids and other pests such as rodents. The desert landscape provides ample materials for these species to survive and thrive in the dry and sometimes overbearing heat. While some of the insects and pests are harmless and fun to observe, there are a few stinging insect species in Arizona that residents should familiarize themselves with and beware of. Three of the most common stinging insects that Arizona residents will come into contact with are bees, wasps and scorpions. Natives to the area are familiar with these types of insects, but if you are new to Arizona, then the first sight of a scorpion can be somewhat traumatizing.

How to Get Rid of Wasps Around Your Arizona House or Swimming Pool

Wasps are one of the more dangerous stinging insects that fly in Arizona. What makes a wasp slightly more dangerous than your average bee is that they have the ability to sting you over and over again, and wasps also tend to be much more aggressive. While wasp nests should never be disturbed, keep in mind that wasps will attack while far from their nests as well. Wasp bodies in Arizona can be multiple combinations of orange, yellow, brown, black and gray. Wasps are often mistaken for hornets in Arizona, but this is not the case. Wasps in Arizona can grow to be quite large and should be considered as a serious threat if they are nearby.

Bee Species Found in Arizona; Western Honey Bee & Africanized Killer Bee

Arizona is home to two separate bee species, the first is the Western honey bee. The Western honey bee is not usually considered a huge threat, and has a mostly docile temperament. The Western honey bee is most interested in producing honey and will not typically bother humans. The other species of bee found in Arizona is the Africanized killer bee, which is also known simply as the killer bee. This species of bee is much more aggressive than the Western honey bee and will swarm in very large numbers. The sting of an Africanized bee is more potent than that of a Western honey bee, so fewer stings can still be quite dangerous, especially for those who have an allergic reaction to stings.

Arizona Bark Scorpions & Desert Hairy Scorpions Occupy Valley Desert

There are two species of scorpions found in the Arizona desert that will leave the hair on your neck standing up straight. The Arizona Bark Scorpion is a smaller species of scorpion that is often found crawling on kitchen floors or in laundry rooms throughout the Arizona Desert. This species of scorpion is quite dangerous due to its powerful sting that causes severe pain accompanied by numbness, vomiting and other miserable circumstances. The Desert Hairy Scorpion is the other species of scorpion in the Arizona desert. While this scorpion grows to be twice the size of the Arizona Bark Scorpion, its sting is not quite as painful.

Wasp, Bee & Scorpion Stinging Insect Pest Inspections, Control, Management & Removal in Arizona

If you come across any stinging insects such as bees, wasps or scorpions or any other pests in or near your home or business, contact Bug Guardian Pest Prevention today and eliminate the presence of scorpions near your home.

As mentioned on another blog (When DIY Pest Control Won’t Cut It), we believe that the homeowner should let a professional handle their pest control needs. However, there are some things that a homeowner can do to help the pest professional keep their home pest free.

Many pest control applications create a chemical barrier between your house and the outside in order to keep insects from coming into your house. Trees, bushes, and vegetation that come into contact with the house can allow ants and other insects to bridge the chemical barrier. Thus, we recommend that homeowners trim trees and bushes so that the leaves do not come in contact with the house. We also suggest that the homeowner keep their lawn trimmed around the house in order to reduce the insect activity in those areas. It is also a good idea to remove ivy and any other vegetation that may be growing along the outside walls of the house. We also suggest that the homeowner use mulch, such as Cedar or Cypress, that has already been treated for insects. These steps will improve the effectiveness of the pest control applications and help to keep the bugs out of your house.

The homeowner should also be aware of entry points to their house for insects. Various pests can enter the house through cracks, crevices, holes in screen doors, and holes around air conditioning lines. Sealing entry points by caulking, replacing screens,  patching the holes around air conditioning lines, and replacing the weather stripping on doors can limit the entry points for the insects. These steps will improve the effectiveness of the applications from your pest professional.

Keeping your house, garage, crawl space, and gutters clean will improve the effectiveness of your pest control service. A garage or crawl space that is cluttered with boxes, furniture, and other items is conducive to pest activity (especially spiders). In addition, a crawl space or garage that is cluttered is difficult to inspect and the clutter makes a proper pest control treatment difficult to complete. Gutters that are clogged by leaves and debris are an excellent breeding ground for ants and other insects. Thus, regularly cleaning your gutters can reduce your ant problems.  Keeping your kitchen and cabinets clean will eliminate a food source for many insects such as ants and roaches. Vacuuming your carpets on a regular basis will aid in the control of fleas and spiders.

These steps, by themselves, will not keep your house pest free. They will, however, create an environment that will allow your pest control professional to peform pest control applications with maximum effectiveness.

Sealing the Exterior of Your Arizona Home

You’ll be surprised at the high number of places where pests gain entry into your home, restaurant or business. Some insects and spiders only need an opening the thickness of a credit card. Mice can squeeze their way through a gap the size of a nickel. Once they make their way inside it will be difficult to evict them. Lock those pests out now.

Benefits of Sealing Your Property:

• Keeping unwanted pests out like  scorpions, crickets, roaches, flies, mosquitoes, ants, silverfish, and earwigs
• Properly sealed doors will result in keeping cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter from escaping these points therefore reducing energy costs
• Selling a home that is sealed versus one that is not, in scorpion prone areas is always a benefit
• When you scorpion seal a home and/or property and follow up with regular pest control, you drastically reduce the chances of finding scorpions and other unwanted pests inside your home.

Our customized home seal program will help prevent pest invasion, although it doesn’t guarantee that you will never see a pest again, it is always best to include monthly pest control spraying of your property. For more information on our Scorpion Seal Service contact Bug Guardian Pest Prevention today!