The Top Pest Control Problems Arizona Homeowners Face
Living in Arizona definitely has its perks. Between amazing weather (most of the time), lots of fun things to do, and fantastic views, many Arizona homeowners are living in their dream locale. However, with those spectacular desert views often comes desert pests. Even if a home is meticulously cared for, pests are a nuisance that can sneakily make their way into any home— often at no fault of the homeowner.
There are a number of Arizona pests that call the desert home and, often, make themselves equally as comfortable in nearby houses.
Take a look at some of Arizona’s most common pest issues.
Scorpions
Although most scorpions are fairly harmless, a sting can definitely hurt. However, the Arizona bark scorpion is one species that can be particularly harmful to humans. These little scorpions are typically no bigger than 3 inches long, and are exceptionally good climbers for their kind. A sting from a bark scorpion could mean numbness, swelling, tingling, muscle twitches, or more serious issues.
Whether it’s a bark scorpion, or a less potent species, scorpions often blend in perfectly with their surroundings, making it extremely hard to know when one is on your floor, inside a hiding spot (like a shoe), or has made its way inside on a window sill. This makes it key to keep scorpions out before they get in.
A few ways to prevent them from getting into your home? Make sure weather stripping is properly sealed, that your home is clutter free, and ensure you have no water leaks (these are all things scorpions love). Likewise, ensure you’re treating your home with a pest control option specific for treating scorpions.
Termites
It’s been said that, at some point, every house in Arizona will get termites. However, the extent to which these pests overrun your home can vary. Termites are insects that feed on plants, paper products and of course, wood. This makes them especially pesky, since they can eat framing, roofing, structural timbers, and even hardwood flooring in some cases.
Termites can be treated in a number of different ways, depending on how difficult the infestation actually is. These can include treating the soil near a home’s foundation, building trenches around a home, baits, or even using chemicals on the inside of a home.
Although termites are more of a fact of life in Arizona, doing regular checks on your home, and looking out for signs of their presence (like discolored drywall, hollow or blistering wood, and swarmers (aka flying termites) are just some of the first indications that they might be present.
Spiders
There are a number of different species of spiders that like to call the American Southwest home. And while many of them are completely harmless, there are a few that you definitely want to steer clear of.
Black widows, for example, are one of Arizona’s more common spiders, and their bite can pack a punch. While a bite often just causes swelling and stinging, in more serious cases, a Black Widow bite can lead to nausea, difficulty breathing, muscle stiffness, weakness, and more.
Spiders can be treated in a number of ways, but one of the best ways to keep them at bay is by utilizing preventative pest control. Spiders feed on other insects so, naturally, if your home isn’t a great food source for spiders, they likely won’t want to stay.
Although there are a number of pests that may want to cohabitate with you, through a combination of regular pest control services, and preventative actions homeowners can take on their own, their presence will often be nothing more than an annoyance. Ensuring homeowners can not only live safely in their homes, but truly enjoy them without worry.
