What You Need to Know About Pests in the Greater Phoenix Area

Rodents

Arizona is known for being home to a lot of outdoor space and urban areas, both places where rodents thrive. When it comes right down to it, rodents are wild animals, but many species like mice and rats have adapted to living with people and have come to rely on us to help them meet their basic needs. While they can survive on their own, if we are around providing them with food, water, and shelter, why would they? Our Arizona yards are places that rodents want to be, so keeping them at bay is difficult.

Rodents searching for food and water often move indoors through small gaps in exterior walls or by following wires or pipes. Once inside, they may decide to stay and nest, choosing quiet out-of-the-way areas. Crawl spaces, the backs of cabinets and closets, wall voids, boxes, and spaces under furniture are common nesting spots.

What sets rodents apart from other types of mammals are their continuously growing front incisors. To keep their teeth sharp and from overgrowing, they constantly gnaw on objects they come across, making them an extremely damaging pest to have in our yards and homes.

Another reason we don't welcome these pests into our homes with open arms is that they spread a lot of bacteria and diseases that can seriously affect people's health. Rodents living in our homes damage structures, contaminate food and surfaces, and trigger allergies and asthma attacks. The moment you realize that rodents have made their way onto your property, it is best to take immediate action and have them removed by a professional.

To help you make your property less attractive to these dangerous and destructive pests, we want to offer you the following prevention tips:

• Caulk cracks in the foundation, seal up spaces around windows and doors with weather stripping, and place covers over vents.
• Keep lids on trash cans and compost bins to prevent rodents from foraging for food in them. 
• Repair leaky pipes and outdoor fixtures they can drink from.
• Cut back shrubs, tall grass, and weeds from your foundation where rodents can hide and that will provide them with cover a they move in and out of your home.
• Keep your home free of debris and excess clutter where rodents can hide, especially in storage areas like closets, utility rooms, crawl space, and attic

To help you protect your property from pests, trust the professionals at What's Bugging You Pest Control. Through exceptional pest control services, high-quality treatments, excellent customer service, and lots of experience, we protect Arizona homes and businesses from being overrun by pests. For information about our residential or commercial pest control options, reach out to us today! We will work with you and ensure we meet all your pest control needs and leave you with nothing but a pest-free property to enjoy with family and friends!

Termites 

Termites are notorious pests known for their wood-destroying habits, which can lead to significant structural damage. These tiny insects feed on cellulose found in wood, paper, and other plant-based materials, making them a serious threat to property owners. Termites live in large colonies that can number in the thousands or even millions, and they operate with a high degree of organization. Each colony consists of workers, soldiers, and reproductive members, all playing specific roles to ensure the survival and expansion of the group.

In Arizona, several termite species are particularly prevalent. The most common include the desert subterranean termite (Heterotermes aureus), the western drywood termite (Incisitermes minor), and the arid land subterranean termite (Reticulitermes tibialis). The desert subterranean termite is known for its ability to thrive in the arid conditions of the Southwest, typically building its colonies underground and using mud tubes to reach above-ground food sources. The western drywood termite, unlike its subterranean counterparts, does not require contact with soil and can infest dry, undecayed wood, often causing extensive damage before being detected. The arid land subterranean termite also builds underground nests and is commonly found infesting homes and buildings where moisture is present. 

Understanding these species is crucial for effective termite control and prevention in Arizona's unique climate but there are some tips you can take to protect your property: 

• Termites thrive in moist environments. Fix any leaks in pipes, faucets, and roof leaks, and ensure proper drainage around the foundation of your property to keep the area dry.
• Ensure crawl spaces and attics are well-ventilated to reduce humidity levels, which can attract termites.
• Keep firewood, lumber, and other cellulose materials at least 20 feet away from your home to avoid attracting termites.
• When building or renovating, use pressure-treated wood for structures that come into contact with the ground. This type of wood is treated with chemicals that repel termites.
• Seal any cracks in the foundation and gaps around utility lines and pipes to block potential entry points for termites.
• Regularly clean out gutters and downspouts to prevent water accumulation that can create conducive conditions for termites.
• Dead trees and stumps are prime habitats for termites. Remove them from your property to reduce the risk of infestation.
• Use mulch sparingly and keep it at least 15 inches away from the foundation. Mulch retains moisture and can attract termites.
• Schedule annual professional inspections to detect early signs of termite activity. Early detection can prevent significant damage.

Scorpions

Scorpions are pests that thrive in desert climates making Arizona a place where people and our pets often run into these arachnids. Scorpions are considered a type of stinging pest. At the end of their segmented curved tail is a stinger used for protection and to paralyze prey. Lucky for most people, only one species living in the United States can severely impact human health, not so lucky for Arizona residents; that species lives in our region — the bark scorpion. A sting from one of these scorpions can create a life-threatening allergic reaction, and if stung, medical attention is needed.

Despite living in deserts, bark scorpions actually have high moisture needs. Our properties offer them the water and food (insects and other small animals) they are looking for. Things like leaky outdoor fixtures, dripping air conditioners, and overwatered gardens are likely to attract bark scorpions. While they can survive much longer without food than water, scorpions are attracted to properties that offer abundant food sources. Trees, garden areas, dense landscaping, and yard debris offer hiding spots for both scorpions and their prey.

Scorpions are outdoor pests but often make their way into our homes through gaps in the exterior. The same things that attract them indoors originally attracted them to your yard — water and prey to hunt!

To help you make your property less attractive to scorpions, we want to offer you the following prevention tips:

• The biggest thing you can do to avoid attracting scorpions to your home is to eliminate water sources. Repair leaking pipes and hoses, fix dripping air conditioners, and don't overwater your lawn and gardens. 
• Keep scorpions out of your home by sealing cracks in the foundation, placing weather stripping around windows and doors, covering vents, and sealing spaces around utilities entering your home.
• Maintain your lawn, remove unnecessary woodpiles and logs, maintain gardens, and keep shrubbery pruned to reduce insect activity in your yard. The fewer insects you have on your property, the fewer problems you will have with scorpions.

Weeds

Weeds are plants with negatives that outweigh their benefits. We have not purposely planted them in our yards, but they have found their way there after being transported by wind or animals or accidentally in items like newly purchased mulch or soil. Weeds multiply quickly and are difficult for homeowners to control. Other problems that weeds cause include:

• Attracting unwanted insects like mosquitoes and stinging pests.
• Ruining your lawn's overall aesthetics.
• Taking away the nutrients from the plants and grass that we do want in our yards.

Controlling weeds is tricky because they are opportunistic and will grow almost anywhere. Yards with lots of bare spots, under fertilized grass, and the cracks in walkways and driveways are areas you often find these unwanted plants growing. There are several reasons why weeds can take over our properties so easily. They produce a large number of seeds, and their seeds can remain dormant until the right environmental conditions are met. Even after we have disturbed the ground, weeds are still able to grow successfully. Whether your yard is sunny, shady, dry, or wet, there is a weed that will grow.

The best way to maintain a healthy, weed-free lawn is to partner with a local professional. At What's Bugging You Pest Control, we can do just that; rid your property of weeds through our regular and effective services. In addition, the following tips will help make your property a bit less conducive to weed growth:

• Keep your lawn mowed to its ideal height.
• Irrigate to ensure your lawn doesn't become overwatered or underwatered. 
• Reseed your lawn's bare spots.
• Make sure to fertilize your grass properly.
• Seal cracks that develop in walkways, sidewalks, and driveways.