WHAT’S BUGGING YOU?

Scorpions are climbers and can pop up anywhere. Did you know, there are 30 different species of scorpions in Arizona, but the ones I run into most often are the Bark Scorpion which are highly venomous. We’ll also commonly see the Desert Hairy Scorpion, and the Stripe Tail Scorpion.

Scorpions like cool and moist areas especially where there is air flow. Because they like to climb you might find them in sinks and bathtubs and hiding in dark areas like your closet. They will also be climbing walls and clinging to the ceiling.  Outside, they are attracted to lumber and brick piles.

Rodents are mammals that have incisor teeth both upper and lower, that continuously grow. And they are everywhere - Of the 4660 types of mammals out there, rodents represent 2050 of them.

If you want to truly get away from rodents, you’ll have to move to New Zealand, Antarctica or a few islands in the Arctic Ocean. Rodents in your home can be controlled but it’s difficult to truly eliminate them. Depending on where you live and the source of the problem, there are different types of treatments available.

In the attic, we place snap traps and monitor them for a week or two. If we start catching rats, we will continue setting traps until we are no longer catching anything. At that point, we will attempt to seal off where the rodents are gaining access into the structure.  

If the source of the problem is in your garden or yard, we will encourage you to use our bait box program. We’ll set up small, locked containers with rodenticide around the perimeter (exterior) of a house, check them monthly, and replenish if they are empty.This method has been the most successful in our experience, to really deter rodent activity in the garden.

There are over 40 species of termites in Arizona. Often mistaken for ants, they are highly social creatures. Termites thrive on cellulose, one of the most abundant organic substances in the world as it is found in wood, trees, shrubs and cactus skeletons. Termites are one of very few organisms that contain the enzyme to break down cellulose. We need termites in the desert otherwise there is nothing to break down mesquite and palo verde wood, dead grasses, and cactus skeletons. But you definitely don’t want them in your home or building.

Termite treatment is very different from general pest control which will not do much to prevent termites. Proper termite treatment begins along the foundation of a house and anywhere that soil meets the foundation. We dig a little trench, and then drench that with termiticide.