Phoenix Common Pests
Insects love the Phoenix area for the same reasons so many people are flocking to our beautiful valley. Warm weather, desert nights, and mild winters are a perfect habitat whether you have two legs, six legs, eight legs, or even more. Phoenix has its share of creepy crawlies including crickets, black widows, roaches, scorpions, termites, bees, ants, pigeons and many more. Not only do these pests cause problems because of bites and stings but many cause health problems, sanitation issues, not to mention they are just plain gross.
The following are pests common to the Phoenix area. Boasting the best service available, Preventive Pest Control has the solution to all of these pest threats:
Black widows are of concern to Phoenix residents. These large spiders have messy webs and a nasty bite. Black widow venom is a neurotoxin that can cause muscle spasms and severe abdominal pain that can last for days.
Scorpions and the Sonoran desert go hand in hand. Phoenix is home to more than 40 different species of scorpions but only one is considered to be dangerous to humans. Most scorpion stings will have the same effects as a bee sting. Itching, burning, and redness around the immediate area are common, however the sting of the bark scorpion is more serious. The sting of the bark scorpion is usually very painful at the site of the bite. It can cause difficulty breathing, foaming at the mouth, muscle twitching and even convulsions. Children and the elderly are more susceptible to complications from scorpion stings but no deaths have been reported from scorpion stings in decades.
Bees are also very common in Phoenix. Our desert is full of them. As their colonies grow, a portion of the bees split off and find a new place to live. Unfortunately, they often make their new home inside the walls of our homes. Most bee stings are not serious. Some symptoms are redness, itchiness, a bump may occur, and or localized pain. In the past it was thought that it is better to use a credit card or fingernail to scrape the stinger out but recent reports say it is better to just get the stinger out as soon as possible. Squeezing the stinger does not force more venom into your skin but the longer the stinger is in the more venom it will release by itself. Severe allergies can occur with bee stings. Anaphylactic shock can be deadly. If a severe reaction occurs with a bee sting, seek medical assistance immediately.
Ants are continuing to be a nuisance in Phoenix. Biologists have found over 400 species of ants in Arizona. While known for ruining the occasional picnic or crawling around your kitchen and bathroom floor, they can have a painful bite. Even an occasional death has occurred from anaphylactic shock.
Crickets are one of the most annoying pests to have. Crickets chirp to attract a mate and if you haven’t been kept up at night trying to find that pesky cricket making so much noise while you’re trying to sleep, consider yourself lucky. Crickets reproduce incredibly fast. A fertile female can lay up to 2,000 eggs. If you do the math, that can lead to a large cricket problem very quickly. Crickets have also been known to chew through clothing and damage plants.
Roaches are one of the leading causes of illness. Everybody is disgusted at the site of roaches as well they should be. It is said that roaches are major contributors to asthma. They are vectors of disease and they can carry salmonella. German roaches are the major culprits found inside homes. They prefer kitchens and bathrooms due to the presence of moisture. They reproduce very rapidly making them difficult to control inside a home without the proper tools.
Termites continue to cause problems in Phoenix. Termites are common in the spring and fall. During these seasons they “swarm”. They grow wings and fly to find a new spot to make their home. Anytime you have rain and warm weather termites will flourish. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage every year in the U.S., making appropriate Pest Control in Phoenix a major necessity.
Pigeons are perhaps the “fowlest” of all pests. Hitchcock must have been inspired by pigeons in his 1963 film The Birds. These pests are relentless creatures that make their home on our rooftops. They are messy, disease-ridden pests. Their droppings can destroy a home’s value by the mess they make as well as eat through the tile and concrete. Their droppings can cause thousands of dollars of damage to a single home. They attract other pests. They are also vectors of disease including West Nile, salmonella, and e. coli.
For more information on Pest Control in the Phoenix area, please don't hesitate to contact us. |
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