The Sonoran desert is home to a variety of bugs that are common pests in residential areas throughout the East valley. After dark, when the temperature cools down, insects such as cockroaches and scorpions emerge to search for food and water. The condensed housing developments in Gilbert poses a threat to attracting insects. This post details how to avoid a potential pest problem and identity the creepy crawlers that are active during the summer months.
There are several steps involved to create a bug free yard and avoid a potential pest problem. Firstly, it’s important to eliminate weedy areas, left-over tree limbs, or wood piles. Infestations often occur because of stagnant water or damp cluttered areas. The monsoon season is especially hospitable to insects, so it’s important to attend to irrigation leaks and maintaining areas hospitable to pests. Three of the most invasive bugs include the Arizona bark scorpion, cockroaches, and mosquito’s.
Bark Scorpion
Due to their small size and ability to inflict a lethal dose of poison to pets and small children, the Arizona Bark Scorpion is a contender for the most dangerous pest. Bark scorpions are active at night and feed on beetles, crickets, and cockroaches. Having a high concentration of crickets or other small insects is a good indication that bark scorpions are in the area. Fluorescent lights are the best way to spot bark scorpions and prevention resides in sprinkling insecticide dust around crevices where they could potentially hide or enter into a house. Proper backyard maintenance is key to avoid attracting the bark scorpion’s prey and thus inviting them into your house.
Sewer Roaches
Common referred to as ‘sewer roaches,’ there are in fact several distinct species of cockroaches that live in Arizona. The two most common roaches that are encountered in Arizona are the Turkestan (aka American roach) and the German, or house roach. The hideous big black roach are the Turkestan, which commonly scurry above ground at night to find water. The smaller house roaches and usually live in houses or apartments in humid locations, such as under the fridge. Especially the German roaches are difficult to destroy since they have become immune to certain poisons and sprays. Applying roach steriliant spray to their potential hiding spots is the best bet with removing them from the apartment or house.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are not nocturnal pests, but they are pesky enough to require mentioning in this list. The various diseases that Mosquitoes can spread – such as West Nile Virus, malaria, and yellow fever- makes them a threat to public health. Active during the morning and evening, mosquitos hover around puddles and drainage from irrigation. Particularly after Monsoons, it’s crucial to ensure that buckets and containers around the yard do not contain stagnant water- which is where mosquitos breed. Furthermore, mosquitos are typically around during the summer and late fall season.