Pest Library

Pests In Phoenix, AZ 

Learn about the pests that live in Phoenix to better protect yourself and your home against infestations.

What Are Ants?

Ants live in colonies usually made up of three castes; queens, which are female reproductives, workers or non-reproductive females, and reproductive males. Most ant colonies have multiple queens that produce many workers and larger colonies. However, colonies of any size can be overwhelming when they infest your property.

What Types of Ants Are Commonly Found in Phoenix?

There are several types of ant species in our area:

• Fire Ants - Reddish-brown to black, 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch long
• Forelius - Dark brown to yellowing-orange, 1/12 of an inch long
• Nylanderia Fulva - Reddish-brown, 1/8 of an inch long
• Tapinoma Sessile - Brown or black, 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch long
• Camponotus - Red, black, or a combination of the two; 1/4 to 1/8 of an inch long
• Tetramorium caespitum - Reddish-brown to black, 1/8 of an inch long

Are Ants Dangerous?

Having any ant species infesting your home is an unpleasant experience, but some species are dangerous, which are much worse to deal with. Fire ants and nylanderia fulva are both invasive species responsible for displacing other species and protecting the crop-damaging pests like aphids that produce honeydew. Fire ants are especially dangerous because they are aggressive and will swarm if disturbed. When this happens, these ants can bite and sting multiple times.

How Can I Get Rid of Ants?

You can reduce the likelihood of an ant infestation by keeping your home and yard clear of potential food sources and removing possible entry points. To do this, remove crumbs and other food debris from the kitchen and eating areas, keep your yard clear of fallen fruit, and use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids. Regularly inspect your home’s exterior to identify and seal any cracks or gaps that pests can squeeze through. For more information on preventing ants check out our blog "Why You Should Call The Pros About Ants In Your Phoenix House".

What Are Beetles?

Beetles are insects with wings and wing covers, which create a shell-like body. The wing covers create a straight line down the middle of the back, which is one way you can identify these pests as beetles. They come in many different color variations and sizes.

What Types of Beetles Are Commonly Found in Phoenix?

Three beetles that are common in our area are:

• Palo Verde Beetle
• Desert Stink Beetle
• Carpet Beetle

Are Beetles Dangerous?

These beetles are relatively harmless to people, but carpet beetles can cause damage to items made out of wool, leather, silk, fur, and other animal-based materials. Often, these pests go unnoticed for some time, which allows them to cause damage to blankets, pillows, clothing, carpets, and furniture. While this may not seem like the worst thing that can happen during a pest infestation, the damage they cause can be costly. You can find out more about beetles and how we can help by contacting us at Uni-Tech Pest Control.

What Are Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are known as some of the “dirtiest” pests because of the places they inhabit, such as sewers and dumpsters. Unfortunately, cockroaches pick up dangerous pathogens in these places, which they carry and spread. These pathogens can lead to E. coli, salmonellosis, cholera, and more.

What Types of Cockroaches Are Commonly Found in Phoenix?

Three types of cockroaches in our area are:

• American - Reddish-brown with a yellowish figure-eight pattern behind the head, 1 1/4 to 2 1/8 inches long
• Oriental - Shiny black, 1 inch long
• Brown-banded - Light brown with two dark brown bands around the wings and abdomen, 1/2 an inch long

How Can I Get Rid of Cockroaches?

Conventional pesticides are ineffective against these pests, so getting rid of them is no easy task. To avoid an infestation of cockroaches, you should eliminate the conducive conditions that might attract them. These repairs should include fixing leaks and reducing moisture buildup, keeping food stored properly and cleaning up any food debris, repairing cracks and holes in the exterior of your house, and keeping your home organized and decluttered.

If you want to know how to get rid of cockroaches in your Phoenix home you should call us at Uni-Tech Pest Control right away to help you remove them quickly.

What Are Crickets?

Crickets are nocturnal insects known for the chirping sounds they make. These sounds are created by male crickets rubbing their wings together to attract a mate. Crickets are subsocial insects, which means they mostly live alone, but do provide some care to offspring.

The types of crickets found in our area include:

• House - Yellowish-brown with three dark stripes on the head, 1 inch long or less
• Tropical House - Yellowish tan with two black bands, 3/4 to 1-inch long
• Field - Primarily black, but can have some brown variations; 1/2 to 1-inch long

Are Crickets Dangerous?

For the most part, crickets are nuisance pests because they don’t pose any health concerns. However, they feed on linen, wool, fur, cotton, and silk. But it would take a large number of crickets feeding to cause damage. In any case, their chirping might be enough to cause you to lose sleep at night.

How Can I Get Rid of Crickets?

If you want to avoid dealing with crickets, you can limit the use of outdoor lights at night, repair any entry points such as gaps around windows and doors, and address any moisture issues such as leaking pipes and poor ventilation. Reach out to our team at Uni-Tech Pest Control to learn more about crickets and how we can help.

What Are Scorpions?

Scorpions are arachnids with eight legs, a hard exoskeleton, two pincers, and a curved tail that ends in a stinger. Most scorpions are nocturnal, spending their days in caves or other harborage areas and hunting for prey at night because scorpions usually become a problem in homes experiencing other pest issues.

What Types of Scorpions Are Commonly Found in Phoenix?

• Bark - Tan with a darker color on the back, up to 2 1/2 inches long
• Giant Hairy - Usually yellow with a dark color on top, 5 ½ inches long
• Stripetail - Light tan to brown, 2 to 3 inches long

Are Scorpions Dangerous?

The bark scorpion is the only dangerous species in North America. A sting from one of these scorpions can cause swelling, numbness, and tingling. While most stings from these pests are not fatal, young children are more at risk of a severe reaction. It is always best to seek medical attention when dealing with scorpions, especially if you are unsure if you are allergic to their venom.

How Can I Get Rid of Scorpions?

You can keep scorpions away from your home by turning off exterior lights at night, decluttering your yard and removing debris, repairing any damaged screens, inspecting weather-stripping and door sweeps, and sealing cracks in the foundation. If you are experiencing a high number of scorpions on your property, you should give us a call at Uni-Tech Pest Control. Reach out to us for more information about our home pest control and commercial pest control services today!

What Are Spiders?

Spiders are arachnids, and despite common misconceptions, all spiders have fangs and venom used to subdue prey. While most of the spiders we are familiar with build webs to catch their prey, some species actively hunt, living in burrows or other protected places.

Common spiders species in our area include:

• Black Widow
• Arizona
• Tarantula
• Daddy Long Legs
• Wolf
• Jumping
• Funnel-Web

Are Spiders Dangerous?

Although all spiders have fangs and venom, there are only two dangerous species in the United States, the black widow and brown recluse. We do not have brown recluse spiders in Arizona, so only black widows are a concern for residents. A bite from a black widow is rarely fatal but should always be treated by a medical professional, especially a child.

How Can I Get Rid of Spiders?

You can reduce the spiders on your property by preventing the prey pests that attract them. To do this, remove potential food sources such as crumbs, garbage, and open food containers, limit outdoor lights, identify and repair entry points such as cracks in the foundation and damaged screens, and address moisture issues.

If you want a useful spider prevention guide, reach out to our team of experts at Uni-Tech Pest Control.