In last weeks blog we covered 3 different pest; the scorpion, bees, and the black widow. This week will have 4 more to cover. This blog will cover Mosquitoes, Crane Flies, and American Roaches. Again we will go over a quick description of each insect, and how to prevent them. So lets get started.
Mosquitoes
When the temperatures rise and the rain starts to fall, it suddenly becomes a prime time for mosquitoes to come out and BITE. Arizona has over 40 different species of mosquitoes, 2 of which really matter. These are the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes http://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/mosquito-borne/index.php#dengue-home . These mosquitoes carry diseases like Dungue, Chikungunya, Zika and the West Nile Virus.
In order to successfully control mosquitoes both the homeowner and your pest professional need to work together to eliminate the adults and eliminate the breeding sites. Breeding sites include bird baths, old tires, buckets, flower pots, children toys, unused pools and more. https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1221-2013.pdf Contact Tucson Pest Control for help control ing Mosquitoes
Ants
Arizona has its variety of ants. The most common we see are the red fire ants, rover ants, (mostly found in kitchen counter tops and bathroom sinks), and the small piss ants (argentine ants). However there are more than 300 different species of ants in Arizona. Some ants are known to fly and are commonly mistaken for termites. Most ants build a colony under ground and can grow anywhere from a couple hundred ants to hundreds of thousands of ants.
To control ants, you first need to understand their biology. Ants are social creatures and travel by pheromone. Blocking any entry points into a home is a great way to keep them out. For small cracks caulking works wonders. Granulars and nest treatments will help eliminate the colony.
Crane Flies
Crane flies are also one of those pest that come out during warmer temperatures. I get alot of customers whom mistake these for "giant mosquitoes". I don't blame them for the description because it really does look like a giant mosquito, but the nice thing about them is that they do not bite and leave a red itchy mark on you. When they start to emerge one can easily find 10-100 around the house. As adults they only live about 10-15 days.
To control the crane fly its best to do when they are in the larvae stage. Spot treatments or broadcast sprays can be implemented to control the larvae. The best way to control the adults will be to encourage natural predators. Installing bird feeders will attract birds to your house and naturally they will feed on the adult crane flies. Pesticides aren't always the best answer.
American Roaches
American roaches are our last insect of the 7 Springtime pest. The warm temps and moist air are ideal for these insects to become active. American roaches are also known as the sewer roach, or palmetto bug. They are anywhere from 1/2" long to 3" long. They fly, and are most active during the night time.
American roaches can be treated with an ongoing maintenance program. If a big infestation is discovered it might help if you contact the city and ask when the last time they treated the sewers. Also getting rid of any decaying matter that they might feed on is big when implementing eradication methods.
Give Tucson Pest Control a call if you are having an issue with any of these pest and would like a FREE analysis of your home. We are professionals dedicated to find a solution to your pest problems. If you have any questions or would like to know more about one of these pest or want to know more about anything pest control related, just leave it in the comments and I'll be sure to address them. Thanks for reading.