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Why am I seeing mosquitoes in Arizona?

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I have noticed lately especially after the rains that we have had numerous calls about flying biting mosquitoes. With all the monsoon rains, a lot of the things that hold water have had the chance to really set things in motion for the issues with biting pests.

Water can accumulate in any container that can hold water, fountains that aren’t working and any indention in the ground. So again I will mention surveying your property monthly or at the very least when the rains occur.

Remember the 3 things that most living things need:

Food
Shelter
Water

Some mosquitoes are well suited for inhabiting local areas but some can travel up to mile just to feed. So tip over those devices that can hold water, don’t forget saucers for planters.

Photo by PPMA

What do you think about all this rain in Arizona?

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To be completely honest I love rain and you’re probably not going to like my reason for it. The rain brings out the bugs and I LOVE it, the termites become more active and bugs in general just love the water opportunities.

So with all this water, what can you do to prevent the inevitable onslaught of the bugs.

Don’t allow stagnant water to gather on your property. This means any amount, I’ve seen mosquito wigglers in a glass bottle on the side of the road.
Don’t allow wood to touch the ground and especially near the house. This includes firewood stacked against the home.
If you notice puddling, fill it in and that also warrants a check on potted plants – they can collect water as well.
If you have a fountain, as long as it is operating it is OK but when it doesn’t work the water can then become stagnant.
Check your foundation slab for termite activity.

Brown Widow spider activity in the Valley

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Brown Widow Spider

Brown Widow Spider and this was a picture from my own neighborhood, thanks Monica. Sometimes difficult to tell, but you can see some strange markings including that little hourglass. The colorings are different than that of Black Widow spiders, the color of the hourglass can be yellow or even orange and they may also have spots on their top sides. The one thing to note is that the egg sacks are spiky while those of the Black Widow are basically just round shaped.

Always take care working around you home, wear gloves and if bitten call Poison Control 1-800-222-1222

spider markings

Brown Widow

It’s not always about the Scorpions, how about visiting Arizona? Tombstone

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I love history and all that is related to it, so a ride into the heart of the Wild West is worth it for me. Tombstone is nicknamed “The Town to tough to die” can you imagine walking down the street where those famous Law Men and the Gun Slingers walked. Make sure you visit the Tombstone Cemetery and maybe have lunch at Big Nose Kate’s saloon. Normally I wouldn’t include a commercial but it had all the facts, great day trip for all.

Is pest control necessary?

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Every once in awhile somebody hits me with this statement, I can answer it with just a few short words:

Scorpions

Ticks

and those other occasional pest like mosquitoes, flies and roaches….

The statistics are there if you want them. But as I have mentioned often, bugs have killed way more of us than anything else. As I have said numerous times you don’t always have to use pesticides. There are those that would say you never ever should use pesticides. There are times and a place for the use and sometimes it is just cost effective to do it plain and simple. IPM or Integrated Pest Management is the best way – it just makes you think about it in a way that makes complete sense. Use what you have by ways of home-sealing, door sweeps etc and if you must, then use some pesticide. (Always read and follow Labels, SDS and labeling use directions).

Recently the ticks have become unbelievable – sometimes just 100’s in a home. Just a few weeks ago Flagstaff had some issues at a camp – “Tick-borne disease temporally closes Flagstaff’s Camp Colton“. Maybe they should consider Tick Boxes TCS

I know there are those that think some type of oil will kill everything, they just don’t last and seldom work as a true pesticide does. But again I realize that not everyone will agree but do you have some opinions or facts I’m not aware of?

I located a honeybee colony in my house and had it removed, now what?

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Most times if you located it early enough you are probably alright but if its been there for a long time you may have some issues.

Normally I ask questions and hope for the best but from time to time you never know what might happen. I’ve seen times when not only was there a distinct smell, but there was Wax Moths everywhere. I don’t know how they do it but they got into the house and were flying and flirting around in every room. So here are my tips:

Monthly checks of your home during Honeybee season – Africanized Honeybees swarm in Arizona as soon as it becomes warm and wills swarm right up to our mild winters.
If you see bees going in and out it is time to call a Pest Management Professional.
Keep an eye after the bees have been removed for any signs of leakage. The beeswax and honey will melt and secondary pests will come by for something to eat.
Leakage may be inside or outside, pay attention to smells and spotting on walls or ceilings.
Honey won’t mold but dead bees might so again pay attention to the smells.

It’s not always about the Scorpions, how about visiting Arizona? Tonto Natural Bridge

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Located near Payson, Arizona it is a beauty of natural rock formation and to be honest almost killed me about 8 years ago. How you ask, the trek down wasn’t so bad but the trek up was harder than I thought. Thought I was going to die, bring water. It is the largest travertine bridge in the world and is a really cool day trip. I did an home seal way back in March 2012 “Even the Bees get respect in Arizona“.

What can be done with scorpions?

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Does it seem like those darn scorpions just won’t die? No matter what you do they continue to be on your property. The problem is that here in Arizona if the weather doesn’t get real cold everything just makes it through the winter.

So home seal your home, reduce the numbers by black lighting and reduce the food by performing monthly pest control.

Are window screens necessary to living in Arizona?

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Having lived in Florida and Arizona I know how easy it is for bugs to get into your home. Many things can be done to keep bugs out including having your home sealed, that J-trim often pulls away from the home and allows crickets and scorpions a path right into your home. Replacing door sweeps or installing garage thresholds can be another great add-on to stop those pests from getting into your home.

Ryan Van Velzer, The Republic | azcentral.com recently did an article on “What you should know about Arizona’s Kissing Bug“.

Honeybees in your pool?

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Do you have a pool? Just like us, insects and critters need 3 things – water, food and shelter. The problem is that they don’t know the difference between a natural source of water or a swimming hole or fountain.

Here in Arizona there are many crevices from rock or cactus which may allow a swarm to take up residence close to your home. The water of your pool or fountain just becomes handy for them and they will come to your water source. So lets assume you live beside a mountain and there are bees coming there everyday, what do you do? So this becomes a bigger issue because you don’t have any idea where they are and you don’t have permission to deal with them, unless they are on your property.

I have seen people create a separate water device away from the pool, like a fountain or just a container that you replenish daily. This may be enough to pull them away from that water source to that dish or container. But to my knowledge there isn’t much I can do to keep them away from the water.

pool Photo by PPMA