All posts in “scorpions”

Cooler weather might bring in the rodents.

Well the heat is finally going away and the cooler weather is right around the corner. Thank goodness – I’m not sure it was the heat or that humidity but whatever I’m thankful it is getting cooler.

Termites continue to pop up around the valley and if the weather doesn’t get real cold the pests will continue. So now would be a great time to tackle those little chores around the house to prevent pests from getting in. What can you do?

  1. Home seal.
  2. Check sheds or other structures.
  3. Repair window screens or door screens.
  4. Install door thresholds or sweeps.
  5. Install garage door seals.
  6. Trim trees away from home.
  7. Repair drip or flood irrigation systems.

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What is the BIG question for this time of year?

I think the question I get asked the most at this time of year is “Why am I seeing more bugs in my house than any other time of year”?

 

So lets imagine that you are a bug and all of sudden it rains and I mean it rains hard. Your home becomes wet or flooded, you react by trying to go higher and that might be your home. You see the bug doesn’t know your house from a tree or a rock.

OR

It doesn’t rain and the bugs that you feed upon aren’t coming by your place, so you have to go out looking for food. That bug comes to your home and climbs and climbs just looking for food.

 

So if we can think like a bug, attack you where you live or hangout – then we stop you. If I was a bug this is where I would hangout and this is one area we treat.

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Do lizards eat bugs and scorpions?

 

Why I’m glad you asked. Yes they do, there was a recent article in Arizona Highways  magazine on nature factoid about Western Banded Geckos. I can’t seem to link to the article that Kristin Kraklio wrote on “Western banded Geckos”.

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

 

 

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.

 

 

Why worry about the pests?

 

Throughout history we humans have done some terrible stuff to each other, wars only to mention one. But did you know that compared to all the wars ever fought the bugs have killed more of us.

  1. Yes number one the list is Mosquitoes, they have killed lots of humans and animals. Malaria, Dengue Fever and Yellow Fever are among the biggest threats to us still to this day.
  2. Fleas probably rank as number 2 and may have contributed to killing 1/3 of the people in Europe during 1340’s  known as Bubonic Plague, still with us today.
  3. My number 3 may not have killed as many as above but worldwide cause more damage to food, foodstuffs including grains and other type products. Rodents including mice and rats may spoil 1/3 of all grains worldwide and may directly lead to food shortages or starvation than any other insect or wildlife.

So yes I worry that as we progress as a society that we consider the wise use of pesticides. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is very useful within the confines of general pest management but there are reasons why pesticide use must continue. This article “Kissing Bug disease prompts growing concern in U.S.” shows that the concerns are justified. Here is Arizona we deal with Bark Scorpions and there is no magic bullet to stop them. The only method is home sealing and proper use of pesticides, so until that day arrives where we can target this critter I see no alternative than to spray them before they make it into our homes.

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 do you think are the World’s Deadliest Insects?

 

I ran across this story from back in February 2014 “8 Deadliest Insects in the World.” My guess was correct as I frequently mention it in many of my bug presentations. So what do you think are the top eight? Go ahead and take a good guess.

I asked this question just this last week at the Nature Camp, can you name the bugs that bite or sting here in Arizona?

  • Honeybees
  • Wasps
  • Scorpions
  • Mosquitoes
  • Ticks
  • Assassin Bugs
  • Bed Bugs
  • Some flies

What can be done with scorpions?

 

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.

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

What are my Top 5 Arizona bug calls for the summer?

 

Top 5 Bug Calls of the summer to ProBest Pest Management

 

  1. Scorpions (of course).
  2. Ants
  3. Cockroaches (mainly American – outside issues) due to heat and lack of water.
  4. Honeybees.
  5. Termites

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