Yuma Pest Blog

As the mercury plunges, you may be seeing more spiders than usual in your home. Many can be found near sources of water, such as the shower or sink, but they can be anywhere else in the home. Why are there more spiders during the winter? They are hunting for food, and the pests that live in your home are a food source for them. You may love your warm and cozy house, but so do bugs in your house! Warmer Temperatures Invertebrates, including spiders, are cold blooded. This means that as the air and soil temperatures drop, so does their metabolism. Freezing temperatures can cause their blood to form ice crystals and kill the spiders. Some survive by hiding under the snow cover. This keeps the wind chill off of them. So why all of the spiders during the winter? Truthfully, they were probably there all along. House spiders are common. They...

In Arizona, the weather triggers outdoor creatures to actively seek out food, water and shelter. That's why you can't overlook all bugs and rodents. Your home and place of business will always be at risk of developing an infestation problem, but you can minimize the threat by putting these tried-and-true tips to good use: Stay on Top of Your Cleaning Duties Most pests don't care about clutter or filth. They will invade a spick-and-span building if given a chance. However, if you tidy up the indoor environment and take good care of the yard that surrounds your home, you'll reduce the possibility of a terrible infestation. This is the case because your actions will help to eliminate pheromones, common attractants and potential nesting sites. Therefore, you should take the time to clean up several times per week. Focus your attention on the pantry, the basement and the garage because these three...

Tree pests may not seem like too big of a deal. Sure, they can destroy your beloved oak, but if a tree in your yard is infested with termites? They can’t move from your tree to your house, right? Actually, if you’re not careful, they can. Here are some ways to know if your tree has pests inside of it, and how to have your tree safely removed without pests moving into your home. Is Your Tree Infested? It can be tricky to tell if you have termites in your tree, and they’ll never announce their presence to you. If you want to find out, you can take a shovel and dig around the base of your tree near its roots, as this is where they most often gather. Though they mostly prowl underground, you still may be able to see some climbing up the side of the bark, and perhaps...

Fall in Arizona is unique in the sense that temperatures do not drop as drastically as other parts of the United States. Places like Florida and Texas may remain hot, but compared to the midwest and pacific northwest, Arizona is still pretty warm come October. However, just like any other part of the country, pests will still react and adapt to any kind of seasonal change. Even the most subtle temperature drop will change how pests behave for a given period. Let’s take a look at how these critters react once the blazing hot summer months are over and the leaves start to turn color. Fall Termites One of the most common pests in Arizona, if not the most common, are termites. Both drywood termites and subterranean termites can be found in abundance during the early portions of the autumn months. The hot and dry summer months are over while the...

You’ve most likely heard the saying, “Don’t let the bed bugs bite” after being tucked into bed as a child. Maybe you thought nothing of it at the time, thinking that it was just something that your parents made up. However, if you’ve ever experienced bed bug bites at all in your life, then you know that it’s no joke! Bed bugs not only cause physical distress, but they can cause havoc in your home due to the fact that they can hide virtually anywhere. Keep reading for more information on bed bugs and how to handle an infestation. What Are Bed Bugs? These pests are tiny, brown in color and have a flat appearance. They feed mostly on human blood as their host sleeps, which is why they are usually found in your mattress. However, they have also been known to feed on your pets as well. Unfortunately, bed bugs...

Your pets are important to you, and so is their health. However, while you try to make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise and your cat is stimulated with toys, one thing you should always worry about is the spread of fleas or ticks. Unfortunately, due to our changing climate, tick-borne diseases have doubled in the last 13 years, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). While these numbers are for humans, an increase in ticks can be just as bad news for pets as well. So, with that in mind, we want to cover the best ways to ensure that your pets are safe from fleas and ticks. Talk With Your Vet Fortunately, there are plenty of prevention methods out there to keep these critters from camping out on your pet’s fur. While you can find some over-the-counter options, it’s always best to consult your veterinarian instead....

If you’re like most people, your home can likely use some cleaning. For everyone, it’s far too easy to accumulate clutter, and that can be a problem for a few reasons. First, depending on the severity of the situation, it can be almost impossible to find anything you need. Second, it can be a breeding ground for household pests. Today we want to share the potential dangers of clutter and what you can do about it. No one wants to share a living space with pests, so be sure to take care of the problem as soon as possible. Why Pests Love Clutter Having stuff all over the place can be an annoyance for us, but it’s a haven for small bugs and critters. Wherever there is clutter, there is a potential home for some unwanted guests. Typically speaking, clutter is desirable for pests because it provides shelter. In some cases,...

For homeowners, there might be no insect more feared than the termite. This little bug (along with thousands and thousands of his friends) has the ability to take just about any structure and reduce it to piles of sawdust if not found and treated in time. This is why it’s so important to know everything you can about these tiny, destructive critters. When Are Termites Active? Most species of termites are more active in warmer months and warmer climates. If you live in Yuma, AZ, though, this can be a problem, as Yuma is pretty warm for most of the year! This doesn’t mean that changes in climate don’t affect them. Once the temperature starts to warm up around March, you can expect to see more termite activity that will last through November. Yuma is pretty dry, but we do have a rainy season. On average, more rain falls in August...

If you enjoy DIY projects, then you might be considering handling your own pest control. First, consider these five reasons why you should hire a professional instead of handling it yourself. Safety First Pests bring with them a variety of risks and dangers. If you try to handle stinging insects on your own, you may discover too late that you are allergic to insect bites. Many bugs such as roaches and mites create allergens simply by living and reproducing in your home. If not handled properly, those allergens could make your entire family sick. Consider the dangers of climbing trees or ladders to get to the source of the problem. Using store-bought pesticides can endanger the health of children and pets. Professionals have multiple solutions available to them, and pesticide is often the last resort. Knowledge is Power You can surf the internet and learn a lot about the pest you...

Have you seen a few bugs crawling around in your home lately? Maybe you’ve been ignoring them and hoping they would go away. Unfortunately, if you’ve seen one bug there are definitely more, and they multiply fast. Before you know it, they’ve decided your home is a comfortable place to take up residence. What Are Household Pet When you think about “household pests,” most likely you imagine ants, cockroaches, termites and sometimes stinging insects, such as wasps. But other pests, like moths, spiders, bed bugs or fleas, may have invaded your home. Rodents and small wildlife can also be considered pests. Understandably, living with bugs in your home is not something you want to do. Aside from the nuisance factor, it can also be quite unhealthy and unsanitary. Where Do I Start? Pest control is the best and most efficient way to keep those bugs at bay. First of all, having...

It’s no fun living near pesky neighbors. But what if you’re living with pesky termites? Termites can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home. Learn how to determine if you have a termite problem, and what you can do to solve it. What Are Termites? Before contacting a pest control company, it is important to know what kind of pest issue you have. Termites can be identified by their straight antennae, four uniform wings and box-like waists. They are typically colorless and are about one centimeter in length. Termites are always in colonies, which may contain about 3 million termites. However, there have been colonies found containing over 70 million! Do You Have A Termite Problem? Termites are tiny and are often hard to notice. They are constantly working to create tunnels and nests. These pests can also consume a lot of wood at once - up to two...

Rats are more than just pests that you try to avoid at all costs. They are intelligent creatures that have a heightened olfactory sense with bodies who are able to fit into unimaginably small spaces. But are they cute and cuddly, or are they just a menace? These differences will show you if the rat you see is a friend or foe. Socialization Wild rats don’t like to make friends like the ones you see in a pet store. If you see any together, it is only for them to work together to steal your food or mate. Typically, wild rats will get aggressive if they are around other rats, whereas domestic rats are social with others. Commonly, domesticated rats are known to take care and bond together in groups. They have the same “pack” mentality as wolves do in large groups and are known to even have a lead “alpha”...

When it comes to outbreaks, none are quite as severe or as frustrating as bed bugs. These critters have been making their way across the US, infesting homes, businesses, and hotels all over the country. Naturally, people are really wary about an infestation taking over their homes. Once you get a batch of bed bugs, they are notoriously hard to get rid of, save for fumigating the whole property. But what if your neighbor has bed bugs? Should you be worried? We want to talk about how to avoid an infestation of these blood-sucking critters, especially if they are in the place next door. Just because your neighbor has to deal with them doesn’t mean you should. Step One: How Far Away are They? One of the nice things about bed bugs is that they don’t like to travel by themselves. Sure, they love to hitch a ride with people as...

Arizona’s unique climate makes it susceptible to a number of household pests that can become a serious problem. Some of these pests are overtly visible, but others are not. You may not be aware that you have an infestation until it is too late. A pest issue is nothing to be lax about, especially since the health of your family and the integrity of your home depend on it. Keep reading for the top three most common pests in Arizona. Termites Termites are a huge issue in Arizona. Since their colonies exist underground, it is common for them to cause major damage without the homeowner being aware of it. Termites eat unprotected wood and can destroy foundations, garages and floors without being outwardly seen. Arizona is a hotspot for termites because it is on top of a subterranean termite belt. Ants Ants are a common insect all across the US, but...

For many of us, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house. Whether you’re making dinner for the family, fixing a late-night snack, or standing in front of the fridge, trying to decide what to grab, the kitchen is a place that we spend a lot of our time. Unfortunately, pests feel the same way about it, too. Because the kitchen is where we prep and store food, it’s a haven for bugs and other critters that would love nothing more than to feast upon everything they could dig into. However, assuming that you’re not inviting them as guests into your home, you want to avoid having pests in your kitchen. So, with that in mind, here are some ways to keep your kitchen pest-free. Seal Any Cracks Pests come from the outside, which is why it’s imperative that you try to seal your kitchen off from...

After all of the preparation you have done, you might still discover a rodent or two in your home. While holes that you see in the walls and cracks around windows are evident locations for rodents to enter, there are a few other ways that they can get inside that you might not think about. Yuma Pest can use products that are safe for people and pets that will eliminate your rodent problem and keep them away from your home in the future as long as you practice proper maintenance. A corner post is often used to complete the corners of your home. These are also areas that might be hollow and that might not have as much support as the walls or the other connections of the home, making it easy for rodents to move the material to get inside the house. There are sometimes gaps between pieces of siding,...

Fleas can be a nuisance to any kind of pet. They can also be bothersome if they happen to get on your furniture, which is likely if your pets stay inside most of the time. Fortunately, there are a few ways that you can keep fleas off your pet without using invasive techniques that include monthly or quarterly vaccinations. The first thing that you should do to determine how many fleas might be on your pet is to comb the fur. Try to get as close to the skin as possible, rinsing the flea comb in hot soapy water after each pass. You can also add a small amount of flea and tick treatment to the water so that the fleas will die and so that at least a small amount is transferred to the pet. Flea The Scene A nice shampoo is usually relaxing for your pet and can also...

A hospital might seem impervious to vermin, but any structure is susceptible to insect and rodent infestations. Pests can interfere with medical operations, harm vulnerable patients, contaminate food and damage the building. A variety of creatures have successfully infiltrated hospitals. They include cockroaches, bed bugs, rodents, ants and flies. These pests may gain access to a medical facility by finding hidden entryways. They could also hitchhike on people or objects that enter the building. People Small insects might invade a hospital when patients, staff members or other visitors accidentally introduce them. A person's clothing can harbor parasites that range from bedbugs to ticks. Chairs in the waiting room could easily become infested. Visitors' belongings may transport pests as well. Bugs might attach eggs to these items when people stay at nearby motels that have infested furnishings. Short-term guests could introduce harmful insects if they bring gifts, such as flowers or books....

Staying at a hotel should be a relaxing experience. It can become downright chilling, however, if you pick up bed bugs while you’re there. You can inspect your hotel room using the flashlight on your phone. It’s a good idea to examine the room before you open your suitcase and remove your belongings. If you find bed bugs, you probably want to choose a different place to stay. The Initial Inspection When you get into your hotel room, place your luggage in the bathroom. Bed bugs are less likely to hang out there. Don’t leave your suitcase on the luggage rack, where bed bugs may have crawled off of someone else’s luggage and made their home. Remove the linens from the mattress and look at the cushion and box spring. Check the seams, corners and tufts. Bed bugs like to hide in cramped spaces. If you can’t see well into the...

While feeding pigeons at the park may be a relaxing way to spend a lazy weekend morning, the last thing that you want is for these winged pests to take up residence around your home. Not only do pigeon droppings cause an unsightly mess on anything and everything, but pigeons also pose a health hazard by carrying a host of diseases and parasites. Pigeons can also cause significant property damage if they are not dealt with quickly. Clogged Gutters: Gutters are prime locations for pigeons to build their nests. In gutters, these nests can cause the water to back up, which can damage your roof and allow water to seep into your home. The stagnant water is also a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which carry West Nile and other viruses. The weight of the nest and its occupants can also cause the guttering to sag and pull away from the roof....