Phoenix offers pests the perfect storm of conditions that lead to them finding food, water, and harborage: warm temperatures year-round, typically dry conditions, and the occasional monsoon to cool things down temporarily.
Our Four Seasons Pest Control service is a year-round, quarterly pest control effort designed to adapt to the changes pests undergo as the seasons change. Our research and development team created this program to effectively address changes in pest behavior from season to season in your area, from summer scorpions to autumn ants. We are prepared to keep your home and business pest-free.
Phoenix’s typically year-round warmth, strong monsoon, and cool nights outside of summer cause multiple pest threats for homeowners throughout the region
Ants, including fire ants (1/8 to 3/8 inch in size, with a dull red body coloration and a copper brown head. Ideal fire ant locations have dry, sunny and flat conditions. Typically, they build their nest mounds in the ground near landscape areas or structural foundations, as loose earth is preferable for mound construction.
Carpenter ants, 1/3 to an inch long, which is relatively large for ants with a black coloration. Drawn to moist wood under and around windows, roof eaves, decks and porches, carpenter ants tunnel through damp wood to the solid dry wood inside your home. Carpenter ants also tunnel outside, constructing extensive underground tunnel systems, often leading to a food source. Outdoors, carpenter ants prefer to feed on the honeydew produced by aphids. Indoors, carpenter ants go for sugary, fatty foods in your kitchen.
Rodents, between a general warming of temperatures over the last decade around the United States and pandemic conditions that left many buildings unoccupied for several months, there has been a significant increase in the population growth of rodents that shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. This, in turn, makes it easier for rodents to find the three things they need to continue to be prevalent: food, water, and harborage. Roof rats are a main pest in Phoenix. They weigh 5 to 10 ounces, have light black to grey smooth fur on their bodies with off white to grey underbellies, are usually about 15 inches long, have a pointed nose, and have a long hairless tail that can be about 14-1/2 inches long. They usually nest high above ground in trees, tall overgrown shrubs, or dense vegetation such as ivy. Roof rats are excellent climbers and often access homes by running along tree branches, cables or wires. In fact, when it comes to these plumbing lines and storm drains, they have been known to swim up through the sewer lines and come up through people's toilets.
Termites, including Drywood Termites (Commonly found in wood with low moisture content, do not require contact with soil moisture to live. They spend almost their entire life cycle inside the sound, dry wood upon which they feed. Since colonies are often small and found deep inside wood, they are difficult to detect. Colonies are also spread over a wide area. Drywood termites are structural pests in warm, dry climates or tropical climates. They inhabit dry wood typically found above the ground's surface and burrow deep into wood. Drywood termites also enter homes after swarms, usually occurring in the spring. An existing termite colony sends out many winged reproductive males and females during swarms. These mating swarms may result in several newly fertilized king and queen termites attempting to establish colonies, of which many may be within or around a home.
Subterranean Termites, ⅛ to ⅜ inches in length, their appearance depends on the termite’s role in the colony: workers are flattened and relatively small, with bodies ranging from cream-colored to coal-black in hue and gray or brown wings; soldiers are similar but are distinguished by their powerful jaws; swarmers have straight bead-like antennae, a thick waist and a pair of long, equal-length wings that break off easily. They build mud tubes to allow travel back and forth, maintaining moisture, protecting themselves from UV-rays and predators, according to the National Pest Management Association, and these tunnels may be one of the first signs of a pest problem in a home.
Scorpions don’t like temperatures over 100°F, so it’s not uncommon to find them burrowed in the soil, sand, under rocks, or in shady spaces when outdoors. During the day, scorpions hide under stones, in piles of rocks, in cracks, in wood piles, under boards, under bark, or in rubbish. Crawlspace foundations and those constructed of block or stone provide excellent homes for scorpions. Scorpions enter structures seeking water and shelter. In houses, they are most often found in undisturbed areas such as closets, seldom-used shoes, or folded clothing. During periods of hot weather, scorpions may move into lower, cooler living areas to escape the high temperatures in attics. During the night, scorpions seek water and hunt. In the morning, they’re often found in bathtubs and sinks, because they couldn’t climb out. Although they are not aggressive hunters, their sting can be quite painful, and in the case of one species found in the U.S. (Arizona Bark Scorpion), it can sometimes be fatal.
Roaches, including German cockroaches (Typically found in homes, apartments, restaurants, and other buildings where food is stored, prepared, or served. German cockroaches eat all kinds of food and may hitchhike into the home in search of food and moisture. This species avoids lights and prefers to live near moisture sources and in humid areas, given their general aversion to the cold. German cockroaches can proliferate quickly and usually nest around the kitchen and bathroom near food and moisture. German cockroaches have a high need for moisture and usually travel only 10 to 12 feet from their harborage for food and water (in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, etc.), preferring darkness. Without food or water, adults may die in two weeks, but can live for a month with only water.
When a pest problem becomes overwhelming, calling for professional help is a great option to get your home back into order. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) process from inspection to service includes:
○ Initial Site Assessment
○ Customized Pest Management Plan
○ Implementation of Control Measures
○ Long-term Monitoring and Prevention
While we typically provide some helpful Do-It-Yourself tips throughout our website and our media appearances, the truth is not every pest issue can be solved via D-I-Y methods.
D-I-Y Methods can often be cost-effective and can mitigate a very small infestation. However, if an issue gets out of hand quickly, a homeowner may end up spending more money to fix the problem before realizing they could have handled it with professional assistance.
A professional pest control company will have the knowledge, tools, and proper follow-up techniques to take care of your problem quickly
Some of the things you should consider when choosing a pest control company include:
Importance of Preventative Care – Some things a homeowner can do to help keep pests at bay include eliminating water (do not let water stand in sinks and eliminate outside collection areas), eliminating food sources (dispose garbage as soon as possible following your meal, pack leftovers properly, and wipe off counter tops often), and eliminate harborages (discard unnecessary cardboard boxes and pull mulch away from your home). Ultimately, in the event of a major infestation, a pest control professional can help with actual exclusion techniques to block off and seal possible entryways, especially for ants and rodents.
Benefits of Scheduled Maintenance Plans - Having a trained pest control professional visit your home four times a year via our Truly Nolen 4 Seasons Approach, combined with a homeowner’s diligence to help minimize pest return, will help keep pests at bay all year long
Truly Nolen offers safe, effective, family-first service: Our trained technicians have protected homes and businesses from unwanted pests for 85 years, and our professional technicians will treat your affected area until your pests are gone, and you are delighted — guaranteed.
Call (866) 549-1727 or contact us online to schedule your FREE pest inspection!