Nobody wants to deal with a pest problem. Unfortunately, there are always pests active, no matter what time of year.
So, if you live in Las Vegas, what kind of pests should you be concerned about during each season?
Spring
Scorpions: Scorpions are dangerous pests with incredibly painful stings that can cause your heart rate to increase and your blood pressure to rise. In addition to this, Las Vegas has two particularly dangerous scorpion species: the Bark Scorpion and Desert Hairy Scorpion. The Bark Scorpion is the most venomous scorpion in North America, and its stings can cause severe medical harm to humans. On the other hand, the Desert Hairy Scorpion is one of the largest scorpions. They are so large that they can even eat lizards.
Termites: Las Vegas has an ideal climate for termites. Unfortunately, they are home to the subterranean termite, drywood termite, and damp wood termite.
Subterranean termites are incredibly destructive to property, and they create extensive colonies that will continue to eat away at your home until there is no wood remaining. Typical signs of termites include molted skin, mud tubes, feces, and damaged wood.
Bed bugs: Bed bugs thrive in various areas, but they are especially prominent in Las Vegas due to the many travelers to the area. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers who travel into our homes via other people, clothing, used furniture, and more. Once inside our homes, they settle in near our beds or couches so that they have easy access to humans at night. At night, they will feed on human blood. Common signs of bed bugs include waking up with fresh bites on your body in the morning. These bites can resemble poison ivy or a rash.
Summer
Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes thrive in hot climates, which Las Vegas offers throughout a large portion of the year. Mosquitoes are irritating pests that bite humans. Through their bites, they can transmit dangerous diseases, like West Nile and Zika. These diseases are hazardous to pregnant women and their unborn children because they can cause congenital disabilities in their children.
Ants: Ants are annoying pests that can quickly take over our homes with their extensive colonies. Las Vegas has many ant species, including acrobat ants, ghost ants, odorous ants, and pavement ants. All of these ants can cause property damage.
Stinging insects: Stinging insects, like bees and wasps, are common in the Las Vegas area. Some species, especially bees, are protected legally because of their crucial role in pollination. So if you find a hive or nest on your property, we recommend contacting a pest control professional because the hive or nest may need to be relocated to follow local laws.
Fall/Winter
Rodents: Rodents are sneaky mammals that often look for shelter and food in our homes during the harsher months. Once inside our homes, they will rapidly breed. Some rodents can produce as many as 2,000 babies in a year. As a result, rodent prevention is critical. A pest control professional can assess your home and seal off any entry points that rodents may use.
Spiders: Spiders are creepy pests that many people are afraid of due to their scary looks. During the colder months, spiders enter our homes in search of shelter and food. If you have other insects in your homes, spiders may also follow their food source into your home.
Cockroaches: Cockroaches are unpleasant pests that can spread a variety of diseases to humans through food contamination. Some of these diseases include salmonella, typhoid fever, the plague, and other types of bacteria, which can cause health problems in humans. In addition, they secrete a substance that can trigger asthma attacks. If you notice cockroaches, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional extermination company for help.