Southern Arizona Pests Spotlight Contest | Bill's Home Service Company

Southern Arizona Pests

This year, in celebration of our 60th anniversary, Bill’s Home Service is sharing the spotlight with 60 Southern Arizona pests.

Follow Bill’s Home Service on social media to participate in our “Name that Pest” game where we leave it up to you to guess the correct pest. The answers will be revealed here. Happy guessing!

Palo Verde Root Borer

November 25, 2024
The Palo Verde Root Borer is a large, nocturnal beetle native to Southern Arizona, primarily targeting the roots of Palo Verde trees. Adults are notable for their striking appearance, featuring a robust body with long antennae and a distinctive gray or brown coloration. The larvae live underground and feed on the roots, which can cause significant damage to trees, often leading to wilting or even death. While the adult beetles are harmless and do not bite, their presence can indicate underlying issues with local flora. Effective management includes monitoring trees for signs of stress and consulting with pest control professionals for sustainable treatment options. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Rainbow Grasshopper

November 18, 2024
The rainbow grasshopper is a striking insect commonly found in Southern Arizona, known for its vibrant colors and large size. These grasshoppers are easily recognizable by their bright hues, which can range from green and yellow to red and blue, depending on their environment. They thrive in sunny, open areas and feed on various plants, including grasses and wildflowers. Although they can occasionally become a nuisance in gardens and agricultural settings, rainbow grasshoppers are primarily harmless and play a role in the ecosystem by serving as a food source for birds and other predators. Their presence is often seen as a sign of a healthy environment, showcasing the diversity of life in Southern Arizona. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Mud Dauber

November 4, 2024
The mud dauber is a solitary wasp commonly found in Southern Arizona, known for its distinctive mud nests. These insects are often recognized by their slender bodies and long, narrow waists. Mud daubers play a crucial role in the ecosystem by controlling pest populations, as they hunt spiders to feed their larvae. While they can be intimidating, they are generally non-aggressive and unlikely to sting unless provoked. Their nests, typically built in sheltered areas like eaves or garages, are made from mud collected and shaped into small tubes or cells. Learn more at https://billshomeservice.com/pest/mud-dauber-wasps/.

Giant Whipscorpion

October 21, 2024
The Giant Whipscorpion looks somewhat like a typical scorpion, but with a narrow cord-like tail instead of thick curled segments. The Whipscorpion lacks a stinger, but swings its whip-like tail in an effort to communicate that it is about to defend itself. Though it does not produce poison, it can secrete a stinky chemical made of acetic acid, the same chemical that comprises vinegar, from the base of the tail. This vinegar secretion can cause mild burns to insect predators (or prey) as well as skin irritation and nausea to humans. For this reason, this type of Whipscorpion is also called a Vinegaroon, and best not handled. It may use its huge pedipalps ('claws') to pinch a would-be attacker. They can cause a good deal of pain when used on human victims, too. Whipscorpions are difficult to find because they are mostly nocturnal. During the day, they hide under logs, stones or other debris, or they burrow into loose soil or sand. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Arizona Mantis

October 14, 2024
The Arizona Mantis can be up to 3 inches long. Mantids are ambush predators meaning they stand very still or sometimes sway slightly as a leaf in the breeze while they wait for an unsuspecting victim to come within reach. Females may eat their mate’s heads, but he is giving his life to feed his children. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Japanese Beetle

October 7, 2024
Believed to have arrived via shipping transport from Japan in the early 1900s, the Japanese Beetle is known for its destructive powers thanks to their diet. Adults feed off of most any type of cultivated and wild plants. The beetle is commonly identified by its very unique, two-tone coloring. The upper half of the insect is an emerald green; the lower half is a copper brown. The entire Japanese Beetle has a metallic sheen on it. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Mexican Woodrat (Pack Rat)

September 30, 2024
The Mexican woodrat, also known as a pack rat, ranges from 11 to 16 inches, including its tail. They live for approximately 3 years. In general, they prefer areas with low tree canopy cover, high shrubs, wooden debris, rock crevices, and abandoned man-made structures to inhabit as well as caves. Woodrats primarily feed on twigs and shoots, grasses, and flowers as well as other plant materials such as seeds, fruits, acorns, and cactus. In addition, they will occasionally eat insects and small reptiles. Woodrats do not need to drink water as they meet their water requirements from the food they consume. Learn more about pack rats at https://billshomeservice.com/pest/pack-rats/.

Fig Beetle

September 23, 2024
They get their name from their delight in soft, delicate fruits, such as juicy figs. Fig beetles are often mistaken for a June beetle with their green, jewel-like underside and a funny-looking horn on their heads. Their bodies are flat, about an inch long. They can be found clustered together around trees or feeding on prickly pear fruit. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Southern Fire Ant

September 16, 2024
Only ⅛ to ¼ of an inch long, the Southern Fire Ant bites when angry. Their skin is shiny and two-toned: black and red, like fire. They are predatory and often capture and eat other insects. When they sting, the bite feels like it’s on fire and bites cause a burning and itching feeling. When their nests are disturbed, they swarm out of the dirt mounds in large groups, stinging anything in their path. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Wolf Spider

September 6, 2024
Wolf spiders like to burrow in desert or wooded areas. They’re about 1 inch long, gray or dark brown, with a distinctive peach-colored stripe going down the top of their bodies. Their burrows are very conspicuous and you might be able to see them at night when their green eyes shine. They look scary, but pose no danger to humans. They actually eat some of the insects or other small pests you might find in your home. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Giant Swallowtail

August 28, 2024
Giant Swallowtails are about 3-4 inches. It is the largest butterfly in North America. The caterpillars are associated with citrus trees, but they disguise themselves from predators by looking like bird poop. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Kissing Bug

August 19, 2024
Kissing Bugs are also referred to as cone-nosed bugs and Hualupai Tigers. They are about ¾ of an inch in size. They feed on blood and are referred to as kissing bugs as they tend to bite people near their lips, often while they’re sleeping. They can carry the parasite responsible to Chaga’s disease, but not in Arizona. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Green Stink Bug

August 12, 2024
Green Stink Bugs are about ⅔ of an inch in size. As their name suggests, these pests do indeed stink. They feed on plants with their piercing mouthparts and secret a nasty chemical when disturbed which helps to avoid being eaten. These bugs can be a major pest and are actually controlled by parasitoid wasps whose larvae eat their eggs. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Stick Insect

August 7, 2024
Stick insects can be up to 3 inches in size. They have stick-like bodies, 2 pairs of wings, and the females are wingless. You usually don’t spot these unless you stop and watch creosote bushes carefully. They camouflage as a stick and also sway like a twig in a breeze. Stick insects are not harmful, though they are very delicate. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Red Harvester Ant

July 31, 2024
Red Harvester Ants are ¼ to ½-inch long with red to dark brown bodies. They have square heads and no spine on the body. Winged males and females swarm, pair and mate. Males soon die and females seek a suitable nesting site. Red harvester ant foragers collect seeds and dead insects and store them in their nests which occur in open areas. Worker ants can bite and produce a painful sting but are generally reluctant to sting; the effects of a sting can be medically serious. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

House Cricket

July 22, 2024
House Crickets have wings that sit on the abdomen and are short compared to their cousin, the Grasshopper. Males are smaller in size than females. Most are generally brown or grayish-brown. Young crickets are smaller and lack wings. Crickets do not sting or bite. House Crickets are often used to feed a variety of pets and many humans also eat them in many parts of the world for their nutritious protein content. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Giant Mesquite Bug

July 15, 2024
One of the Southwest’s most well-known insects, giant mesquite bugs are 1-2 inch insects that can be found on mesquite trees. Young mesquite bugs are bright red to tell predators they are not good to eat. They enjoy eating young branches of mesquite trees and often congregate in groups. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Crane Fly

July 10, 2024
Crane flies can be found after rains in the spring. They’re 1-2 inches long. They are often mistaken as mosquitos and contrary to popular belief, they don’t eat mosquitos. They have very long legs, which are twice as long as their body. Adult crane flies do not eat; their main purpose is to find a mate and reproduce. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Ladybug

July 1, 2024
Ladybugs are lady beetles and very recognizable. Their shell is orange with black spots. There are more than 480 species of lady beetles. They eat aphids, scales and mites on plants. They like to migrate vertically, spending their larva days in the desert living off aphids. After they mature, they spread their wings and head for the mountains. Thousands are often seen congregating in the Santa Catalina and Santa Rita mountains. In spring, they head back to town, mate and lay eggs in good aphid hunting areas. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Tarantula Hawk

June 24, 2024
Tarantula Hawks are brightly colored wasps that grow up to 3 inches. You can find them during monsoons. They use their color to display to predators that they aren’t good to eat. The females have a big stinger that they use to paralyze a tarantula. They then drag it to their burrow and lay an egg on it. The wasp larvae eat the spider. These cannot be picked up and their sting is very painful. Learn more about wasps at https://billshomeservice.com/pest/bees-wasps/.

Apache Cicada

June 19, 2024
Apache Cicadas are about 1-2 inches long as an adult, with a light-colored band around its neck and wings. These cicadas can live about three years. The males’ distinctive mating call, which sounds like buzzing or singing, starts in July and August. After mating, the females leave their eggs in twigs of trees. After hatching, the nymphs drop out of the tree to the ground where they begin digging down and are underground for about two years. While underground, they munch on the roots of plants and trees and continue to grow and molt. They’re almost full size when they make their way back up to the surface. They go through their final stage of shedding their exoskeletons above ground. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Mosquito

June 10, 2024
Mosquitos are small and have long narrow wings and a long proboscis, a tube through which they suck their nourishment. Females have short hairs on their antennae; males have more and longer hairs on their antennae. With most mosquito species, the males prefer nectar. The females are the bloodsuckers, and most of that biting happens at night or just before sunset. Once the female uses her proboscis to suck blood from a person, she tends to leave behind a little saliva in the process causing itchiness for the host. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Palo Verde Beetle

June 5, 2024
These beetles have a hard shell and 2 pairs of wings: front wings are hardened and protect back wings. They grow up to 4 inches. You can find them during monsoon season after sunset.These beetles only live as adults for one month because they don’t eat, and live as larvae for as many as three years underground in the roots of Palo Verde trees. The males use their giant jaws to battle, but can’t eat with them. Be careful not to get pinched by these beetles! Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Agave Weevil

May 29, 2024
Agave weevils are black bugs, about an inch long and beetle-esque. They have long, curved noses, like most weevils. Although it may look like they have wings, they are just for show as they can’t fly. The large century plant, or Agave americana, is their favorite food source. The females lay eggs in holes burrowed in the leaves. When the eggs hatch, the white, legless larvae head for the tender center of the plant to feed. By the time the plant starts to get that wilted look, the whole family is feeding on the dead tissue and fibers that attract other bugs and bacteria. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Black Widow Spider

May 20, 2024
The female is shiny black with a reddish hourglass shape on the underside of her abdomen. Her body is about a half-inch long; with legs extended, maybe up to 2 inches long. Males are similarly shaped, but they are cream or tan in color and much smaller. The adult female hangs upside down in her web, making her red hourglass easily visible. Females sometimes eat males after mating. They are common throughout North America, but prefer the warm desert climate of Southern Arizona. They can be found in man-made dwellings such as garages, lawn furniture and wood piles. Though no other spider in the U.S. is more toxic, people rarely die from a Black Widow Spider bite; they mainly prey upon insects and only bite to defend themselves. Learn more about black widows at https://billshomeservice.com/pest/black-widows/.

Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly

May 15, 2024
These are one of the smallest dragonflies in North America, just under 1 inch long. Males have a brown thorax with thin dorsal stripes and yellow spots on the sides. The wings are amber with red stigmas — rectangular spots at the front and ends of the wings. Females’ wings are generally not amber but have a dark patch in each inner wing and a band of color midway toward the outer wings. Females also have the reddish stigmas. They can be found in Arizona, but usually around ponds, lakes and streams. They perch on the tips of shoreline plants and plants poking out of the water. They move their wings and abdomen up and down like a wasp. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Dog-face Butterfly

May 8, 2024
Their name comes from what looks like a dog's head or "poodle face" on their wings, formed by the black area bordering bright yellow wings. The dog-face feature is more prominent in males because females lack the distinct contrast in color. But males and females alike can be recognized by the dark spot on their forewing. Their wingspan is about 2 to 3 inches and during the day they fly around searching for a mate. But when hunger strikes they go in search of their favorite food, flower nectar. Butterflies start in the form of a caterpillar. They grow up on small-leaved plants like alfalfa before spreading their wings and taking off in flight. They often take up residence in dry, open areas like washes, road edges or open woodland. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Arizona Brown Spider

May 1, 2024
The Arizona Brown Spider is small and brown with a slightly darker brown violin-shaped marking on the head and thorax. They prefer dark, gloomy places seldom disturbed by humans, such as basements or garages. Their bite can be dangerous to humans; the most common reaction from a bite is a spreading sore that can cause permanent tissue damage. Learn more about the Arizona Brown Spider at https://billshomeservice.com/arizona-brown-spider-vs-brown-recluse-spider/.

Gray Bird Grasshopper

April 1, 2024
This grasshopper and its wings are so big, it is often mistaken for a bird when it flies. The exterior is gray, black, white and speckled. Their length ranges from 1.77 inches to 2.95 inches. It’s a close relative of the desert locust. They may feed on pest insects in the garden such as aphids, mites, and scale. They’re common in open woodlands and fields. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Carolina Locust

April 1, 2024
The Carolina Locust is a type of short-horned grasshopper identified by its short antennae. Its exterior is greenish-brown with speckles of dark along its wings. They produce noticeable sounds but only when in flight. They’re large in size; the female is larger than the male. It is generally regarded as the least destructive of the Locust family. They feed on a variety of plants and grasses, clover, sunflowers, and corn. They can be found in open fields and meadows, particularly in drier areas. These grasshoppers can be found in Arizona as well as throughout Northern America. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Arizona Cotton Rat

April 1, 2024
These rats have a short, rounded snout, coarse fur, a thinly furred tail and small ears and eyes. Their coat is brown interspersed with black hairs. These rodents live in areas with good grass growth for their food source is mostly grass and other green growing things. They have eight to 10 litters a year when conditions are good. Learn more about rodents at https://billshomeservice.com/pest/rodents-rats/.

Velvet Mite

March 25, 2024
Tiny hairs cover their bodies, giving them a look similar to velvet. These critters are about an eighth of an inch long, with an egg-shaped body and eight legs. They mostly have a bright red hue but can be orange or have cream markings. There are theories that their coloring may be a warning for predators not to eat them. They mostly eat termites and possibly other bugs and eggs smaller than velvet mites. Males lay their sperm on the ground, and females sit on them to fertilize them. Young larvae become parasites and feed off the blood of other small insects. As they grow older, they live in the top layer of dirt on the ground. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Common Coneheads

March 18, 2024
Named after their distinct faces that are pinched into a cone shape, these coneheads are a type of a type of grasshopper or cricket that are green, yellow, brown in color. Most are green and mimic leaves. Their antennae are much longer than their bodies. Their powerful hind legs are much longer than their front sets of legs. They can jump, fly, and sing like other Katydids. Some can deliver a painful bite with their strong jaws made for chewing through tough plant fibers. They tend to reside in open fields along roadsides or in corn fields and thickets. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/. 

Grey Garden Slug

March 13, 2024
These slugs are about 1-2 inches long and gray. They like to be in gardens where it is cool and moist. They’re nocturnal and are known to munch on young, tender seedlings and plants. The evidence of their activity is seen in leaf damage, or damage to flowers and fruit. They also leave slimy trails that can easily be spotted on a sidewalk. The best way to control these slugs is to keep the garden area clean with no hiding places and avoid overwatering. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Common Paper Wasp

March 4, 2024
This species sports bright red and yellow coloring, warning everything to leave its nest alone. They’re about 0.78 inches to 1.57 inches long. Compared to other wasps, paper wasps are rarely aggressive but will sting if threatened and can sting multiple times. Paper wasps often construct nests in sheltered areas, such as door frames, window sills, and eaves of houses. Learn more about wasps at https://billshomeservice.com/pest/bees-wasps/.

Desert Tarantula

January 30, 2024
A female tarantula has a stockier body than a male and is covered in light brown or tan hair. The male is thinner with black hair covering most of the body and reddish hairs on its abdomen. Males live 10-12 years; females can live twice as long. In the Sonoran Desert, tarantulas grow to a length of 3-4 inches. Most tarantulas have weak venom. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Brown Dog Tick

January 23, 2024
Brown dog ticks go through four life stages – egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. After hatching ticks must take a blood meal at every stage to survive. Between each stage, the tick sheds its exoskeleton and grows larger. Brown dog ticks are 3-host ticks and require a new host animal at each stage of their life. The tick usually spends its whole life in the host’s living area, which can lead to tick infestations inside homes, since dogs typically live some of their time with humans. Brown dog ticks can complete their entire life cycle indoors and reproduce year-round under these conditions. They spread the bacteria that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in Arizona and northwest Mexico. Reduce tick harborage opportunities by removing furniture, and unused items from under or around your home. Avoid using space under homes as storage areas and reduce plant growth next to and under your home. Wash pet bedding and vacuum inside homes weekly. Learn about other pest species at https://billshomeservice.com/pest-control/.

Cactus Mouse

January 18, 2024
The cactus mouse can be distinguished by its extremely long tail and small body; its weight ranges from 0.6 oz to 1.41 oz and hair can be brown, gray, or white. These rodents travel up to 8 mph, and only live about one year. In hot temperatures, they lower their metabolism and become inactive to reduce the amount of water they need to survive. Learn more about rodents at https://billshomeservice.com/pest/rodents-rats/.

Bed Bug

January 9, 2024
Did you know 20% of Americans deal with bed bugs? Bed bugs are reddish-brown, wingless, apple seed-sized insects that feed on blood, usually at night. They're notorious for hitchhiking, traveling from person to person. Signs of bed bugs include reddish stains on bed sheets/mattresses. They prefer to hide in crevices and tight spaces such as drawer joints, seams of chairs, cracks on the bed frame, etc. Learn more at https://billshomeservice.com/pest/bed-bugs/.

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    Jake Swinehart
    Service Technician