Arizona Bark Scorpion

The Bark Scorpion

The Arizona bark scorpion is commonly found in all parts of Arizona. They adult male can grow to be about 3 1/2 inches. The females are a little bit smaller growing to be about 2 1/2 inches. Bark scorpions are nocturnal. Scorpions usually will feed on crickets and cockroaches. The female scorpion will give birth to about 25 to 35 young. The young will stay with the mother, normally on her back for the first 3 weeks of their lives, or until there first molt.

We service many areas here in the east valley of Arizona and encounter a lot of scorpions, especially in Gilbert. It is great to have a regular pest control service especially in the winter, because Bark scorpions will usually congregate in sizes of about 20 to 30. Weather you do it yourself or have someone come out for you it is essential in the winter, to hit them hard while they are all together.

The Bark scorpion is the most venomous in North America. A sting on an adult, will cause a very INTENSE pain, followed my tingling or numbness on the part of the body that was struck. This pain will last anywhere from 24 hours to 72 hours. The number of people stung in Arizona each year is estimated to be in the thousands. The number of people stung in Mexico is around a 100,000 each year. A freak period in the 1980's there were over 800 deaths recorded in Mexico from the Bark scorpion.

The best ways to treat a scorpion sting is to, immediately clean the sting with soap and water, apply a cool cloth (NO ICE!), take ibuprofen for the pain and swelling. Since the amount of venom that is injected is always different, Arizona poison control suggest immediate medical attention only if in extreme pain, or for stings involving children.

Valor Pest Control will help you in anyway possible to eliminate the scorpions on your property! 480.287.2959

Guess the pest

Can you guess the following pest?

They come in colors from brown to black. Are omnivores and feeds on organic materials, decaying plants, fungi and seeding plants. Can be found under rocks, logs, and along roadsides. And did I mentioned they like to sing you to sleep?

If you guess a Cricket you're correct!

The common house cricket is anywhere from 3/4 to 1 inch in length and is light brown. As most pests, they like the warmth and can be found by fireplaces, kitchen, basements, garbage dumps, sheds, and other shelters.

All crickets have excellent vision and hearing. They are able to see in several directions simultaneously. Although crickets have wings, a large majority of them do not fly.

Many people believe that all crickets chirp (cricket sound), in fact it is only the males that are able to do this. Each species of cricket sings in a different pitch, this enables them to find their own species. There are 4 different types of songs. The calling song attracts females and tells the other males not to come close, this is normally a very loud chirp. The courting chirp is used when a females is close by, this is a very quite chirp. The aggressive chirp is triggered by the crickets antennas, they are able to sense another male close by. The copulatory song is sung for a brief time after a successful mating has been completed.

There are 3 main types of crickets in Arizona.

The Indian House Cricket

The males attract females by "chirping" at night, which can be extremely annoying for

homeowners. These crickets also may produce piles of droppings. When there are extremely high numbers of Indian house crickets they may feed on fabrics and drywall. Outdoors, they may damage young garden plants and annual flowers.

The Field Cricket

Field crickets are known to chew on, and damage woolens, cottons, silks, synthetic fabrics,

Clothes with perspiration stains or

food spills are particularly attractive. Outdoors, they

may damage young garden plants and annual flowers.

Jerusalem Cricket

These crickets are sometime called "Children of th earth". Unlike other crickets, they are useful predators, catching and eating many other insects and spiders. Jerusalem crickets are mostly harmless, except they may bite if handled too carelessly. They normally do not enter homes.

If you have any Pest/Cricket issues please call Valor Pest Control, your pest control experts at 480.287.2959 or visit Valorpest.com

Uninvited summer guest

A friend you may encounter as the days start to get warmer are cockroaches!  Too much heat outside drives the cockroaches indoors causing them to seek out the moist areas of your home.  We tend to think that if our homes are clean that we will not have any sort of cockroach infestation, but even clean environments can harbor roaches.

Arizona has five common roaches:

German Cockroach

Found in kitchens, bathrooms.  Infests electrical appliances  (blender bases, radios, etc.).  Will feed on glue, toothpaste, and soap.  Greatest reproductive potential of all cockroaches!!

American Cockroach

Found in outdoor compost bins and decaying vegetation. Often moves indoors during hot weather and monsoon season.  Found in moist areas indoors such as bathtubs, clothes hampers, etc. Mobile in dry sewer drains (toilets, sinks). They like it hot (84 F). 

Turkestan Cockroach

This is an outdoor cockroach and a detritus feeder.  Males are attracted to lights; finding them inside often indicates a need to pest-proof external entryways. Prefer high temperatures. Maybe found in meter and irrigation boxes and exposed compost piles, where they break down detritus. 

Brownbanded Cockroach 

 Feed on starches found in envelope glues and similar office/classroom supplies. Likes warm areas and low humidity.  Glide but do not fly

Desert Cockroach 

Most recognizable by its cockroach shape. Males are nocturnal and are  attracted to lights.  Will not enter homes unless doors are open and lights are left on.  Females spend their lives burrowing in soft soil where they feed on organic debris.  Are associated with pack-rat or other desert rodent burrows  where the soil has been loosened and organic material is abundant. 

For pest needs and/or questions contact Zaak Muro 480.287.2959 or visit Valorpest.com