Common Pests:

American cockroaches:

Size: 1-2"

Habitat: Prefer a wet and cool environment. They are typically found in basements, crawl spaces, bathroom sinks and tubs and kitchen sinks.

Alias: The "Sewer Roach"

Diet: Decaying organic matter and a variety of  foods. It is particularly fond of fermenting foods



Brown-banded cockroaches:

Size: 1/2 inch

Habitat: Prefers a dry and warm environment. They are usually found in structures behind pictures and up near ceilings.

Diet: Anything organic including decaying matter





German cockroaches:

Size: 1/2 inch

Habitat: Prefers wet and warm environment. It is the leader of all household infestations. German roaches tuck in to the cracks and crevices of kitchens and bathrooms, as these are the most common areas with water and nice warm running appliances available. They leave behind sticky droppings which have a secondary significance: feed the young.

Diet: They particularly like starch, sugary foods, grease and meats. If these are not available, they will feed on glue, soap and each other.

Egg capsule: This is called an ootheca. It contains 30-48 eggs. An average German roach will produce 4-8 capsules in their lifetime.





Oriental cockroaches:

Size: About 1 inch

Habitat: Prefers wet and cool environments. Typically found in basements, sewers, around pipes and in wall voids.

Alias: The "water bug"

Diet: Just about anything





Boxelder Bug:

Size: 1/2 inch

Habitat: Boxelder trees or other maple trees. When populations grow large, many will be found on outside walls of homes and other buildings and many will find their way inside.

Diet: Juices of boxelder trees and other maple trees.




Palo Verde Beetle:

Size: 3-4 inches with long antennae

Alias: HUGE ROACH! (It's a beetle, not a roach)

Habitat: Palo verde tree roots as well as other tree varieties that are stressed from lack of water.

Life Cycle: Females lay eggs in soil underneath Palo Verde trees. Once hatched, the larvae will burrow into tree roots (larvae reach lengths of 4 inches). Larvae then go through 3 stages, increasing in size each time. Adults emerge from an exit hole and begin a 3 year life cycle and die shortly after mating and egg laying.

Danger: Kills roots of trees, eventually killing the tree. No known danger to humans
Cicada:

Size: 1-2 inches

Diet: crops, tree sap and tree roots

Alias: Locust

Habitat: Cicadas live underground.In the final nymphal instar, they construct an exit tunnel to the surface and emerge. They then molt (shed their skins), on a nearby plant for the last time and emerge as adults. The abandoned skins remain, still clinging to the bark of trees.

The buzz: Cicada's are famous for the annoying buzzing they produce during summer evenings. This is produced only by males from a noisemaker called a "tymbal"
Crane Fly: 

Size: 1/10- 2.4 inches

Diet: Nectar or nothing at all

Alias: Mosquito eater (Skeeter eater); HUGE MOSQUITO

Sting: None known. Crane flies do not have the ability to bite or sting people. They are commonly mistaken for giant mosquitoes and are often feared for their bite. 


Bed Bug:

Size: 1/6-1/4 inch

Diet: Blood of humans. However, in desperation they may get a blood meal from birds or rodents.

Habitat: Human dwellings

Life cycle: Females lay 15-20 eggs at a time until they produce 200-500 eggs. Eggs hatch in 6-10 days in warm weather or heated structures. Well fed adults live up to a year and a half and at least 3-4 generations are produced a year.

Bites: Most people do not feel the actual bite itself but a painful itching and large inflamed spot make their presence known. However, a bed bug infestation should not be determined just from bite marks alone.



Brown dog tick:

Size: 1/8 and up to 1/2 inch when engorged with a blood meal.

Diet: Dog blood

Habitat: Yards, kennels and homes.

Life cycle: Females will feed on their host for about a week, drop off and find a place to lay their eggs. The female can lay up to 5000 eggs over a period of two weeks and development is heavily dependent on temperature. The female will die after laying her eggs. Developing ticks require a blood meal at each stage of life: larva, nymph and adult.

Bites: The brown dog tick has not been found to transmit diseases to humans. However, the Deer tick can vector Lyme Disease.


Black Widow Spider:

Size: 1/4 - 1/2 inch

Diet: Carnivorous

Distinctive Mark: The Back Widow spider is famous for her red, hour glass shaped mark on her abdomen. She also creates an irregular web with no distinct pattern

Venom: Neurotoxic- attacks the nervous system. If you feel you have been bitten by a Black Widow spider, seek immediate medical attention.


Sun Spider:

Size: 1 - 1 1/2 inches

Diet: Insects

Alias: Wind Scorpion; Camel Spider

Habitat: Underground burrows

Venom: None known










Tailless Whip Scorpion:

Size: 1/16 - 2 inches

Diet: Insects

Alias: Whip Spider

Habitat: During the day, they may hide under logs, bark, stones, or leaves. They prefer a humid environment.

Getting around: The Tailless Whip Scorpion walks side to side on 6 legs.




Arizona Bark Scorpion:

Size: 2.5 - 3.15 inches

Diet: Ambushes prey, usually crickets and roaches

Habitat: Under rocks, wood piles, tree bark, cluttered garages and homes. They have the rare ability to rest while being upside down.

Life Cycle: The bark scorpion has a gestation period of several months and are born alive. They are gently guided on to their mothers back until their first molt which usually happens 3 weeks after birth. Females normally give birth to 25-35 young at a time and can live up to 6 years.

Venom: The Bark Scorpion is the most venomous in North America. Stings cause severe pain that typically lasts 24-72 hours. Fatalities are rare and limited to small animals (including pets), small children and adults with a weakened immune system.

Odd Fact: While nearly all scorpions are solitary, the Arizona Bark Scorpion is a rare exception. In winter, packs of 20-30 scorpions can congregate!



Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion:

Size: 5 1/2 - 6 inches

Diet: Large insects, small vertebrates and spiders

Habitat: Burrowing scorpion, usually hiding under rocks.

Venom: The Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion is not considered a severe threat as its venom is not very potent. However, an allergic reaction can be fatal. Symptoms include: difficulty breathing, excessive swelling and prolonged pain.

Name: The Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion derives is name from the soft and coarse hairs all over its body. These are used to detect ground and wind vibrations to better aid in hunting and predator detection.

Earwig:

Size: 1/4"-1"

Diet: Arthropods, plants and ripe fruit

Habitat: Earwigs are nocturnal. During the day they hide in dark, damp cracks. They live under rocks, logs and mulch in flowerbeds. Sometimes they are found in the kitchen or bathroom.

Venom: None known to humans




Silverfish:

Size: Up to 1". Tear drop shaped.

Diet: Carbohydrates, especially sugars and starches. They like damp clothing, glue on books, linens, drapes, stored boxes and other dead insects.

Habitat: Dark, damp places such as basements, kitchens, bathrooms and crawl spaces.

Venom: None known to humans