Pests in Arizona are common household concern, data shows
By Tony Gonzalez | Point of View
According to the United States Census Bureau, the presence of pests is a major health concern in the United States with about 14 million households reporting roaches crawling around and 14.8 million reporting rodent sightings from April 2020 through April 2021.
Many of these intruders aren’t just annoying, but dangerous to the health of Arizonans as well. Animals like rats and mice can carry infectious diseases such as the Zika virus, Lyme disease, and rabies, while cockroaches have been known to trigger asthma and allergy symptoms.
A bite from the Arizona bark scorpion, the best-known species in North America, is harmful to humans and can cause severe pain in the affected area, tingling, vomiting, and general illness that can last from one to three days.
As the temperatures continue to rise in the Valley, many Phoenicians will start seeing more and more pests in their homes as critters that found shelter inside walls, vents, pipes and other crevices in residential and business areas begin making their way into more open spaces. To protect themselves from getting bitten, Arizonans should:
Look out for an infestation
Aside from consistently seeing pests running around your home, there are other signs that you may have an invasion. One of the easiest indicators of this is droppings in cupboards, under kitchen appliances or in nooks and crannies with little to no light source. Small holes in any walls on the perimeter of your house are a telltale sign that unwelcome visitors are making their way in and out, so make sure to do routine checks and patch any openings you come across.
Know the difference between species you encounter
The Sonoran Desert is a breeding ground for creepy crawlers but it’s important to know which ones are red flags and which ones are simply a nuisance. Stings from scorpion species like the Arizona striped tail scorpions, characterized by a brown line on their metasoma; yellow ground scorpions, characterized by their slender appendages; and the Arizona giant hairy scorpions, characterized by their impressive size and furry legs, are not cause for concern. Arizona bark scorpions, however, are the only medically important species and Arizonans who are bitten should seek immediate medical treatment as the venom can cause difficulty breathing among other serious symptoms.
Protect your home, health and the planet
Pesticides may seem like the best option to get rid of insects and rodents, but they can do more harm than good. Many products on the market for pest control can be toxic to humans and pets who come into physical contact with them, causing rashes, wheezing, sneezing, scratchy throat and more. Pesticides are also incredibly harmful to the environment. A recent report by the Pesticide Action Network of North America found that throughout a pesticide’s full lifecycle, staggering levels of greenhouse gases are emitted via manufacturing, packaging, transportation, application, and even through environmental degradation and disposal. Products like Slick Barrier, an innovative, pesticide-free 2-coat system for pests, actually prevent pests from entering the home and do not contain any toxic elements that could harm a family and the Earth.
Editor’s note: Mr. Gonzalez is co-founder of Slick Barrier, a one-of-a-kind non-pesticide pest-control product, which won a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank in January, that is applied to any building using a one-time clear coat application to completely block any scorpion, mice or insects from entering.
