SPRINGTIME PESTS IN ARIZONA
FRIEND OR FOE?AN INFORMATIVE SLIDE SHOW
Subterranean Termites
• Require soil to survive, typically living in moist colonies underground
• Diet includes wood, wallpaper, plastics and fabric made from plants
• Thrive in nearly every region in the United States
• Treat infestations immediately before they spread throughout your home
Friend or Foe?
FOE
Paper Wasps
• Sometimes called the umbrella wasp due to distinctive design of nests
• Social insects that build a new nest each year
• Rather aggressive and fiercely protect their homes
• Narrow bodies are dark brown with black wings and yellow markings
Friend or Foe?
FOE
Mud Dauber
• Primary predator of both the black and brown widow spiders
• Tend to build small mud nests under building overhangs
• Food is taken alive back to the nest for the wasps’ larvae to eat
• Rarely aggressive but can be a nuisance in garages and under eaves
Friend or Foe?
FRIEND
Mohave Rattlesnake
• Easily mistaken for Diamondbacks due to similar appearance
• Does not lay eggs but gives birth to several 9 to 11 inch young
• One of the most venomous snakes in North America
• Bite produces pain, swelling and tissue discoloration in the area of the bite
Friend or Foe?
FOE
Bald Faced Hornet
• Very aggressive species, easily identified by distinct coloring
• Usually unsafe to approach their nests, even to observe
• Construct grey nests of wood fiber and paper typically found in trees
• Often found around flowers, harvesting nectar and pollen
Friend or Foe?
FOE
Tarantula Hawk
• Stings, captures, and paralyzes its tarantula prey
• Use tarantula bodies as a host for their eggs
• Tarantula hawk larvae feast on the remains of the spider
• Most active during summer but tend to avoid very high temperatures
Friend or Foe?
FRIEND
Rats
• Intelligent creatures with sharp memories, smarter than mice and rabbits
• They have poor eyesight, relying mainly on their sense of smell and hearing
• Various types of baits, traps, and repellent are used to eradicate rats
• Ask local pest control for recommended eradication methods
Friend or Foe?
FOE
Gophers
• One of Arizona’s cuter pests, occasionally tearing up and ruining golf course
• Feed on roots and tubers, also eating carrots, vegetables, grass and nuts
• Pocket gopher teeth continuously grow accommodating frequent wear and tear
FOE
Friend or Foe?
Bats
• Bats spread a highly effective fertilizer called guano
• People can benefit by installing a bat house; bats will assist in
pollenating flowers and eating insects
• Call a professional for safe removal if found in your home
FRIEND
Friend or Foe?
Skunk
• Hungry omnivores who typically forage at night
• Benefit humans by feasting on plants, insects, worms, eggs, and other pests
• Skunks are a predator of honeybees and will attack a beehive
• When threatened, they’ll spray a liquid with a pungent, foul odor
BOTH
Friend or Foe?
Gopher Snake
• Gopher snakes have relatively small bodies but are quite strong
• Common length of 4 feet with reports reaching as high as 9 feet
• Diet includes small mammals, birds, and eggs
• Non-venomous but known to bite when it feels threatened
FOE
Friend or Foe?
Sonora Mountain Kingsnake
• Medium-sized snake with alternating red, black, and white bands
• Non-venomous but will bite when captured discharging foul-smelling musk and feces
• A constrictor snake that suffocates its prey and swallows it whole
• Can be valuable to humans, consuming rodents that often eat and spoil stored food
Friend or Foe?
FRIEND
Sonora Coral Snake
• Small and slender, similar in appearance to the Sonoran Mountain Kingsnake
• Feeds primarily on ectotherms, or cold-blooded animals
• Uses neurotoxic venom similar to that of a cobra to subdue its prey
• Typically found near rocky drainages, mesquite lined washes, and in canyons
FOE
Friend or Foe?
Cicada Killer
• Quite harmless, particularly the males which cannot sting
• Their most frightening aspect is their name
• Erratic fliers, often running into buildings
• Eastern Cicada killers are beneficial, regulating cicada populations
FRIEND
Friend or Foe?
Diamondback Rattle Snake
• Heavy snake with triangular-shaped head and diamond-shaped pattern along its back
• Perhaps the most feared desert creature identified by the sound of its shaking rattle
• If bitten, stay calm to prevent venom from quickly spreading throughout your body
FOE
Friend or Foe?
