How bad are the insects in Phoenix? (Mesa, Tempe: apartment, houses)

[motormaker]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Theyre brutally freaky! I love bugs and all, but those? "Uncle" is right!

My first experience was back in 1996 up in Winslow. We were staying at a campground and I went into the johns to take a whiz. While standing there I heard a big ol smack/thud/whack sound over and over. I looked up and there was a tarantula hawk repeatedly smacking against the light fixture. I froze. At one point it kinda fell outta the air about 1/2 way down to the floor and regained its flight and shot back up to the light. Ive never zipped my pants and run so fast in my life. Dangit, if I get a nightmare about them tonight, Im gonna have to blame myself for it!

Steve-o,
LOL. Hope you didn't get you "Whizer" caught in your zipper.

[amatrine]

Here is a you tube on one someone rescued from their pool.

YouTube - Tarantula Hawk

[oliveoyl]

I just crack up everytime I read another post about the insects, snakes, bugs, what have you that outsiders seem to think run rampant in AZ. The real issues are thieves, both the ones that come around at night and the "fly by night" ones that show up during the day. Keep your cars and houses locked up and get references before you hire anyone for anything. Oh yeah, we had a Gila Monster that lived by our house. Incredible creature.

[JDish2000]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Theyre brutally freaky! I love bugs and all, but those? "Uncle" is right!

My first experience was back in 1996 up in Winslow. We were staying at a campground and I went into the johns to take a whiz. While standing there I heard a big ol smack/thud/whack sound over and over. I looked up and there was a tarantula hawk repeatedly smacking against the light fixture. I froze. At one point it kinda fell outta the air about 1/2 way down to the floor and regained its flight and shot back up to the light. Ive never zipped my pants and run so fast in my life. Dangit, if I get a nightmare about them tonight, Im gonna have to blame myself for it!

They have one displayed at terminal three inside Sky Harbor. It is part of a Sonoran Desert display in a glass case with a pin stuck in it (it is dead of course).

It looked creepy, but I liken that thing to a big black (B-52) bee, but I will admit to not knowing how Tarantula Hawks react to humans.

I've not encountered one yet!

[KK85297]

I'm really surprised to read so many people minimizing the bug issue. Maybe I moved here from an area extraordinarily exempt from pest problems (SoCal?)- but to me, the bugs are a HUUUUGE issue here!

Part of the issue is that I am terrified of bugs. So I'm more sensitive than most, I suppose.

However, there are millions of bugs in my neighborhood and in the neighborhoods of people I speak to here and there. I live in Gilbert in a nice area (not a slum!) and if I don't have pest control here every couple of months, the crickets will take over my entire home! Even WITH pest control, I probably find at least one a day in my house- and I keep a very clean home. We have also found black widows all over our front and backyards and garage (none in the house, thank goodness!) and lots of little black beetles that seem to have no name...gross.

I'm disgusted with the bugs here and I worry that when we move to a different home this summer (same town) it may be even worse! Fortunately, we don't have a problem with scorpions here- but plenty of people in my subdivision have told me horror stories about finding them in every room of their homes! Several of my childrens' friends have been stung...

The bug problems here are real- don't let anyone tell you otherwise. What's up for debate is not whether they exist or they are prevalent- but whether or not your specific home is infested (ewwww!) and whether or not you choose to be freaked out by it!

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by KK85297

I'm really surprised to read so many people minimizing the bug issue. Maybe I moved here from an area extraordinarily exempt from pest problems (SoCal?)- but to me, the bugs are a HUUUUGE issue here!

Part of the issue is that I am terrified of bugs. So I'm more sensitive than most, I suppose.

However, there are millions of bugs in my neighborhood and in the neighborhoods of people I speak to here and there. I live in Gilbert in a nice area (not a slum!) and if I don't have pest control here every couple of months, the crickets will take over my entire home! Even WITH pest control, I probably find at least one a day in my house- and I keep a very clean home. We have also found black widows all over our front and backyards and garage (none in the house, thank goodness!) and lots of little black beetles that seem to have no name...gross.

I'm disgusted with the bugs here and I worry that when we move to a different home this summer (same town) it may be even worse! Fortunately, we don't have a problem with scorpions here- but plenty of people in my subdivision have told me horror stories about finding them in every room of their homes! Several of my childrens' friends have been stung...

The bug problems here are real- don't let anyone tell you otherwise. What's up for debate is not whether they exist or they are prevalent- but whether or not your specific home is infested (ewwww!) and whether or not you choose to be freaked out by it!

Wow, this is interesting to hear. You must have just picked a bad bug area. You are the FIRST person I have heard to actually have a consistent bug "problem", and I'm a Phx native. I can go DAYS without ever seeing a bug, and my house is not that clean.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Wow, this is interesting to hear. You must have just picked a bad bug area. You are the FIRST person I have heard to actually have a consistent bug "problem", and I'm a Phx native. I can go DAYS without ever seeing a bug, and my house is not that clean.

Really? Ive read about lots of people who have legit problems.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by KK85297

I'm really surprised to read so many people minimizing the bug issue. Maybe I moved here from an area extraordinarily exempt from pest problems (SoCal?)- but to me, the bugs are a HUUUUGE issue here!

Hey - this IS the desert - and, "bugs" are a natural consequence of the desert. There is NO way to eliminate bugs totally.

As for your home - regular pest control is a great idea. It will minimize the bug "population". As another poster noted - I to have not had a bug problem in my home - and, I live at the base of the Superstition Mountain. Now, to be sure, there ARE bugs and other critters outside my home!

And, there were many bugs where you came from also -

They are simply part of nature

[JDish2000]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Really? Ive read about lots of people who have legit problems.

Lots of bugs are adaptable to Arizona....

They get transplanted or just migrate here from elsewhere, kinda like the two-legged variety....

Kidding!

If humans can adapt to living in AZ...

[sfw1979]

Originally Posted by jlzpo1

I'm not an insect fan, so that's the only reason why I'm asking this question.

Apart from mosquitos, silver fish, the occasional scary spider, small roaches, and ants/termites in the Boston area, are there other bugs I need to worry about? Apart from extermination and good environmental cleaning, what do I need to do to minimize the attraction of these wee beesties.

Hello..we have lived all over the US and we thought AZ ( we lived in Yuma) was the best for "no bugs". There are a ton of crickets that were annoying but it was so wonderful to sit outside on your patio without getting bit. I know the desert has scorpians and black widows and all..but comparing it to other places it seemed that AZ had less bugs.