Summer in Salt Lake City brings barbecues, picnics, and pests. The cold, dry winters of the Wasatch Front often keep many pests at bay during the winter months. Unfortunately, pests emerge in force in the Salt Lake valley during the summer months. We’ve compiled a list of 5 common pests to watch out for during the sunny days of summer in Salt Lake.
There are thousands of types of cockroaches throughout the world. Luckily, there are only 3 that you are likely to find in Utah. These are the brown-banded cockroach, the German cockroach, and the oriental cockroach. All cockroaches eat food as well as other types of organic matter, such fabrics and paper.
Spiders
Many male spiders are more active from June through September. Although there are many types of spiders found in Utah, there are only three types of spiders in Utah that are poisonous. These are the black widow, hobo, and desert recluse spiders. The desert recluse is mainly found in southwest Utah and unlikely to be of concern in Salt Lake City. Keep in mind, even non-poisonous spiders can be a nuisance. If you see more than a couple spiders in the house in a single day, you may have an infestation and should call a professional no matter what type of spiders they are.
Mature bed bugs have flat, oval bodies of a rusty red color. They are quite small and can hide in barely noticeable crevices. They feed on humans and pets during the night. Their bites leave itchy, often large welts.
Wasps
Paper wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets can all be found in Utah. These wasps are all social and territorial wasps. They are considered social because they build nests and territorial because they will attack if the nest is disturbed or threatened. Yellowjacket nests are usually built in holes in the ground, but hornets and paper wasps build their nests high off the ground. Hornet nest are found in trees while paper wasps are often attached to structures in a shelter location, such as a windowsill or the eaves of a house.
There are two main types of rodent infestations that occur in the Salt Lake area: Norway rats and house mice. House mice are have a 3-4 inch long body with a 3-4 inch tail. Norway rats are 7-10 inches long with a 6-8 inch long tail. Signs of a rodent infestation include scratching sounds in the walls, nibbling or gnawing marks, droppings or excrement.
Don’t wait until you have an infestation to protect your house from pests. Contact us today to discuss our full range of Salt Lake City pest control.