If you are new to Las Vegas, you may not realize just how many pests call Las Vegas home. Learning about the most common ones will help you understand when you have an infestation and why it is important to take care of the issue. Here are five pests that are commonly found in and around homes in the Las Vegas valley.

Cockroaches

One of the most common pests found in Las Vegas is cockroaches. There are four different types found in Vegas including the dark American cockroach, Australian cockroach, Oriental cockroach and the German cockroach. These pests can range in size from 0.1 to 3.2 inches and are typically brown or black in color.

Cockroaches love to hide in dark, damp places close to food sources, and can live outside your home or in it. Cockroaches can multiply quickly and they can be harmful to your health. They carry bacteria and pathogens, including salmonella and E. coli. Therefore, if you notice a few of these pests in your home, you will want to take action to remove them quickly.

Roof Rats

The roof rat is one of the most common rodent around Las Vegas Valley homes and it’s not even native to Vegas. It is believed this pest started to come in on Palm trees that were being transported here. These are relatively small rats which may be mistaken for large mice. They are generally 10 to 14 inches and weigh 5 to 6 ounces. These pests can live inside of homes or outside. They can cause large amounts of damage as they chew through wires and insulation, trying to make nests. They also multiply quickly, have four to six litters of four to eight pups per year, meaning one rat could have as many as 48 babies per year. They also carry and spread disease, which is why you should rid them from your home quickly.

Norway Rat

The last type of pest you can expect to find in Vegas is the Norway rat. The Norway rat is a large rat, also known as the super rat because of its size. These are less common than roof rats, but still just as troublesome. They can cause damage to your home and spread germs and bacteria. They also can make your home unsanitary when they urinate or leave behind fecal pellets.

Scorpions

If you live in a built-up part of the city, it is pretty rare to find scorpions. However, if you have a lot of land or live on the outskirts of town, you may experience scorpion problems.

Scorpions love to live in dark environments where they can stay hidden. Unfortunately, this means that you may not see them. While scorpions don’t reproduce quickly, only having one in your home can be dangerous. Scorpions emit a poison should they sting you, which can be life-threatening. As such, scorpion removal must be done if you suspect you have one or more scorpions in or around your home.

Apache Cicadas

Apache cicadas live outside in your trees. They do not infest your home, nor are they dangerous to humans in any way. However, an infestation or overabundance of them can be extremely annoying. These small pests vibrate membranes on their abdomen creating a very loud click or buzzing noise. When multiplied by hundreds or thousands of these pests, the noise can be quite loud. These pests start out as nymphs living under the ground and only come out when they reach adulthood, which can make it challenging to see how many there are until you hear them. However, it is much easier to treat them before they reach adulthood. Therefore, if you have had problems with these pests in the past, you probably want to continually treat for them.

If you suspect your home is infested with a pest, a Nevada pest control company can assist you in getting rid of the pests and preventing them from coming back. The sooner you call, the sooner the pests will be gone and you can live pest-free in your home.