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As summer fast approaches, there are two things you will most likely experience if you live in Arizona—heat and scorpions. Take these two together and you have the combination for pest problems in the state.

While scorpions can be found in virtually anywhere in the world, they like to live in hot places including Arizona which generally has a desert climate. With the rise in temperature, more Arizona homeowners are noticing more of these creatures in their homes citing them as a major problem towards pest control in Arizona. Although not all scorpion species are dangerous and aggressive, homeowners are anxious in keeping their homes and families safe from them. After all, the most venomous scorpion is common in this part of the United States, the Arizona Bark Scorpion. But whether you are faced with an Arizona Bark Scorpion or a less venomous species, it does pay to be safe. Often, people unwittingly destroy or expose scorpion dwelling places. They can hide under rocks, woodpiles and tree bark. Sometimes in their search for a source of food and water they come closer to homes, hiding under cracks and gaps in building structures. Most of the time they keep to themselves and only sting when provoked. In many cases, scorpion stings happen with accidents; possibly by not seeing a scorpion and stepping on it or touching it. Scorpion stings may not be as feared as before with the development of the anti-venom but it can still be dangerous, especially to small children. It can also be dangerous to the elderly and those who are allergic to scorpion venom.

In any case, it always pays to be safe. Homeowners with possible problems in scorpion pest control can employ their own do-it-yourself measures such as cleaning the yard to remove harborages, sealing cracks, gaps and other possible points of entry into the home, and using commercial products. In extreme situations, however, Arizona pest control professionals can be the best solution. Pest control experts have the ability and equipment to locate scorpion harborages and the products to effectively exterminate them.

A company you can count on is Moxie Pest Control of Arizona. Moxie Pest Control of Arizona is a pest control company that branches across the United States. Their service includes a complete sweep of the structure or home, a sweep of the immediate perimeter, and a customized treatment plan which is the best applicable solution for each client. They take your needs into consideration with your situation and preference. They only use EPA-approved products; they are plant-based and the same products used in hospitals and veterinary clinics. Moxie not only provides Arizona pest control by treating existing pest problems on initial visit but guarantee complete extermination with a follow up.

Summer is just about everyone’s favorite season and by everyone that means including pests. The warm weather and humidity is favorable to most pests allowing for breeding and an abundance of food for them. A lot of pests thrive outdoors while some that do not prefer the climate head indoors, most likely to homes. Bugs, ants and mosquitoes are just a few of the pests that you will encounter outside while cockroaches seek indoor comfort. Pests can be detrimental to your family’s health and well-being. Not to mention sanity when you most want to enjoy the outdoors or comfort of home on a well-deserved break but cannot do so because of them.

For some, pest control in summer is not as tedious since it comes just once a year but for Arizona pest control it can be daunting because of a predominantly warm weather year-round. Nevertheless, wherever you may be, it shouldn’t be difficult when you follow tips on keeping a pest-free environment in time for the season.

Here are some of the things you can do to have a pest-free summer.

1. Maintain a clean yard. Most pests breed and live outside until they find the comfort of your home or more food in your home. Destroying their breeding/living places and food sources by regularly cleaning your yard can help in eliminating them. Mowing the grass, trimming shrubs and tree branches, eliminating standing water, and avoiding wood piles are simple tasks that are effective in pest control.
2. Screen doors and windows. During the warm season, it’s nice to enjoy the natural breeze but keeping doors and windows open may bring a slew of bugs. Set up screens in doors and windows to be safe. That way people, especially kids, can go in and out as they please and you can enjoy the summer breeze without letting in annoying pests.
3. Repair gaps and holes. Pests are attracted into homes looking for food and shelter and they will take any chance they can get of going in. Open doors and windows are easy invitations but they can also get in through any gap, hole or opening through the floors and walls.
4. Wear protective clothing. If you’re planning on spending time outdoors, especially in bug infested areas, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
5. Protect your pet. Some dogs and cats like to venture outside for some active play time. When they do, they may carry unpleasant hitchhikers they could bring into the home. Fleas and ticks can prey on your poor pet and carry serious health threats to humans. Use medication to treat pets and avoid pest attacks while they are outdoors.
6. Avoid bringing in things used outdoors. Just like your pets, some things that have been used outdoors can carry hitchhikers you wouldn’t like in your home. Toys, furniture, and even clothing left outside can transport pests so make sure to clean them first before bringing them in.
7. Plant anti-pest plants. Summer means lush vegetation and you can use them not only for beautification, but to ward off pests. There are certain plants that insects just detest. Some examples are herbs, such as rosemary and basil, and flowers, such as marigolds and geraniums.
8. Clean as you go. Summer time means outdoor time and that includes picnics, swimming, hikes, etc. With whatever outdoor activity, especially those involving food, make sure to clean up promptly to avoid attracting inside the home. Do not leave food out too long or store them in resealable containers.
9. Use pest protection. Mosquitoes are among the most common summer pests. If you enjoy time outdoors, mosquitoes will also have an enjoyable time feeding off of you. To avoid mosquito or other bug bites, you can use repellants readily available in stores. You can also use natural products with citronella, lavender or cinnamon oils. If you search on the Internet you can find many recipes for homemade alternatives using common ingredients you have at home.
10. Encourage bio pest control. Nature has its own way of helping us solve pest problems. Biological control is effective, natural, convenient and inexpensive. Use animals and other insects as well as plants to eliminate or keep pests at bay. A good example of this system is bird activity in your garden. Certain plants could also attract beneficial insects like buckwheat and alyssum.

Keep yourself and your family safe and protected. Enjoy your summer without the hassle and danger of pests. As people gear up for summer and all the fun it brings, preparing for and taking care of pest problems should also be on the list for an enjoyable season.

While there are minor pest problems that can be easily solved and altogether avoided, serious pest problems can be tough and should be handled by the professionals. Do what you can but for extreme predicaments requiring pest control in Arizona, do not hesitate to call the experts for the solution.

Moxie Pest Control of Arizona recently launched a new website to widen their reach and provide more services. The new site features a fresh new design with a user-friendly interface and a variety of useful information from basic services and coupons to do-it-yourself tips and a mini-library on common pests.  Moxie Pest AZ created this new site to provide tools that can help clients identify and find the solution to pest problems whether on their own or through enlisting the help of Moxie professionals.

To further extend their accessibility online, Moxie Pest Control of Arizona has also recently joined Facebook and Twitter. Through these social media pages Moxie hopes to provide a fun and easy way of staying connected and increasing their network of satisfied Moxie clients and their community. The Moxie AZ Facebook page gives an opportunity for clients to interact and for the company to give back through promos and updates. Clients can “like” them on Facebook and be able to take advantage of coupons and other promotions on the page. On Twitter, Moxie can also provide a quick and fun way of updating clients and followers with new product, services, and news about Pest Control as well as Arizona pests.

Moxie Pest Control of Arizona’s new website is www.moxiepestaz.com. Find them on Facebook at (www.facebook.com/moxiepestaz) and on Twitter at (www.twitter.com/moxiepestaz).

Keeping your home free of pests will save you from the cost and hassle of repairing the damage they cause to your home and the risks they bring to your family’s health and well-being. In Arizona, the most common pests are spiders and scorpions but there are also many other pests found in homes and different structures. Due in part to the moderate weather that can be found in the state, pest control in Arizona involves almost anything from ants, termites, mites and rodents, among others.  If left untended, small Arizona pest control problems can become big, so it is best to take the necessary action immediately once a pest infestation is identified.

Keeping homes pest-free can be simple, easy and doesn’t even have to be expensive. Basic housekeeping and maintenance practices can cutoff the attraction of your home to pests. In addition there are several things you can do to ward off or eliminate those that have found their way into your home. You don’t even have to resort to store-bought products that contain chemicals that can be harmful to your family and pets. Below are 10 tips for Do It Yourself pest control solutions in your home.

1. Get rid of things that attract pests into your home. Pests are attracted into homes looking for three things—food, water and shelter. Human and pet food kept out too long, cluttered and dusty furniture or household items, broken/cracked walls, plumbing leaks, and even dead skin cells and hair on the carpet can serve as an invitation to pests. That is where most pest problems begin. Eliminate the food and water supply and destroy possible pest dwelling spaces. Clean regularly and de-clutter your home.
2. Seal off entry for unwanted visitors. Several pests like rodents come into your house through open doors, windows and small holes. You can install screen doors and fix gaps and cracks of even the smallest size on walls. You should also avoid leaving your garage door open especially overnight.
3. Use natural products to keep pests away. There are several natural products, most of them you can readily find in your home, that can help you keep pests away. Here are some examples:
1. Cucumbers.  Slice cucumbers and place them in areas where ants, wasps, mites, moths, flies and other insects can possibly enter. Use cucumber peel is  an “anti-welcome” mat for ants.
2. Spices. Mix together turmeric powder and cinnamon or cayenne in equal quantities and line the mixture along door frames or windowsills to keep insects away. You can also use finely chopped garlic mixed with water to keep bugs out and cloves instead of mothballs in closets and trunks.
3. Catnip. Leave small sachets or simmer catnip with a small amount of water to make “catnip tea” and spray around in areas where cockroaches like to stay. This option should not be used in homes with cats.
4. Make your own safe-to-use pesticide with common household products. As an alternative to buying expensive and hazardous chemical pesticides, you can find a lot of organic pest control options in homemade or natural products. Here are a few ideas:
1. Use a mixture of lemon and water to sponge on your dog to kill fleas instantly. To make the mixture, pour boiling water on sliced lemon and score the lemon skin to get more oil and let it soak overnight.
2. Mix baking soda and sugar in a small dish and leave in cockroach-infested areas. This mixture attracts cockroaches and will kill them when they drink it. Other cockroaches that feed on the dead cockroach will also get poisoned.
3. Make  a mixture of water, onions, pepper, garlic and dish soap for use to kill pests in herb and vegetable gardens. This can also be used for other insects that live in dirt or plants.
5. Set up traps where possible. You can use rat traps, fly paper, and other kinds of devices readily available in stores. However you can also devise or make your own. Homemade fly papers are easy to make with materials you can commonly find in the kitchen such as a brown paper bag, corn syrup and water.
6. Grow or place certain plants around and inside your house. Some plants are natural pest repellent, as they have specific characteristics that can keep pests at bay. For garden pests, you can grow flowers and herbs in a vegetable patch particularly nasturtium and marigolds. Inside you can also place scented geranium near doors and windows to ward off bugs.
7. Encourage other animal life that can be beneficial to controlling pests.Birds can play a major role in eliminating bugs outside your home. Use bird feeders to attract birds to your yard. An outdoor pond of fish can also help control bugs as fish will eat insects in water.
8. If possible, avoid using used furniture. It is not uncommon to find great buys at yard sales, inherit a good piece of furniture from family or friends or purchase second-hand furniture. When you do, pests are usually riding along into their new home.  If buying brand new is just not possible, make sure to inspect and possibly treat the used furniture before bringing it inside your home.
9.  Invest in cedar. Cedar wood has been used for centuries to repel pests and protect clothes or other items in storage. Many people use cedar oils and cedar chips around the house to effectively keep cockroaches, moths, and termites away from the perimeter of the home.  This type of “cedar pest control” can be expensive, but it will last a long time because of the durability of the wood. If you can afford, it cedar furniture can be a beautiful addition to a home and help keep pests away too.
10. Do some yard cleaning. Most pests that invade your home come from just outside your door. Raking fallen leaves, removing debris and transferring wood piles where pests may hide and trimming off tree branches that come in contact or serve as bridges to your house can do a lot for pest prevention.

You don’t have to look too far to solve minor pest problems in Arizona. With these do-it-yourself tips, you can also be sure to have a safe and inexpensive solution.

Pest control in Arizona deals with dangerous pests more than any other state in the US. Among these pests, scorpions and brown widows pose the biggest threat.

Scorpions thrive in desert climates. Usually more of them are found in recently developed desert areas, but it is also common to find them in residential areas. One of the deadliest scorpions that can be found in North America is common in Arizona—the Arizona bark scorpion. They are small light brown scorpions that can grow up to 7-8 cm long. This type of scorpion has venom that causes severe pain and temporary dysfunction to the stung area. While fatalities are uncommon, the number of scorpion sting cases reaches to the thousands in Arizona. They are particularly considered threats to small children, adults with compromised immune systems, and pets.

Another common pest encountered by Arizona pest control professionals are spiders. Because of the dry summer and mild winter climate, some spiders thrive better in Arizona and other southwestern states since they are able to breed and live without the constant risk of being washed out by rain or cold weather. There are many types of spider species found in Arizona but a native to the area is the brown widow spider. This type of spider is a relative of the dangerous black widow and is also considered venomous. Like the black widow spider it is characterized by an hourglass marking on the underside of its abdomen although with a different color and has a black and white pattern on the dorsal side of its abdomen.

Other common pests in Arizona include ants, termites, bees, rodents and many more.

Due to the many different species that can be found on each insect/animal, proper identification is necessary to determine the effective measures needed to exterminate pests. Pest control Arizona companies do just that and have the expertise in efficiently solving desert pest problems. A trusted pest control Phoenix AZ business is Moxie Pest Control. With complete inspection, evaluation, treatment and maintenance service plans, Moxie provides the solution for any Arizona pest control situation.

During the month of December, Moxie Pest Control of Arizona hosted a Mini Carnival at the La Mesita Family Shelter in Mesa. La Mesita is a center providing temporary emergency housing and basic living needs as well as family development, adult resources, and childcare services to homeless families with minor-aged children. Families stay up to 120 days in the center during which time they are assisted to enable them to regain their self-sufficiency. Each year La Mesita provides services to over 400 residents with up to 30 families living in the center at one time.

Providing a little fun and entertainment for a day, Moxie Pest Control of Arizona sponsored carnival activities for the La Mesita residents. A professional clown and a balloon artist kept the crowd amused and games and a bounce house donated for the event provided some active entertainment. Of course, the mini-carnival wouldn’t be complete without food. Hotdogs and hot chocolate were served and, after, the kids got bags of popcorn and small toys, too.

For more information on how you can help please contact the shelter at (480) 834-8723.

In Arizona, the weather is typically known as mostly hot and dry although the climate actually varies with the season and area. The desert climate is usually found in the Central and Southern Arizona while
mountain climates are found primarily in Northern and North Central Arizona. With the varied weather, pest control in Arizona involves a variety of pests as well. Most popular are scorpions, spiders and other pests acclimated to the dry weather but there are also many other pests that can attack homes and structures throughout the state. In extreme hot or cold, these pests seek the moderate temperatures found inside homes and buildings which also provide feeding and breeding grounds for them.

To avoid Arizona pest control problems, owners should do their best to pest-proof their homes year round. Simple housekeeping habits can help a lot in doing so. Regular cleaning can rid homes of possible pest living and breeding areas and dispose of organic and inorganic wastes that can be food for them. Repairing gaps or holes through doors, windows and walls which can serve as entry points into the home would also be beneficial. When all of these measures are too late and pests have already attacked the home, owners should locate the infected area and exterminate them using pest products readily available in stores. In extreme cases, however, the services of pest control Phoenix AZ companies are necessary. Handling deadly pests such as scorpions, spiders, and bees, and exterminating major infestations are best left to the experts. Pest control Arizona professionals are trained in the most common as well as rare pest predicaments found in the state. They are able to properly identify, locate and eliminate pests so any future attacks are avoided. For complete pest protection, many home owners enlist the services of Arizona pest control professionals for regular inspection and maintenance.

Moxie Pest Control of Arizona helps protect residents in the Ahwatukee, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Phoenix and Tempe areas.