Pest Control in Gilbert, AZ

Scorpions — The Concern That Drives Most Gilbert Calls

Gilbert's pest calls are disproportionately about scorpions, and for good reason. The city's demographics skew young — Power Ranch, Agritopia, the Val Vista corridor, and the newer subdivisions south of the 202 are packed with young families with children. Those families tend to be the most urgent callers when scorpions show up, and they're right to take it seriously.

Arizona bark scorpions are the species in question. They're the only scorpion in North America with venom potent enough to be medically significant, and children are the most vulnerable population.

Gilbert's agricultural history plays directly into current scorpion pressure. The farmland that was graded for Power Ranch, Agritopia, and dozens of other master-planned communities was habitat for scorpions before development started. Many of those scorpions found their way into new construction during building — inside block walls, beneath concrete, inside utility chases.

The Val Vista corridor is particularly active. Properties adjacent to the Consolidated Canal see consistent scorpion pressure because the canal provides the moisture and cover that supports the cricket and other insect populations scorpions eat.

Ants — Former Farmland Means Established Colonies

Gilbert's agricultural past left behind soil conditions that support large ant colonies. Alfalfa and cotton farming, in particular, creates fertile, organically rich soil that's ideal for colony development.

Fire ants in Gilbert are a documented issue in areas with new construction and disturbed soil. Argentine ant super-colonies in Power Ranch, Trilogy at Power Ranch, and similar master-planned communities can span multiple property lines.

Cockroaches — A Pressure That Grows With Age

Gilbert's housing stock is newer than many East Valley cities, which means cockroach pressure is generally lower. But Agritopia and the Heritage District areas near downtown Gilbert have the landscaping density and irrigation proximity that cockroaches prefer. As Gilbert's housing stock ages into its 20s and 30s, more homes will hit the profile that American cockroaches colonize most readily.