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    Phoenix, Arizona, is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including some common household pests that can be a nuisance to homeowners. Below, we’ll take the time to explore seven fascinating facts about seven of the most common pests found in Phoenix homes, including termites, ants, scorpions, cockroaches, rodents, mosquitoes, and bed bugs.

    From their unique behaviors and habits to the potential dangers they pose, we’ll uncover the intriguing world of these uninvited guests. Whether you’re a homeowner or simply interested in the local wildlife, the following will provide an informative and engaging look at these common pests.

    7 Disgusting Facts about Roof Rats

    1. Roof rats are known to carry fleas and spread diseases such as typhus, infectious jaundice, rat-bite fever, trichinosis, and salmonellosis.
    2. They can cause structural damage by undermining the foundations of buildings, roads, and walkways, and have been known to chew through plastic and lead pipes, doorframes, upholstery, and electrical wires.
    3. Roof rats have a lifespan of about a year, but they can produce up to 40 new offspring during their lifetime.
    4. Their droppings usually measure about ½ inch with pointed ends and are a health hazard if not cleaned up properly.
    5. Roof rats are attracted to any accessible food sources, including pet food and fruit
      that may fall from trees in the yard.
    6. They can squeeze into spaces smaller than half an inch, making it difficult to completely rat-proof a home.
    7. Roof rats prefer to nest in the upper parts of buildings, such as attics and rafters, making them difficult to detect and remove.

    7 Strange Facts about Ants

    1. Ants do not have lungs. They breathe through small holes all over their bodies called spiracles, which allow oxygen to enter and carbon dioxide to exit.
    2. They do not have ears. They communicate using pheromones, touch, and smell, as they have a highly developed sense of smell that allows them to detect chemical signals from other ants.
    3. Ants are farmers. Some ant species cultivate fungi in their nests, which they feed on. They even use antibiotics to keep the fungi healthy and free from parasites.
    4. They have two stomachs. They have a regular stomach for their own food, and a second one called a “social stomach” where they store food to share with the rest of the colony.
    5. Ants can swim. While not all ant species are good swimmers, some can survive in water for a short time by using their legs to paddle.
    6. They’re not neighborly to other colonies. Some ant species raid other ant colonies, steal their pupae and raise them as slaves to do the work of the colony.
    7. Ants are older than dinosaurs. The earliest known ant fossils date back to the Cretaceous period, around 140 million years ago, while dinosaurs became extinct around 65 million years ago.

    7 Disturbing Facts about Roaches

    1. Cockroaches can survive for months without eating and one week without drinking water.
    2. They can hold their breath for 40 minutes and even survive being submerged underwater for about 30 minutes.
    3. Some female cockroaches can store the sperm of male cockroaches; they can mate only once and produce baby cockroaches for their whole lives.
    4. A cockroach can live for over a week without a head.
    5. They have an open circulatory system which translates to little to no blood pressure so if their head pops off the wound discloses naturally due to clotting.
    6. Roaches can feed on the toenails, hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows of sleeping people. Young children are especially tasty.
    7. Cockroaches leave droppings, shells, and eggs under most surfaces.

    7 Mind-Blowing Facts about Bed Bugs

    1. Bed bugs are attracted to certain colors. A study published in the Journal of Entomology found that bed bugs are attracted to the colors black and red, while they avoid yellow and green.
    2. They can live for months without feeding. They can survive up to 10 months without a blood meal, making them incredibly resilient pests.
    3. Bed bugs can obtain a meal in as little as three minutes. Once they’ve finished feeding, they crawl into a hiding place to digest their meal.
    4. They are found almost anywhere. Bed bugs can latch onto shoes and clothes, ride home in bags and luggage, and even be found under library chairs.
    5. Bed bugs alter their schedule to come out during the day if that’s when you sleep. This adaptability makes them even harder to detect and eradicate.
    6. They can cause mental issues like PTSD and delusional parasitosis due to the stress and anxiety they cause.
    7. Bed bugs are one of the hardest pests to get rid of, according to nearly 70% of pest control specialists. Their ability to hide and survive for extended periods without feeding makes them a formidable adversary.

    7 Bizarre Facts about Scorpions

    1. Scorpions are often found in unexpected places around homes in Phoenix, including inside shoes, beds, and even on walls.
    2. They glow a bright blue-green color under ultraviolet light, which can be used to detect them at night.
    3. The Arizona bark scorpion, the most venomous scorpion in the United States, is found in Phoenix and its venom can cause severe pain and medical complications.
    4. They can survive for months without food, but only about 10 days without water.
    5. Scorpions are arachnids, like spiders, and have eight legs and two main body parts.
    6. Some scorpions can live for up to 25 years in captivity.
    7. Scorpions are nocturnal and are most active at night, which is when they hunt for food and mate.

    7 Unbelievable Facts about Termites

    1. Termites are social insects that live in colonies consisting of reproducing adults, soldiers, and workers. They have a highly organized system of communication with each other to coordinate activities.
    2. They play an important role in decomposing wood and plants. They break down dead trees and woody debris in forests, contributing to the natural cycle of decomposition.
    3. The largest termite colony on record contained over 3 million termites living across 45,000 mounds over 2,200 acres of land!
    4. They have one of the most extended lifespans of any insect—they can live up to 15 years.
    5. Termites are known for their highly social behavior, living in large colonies and working together towards the survival of the group.
    6. The queen termite, responsible for reproduction, can live for up to 50 years, ensuring the longevity of the colony.
    7. They are reproducing right now because it’s their mating season, and those are winged termites (we call them ‘alates’ technically).

    7 Weird Facts about Mosquitoes

    1. Mosquitoes are attracted to certain colors, such as black, red, and orange, while they tend to also avoid yellow and green, like bed bugs. This could influence the choice of clothing colors to wear in mosquito-prone areas.
    2. They have a preference for certain blood types. Research suggests that mosquitoes are more attracted to people with Type O blood than those with Type A blood.
    3. Mosquitoes can smell their prey from up to 100 feet away. They are drawn to the carbon dioxide exhaled by humans and animals, as well as certain body odors.
    4. They can be deterred by certain scents. Natural repellents like citronella, lavender, and peppermint can help keep mosquitoes at bay.
    5. Mosquitoes can lay up to 300 eggs at a time. A single female mosquito can lay multiple batches of eggs in her lifetime, leading to rapid population growth.
    6. They are more active during certain times of the day. They are most active at dawn and dusk, so it’s important to take extra precautions during these times.
    7. Mosquitoes can carry diseases. In Phoenix, mosquitoes can transmit diseases like West Nile virus, which can cause serious illness in humans.