At a glance
- The Arizona bark scorpion is the only scorpion in the United States whose sting is considered medically significant.
- Termite swarmers have straight antennae, a thick waist and four wings of equal length, while flying ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist and longer front wings.
- Female western black widows are shiny black with a red hourglass under the abdomen, and their bites can cause severe pain and muscle cramps.
- Hollowed-out citrus still hanging on the tree is a common sign of roof rats in the Phoenix area.
- Platinum Pest Management identifies pests for free from a photo texted to (480) 518-1942.
On this page
Free Arizona pest identification from a photo
For free Arizona pest identification, text a clear photo to (480) 518-1942, with a coin beside the pest for scale and a note on where you found it. Platinum Pest Management will tell you what it is and whether it needs treatment, at no charge. If it does, the next step is a free inspection.
This guide covers the pests East Valley homeowners ask about most, and each pest name links to the service that treats it.
Identifying scorpions in the East Valley
Three scorpions are common around East Valley homes, and only the bark scorpion is a medical concern.
Arizona bark scorpion
Adults are light tan, 2 to 3 inches long, with thin pincers and a slender tail. They shelter in block walls and palm trees, climb well, and are the scorpion most often found indoors. The sting is medically significant, especially for young children.
Desert hairy scorpion
North America's largest scorpion reaches about 5 1/2 inches and is yellowish with a dark back and a hairy tail. It burrows in open desert, seldom comes inside, and its sting is not medically significant.
Stripe-tailed scorpion
Adults reach about 2 3/4 inches and are tan, with thick pincers and dark stripes under the tail. They live under rocks and pavers, climb poorly, and sting about like a bee.
Identifying spiders around Arizona homes
Western black widow
Females are shiny black with a red hourglass underneath and a body about 1/2 inch long. Their messy, strong webs sit low in garages, meter boxes and pool equipment. Bites are uncommon but can cause severe pain and cramping.
Desert tarantula
These hairy brown spiders span 4 inches or more with legs and live in desert burrows, though males roam in late summer. Bites are rare and mild, so we usually suggest moving one outside.
Wolf spider
Wolf spiders are brown or gray with darker stripes, 1/2 inch to over 1 inch long, and females carry young on their backs. They hunt at night in yards and garages, and the bite is not dangerous.
Giant crab spider
This flat, tan spider has a body up to about 1 inch long and legs that spread sideways like a crab. It hunts on walls and ceilings at night, often indoors, and its bite is painful but not dangerous.
Termite and bed bug look-alikes
Flying ants are often mistaken for termites, and carpet beetles for bed bugs.
| Pest | Size and color | Key features | Where seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Termite swarmer | About 1/2 inch with wings; tan to dark brown | Straight antennae, thick waist, four equal wings | Windows and lights, mostly after summer rain |
| Flying ant | Varies by species; black to reddish brown | Elbowed antennae, pinched waist, longer front wings | Lights and nest openings after rain |
| Bed bug | About 3/16 inch; reddish brown | Wingless, flat, oval body | Mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, couches |
| Carpet beetle | 1/16 to 1/8 inch; mottled white, brown and yellow | Round body, short clubbed antennae; adults fly | Windowsills, closets, rugs, stored wool |
A subterranean termite swarm indoors usually means a colony is feeding under the house, and mud tubes on the foundation are another sign. Termites damage wood but are not a health concern, while winged ants are mostly a nuisance.
Bed bugs leave dark spots along mattress seams and cause itchy bites, though they are not known to spread disease. Fuzzy carpet beetle larvae feed on wool and pet hair and can irritate skin, and general pest control plus vacuuming takes care of them.
Identifying cockroaches in Phoenix-area homes
German cockroach
German cockroaches are light brown, 1/2 to 5/8 inch long, with two dark stripes behind the head. They breed indoors near kitchen and bathroom plumbing, and their allergens can trigger asthma.
American cockroach
These reddish-brown roaches are about 1 1/2 inches long with a pale band behind the head. They live in sewers and meter boxes, come in through drains, and carry bacteria onto surfaces.
Turkestan cockroach
Males are tan with pale-edged wings and females are dark with cream markings, both about 1 inch long. They live outdoors in meter boxes and block walls and, like other roaches, can carry bacteria.
Identifying rats, mice and gophers
Roof rat
Roof rats are slender and dark brown to black, with a 6 to 8 inch body and a longer tail. They nest in palms, vines and attics, and hollowed-out citrus on the tree is a telltale sign. Droppings contaminate food, and gnawing damages wiring.
House mouse
House mice are gray-brown, with a 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inch body and a tail about as long. They nest in garages, cabinets and wall voids, fit through 1/4 inch gaps, and contaminate food with droppings and urine.
Pack rat
Pack rats are roof-rat sized, with a furry tail, big ears and a pale belly. Near open desert they build stick-and-cactus nests under shrubs and cars and chew vehicle wiring. Their nests can harbor kissing bugs, whose bites can cause allergic reactions.
Pocket gopher
Pocket gophers are stocky, brown and 7 to 10 inches long, with large front claws. They stay underground and push up fan-shaped mounds with a plugged hole to one side. Gophers are not a health risk, but they eat roots and chew drip lines.
Identifying ants in Arizona yards
Knowing the species matters, since ants differ in which baits they take.
Pavement ant
Pavement ants are dark brown to black, about 1/8 inch long, with fine grooves on the head. They nest under slabs and pavers, leave small piles of sand at cracks, and seldom sting.
Argentine ant
Argentine ants are light to dark brown and 1/8 inch or smaller, and they move in steady, wide trails. They favor moist soil near irrigation and potted plants and do not sting.
Fire ant
Fire ants are reddish brown with a darker rear, and workers in one colony range from 1/16 to 1/4 inch. They nest in loose soil near lawns and irrigation, and their stings raise itchy bumps and can cause allergic reactions.
Harvester ant
Harvester ants are red to dark reddish brown and 1/4 to 3/8 inch long. They nest in open ground ringed by a bare, cleared circle, and their sting is very painful.
Identifying crickets, mosquitoes and other insects
House and field crickets
House crickets are light tan with dark head bands and about 3/4 inch long; field crickets are black and about 1 inch. Both are harmless to people but gather at lights and foundations on late-summer nights, where bark scorpions hunt them.
Aedes and Culex mosquitoes
Both are about 1/4 inch long. Aedes aegypti is black with white leg bands, bites by day, breeds in small containers and can carry dengue and Zika. Culex is plain brown, bites at dusk and night, breeds in green pools and storm drains, and spreads West Nile virus.
Silverfish
Silverfish are silvery gray, teardrop-shaped and about 1/2 inch long, with three tail bristles. They hide in bathrooms, closets and boxes and damage paper and fabric but do not harm people.
Earwigs
Earwigs are reddish brown and 1/2 to 1 inch long, with pincers at the tail end. They shelter in damp mulch, pots and drip-irrigated beds, and the pincers can give a mild pinch.
Paper wasps
Paper wasps are slender, reddish brown to yellow and about 3/4 to 1 inch long. They hang umbrella-shaped paper nests under eaves, patio covers and light fixtures and will sting to defend them.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell a termite from a flying ant?
Look at the antennae, the waist and the wings. Termite swarmers have straight antennae, a thick waist and four wings of equal length, while flying ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist and front wings longer than the back pair. If you find shed wings near a window, save a few in a sealed bag, and see termite control for what happens next.
What does a bark scorpion look like compared with other scorpions?
Arizona bark scorpions are light tan and 2 to 3 inches long, with long, thin pincers and a slender tail, and they are the local scorpion that climbs walls. Stripe-tailed scorpions are stockier with thicker pincers, and desert hairy scorpions are much larger and hairy. If you are unsure, treat it as a bark scorpion and keep children and pets away from it.
Are the spiders in my garage dangerous?
Most are not. Wolf spiders, giant crab spiders and the occasional tarantula can bite if handled, but they are not considered dangerous. Western black widows are the exception, so watch for a shiny black spider with a red hourglass in messy webs low in corners, and wear gloves when reaching into those spots. Our spider control page covers treatment.
How do I know if I have bed bugs or carpet beetles?
Bed bugs are flat, oval, reddish brown and wingless, and they leave small dark spots and shed skins along mattress seams. Carpet beetles are tiny round beetles mottled white, brown and yellow, often found on windowsills, and their fuzzy larvae live in closets and rugs. If someone in the house is waking up with bites, send us a photo of anything you find. Our bed bug treatment page explains what comes next.
What should I do with a pest I cannot identify?
Take a clear photo from directly above with a coin beside it for scale, and text it to (480) 518-1942. Small insects such as bed bugs or termite wings can go in a sealed bag or pill bottle. Do not try to pick up scorpions, black widows or wasps, and keep children and pets away until we know what it is.