---
title: "Ahwatukee Pest Control | Platinum Pest Management"
description: "Ahwatukee pest control for homes on South Mountain, with bark scorpion, black widow, pack rat and cricket treatment by licensed technicians. Free inspection."
url: https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/ahwatukee/
publisher: Platinum Pest Management LLC
---

# Ahwatukee Pest Control for Homes Along South Mountain

Ahwatukee pest control centers on the Arizona bark scorpion, because so many Ahwatukee Foothills homes back onto South Mountain Park and Preserve or rocky hillsides. Platinum Pest Management also treats black widows, pack rats, crickets and termites here.

## At a glance

- Ahwatukee Foothills is part of the city of Phoenix, separated from the rest of the city by South Mountain and bordered by the Gila River Indian Community.
- Rock retaining walls and rocky hillsides near many Ahwatukee homes shelter Arizona bark scorpions, which is why the area is known for them.
- Pack rats from South Mountain Park and Preserve build nests in Ahwatukee yards and garages, and sometimes in car engine compartments.
- For Ahwatukee homes that back onto South Mountain, Platinum Pest Management generally recommends monthly scorpion service.

## Why Ahwatukee has so many scorpions

Ahwatukee Foothills lies along the south side of South Mountain Park and Preserve, one of the largest city parks in the country. Many homes back directly onto the preserve or onto hillsides, and sloped lots are often terraced with rock retaining walls.

Rocky ground like this suits the Arizona bark scorpion. The species hides by day in rock crevices, under loose stone and inside stacked walls, then hunts at night, and it climbs block walls and stucco well. Irrigated yards and porch lights that attract insects pull scorpions from the hillside toward the house. Activity picks up in spring as nights warm and stays high through the summer monsoon.

Finding a scorpion indoors now and then is common in Ahwatukee, even in well-kept homes. Our [scorpion control service](https://platinumpestaz.com/services/scorpions/) cuts down how often that happens, and our article on [scorpion control in Arizona homes](https://platinumpestaz.com/blog/scorpion-control-arizona-homes/) covers the sealing work homeowners can do themselves.

> Bark scorpion stings are painful and can be serious for young children and older adults. If someone in the house is stung, contact Poison Control or a doctor for advice.

## What Ahwatukee pest control service includes

An Ahwatukee visit begins outside, since that is where most scorpions and spiders come from. Our technician starts at the back wall that faces the preserve or hillside, then works around the perimeter. Rock retaining walls, landscape rock, garage door seals and the gaps under exterior doors all get a close look.

The exterior treatment follows the foundation line and the retaining walls and reaches up under the eaves, where spiders often build. We use EPA-registered products, applied by licensed technicians according to the label, and treat inside only where it makes sense, such as the garage or the plumbing under sinks. The technician also points out gaps worth sealing, such as worn door sweeps and openings where pipes enter the wall.

Service frequency depends mostly on how close the house is to open desert. Monthly service is the usual choice along the preserve edge, while homes deeper in a subdivision often do well on a bi-monthly or quarterly [pest control plan](https://platinumpestaz.com/pest-control-plans/). Our re-service guarantee covers Ahwatukee homes too, so covered pests that return between scheduled visits are re-treated at no extra charge.

Homeowners can help by checking the yard at night with an ultraviolet flashlight. A count of the scorpions found before and after treatment gives both of us a way to see the numbers drop.

![Scorpion glowing blue under ultraviolet light](https://platinumpestaz.com/assets/img/scorpion-blacklight.jpg)

*Scorpions glow under ultraviolet light, so a blacklight shows them clearly on walls and rock at night.*

## Other pests Ahwatukee homeowners call about

- Black widows in garages, rock walls and pool equipment. Our [spider control](https://platinumpestaz.com/services/spiders/) targets the sheltered spots they return to.
- Pack rats that move in from the preserve and pile up stick-and-cactus nests, called middens, in woodpiles, sheds and car engines. See [pack rat and rodent control](https://platinumpestaz.com/services/rodents/).
- Crickets around lights and garage doors after monsoon storms. Scorpions hunt crickets, so cutting down their numbers near the house through [cricket control](https://platinumpestaz.com/services/crickets/) also helps with scorpions.
- Harvester ants in desert landscaping and common areas, and smaller ants that trail into kitchens. See [ant control](https://platinumpestaz.com/services/ants/) for both.
- Mud tubes on stem walls or inside the garage, which point to desert subterranean termites. [Termite treatment](https://platinumpestaz.com/services/termites/) starts with a free inspection.

## Where we work in Ahwatukee Foothills

Locals sometimes call Ahwatukee the world's largest cul-de-sac, since South Mountain separates it from the rest of Phoenix. Platinum Pest Management serves the whole area, including Lakewood, the Foothills, Mountain Park Ranch, Club West and the custom-home streets that back onto the preserve. Homes near Pecos Road and the Loop 202 are on our routes as well.

Interstate 10 separates Ahwatukee from Tempe and Chandler, both of which we serve. Details are on our [Tempe pest control](https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/tempe/) and [pest control in Chandler](https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/chandler/) pages, and our [Phoenix pest control](https://platinumpestaz.com/service-areas/phoenix/) page covers the parts of the city north of South Mountain.

## Frequently asked questions

### Will scorpion treatment stop every scorpion from getting into an Ahwatukee home?

No treatment keeps out every scorpion, especially on a lot that backs onto South Mountain. Regular exterior treatment, tight door sweeps and weep screeds, and clearing rock and debris away from the foundation can bring indoor sightings down a great deal. Results build over several visits, and we explain that at the first inspection.

### Do rock retaining walls attract scorpions?

Stacked rock and unmortared retaining walls have many deep gaps where Arizona bark scorpions hide during the day, and many Ahwatukee hillside lots have them. Our technicians treat the face and base of these walls on each visit. Keeping the base clear of leaves and fixing nearby irrigation leaks also helps.

### How do I keep pack rats from the preserve out of my Ahwatukee garage?

Pack rats move into Ahwatukee yards that offer cover, such as woodpiles, dense shrubs and items stored along the back wall. Clearing that cover and closing gaps under the garage door helps. Our [rodent control service](https://platinumpestaz.com/services/rodents/) traps pack rats, clears out middens next to the house and points out openings into garages and sheds that should be closed.

### Are black widows common in Ahwatukee?

Black widows are common across the Phoenix area, and Ahwatukee's rock walls, garages and pool equipment give them plenty of sheltered spots. Their webs are messy and irregular, usually low to the ground. Wear gloves when moving stored items or yard debris, and call us if you find several in one area.

### Is Ahwatukee part of Phoenix?

Ahwatukee Foothills is part of the city of Phoenix, although South Mountain separates it from the rest of the city. Addresses there use Phoenix with 85044, 85045 or 85048 ZIP codes. We serve all three ZIP codes from our office in Mesa.

## Contact Platinum Pest Management

- Phone or text: (480) 518-1942
- Office: 3944 E Ellis St., Mesa, AZ 85205
- Hours: Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to noon, closed Sunday
- Arizona pest control business license #9562
- Free inspection: https://platinumpestaz.com/free-inspection/