At a glance
- Apache Junction sits at the foot of the Superstition Mountains, and its foothill lots near Lost Dutchman State Park border the rocky habitat where bark scorpions and pack rats live.
- Platinum Pest Management treats site-built homes, manufactured homes and park models throughout Apache Junction.
- Pack rats in Apache Junction often nest under manufactured homes and park models, where gaps in the skirting give them shelter.
- Apache Junction homes that sit closed during the summer can collect roaches, scorpions and rodents without anyone noticing until fall.
Desert lots and closed-up houses in Apache Junction
The Superstition Mountains rise right behind Apache Junction, and Lost Dutchman State Park is a few miles up the Apache Trail. Lots here tend to be larger than elsewhere in the East Valley, and many run right up to rocky desert with saguaro, cholla and prickly pear.
A large share of the housing is manufactured homes and park models, many of them in communities that fill with winter residents from fall to spring. Those two conditions, the rocky desert and the houses that sit closed for months, shape most of the pest work we do in Apache Junction.
Pests common around Apache Junction homes
Pack rats under homes and in parked vehicles
Most pack rats in the area are white-throated woodrats, which nest at the base of cholla and prickly pear or under anything that offers cover. Gaps in the skirting of a manufactured home or park model let them nest underneath, where they chew wiring and insulation. Cars, golf carts and RVs parked for the summer draw them too. For pack rats, rodent control means trapping, pulling out the nest and pointing out gaps in the skirting that need closing.
Scorpions from the foothills
Arizona bark scorpions move onto lots at the desert edge and shelter under skirting, in block walls and in stacked firewood. Larger desert scorpions turn up here as well, but the bark scorpion is the only one in the area whose sting is considered medically significant. Homes against the foothills usually need several rounds of scorpion control.
Roaches in closed-up homes
In a house that sits empty through the summer, nobody runs the water, so sink and tub drains can dry out and let American cockroaches up from the sewer line. Pouring water into each drain when the house opens again, and plugging drains that will not be used, cuts off that route. See cockroach treatment for what we do once roaches are inside.
Black widows and termites
Western black widows build in skirting, sheds, carports and the undersides of patio furniture. Desert subterranean termites work up from the soil into wooden steps, porch framing and any wood that touches the ground. Our spider control and termite treatment pages cover both.
Apache Junction pest control for seasonal homes
Many Apache Junction homeowners spend the winter here and the summer somewhere cooler, and the months they are gone are the months pest activity peaks. Keeping exterior service going from late spring through monsoon season means the house stays treated during that stretch, not only when someone is home to notice a problem.
Before leaving in spring, it helps to plug unused drains and get stored boxes off the floor. Cars and golf carts should sit away from brush, and anything outside that holds water should be emptied. When the house opens again in the fall, a look under the skirting, in the garage and behind appliances shows what moved in over the summer.
What a service visit includes in Apache Junction
| Part of the property | What we do |
|---|---|
| Under the home | Check the skirting for pack rat nests, droppings and gaps, and treat along the skirting line for scorpions and spiders |
| Foundation and doors | Exterior treatment around the foundation or skirting, block walls, door frames and windows with EPA-registered products, applied according to the label |
| Sheds and carports | Look for pack rat nests and chewing, and brush down black widow webs |
| Desert side of the lot | Extra attention to rock borders, woodpiles and any side of the lot open to the foothills |
| Inside | Treatment on request, with drains, cabinets and the garage checked in homes that have been closed |
Plans run monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly, and one-time service works well for a home being opened for the season. Should covered pests come back between scheduled visits, we return and treat again at no extra charge. Details are on our pest control plans and general pest control pages.
Where we work in and around Apache Junction
Our technicians work throughout Apache Junction, in the neighborhoods near the Mesa line and on the foothill lots off the Apache Trail. Manufactured home and park-model communities across town are covered as well.
Mesa, home to our office, borders Apache Junction on the west, and Queen Creek is to the southwest. For those cities, see pest control in Mesa and Queen Creek pest control. Winter residents can set up an inspection before they leave for the summer by calling (480) 518-1942.
Frequently asked questions
Should I keep pest service going while my Apache Junction home sits empty for the summer?
Summer is when scorpion, roach and cricket activity peaks, so a house left untreated from spring to fall often has a buildup waiting in October. Exterior service through the summer keeps treatment in place during those months. We can work out a schedule that fits the months the house is occupied and the months it is empty.
How do pack rats get under manufactured homes and park models?
Pack rats squeeze through gaps in the skirting, torn vent screens and openings where pipes and wires enter. Once underneath, they haul in nest material and can damage wiring, insulation and ducts. Sealing the skirting with hardware cloth or sheet metal, after the rats are trapped, is the step that keeps new ones out.
Are scorpions worse near Lost Dutchman State Park and the foothills?
Generally, yes. Homes closest to the rocky foothills of the Superstition Mountains, including those near Lost Dutchman State Park, border the natural habitat of the Arizona bark scorpion. These homes usually need more frequent service at first. Sealing gaps and moving firewood and rock piles away from the house help as well.
What pests should I look for when I open my Apache Junction home in the fall?
Check for roaches near drains, scorpions in bathtubs and sinks, droppings in cabinets and the garage, and fresh webs in corners and under furniture. Look under the skirting and around parked vehicles for pack rat nests. If more than a few signs turn up, schedule an inspection before settling in for the season.
Do you treat RV parks and park-model communities in Apache Junction?
We treat individual park models and manufactured homes throughout Apache Junction, and we provide commercial service for parks and communities that want clubhouses, common areas and other buildings covered. Both start with a free inspection. For more on how commercial accounts work, see commercial pest control.