At a glance
- Roof rats were first widely reported in the Phoenix area in the Arcadia neighborhood, where mature citrus trees give them food and nesting cover.
- American cockroaches in older central Phoenix neighborhoods live in the sewer system and enter homes through dry drain traps, loose cleanout caps and gaps around pipes.
- In north Phoenix and Desert Ridge, homes that border open desert see steady Arizona bark scorpion activity during the warm months.
- Platinum Pest Management, based in Mesa, serves Arcadia, the central historic districts, north Phoenix and Desert Ridge.
On this page
Which Phoenix neighborhoods see which pests
Pest pressure in Phoenix changes with the age of a neighborhood and how close it sits to open desert. The table below lists what we see most often in the parts of Phoenix we serve.
| Area | Common pests | What drives them |
|---|---|---|
| Arcadia and Camelback East | Roof rats and mosquitoes | Old citrus trees and flood irrigation |
| Willo, Encanto-Palmcroft, Coronado and other historic districts | American cockroaches and termites | Aging sewer lines and houses from the 1920s to the 1940s |
| North Phoenix and Desert Ridge | Bark scorpions and black widows | Open desert and rock landscaping |
| Alley-lot neighborhoods in central Phoenix | Roof rats and black widows | Trash bins and overgrowth along the alley |
Ahwatukee is part of Phoenix too, but South Mountain shapes its pest problems, so it has a separate page on Ahwatukee pest control.
Roof rats in Arcadia and central Phoenix
Arcadia was built on former citrus groves, and many lots still have old citrus trees and flood irrigation. Roof rats were first widely reported in the Valley here in the early 2000s. Since then they have spread to many older neighborhoods with mature trees, in Phoenix and in nearby south Scottsdale.
Most roof rat nests are above ground, in citrus, palms, dense vines and attics. The rats run along wall tops and power lines, and they eat fruit on the tree, leaving empty rinds on the branches.
Trapping is only part of roof rat control in Phoenix. The technician also points out gaps at the roofline that need sealing, and branches that reach the roof should be cut back so the rats lose their bridge. Rats move between neighboring yards, so results are better when the houses on either side are handled too. The warning signs and prevention steps are covered in our roof rat guide for the Phoenix Valley.
American cockroaches in historic Phoenix neighborhoods
American cockroaches are the large, reddish-brown roaches that come out at night in older central Phoenix neighborhoods such as Willo, Encanto-Palmcroft and Coronado. They live in the sewer system. Cracked older lines, loose cleanout caps and dry drain traps in rarely used sinks and showers give them a way into the house.
In these neighborhoods, cockroach treatment covers the water meter and irrigation valve boxes in the yard, along with the exterior walls, and the technician points out loose or missing cleanout caps. Running water in unused drains now and then keeps the traps full and closes that route. The same sewer-line problem turns up in older parts of Tempe. German cockroaches, the small species that breeds indoors, need interior baiting instead and are treated as a separate problem.
What a service visit to a Phoenix home looks like
- Inspection
- The yard and alley first, then the garage and any room where pests have turned up.
- Exterior treatment
- The slab edge and door frames, along with pool equipment and meter boxes.
- Inside the house
- Kitchens and bathrooms, when the inspection finds activity there.
- Rodents
- Trapping, plus advice on sealing the roofline, when roof rats are present.
- Schedule
- A monthly, every-other-month or quarterly plan, or a single visit, chosen after the free inspection.
- Follow-up
- The re-service guarantee applies between scheduled visits, so a return trip for covered pests costs nothing extra.
You can book a free Phoenix pest inspection or read about our pest control plans first.
Phoenix pest control service area
In Phoenix, we work mainly in Arcadia and Camelback East, the Biltmore area, the central historic districts, north Phoenix and Desert Ridge. Phoenix is a large city, so if your address falls outside those areas, call (480) 518-1942 and the office will tell you if it is on our routes.
Frequently asked questions
Can roof rats get into my attic from the citrus trees?
Roof rats climb citrus and palm trees, cross to the roof along branches or utility lines, and get into attics through gaps at the eaves, roof vents and pipe openings. In Arcadia and other central Phoenix neighborhoods, cutting back limbs that overhang the roof and sealing those gaps matter as much as trapping.
Are American cockroaches a sign of a dirty house?
American cockroaches in Phoenix come mostly from sewer lines and underground yard boxes, and they turn up in well-kept homes, especially in older central neighborhoods. German cockroaches live and breed indoors near food and water, and they need a different, interior treatment. The cockroach control page explains both species.
How common are scorpions in north Phoenix and Desert Ridge?
North Phoenix and Desert Ridge have plenty of Arizona bark scorpions, especially around homes near open desert, washes or the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. Monthly or bi-monthly scorpion treatment, along with sealed door sweeps and weep screed gaps, keeps indoor sightings down during the warm months.
Do you also cover Ahwatukee?
Platinum Pest Management serves Ahwatukee as well as the Phoenix neighborhoods listed on this page. Homes there back onto South Mountain and deal with more scorpions in rock retaining walls and more pack rats than most of central Phoenix, so the area has its own page on Ahwatukee pest control.
What pests are common in Phoenix alleys?
Alleys behind older Phoenix homes collect trash bins, overgrowth and stored items. Roof rats nest and travel there, black widows web in the clutter, and American cockroaches come up from nearby sewer access points. Clearing weeds and stored items from behind the back wall and keeping bin lids shut helps, and we check the alley behind the lot on each visit.