Welcome to Bug Season in Southern Utah
If you’ve lived in Southern Utah long enough, you know it’s not just the weather that changes with the seasons, it’s the bugs. One month it’s ants building highways through your kitchen, the next it’s scorpions moonwalking across your garage floor.
Each season brings its own pest problems, and if you’re not prepared, your home could turn into a revolving door for creepy crawlies. This month-by-month pest calendar is your go-to guide for what to expect and when to call in the pros. If it crawls, stings, or skitters, there’s a season for that and we’re here to help you stay ahead of it.
Spring (March – May): The Great Wake-Up Call
When the soil warms up, so do the pests. Spring kicks off the start of activity, and it’s the best time to set up a strong defense before things really take off. Think of it like the pre-season for pests. If you can intercept them early, you’ll save yourself a summer’s worth of headaches.
What to Watch For:
- Ants: Sugar ants, pavement ants, and carpenter ants all begin to swarm and scout in spring. You might see long trails near sinks, baseboards, or even marching straight up a pantry shelf. Ant colonies can grow fast, so early treatment matters.
- Spiders: You’ll start seeing more web-building around doorways, garages, and tucked-away corners. Black widows prefer hiding under steps and boxes, while wolf spiders like to skitter across cool basement floors. Not all spiders are dangerous but none of them are exactly welcome.
- Earwigs: These creepy-looking critters love moisture and darkness. They’ll crawl under doormats, sneak under siding, or hide behind appliances. Their pincers look scary but aren’t harmful; they’re just off-putting enough to keep you up at night.
- Wasps: Spring is nesting season for wasps. You’ll find small, papery starter nests on porch ceilings, in barbecue grills, and tucked into playsets. The sooner you knock them down, the less likely they’ll come back with friends.
Pest Control Tip: March and April are ideal months for preventative spraying. Catching pests early means fewer problems come summer.
Summer (June – August): Peak Pest Season in Southern Utah
When it gets hot and dry, pests start looking for water, shade, and food usually inside your home. Summer is the high season for the worst offenders. These months can bring a perfect storm of pest activity, especially if you’ve got shade, standing water, or even crumbs that go unnoticed.
What to Watch For:
- Scorpions: These desert dwellers are heat-tolerant and nocturnal, often hiding in shoes, under floor mats, and inside garages. If your home backs up to open land or rock features, you’re even more likely to see them.
- Cockroaches: American and German cockroaches explode in number during summer, especially in humid bathrooms, leaking pipes, and cluttered storage areas. They reproduce quickly, so spotting even one could mean dozens more hiding nearby.
- Spiders: Summer is when predatory spiders like wolf spiders and black widows are most active. Look for webs around patio furniture, stacked firewood, and the corners of garages or sheds. They feed on other insects, which are also peaking in summer.
- Wasps: With a full colony built by midsummer, wasps become extremely territorial. They often nest inside wall voids, outdoor grills, mailboxes, and even children’s play structures. If disturbed, they won’t hesitate to sting multiple times.
Pest Control Tip: Mid-summer calls for regular follow-up treatments. If you skipped spring, now’s the time to catch up especially if you’re seeing anything that stings.
Fall (September – November): The Bug Migration Indoors
As temperatures cool, pests look for warmth and your home is the top target. Fall is when they make their move indoors, setting up shop in the quiet corners of your house where it’s warm and undisturbed.
What to Watch For:
- Earwigs: These nocturnal nuisances love damp areas and are small enough to squeeze through the tiniest gaps. You might spot them in laundry rooms, under sinks, or behind baseboards. Though mostly harmless, their sudden appearances are never welcome.
- Spiders: Autumn is the breeding season for many spider species. That means more activity and more sightings as they search for mates and protected spots to lay egg sacs. Expect to see more webs in window sills, garages, and around outdoor lighting.
- Cockroaches: Cooler temperatures push roaches inside in search of food and warmth. Once in, they’ll head for kitchen cabinets, behind appliances, and anywhere dark and damp. And if you see one, there’s likely a whole family close by.
- Scorpions: While not as active as in summer, scorpions can still be found in garages, closets, and crawl spaces especially on those warmer fall nights. They’re experts at hiding in shoes, boxes, and laundry piles, so stay alert.
Pest Control Tip: A fall treatment acts like a barrier before winter. It can help reduce indoor sightings and set you up for a cleaner, quieter winter.
Winter (December – February): The Quiet Months (Sort Of)
While activity slows, it doesn’t stop. Many pests settle indoors for the season.
Quick Notes:
- Spiders and roaches remain active in warm areas like attics, laundry rooms, and crawlspaces.
- Old wasp nests can be removed safely before spring rebuilding begins.
- It’s the ideal time to inspect for cracks, gaps, or old infestations that could cause issues later.
Pest Control Tip: Use winter as a planning season. Early prep means fewer issues when spring rolls around.
Book Ahead, Stay Ahead
Staying on schedule with your pest control means fewer surprises throughout the year. At Newby’s, we make it simple to stay ahead of every season with friendly service, local know-how, and effective treatments.
Contact us today and let’s get you on the calendar before the bugs do.
Did You Know? We’ve been serving Southern Utah for years and we know the local pest patterns like the back of our (non-bitten) hands.
