Cedar City is the largest community in Iron County with 43,000 residents. Its settlement began on November 11, 1851, when a party of about 35 men arrived from Parowan under the direction of Henry Lunt, who is considered to be the city’s founder. They had been sent to establish an iron works that could supply tools and hardware to the larger territory. The site they chose lay between iron deposits to the west and coal sources up Cedar Canyon. They named the place “Fort Cedar” because of the dense stands of cedar trees. Spoiler: they weren’t cedars, they were junipers, but the name stuck and became Cedar City!
The iron furnace operated for only a few seasons before technical problems, flooding, and other difficulties closed it down in 1858, but the city flourished in other ways. The local economy turned to farming and ranching, although limited mining continued in the background. The city also became a gateway to national parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon, and other beautiful, natural attractions. Then in 1961 Cedar City hosted the 1st annual Utah Shakespeare Festival, cementing its identity as a center for seasonal cultural events. Many more annual festivals were added including the Groovefest Music Festival, the Neil Simon Festival, The American Southwest Classic Film Festival, eventually giving the city the official nickname “Festival City USA“.
Throughout Cedar City’s history is another parallel history: a clear annual rhythm of pest activity. Summers are hot and dry; winters are cold enough to cause many pests to seek shelter. Homes, yards, and structures therefore encounter different species at different times of year.
Seasonal Pests of Cedar City
Spring is when everything wakes up and starts looking for food. Ants are usually first: pavement ants, odorous house ants (a.k.a sugar ants), and harvester ants are all out in search of food. Termites can swarm if a colony is nearby, subterranean termites are by far the most common in the state, and can cause serious structural damage. They love any wood that’s touching soil or staying damp. Spiders get more active, and the first wasps start scouting for nest spots. This is also when lawn grubs can start chewing on grass roots.
Summer is full-on pest season. Wasps and hornets become bold around your trash cans, outdoor eating areas, and eaves. Ants keep marching. Scorpions become more noticeable in their quest for cooler areas like garages, shoes left outside, under rocks, and they can even find their way inside. Utah actually has several scorpion species, but the Arizona bark scorpion is the most common in Cedar. Black widow spiders hang out in dark, quiet corners. Flies and mosquitoes show up wherever there’s any standing water.
Fall is boxelder bug time. Those black bugs with the red X markings show up by the hundreds on the sunny side of houses and try to sneak inside to ride out the winter. They don’t bite or sting, but they can stain walls and fabrics if you smash them, and they’re just plain annoying! At the same time, mice and rats start looking for warm places to nest, and spiders (including black widows) get more interested in sheltered spots. Sealing cracks and gaps before the big temperature drops can make a real difference.
Winter doesn’t mean the pests disappear, instead they mostly just move inside. Rodents are the main issue; once they’re in the walls or attic they’re hard to ignore. Spiders keep showing up in basements, garages, sheds, and storage areas. You might still see the occasional ant on a warmer day. Spider mites can also make their appearance in these cold months as a swarm of tiny moving dots. They invade through your windows, and are generally found on the sills of the “sunny” sides of your home.
Conclusion
Cedar City’s history is full of grit and a few funny naming accidents, but don’t let pests accidentally find their way into your home. If you’re looking for quality pest control in Cedar City (or surrounding areas) that includes free estimates and no contracts, please call Newby’s Pest • Lawn • Weeds today at 435-586-7337 or click below to schedule your appointment today!
