Tempe's Unique Pest Challenges
Tempe’s housing density is unlike most Valley cities. Large apartment complexes, student housing near ASU, and multi-unit
developments create environments where German cockroach infestations spread between units through shared walls,
plumbing, and electrical chases. A single infested unit can seed an entire building if not addressed systematically. Property
managers and landlords in Tempe face cockroach management as a constant operational challenge.
Tempe Town Lake and the Salt River bottom create a moisture corridor through the heart of the city. This waterfront, while
an amenity for residents, attracts mosquitoes, rodents, and moisture-seeking pests to nearby properties. The Rio Salado
area, Papago Park, and the canal system that runs through Tempe add to the moisture dynamic. Roaches, ants, and
crickets are more active in neighborhoods near these water features.
The older residential neighborhoods of south Tempe, between Baseline and the Tempe/Chandler border, feature 1960s to
1980s homes with mature landscaping, citrus trees, and block wall construction. These areas require dedicated scorpion
control in Tempe, as well as management of roof rats attracted to citrus and bark scorpions in block walls, and termites in
older construction. Meanwhile, the ASU corridor and downtown Tempe’s commercial scene, restaurants, bars, retail,
demand professional commercial pest management with full health department documentation.
