Fall in Phoenix brings relief from the summer heat — and a new wave of pest pressure as insects and rodents begin seeking warm shelter for the cooler months ahead. October and November are among the busiest months for pest control calls in the Phoenix metro area, as homeowners discover that the pests they thought were gone for the season have actually moved inside. Here is what to watch for. Crickets surge dramatically in fall, driven by cooling temperatures and attracted to the warmth and light of homes. They congregate around exterior lights, under doors, and in garages. A large cricket infestation is also a significant scorpion attractant — scorpions follow their food source, and crickets are their preferred prey.

Roof rats become more active in fall as they prepare for winter, foraging more aggressively and seeking warm nesting sites. Attic infestations that were quiet through summer often become audible in fall as rat activity increases. Spiders — including black widows and desert brown spiders — become more visible in fall as they complete their growth cycle and move to more exposed locations to find mates. Scorpion activity begins to slow in October but does not stop — warm fall days still produce active scorpions, and they begin congregating in sheltered harborage areas for winter. This congregating behavior makes fall a good time for UV inspections to find and treat congregation sites before winter.

The key to fall pest control is sealing entry points before pests move in, not after. Inspect all door sweeps and weatherstripping, seal gaps around utility penetrations, and apply a residual perimeter treatment in September or early October before temperatures drop. This treatment addresses crickets, scorpions, spiders, and cockroaches simultaneously. Pest Control Bros provides fall pest control across Maricopa, Chandler, Casa Grande, Tempe, Gilbert, and Mesa. Free inspections, no contracts.