When it comes to living in Southern Utah, there are A TON of perks — low crime rate, beautiful state parks like Snow Canyon and Sand Hollow, lower cost of living, and schools rated in the top 10 for the state. It’s no wonder St. George is a great place to call home. However, us humans aren’t the only ones who see the benefit of residence in St. George. In fact, there are over 500 types of creepy crawlies that can be found in Southern Utah.

If you live in St. George or are thinking of moving to Southern Utah, here’s a quick run down of the top 3 most dangerous bugs and pests in St. George, Utah.

Black Widow

The black widow is found throughout Southern Utah, including St. George. Black widows are easily recognized, as they have a shiny black body with a large red hourglass shape on their underbelly. Black widows have eight legs and a large abdomen (the back end of the spider). If bitten by a black widow a red welt will appear, as well as swelling, numbness, and moderate to severe amount of pain. A bite from one of these spiders, though not typically lethal, can be dangerous for the elderly as well as infants. If bitten by one of these spiders, seek medical attention immediately. Click here for more info on black widows.

Arizona Bark Scorpion

The Arizona bark scorpion is a small light brown scorpion native to the Sonoran Desert. An adult male can reach 8 cm in length, while a female is slightly smaller, with a maximum length of 7 cm. Though far from the largest of scorpions, their sting is the worst of them all. Though rarely fatal, its venom can cause severe pain (coupled with numbness, tingling, and vomiting) in adult humans, typically lasting between 24 and 72 hours. These effects are more severe in children and the elderly, often causing shortness of breath due to the extreme pain. If stung by one of these scorpions, seek medical attention immediately. 

Desert Recluse Spider

The Desert Recluse spider, a relative of the more famous Brown Recluse spider, is common to St. George. Although the bite initially is less painful than a black widow, over time it can become significantly worse. The desert recluse can be 1/4 – 1/2 inch long and has a tan to dark brown coloring with darker violin shaped marking on the cephalothorax. The spider also has 8 very long and skinny legs with six eyes arranged in three groups of two. Though the spider bite is extremely painful, 9-10 cases resolve with minimal treatment. However, in some cases a deep sore (ulcer) can form where bitten, causing the skin at the center to turn purple or white. In all cases, seek medical attention if bitten.

Pest Prevention

With all of these creepy crawlies, the easiest way to protect yourself and your family is to not have to deal with these pests in the first place. If you or a loved one is dealing with any of these creepy crawlies and are in need of pest control in St. George, Utah, 6 Bros Pest Control is here to help. Feel free to contact us with any questions.