Staff Reports
New Mexico’s diverse high-desert climate attracts specific pests that seek moisture, food, and shelter indoors. Exterminating these local bugs requires a mix of physical barriers, yard maintenance, and strategic pest control applications.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of how to get rid of four types of bugs found around New Mexico.
SCORPIONS (E.G., ARIZONA BARK SCORPION)
Particularly prevalent in southern New Mexico, scorpions love dark, moist environments.
How to get rid of them: Eliminate their primary food source by treating your yard for crickets, roaches, and spiders. Clear away brush, woodpiles, and debris near your foundation. Seal cracks in doors, windows, and foundations, and conduct nighttime sweeps with a blacklight to spot and remove them physically.
DESERT AND CARPENTER ANTS
Dry climates drive aggressive and persistent ant species indoors to forage.
How to get rid of them: Use non-repellent perimeter insecticides such as Termidor SC around your foundation to prevent them from entering. For existing trails, use slow-acting ant baits (such as borax-based gels) which workers carry back to the queen, ultimately destroying the colony at its source.
COCKROACHES (AMERICAN, GERMAN, ORIENTAL)
These unsanitary pests thrive in the hot, arid climate of cities like Albuquerque, escaping heat by running straight for your plumbing and drains.
How to get rid of them: Fix any leaky pipes and eliminate standing water. Seal entry points, thoroughly clean under kitchen appliances, and apply professional-grade roach gels or baits behind baseboards, cabinets, and dark crevices.
ELM SEED AND FALSE CHINCH BUGS
New Mexico regularly experiences swarms of these tiny nuisance bugs. They are harmless to humans, but can invade homes and gardens by the thousands.
How to get rid of them: Vacuum them up immediately when they group on walls or windowsills, being careful to discard the sealed bag outside. Create a two-foot dirt/stone barrier around your home’s perimeter free of organic matter and decaying vegetation, and spray a barrier insecticide along doors, eaves, and windows.
VENOMOUS SPIDERS (BLACK WIDOW AND BROWN RECLUSE)
These spiders hide in dark, quiet spaces like garages, closets, and woodpiles.
How to get rid of them: Reduce clutter in storage areas and shake out shoes or clothing before wearing them. Clear organic debris two feet away from your home’s exterior and apply a protective indoor/outdoor pesticide barrier around potential nesting sites.
