EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — As temperatures rise, pest problems are ramping up, with experts warning that warmer weather can accelerate breeding and increase the risk of infestations.
A local pest control expert said pests become more active as temperatures climb, creating ideal conditions for ants, wasps, and scorpions to multiply.
Experts said catching the problem early is key, and they warned that many homes they visit have already tried temporary fixes that can lead to bigger problems and higher costs later.
“Spring is coming in, everything is waking up. Misconceptions that people have are like bugs; they just go away. They don’t; they are dormant, and other bugs, to prolong, lay eggs, and those eggs are basically on a timer. Once certain conditions are met, that’s when they’ll hatch,” said Alonso Sanchez from Preventive Pest Control.
Rising temperatures fuel pest activity, experts say early prevention is key
Noah Hamilton, also from Preventive Pest Control, said the heat is already bringing more activity in some areas.
“Things are heating up, ants, scorpions, lots of wasps we’ve been seeing out here, especially in South Valley,” Hamilton said.
Pest control crews treat homes with targeted sprays and non-toxic solutions to prevent pests from returning.
Experts also said residents can take simple steps to help prevent infestations before they start, including removing standing water, maintaining daily cleaning, and storing pet food.
Some residents said they are already seeing the effects of the early heat.
“And it’s kind of crazy because the heat came out of nowhere, and it’s very, very, very hot. And we got more rodents coming out, more spiders coming out, cockroaches, everything that was hidden,” Alberto Varias said.
Alberto Varias. March 20, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
Others said do-it-yourself approaches often don’t last.
RECOMMENDED: Fort Bliss tank units conduct live-fire training exercise Friday
“I know a lot of people do at-home remedies for temporary fixes,” Brittany Freeman said.
“Some of the remedies aren’t long-term, so they’ll help for like maybe a day or two, but I mean, they always come back out,” Stephanie Howard said.
Stephanie Howard. March 20, 2026. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
With temperatures expected to keep rising, experts said taking action now can help prevent infestations and avoid bigger problems later, emphasizing that early prevention is key during the warmer months.
RECOMMENDED: Teen’s death leaves El Paso family seeking answers after I-10 East crash
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.