When Thomas Harris, our founder, was recently interviewed by KUER about the changing pest landscape in Utah, his assessment was both colorful and concerning. "You really do age every summer. I like to count them like dog years. So I'm around 70."
Harris's observations, drawn from years of running his own successful pest control company, reveal a troubling reality facing the Salt Lake Valley. Climate change, explosive urban development, and increased travel are creating a perfect storm for pest proliferation.
In the interview, which was also featured on The Salt Lake Tribune, Harris shares how business calls have surged dramatically, with one particularly warm January bringing in an extra $30,000 — a 50% increase from typical winter months. This isn't just good news for pest control operators; it's a canary in the coal mine for broader environmental changes affecting the Intermountain West.
The Climate Connection: Warmer Winters, Longer Seasons
Utah's changing climate is rewriting the rules of pest biology. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food identifies "erratic weather patterns and climate change" as key trends contributing to increasing pest pressure, supporting what field professionals like Harris observe daily.
Marion Murray, a pest specialist at Utah State University, has documented dramatic shifts in the development cycles of insects. Take, for example, the codling moth, a common agricultural pest that targets Utah's apple crops. Historically, this pest required six and a half weeks to complete its development cycle. "Now it's about three and a half weeks," Murray noted in the interview. "It's happening more quickly because it's been so much warmer."
The warming trend extends beyond individual species. Unlike mammals and birds that regulate their own body temperature, insects rely on external heat sources to drive their development. This means that warmer conditions accelerate how quickly insects mature, reproduce, and spread. Even a few degrees of warming can compress development cycles from weeks to days, allowing pest populations to explode in ways that were previously impossible.
Urban Expansion: Displacing Pests into Human Spaces
Utah's booming population has triggered unprecedented construction activity, but this development comes with unintended consequences. Harris explained how infrastructure projects fundamentally disrupt established pest ecosystems: "When you're doing that much construction to sewers and pipes and roads, and you start digging, bugs just spread like wildfire."
The Oriental cockroach provides a case study in urban pest dynamics. These resilient insects thrive in sewer systems, but construction forces them to seek new habitats, often in residential and commercial buildings.
Downtown Salt Lake City has become particularly affected by this phenomenon. Harris reports unprecedented cockroach calls during summer months, attributing the surge to construction activity combined with increased population density. "When you build, you're destroying where they [cockroaches] are living, and now they're going to find new places," he observed.
The high-rise boom adds another layer of complexity. More buildings mean more bathrooms and more organic waste, creating ideal conditions for rapid pest population growth.
New Arrivals: Invasive Species Find Their Footing
Climate change isn't just accelerating familiar pests; it's opening Utah's doors to species that previously couldn't survive the state's winters, such as the sycamore scale. Originally confined to southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, this microscopic pest was first discovered in St. George in 2009. It remained in southern Utah until 2012, when warming conditions enabled its spread northward.
"What it tells me is that our winters, especially, are warming up," Murray explained. This pattern reflects a broader trend documented across the western United States, where traditional geographic barriers to pest distribution are eroding.
The elm seed bug represents another climate-enabled invader. Harris described the dramatic increase in these pests: "I've never seen one. I only see 20 or 30 in every window." While these bugs don't pose health risks, they've become a significant nuisance pest throughout the state.
Even Utah's forests aren't immune to invasive pressure. Recent University of Utah research has documented the spread of balsam woolly adelgids, a pest that destroys fir trees. Climate change threatens to expand the insects' range and impact on Wasatch forests.
The Tourism Factor: Bed Bugs Follow Visitors
Utah's growing reputation as a tourist destination brings its own pest challenges. Bed bugs have an exceptional ability to hitchhike on luggage, clothing, and personal belongings. As Utah's tourism industry continues expanding, pest control professionals anticipate that bed bug pressure will likely intensify across popular destinations. “We're seeing as many bed bug calls to Park City as other parts of the valley that were more associated with bed bugs,’’ says Harris.
The short-term rental boom compounds this challenge. Airbnb properties and similar accommodations often lack the professional cleaning protocols that established hotels employ, potentially creating conditions where bed bug infestations can establish and spread more easily.
Looking Forward: Preparing for New Realities
Murray shares an ominous assessment in the interview: "It's concerning because I don't know that we can stop it." Her research suggests that Utah should prepare for more pests that historically couldn't survive the state's climate, leading to potential outbreak scenarios.
State agencies are taking notice, with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food's Plant Industry Insect Program working to protect agriculture and food from emerging threats. Meanwhile, Utah State University has developed sophisticated tools like Utah TRAPs, a calculator that helps predict insect emergence and optimize treatment timing.
The challenge extends beyond reactive pest control to proactive planning. Urban developers, agricultural producers, and homeowners must consider pest implications in their decision-making processes. Construction projects may need to incorporate pest prevention strategies from the design phase. Agricultural operations might require new integrated pest management approaches that account for accelerated development cycles.
Safeguarding Salt Lake Valley’s Communities, One Home at a Time
New pest challenges are always emerging in Utah. Our team is dedicated to understanding these threats so you can have peace of mind knowing your home is protected. Our 11 years of combined industry experience, including 4 years specifically serving the Salt Lake Valley, have given us unique insights into how climate change, urban development, and invasive species are affecting our local communities. We've evolved from traditional seasonal pest control to year-round integrated pest management, recognizing that today's challenges require sophisticated, science-based approaches.
What sets Uinta Pest Solutions apart in this rapidly changing landscape includes:
- Eco-friendly treatments carefully selected to target emerging pest threats while preserving Utah's delicate ecosystem and protecting your family and pets
- Same-day appointments when available, because pest emergencies don't wait for convenient timing
- An objective to reply within 10 minutes to all communications, ensuring you're never left wondering about your service status
- Customized solutions tailored to the specific pest challenges in Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas
- Real-time service approach with immediate solutions backed by cutting-edge pest management science
- Deep local expertise combining 11 years of industry knowledge with 4 years of Salt Lake Valley-specific experience