The tremendous desert climate brings serious difficulties for survival with seething daytime temperatures, freezing nighttime, rare water sources, and rare vegetation. Yet, some pest species have not only adapted but flourished in deserts around the world. These exceptional animals possess unique physiological traits and coping strategies that enable them to retain water, maintain their body temperature, and seek out viable food sources.
Desert-adapted pests also have a higher resistance to traditional pest control methods, and are therefore much more difficult to eradicate without an Exterminator in Highland Village assistance.
Knowing how these Desert pests survive in extreme conditions can help you and the professionals get rid of pests in these areas. Let us find out below.
Pests That Live In Desert And How They Survive
Here are some of the common pests you will find in the desert. However, they can still survive in these extreme heat conditions. Here are these pests:
- Desert Beetles
Some species of beetles have developed amazing adaptations to survive in desert environments. The Namib Desert beetle, for instance, collects water from morning fog using specialized structures on its shell that condense moisture and guide it toward the mouth. Most desert beetles sport hardened bodies that limit water loss and have the ability to slip into dormant states in the throes of extreme heat. Others, including darkling beetles, can angle their bodies to sip up morning dew as it drips into their mouths — a tactic called fog-basking.
- Scorpions
Scorpions are among the most recognizable denizens of the desert, and the bark scorpion is the most frequent in the American Southwest. These arthropods have developed exoskeletons covered in wax to reduce water loss from evaporation. They hunt mostly at night when temperatures drop, staying hidden inside burrows or underneath rocks during torrid daytime hours. Their metabolism lowers, allowing them to go months between meals (they can survive on minimal food intake).
- Harvester Ants
These industrious desert pests possess extensive knowledge of how to survive in arid landscapes. Harvester ants forage for seeds and store seeds in underground granaries, creating food reserves that sustain colonies through periods of scarce resources. Their deep nests—some 15-20 feet or deeper underground—reach soil moisture that is not available at the surface. During the cooler morning hours, workers forage to decrease the risk of dehydration, and some species have evolved specialized glands to produce defensive compounds to deter predators.
- Desert Cockroaches
Desert cockroaches have adopted water-conserving adaptations that would embarrass their funky city cousins. Their waxy cuticle retains water, and they can constantly recycle metabolic water in their bodies. Some species are capable of absorbing moisture from the atmosphere with specialized organs. During dry periods, they tend to stay inactive, entering a state similar to hibernation until the weather is just right.
- Camel Spiders
Camel spiders (also known as wind scorpions or solifugids) may look frightening, but they are neither spiders nor scorpions; they belong to a separate order of arachnids. These quick-roaming predators evolved long legs to help hold their bodies above hot sand and can run as fast as 10 mph. They seek shade when it is hottest and have mouthparts designed to squeeze the most moisture possible out of the prey they take, effectively “drinking” their victims.
- Desert Termites
Desert termites evolved to be good at surviving in the opposite environment, with their moisture-loving relatives confined to forested areas. These insects create special nests that retain humidity and serve colonies during extreme temperatures. Most Non-desert termites need wood that is 15-20% moist, but research discovered that desert termite species can obtain moisture from wood with just 3% water content. When these creatures burrow, they go deep enough to tap into groundwater, and they tend to forage during the cooler parts of the day to minimize water loss.
