Phnom Penh - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Ants, roaches, termites, geckos, and mosquitos with dengue. One family we know had an adult python hiding in their ceiling until it fell through it. - May 2024
We're living in the tropics, so some insects are to be expected. For some of the older houses, we had some issues with termites and centipedes and the occasional massive roaches. Ants are common but you can take actions to mitigate and significantly reduce the number. Geckos in houses/apartments are common and tend to freak out newcomers, but we always reassure them they are just as freaked out by you as you are of them and they actually help you out by eating the bugs (ants, mosquitoes). Mosquitoes are the most common and annoying pest, but you can reduce the number with fish outside, mosquito nets, bug zappers, and eliminating sources of open water. - Jul 2021
Not really. I’ve heard ants and cockroaches can be an issue, but if you don’t leave food out you will be ok. Some people have issues with termites. - Nov 2020
The usual tropical pests. Ants, roaches, drain flies, rodents, that sort of thing. I found that a cat solved the last problem for me quite well. - May 2017
No, typical tropical stuff like occasional sugar ants, but overall nowhere near as bad as I would have thought. - Oct 2016
Ants of many types. Cambodian city rats are the fattest/ugliest around and you'll have them in every yard or parking garage. Normal cockroaches for Asia. Mosquitos abundant along with malaria and dengue fever. Flies with their usual nasty little diseases. In some darker sidewalks, you will find human execrement. Some companies will provide mosquito nets to its expat employees. - May 2015
Mosquitoes - there's no malaria in Phnom Penh, but they do carry dengue fever. Lots of ants in pretty much everyone's home. - Feb 2015
Ants get into everything. Even things that are sealed up can be compromised. It's best to keep anything sweet or easy to get into in the fridge. There are also lots of mosquitos, and as dengue fever is a problem here, you should be careful not to get bit. You will see cockroaches around (usually at night) but they generally stay outside the house. - Aug 2013
Mosquitoes can be bad, and some carry dengue fever. Ants are an annoyance, infesting random foods that are left out and even squeezing (or eating their way) through air tight Tupperware and plastic bags. Stuff like sugar has to go in the fridge. We can't leave bread out for more than a couple of hours. It will be covered in ants. Cockroaches are a part of life, but they mostly leave you alone. - Jan 2012
Dengue fever - Aug 2011
Mosquitoes! They can carry dengue fever in the rainy season, thus it is important to carry repellent during rainy season months. - Oct 2010
