Pest Control Sydney

Pest Control Sydney

These are the pests which are the most troublesome in Sydney Australia. We are called in when pest control is required for reasons such as economic in the case of termites & silverfish, fear and safety in the case of spiders, health reasons for cockroaches, rats & mice and just annoyance in the case of fleas, ants, bedbugs, bees & wasps and bird lice (mites)

Termites

Rudy Tschaut

Termites are also long been known as white ants; however this is not entirely accurate. Sure, they are white, but termites are similar to ants only in their habits of living together and their small size. Actually termites are more closely related to cockroaches biologically.

Termites in Sydney Australia cause more damage to homes than fire storm and flooding combined, and attack 1 out of every three houses.

High risk suburbs
Termite control in Sydney, Australia is particularly important in these high risk suburbs: Castle Hill; Winston Hills; Dural; Baulkham Hills; Wahroonga; Frenchs Forest; Manly; Epping; Carlingford; Leichhardt.

Termites digest wood, paper, and other material containing cellulose, with the aid of protozoan their bodies. Homes close to bushland and particularly gum trees within a 100 metres radius are at a high risk and require frequent, competent termite inspections

Ants

Ants are more of a nuisance pest, although they can also cause health risks and nest can cause subsidence in soil. Ants generally become a problem in houses and other buildings when their nests have become disturbed after rain, or conversely, during dry weather to look for water. Poor household hygiene and pet?s bowls also draw them indoors. Outside conditions such as sandy areas, pavers and garden pots also are favourable conditions for ants.

Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a serious new pest which has been detected in Queensland, Australia. They inflict a painful sting and if not eradicated will seriously affect our lifestyle. They are the greatest ecological threat to Australia since the introduction of the rabbit and are potentially worse than the cane toad and rare sightings have been seen in Sydney. If sighted, report immediately to your local council

Spiders

Dangerous Spiders: There are nine Australian Spiders whose venom ranges from extremely toxic to resulting in painful bites. Common sense and awareness will safeguard most people from the danger of attack. These spiders are as listed below;

1. SYDNEY FUNNELWEB-(MALE) The most dangerous spider in the world is the male Sydney Funnel Web. It has killed three children in under two hours. This spider is quickly identified by a glossy black body with long spinnerets. An aggressive spider which rears up when challenged. His venom is seven times as toxic as the female, yet is dangerous only to primates. Secondary identification is a pointed spur on each second leg and reddish black undersides.

2. SYDNEY FUNNELWEB-(FEMALE) Similar in appearance with a stockier body than the male. Lives in web-lined retreats in moist, cool locations. The female although less toxic than the male, has caused fatalities, mainly amongst the young, old and sick population.

3. RED-BACK This spider has a pea-shaped abdomen with a characteristic red or orange stripe. The male is much smaller and harmless. Makes untidy webs around rubbish and pot plants. Poison is much slower acting than the Funnel Web and bites causes severe pain with localised sweating. Is related to the Black Widow spider of the U.S.A. and the Katipo of New Zealand. Around 300 spider bites are recorded every year from the Red-Back with seven fatalities attributed.

4. MOUSE SPIDER Females often mistaken for Funnelwebs. Large glossy black bodied spider, with the male having a red forepart of the cephalothorax. Female lives in holes with double doors in the ground. Has blunted spinnerets and strong jaws. Toxic and painful bite.

5. WHITE TAILED SPIDER A small dark brown spider with a characteristic white spot on the end of the abdomen. Usually encountered inside houses sheltering from the weather or introduced on clothing brought in from the clothes line. Bite is not usually painful, though may become very painful at a later stage. Ulcers may develop to a stage where necrosis of the skin occurs.

6. BLACK HOUSE SPIDER Both sexes are dark brown to grey/black with body markings. Builds webs in dark corners of windows, verandahs, sheds or fences. Bite very painful with severe vomiting and nausea resulting. No fatalities recorded.

7. WOLF SPIDER Mottled grey and brown body with Union Jack appearance on cephalothorax. Carries young on its back. Makes web-lined holes in the ground. Moves rapidly when disturbed. Bite may be toxic and painful for a short while. Ulcers from bite suspected of developing necrosis of skin.

8. BROWN TRAPDOOR Brown to dark brown covered with fine hairs. Leggy spider with male having ?Boxing glove? palps. Does not usually leave lid over hole. Painful bite.

9. HUNTSMAN Grey to brown spider with large very leggy body. Lives under bark during day and emerges during night. Walks sideways on occasion. Non-toxic and rarely bites. Is known to hide under sun-visors in cars.

Fleas

The cat flea is the most often encountered flea species in most areas of Australia. It not only attacks cats, but many other warm blooded animals such as dogs and humans. They suck blood and cause irritation. It also has an essential role in the transmission of dog tapeworm.

Cockroaches

The main species are listed below:

Smoky brown cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)

An often encountered pest in the coastal areas of Australia, particularly along the east coast. They are nocturnal and prefer foods of vegetable origin. They usually breed in gardens where organic materials are used and enter indoors from these sites.

Australian cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)

This species is mostly encountered outside, but does enter indoors. Found in greenhouses and under organic matter in gardens. When found in houses it is usually in the sub floor and wall voids. It is nocturnal and favours tropical and subtropical climates.

German cockroach (Blatella germanica)

The most widespread pest cockroach present in Australia. It is a rapid breeder, nocturnal and favours situations in kitchens where there is warmth, moisture and food. Often found in or near the motor assembly of refrigerators and under stoves and hot water systems.

American cockroach (Periplaneta Americana)

This cockroach is mostly found in moist coastal areas, particularly in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. It is very abundant in sewerage systems, subfloors and roof voids of houses. This species occurs in restaurants, hospitals, bakeries and in most places where food is prepared and eating facilities exist.

Rats and Mice

Man creates the ideal environment for rats and mice by providing a constant source of food, water and harbourage. Rodent control is necessary and desirable because:

Rodents spread disease either through direct contact or as a vector for another organism.
Rodents cause extensive structural damage with their constant gnawing and
Rodents damage contaminate foodstuffs before and after harvest by consumption, gnawing and contamination with their urine, faeces and hair follicles.

For effective rodent control, the main steps are;

Inspection, identification, sanitation and rodent proofing. Doors, windows, screens and cracked concrete are easy access for rodents. Look for openings near the top of buildings such as roof vents, eaves, overhangs and roof top air conditioning units. Drainpipes need a screen on the bottom as well as the top.

Bed bugs

The activity of bedbugs in the home is usually detected by the irritation caused to sleepers. In infested premises evidence of activity can include: live bugs hiding in cracks and crevices in furniture, behind skirting and architraves, among books, in bedding and in other harbourages. Eggs cemented to similar surfaces, hatched or un-hatched, cast skins, leaving small dark-brown marks on sheets, walls and other surfaces on which they may excrete. In the case of heavy infestation a sickly sweet 'buggy odour' may be noticed.

Bedbugs disperse largely by being carried by humans in furniture, clothing and so on. Well established infestations are usually associated with poor housekeeping and low standards of hygiene. When brought into even the cleanest premises, however, they may find suitable hiding places and hosts and thus commence an infestation, although their mobility is restricted to a crawling habit.

Bedbugs have a tendency to 'test bite', which often results in a line of bites. For some people the bite is painless and there is no allergic reaction. However, many people react with local swelling at the site of the bites, followed by mild to severe irritation. Movements of the bugs or scratching may facilitate infection of wounds. In severe infestations, sleeplessness may result.

Silverfish

These are often encountered pests in homes and buildings throughout Australia. They occur anywhere in homes, but are mostly found in roof cavities, wall voids and sub floor areas. They prefer starchy materials, cotton, linens and photographic prints.

Bees

Bees are most active during the warmer months of the year, from, early Spring to late Summer. They invade houses in order to establish new colonies and to shelter. Scout bees will fly around a building, looking for entry points. Usually these are holes in the mortar of brick walls, in ventilation holes (weep holes) and under tiles on roofs etc. They do not fly far from a previous colony and it is not unusual to see a swarm of bees settle onto a house in just a few seconds.

This is why bee jobs are considered to be an emergency as many people are allergic to their stings, some severely. They are not naturally aggressive except when defending an established hive. People normally get stung by bees when they step on, lean on or pick them off their clothing. Walking within their flight path can agitate them, as will fast and jerky movements near the hive.

Wasps

Most wasps have carnivorous larvae that feed on other insects and spiders. The adults provide food for them by capturing prey or by laying the egg on or near the food source, which might be an egg, larva or pupa of another insect. Wasp and hornet control is essential when they have large populations near your living areas. Why are they a pest? If you invade their space they will attack you and sting repeatedly, unlike bees which can only sting once. For controlling infestations, please read carefully through this article and do not try to control them yourself. Be sure to read all of it before you call a pest control company. Call in an expert with the right protection and equipment for the safest treatment of wasps.

Bird Lice/Mites
Bird lice, or more correctly, mites are commonly associated with the Pigeon, Sparrow and Starling. They are a blood-sucking parasite of these pest birds and become a problem with people when they are unable to get food, once they are separated from their host. The three most common mites (Order Acarina) are the Starling mite, the Tropical Fowl mite and the Red Poultry mite. They are 0.5mm to 1mm in length and a greyish/yellow colour except after a feed when they turn red.

The pest birds build nests typically in eaves, bringing with them the mites. When they leave their nests permanently, get trapped in the wall cavities or die, the mites leave the nest in search of a new host. Their route of travel is usually down wall cavities and through ventilators into bedrooms. They attack humans leaving an itchy rash when can become a secondary infection after scratching. They can only survive two to three weeks without a feed from their usual host.

Is YOUR home protected? Remember All Guard Pest Control for your home's complete termite and pest protection systems. Simply FREE CALL 1800 333 337 or email today for more information, advice and FREE QUOTES!

Pest Control Sydney, Termite Control, Pest Inspections, Building Inspections