APC Shoalhaven

Amalgamated Pest Control Branch

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Termites Eating Homes in Shoalhaven

30/08/2016 by admin_apcmedia

Termite Inspections and Treatments in Shoalhaven

We’ve been doing a lot of timber pest inspections on homes this week in the Shoalhaven Region.  On almost every occasion we’re finding homes that either have termites active now or have had evidence of timber pest activity in the past.

When we complete a timber pest inspection on your home, we’re looking for termites and other common timber pests Wood Borers and Wood Decay Fungi.

All of these timber pests have the ability to cause serious damage to buildings. In extreme cases they can cause severe structural damage.

Home owners should be concerned about all of these timber pests.

The pest that causes most economic damage, and that every home owner fears, is termites. The most destructive termite is a group of termites known as Subterranean Termites. These termites can cause tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.

How do Termites Get in?

Subterranean termites move around just below the surface of the soil, and they need to maintain contact with the soil.  That’s how they obtain their moisture source.

Subterranean termites will usually enter you home from the ground up. Obviously all structures differ and there are various ways to construct a building.

Any point touching the ground can provide a possible way into the building.

The picture below shows a mud lead in the corner of the foundation wall of this particular structure. Subterranean Termites have constructed this lead and are moving up and down the wall inside the lead. It’s like a highway tunnel full of hungry insects that destroy timber.

termite inspection shoalhaven nowra

What does Termite Damage Look Like?

Damage from termites comes in a couple of forms. Damage to actual timber, which can be obvious or very inconspicuous.

Here is a picture of termite damage found to a door frame in a home. This is very obvious and noticeable even to the untrained eye.

termite inspections shoalhaven

These pictures below show some damage to some timber flooring in a home.

It might not look like much in this photo, but the floorboard on the right, closest to the skirting is showing some concerning signs. Termites are actually currently inside this floorboard feeding away, unknown to the home owner.

shoalhaven termite inspection

This is what your kitchen looks like after its had been removed after a termite infestation.

The termites in this particular home had been active for some time.

Regular timber pest inspections could have picked the termite activity up saving thousands of dollars of damage.

termite treatments shoalhaven

Timber Pest Inspections must be a priority

Timber pest inspections should be front of mind for every home owner.

We do so much maintenance on our homes every year. Inspections for timber pests should fall into every home owner’s yearly maintenance schedule and budget.

The cost to repair the damage these pests can do to your home regularly runs into the tens of thousands of dollars.

A timber pest inspection, depending on the size of your home can start at around $242.00.

Treatments for these pests can range from a few hundred to a few thousand.

The real cost however is when termites have been in your home happily chomping away at your structure without you knowing.

When you finally notice that you may have a problem, the costs are already mounting up.

Get a timber pest inspection today

Be proactive.  Taking preventative action is the key to ensuring you don’t end up with big repair bills on your home.

Call Amalgamated Pest Control.

We service the entire Shoalhaven Region, Kiama and down into Eurobodalla Shire.

If there’s termites in your home, we’ll find them. We’ll also provide you with the information you do need to protect your home.

Call us here at Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven today.

1300 860 970

 

 

Filed Under: News

Cockroach Control in Shoalhaven

03/08/2016 by admin_apcmedia

Cockroach Control – Shoalhaven

German Cockroaches tend to be an all year round pest in Australia. Due to the habitat they prefer to live in, your home.

When German Cockroaches get into your home they’ll tend to firstly start to live inside your kitchen. In your kitchen is the obvious starting point for infestation.

There’s plenty of food. No matter how clean you keep your kitchen, there will always be enough food sources to support a population of these pests.

After a period of time, cockroaches will find their way to the bathroom. There may not be as much human food here, but there is plenty of water.

Cockroaches will eat anything so they’ll find something to eat in your bathroom also. Wherever there’s food and water that will be an ideal place for these pests to live and breed.

Once the population becomes large enough they will start to infest your lounge room, living room, bedrooms and any are of the home they can find a dark crack or crevice to hide in.

Very quickly, a single breeding pair of German cockroaches can turn into thousands in your home.

In case you’ve never seen them before, this is an adult German cockroach.

cockroach control shoalhaven

Their very different to the other species of cockroach you’ll find around your home. They main thing to look for to know if you have these pests are the up towards the head.

We’ve doing quite a few treatments for German cockroach control through July, some infestations are extremely obvious both to the occupant of the home and to us.

In a lot of cases, the occupant knows there’s a couple of cockroaches running around from time to time but often don’t realise the extent of the problem until we’ve finished our treatment.

The pictures below show one such case, the owner of this unit was very surprised when we managed to control a lot of cockroaches within the apartment

cockroach control nowra

shoalhaven cockroach control

This customer  started seeing cockroaches and started spraying them with supermarket purchased insect killer.

While this will kill the insects when sprayed on them, if there’s one, there will be more. Often many more.

After spraying individual cockroaches from time to time over the course of a month or so, she realised she needed expert help.

Our treatments methods for German Cockroahces are safe and they’re designed to specifically target this insects harbourages or hiding places using equipment technology and products unique to Amalgamated Pest Control.

This allows us to give our German Cockroach treatments in homes and units our Guaranteed Gone 12 month Service Warranty. If they come back, so will we.

German Cockroach Prevention Tips

  • Seal any cracks and crevices in your cupboards and other areas that German Cockroaches may want to hide, take out their hiding places.
  • Ensure your rubbish is in tightly sealed garbage bins. Empty the inside garbage regularly.
  • Clean regularly, wipe down surfaces to clean crumbs straight away. Deny them as much food as possible. Pay attention to ovens, stoves, benchtops, tables and chairs, sinks etc.
  • Sweep and Mop the floor regularly. Remove sticky residues from the floor. Ensure that when you do mop the floor you do not leave any excess water. You need to deny them any water, as they can live for a long time without food but only several days without water.
  • Store food in sealed containers.

Suspect you have a cockroach problem – or just need some advice or help?

If you’re seeing a few of these cockroaches around, don’t wait until they become an out of control infestation.

Call us here at Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven today.

1300 860 970

 

 

Filed Under: News

Possum Control in Shoalhaven

18/07/2016 by admin_apcmedia

Possum Control in Shoalhaven

A possum’s natural place to live is in tree hollows. Why live in a tree when you can live in a nice dark roof space of a home?

Inside roofs are a great place for a possum to live.

Roof spaces provides warmth, protection, somewhere safe and dark to sleep.

As pest managers, the vast majority of possums we need to remove are living within roof spaces.

Possums are nice animals, and they’re native. It can be nice to have a resident possum living around your property. Possums gain access into your roof space via damaged or missing tiles/roofing, broken eaves, missing bricks, over gutters and the like.

possum control nowra

An obvious possum entry point into a roof

How can you tell if you have a possum problem?

possum control shoalhavenIf there’s a possum moving around in your ceiling, it’s going to make noise.

A fully grown adult brushtail possum can weigh around 5kg. You’ll usually hear a thumping sound and a throaty hissing sound, made by male possums.

They’ll leave droppings behind also. You may see these outside on fences or pathways and particularly under trees.  Possum droppings are around 12mm-15mm in length and are dark crown-black in colour.

These droppings will also be scattered through your roof.

It’s extremely important to identify the noise in your roof with 100% certainty that it’s possums.

Occupants of a home can sometimes assume that the noise they hear is rats. While rats are a common problem in roofs, assuming that its rats can be fatal for the possum.

Rats are only small so they won’t make a thumping noise when moving around the roof space.

You’ll hear a lot of scratching noises and possibly even see them inside the home. You’ll also notice smaller droppings no bigger than around 7mm in length.

The reason this is important is because possums are native to Australia, it’s illegal to harm them in anyway.

If you think you may have rats or possums, call professionals prior to doing anything.

What can be done if you suspect you have a possum in the roof?

The first thing is to call Amalgamated Pest Control and we can attend your home and do a site assessment and determine if it is a possum in your roof or not.

When we find evidence of the possum, we’ll look at the most practical and safest way to remove the possum.

We’ll look a couple of different options such as installing one way doors, sealing holes as they exit in the evening or trap and release.

If trapping needs to occur we will organise to place a possum trap in the ceiling to trap and release the possum and we can do some minor proofing to stop the possum returning and recommendations will also be given.

Basic guidelines are:

  • The possum must be captured live and released back onto the property on which is was possum control in nowracaptured unharmed.
    Possums are very territorial animals and if they are relocated to another location is increases the risk of the possum not surviving. They need  to be released within 150M of original capture.
  • The possum has to be released after sunset, preferably against a structure they can immediately climb.
  • Trapping only to be perform if licensed with Office of Environment & Heritage (National Park & Wildlife)
    Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven is licensed.

The capture or otherwise harming of possums other than by a licensed person or commercial catch and release possum handler is illegal.

Helpful tips to help keep Possums from entering your home

  • Trim or cut back any branches that are overhanging your roof to allow at least 3 metres
  • Place possum proofing around the base of trees near your home
  • Seal up any access points in the roof and replace any missing roof tiles
  • Install high quality gutter guard
  • Inspect roof and repair any broken roofing or tiles
  • Provide a suitable home for the possum in the form of a sturdy weatherproof possum box and placing it high enough from the ground so that the possum will be out of reach of dogs and cats.
    The box should not face towards the afternoon sun and be safely secured using a sturdy wire or chain to the tree.

If you would like to make you own possum box for you back yard you can find instructions on how to make one on the Office of Environment & Heritage website.

Suspect you have a possum problem – or just need some advice or help?

Call us here at Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven today.

1300 860 970

 

Filed Under: Australia, New South Wales, News, Pest Control

Carpet Pest Control in Nowra

30/05/2016 by admin_apcmedia

Carpet Pest Pest Control Nowra

Carpet Beetles are a very common carpet pest that can cause extensive damage to carpets in homes if left untreated.

These insects have a preference for materials of animal origin and can attack a wide range of materials. They can feed on wool, clothes, fabrics, felts, silk, fibre type insulation material even dried insects and animal carcasses.

Signs to look for that confirm this pest’s activity range from

  • sightings of damaged materials,
  • sand-like larval droppings,
  • bristly caste skins and live larvae.

These pictures taken from our customer’s property show some clear evidence of their presence.

Sometimes you may see the presence of crawling and flying adult beetles can indicate infestation.

carpet beetle control nowra

nowra carpet pest control

Tips To Help Prevent Carpet Beetle

  • Vacuuming or cleaning carpets, rugs, soft furnishings and upholstered furniture should be done regularly and thoroughly. When vacuuming you need to pay attention to carpet edges adjacent to skirting boards and areas that are covered with furniture. If these areas are neglected, as they often are then dust, hair, skin, pet fur and the like will accumulate and these areas are often the sites of infestation.
  • Cut flowers pose an issue and is a very common way that carpet beetle enter the home. If you are bringing cut flowers in, inspect them to ensure that they do not harbour any carpet beetles.
  • Before storing clothes that are out of season ensure they are thoroughly cleaned and stored in an air tight plastic bag prior to storage.
  • Exclude rodents and birds from your property. These insects are commonly found within bird nests and on rat carcasses.

How Amalgamated Pest Control can help with Carpet Pest Control

Prior to treatment we will ask you to ensure that furniture is moved so the areas underneath can be inspected.

Vacuuming is extremely important prior to treatment, this process removes different lifecycle stages ensuring more effective control. It is important if vacuuming an infestation that you appropriately discard the contents of the vacuum as to not cause re-infestation.

Inspection is key, we will inspect all possible areas of infestation. Some may be obvious as pictured above, and some areas less obvious. Missing the less obvious may cause issues and service calls. It is also necessary to inspect the roof void. Insulation materials can be infested by carpet beetle we have seen many cases first-hand where roof voids completely infested with these pests.

Once all feeding areas are fully identified, a number of insecticides can be used such as surface sprays, space sprays and dusts depending on the area being treated. Chemicals must be used carefully to ensure they make contact with the insect.

Got a carpet pest problem – or just need some advice or help?

Call us here at Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven today.

1300 860 970

Filed Under: Australia, News

Rodent Control in Shoalhaven

04/05/2016 by admin_apcmedia

Rodents Season Starts Early in the Shoalhaven

Rodents (rats and mice) actually breed all the year round, but during the cooler months they commonly attempt to enter homes, to find a warmer place to dwell and breed.  That’s why rodent control should be a priority for everyone right now.

The Pest Control Industry refer to colder months, late autumn and winter as “The Rodent Season”.

rodent control shoalhaven

Evidence of Rats inside a roof cavity

Rodents breed throughout the year.  As they are warm-blooded mammals, outside areas are becoming colder and less appealing for rats and mice to live.

Rats and mice love insulated ceilings, confined areas and warm cavity spaces.

Once they have found a way inside the home, they have easy access to water and food from your kitchen, eating areas, your food storage areas.

Rodents are a danger to you and your family

Inside your home rodents pose the threat of disease to you and your family.

Possibly less obvious is the further damage to your property rodents make from gnawing with their teeth.

shoalhaven rodent control

Mice droppings on a window frame in a living room

Rodent teeth continue to grow throughout their entire life, and so they need to keep gnawing, and cable wires are a popular choice.

We have seen copper cable wires gnawed back to the bare and this causes a fire risk from exposed cables.

So the possibility of rodents in the home can cause several problems and more serious risk of harm in the long term.

What can APC do about rodent control in my home?

Amalgamated Pest Control are experts in rodent control.

If you suspect or know you have a rodent problem, we will first carry out a full rodent inspection and investigate areas of known rodent activity.  This means inspecting inside and outside areas, including the sub-floor and roof void areas.

This helps us to determine the rodent species, their food/water source, where they nest and their travelling routes around your property.

All of this critical information allows us to create a pest control strategy that is best suited to your property and rodent problem.

We will continue to return and check your property to ensure that our treatment is effective and working.

We will also make recommendations on rodent control – Things that you can do yourself to ensure your home is less tempting for rodents and the steps you can take to keep your home protected for the future.

Remember – if the rodents come back, so will we.

Got a rodent problem – or just need some advice or help?

Call us here at Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven today.

1300 860 970

 

Filed Under: Australia, New South Wales, News, Pest Control

Redback Spider Pest Control

01/04/2016 by admin_apcmedia

Redback Spider sitting on the wall

Redback Spider sitting on the wall

Redback Spiders are found throughout Australia, and are common in disturbed and urban areas. Lately in the Shoalhaven region, we have been treating a lot of Redback spiders, as it’s one of the most requested pests right at the moment. Nowra, especially, appears to have a large amount of redback spiders right now.

These pictures of Redback spiders were taken at a property in Worrigee. Redback spiders usually tend to make their webs in a way that offers protection from above. For example – under the lip of a pot plant, under toys and other items that might be in the yard, under chairs and tables to name a few.

It’s important to realise that they don’t just make their webs at ground level.

Some of the biggest examples that we’ve seen are in gutters on homes. Please ensure that when you clean out your gutters, whether you have seen Redback spiders at your house or not, you wear gloves.

Redback spider in web

Redback spider in web

How do we treat for Redback spiders?

The first thing we do when treating Redback Spiders is an inspection.

This inspection is aimed at finding as many Redback spiders and their hiding places as possible. Once all the treatment areas are determined, we methodically treat the external of the home, roof space, wall voids and under the home where possible. These are the main areas where these spiders will live.

With this, and all of our treatments, we are proud to offer our Guaranteed Gone promise – if the pests come back, so do we! This means that if we treat your home for these spiders, and they come back at any time within the service period, then we will come back and re-treat until they are gone, at no extra cost to you. We can’t do better than that!

There are a few things you can do around the home to reduce the chance of Redback spiders calling your place home also.

Redback Spider over the ground

Redback Spider over the ground

  • The best thing you can do is obviously have a pest control treatment. Not just for the spiders, but for other insect’s including cockroaches, ants and the like. If there are less insects around than there is less food around for Redback spiders.
  • Reduce clutter in areas like garden sheds, garages and items stored outside the home. Redback spiders love to hide in amongst clutter, as not only are they protected from predators, but their food sources, such as insects and small lizards etc. also like to hide here amongst the clutter.
  • Check under, in and around your children’s toys and play areas. This won’t keep spiders away, but it will greatly reduce the chance of a bite from one of these nasty spiders. If your children’s toys have been sitting in the yard for a few days, have a quick look under them before they start playing. Where possible, don’t leave your children’s toys outside.
  • Reduce vegetation close to the structure.

If you suspect you may have Redback spiders, or any other pests around your home or business that are causing you concern, contact Amalgamated Pest Control Shoalhaven.

Call 1300 860 970 today!

 

Filed Under: News

Household Pest Control – German Cockroaches

24/06/2015 by admin_apcmedia

During these colder months, there is a belief out there that there’s no need to have a pest control treatment done on your home at all, as it’s winter and there are no bugs around.  In reality, there are some pests that aren’t too concerned with the weather outside, because it’s inside that they make their homes.  Inside, where humans like to use heaters to keep warm.  Inside, around your kitchen where there are warm electrical appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and the like.  Inside, where there is plenty of food and water at their disposal.

One pest that will infest your home this winter are German Cockroaches.  The vast majority of German Cockroach infestations occur in kitchens or indoors where humans live. They seek out cracks and crevices to hide, normally close to a food and water source, preferably in areas providing warmth where they will hide themselves during the day.

This means the early stages of an infestation usually goes un-noticed. If you are seeing them in the day time, it usually means the infestation is well established. This cockroach can live up to its full breeding potential through the winter months, making it a significant winter pest. Infestations usually start in an area such as a kitchen, where food and water is abundant, and move out from there.

German Cockroaches under the sink

German Cockroaches under the sink

This photo shows a common place that German Cockroaches love to hide – below the kitchen sink. In cupboards such as this, there are almost always cracks and crevices for them to hide, and very often the household bin may even be in these cupboards.

The only way to prevent cockroaches from living here is to effectively treat all of these cracks and crevices using the techniques that we here at Amalgamated Pest Control use, which is what allows us to provide a 12 month service warranty for this pest. If they come back, so will we.

Once populations become too large for the kitchen, they spread out, and if not managed will infest the whole home, taking up hiding places in living areas and bedrooms. This photo below was taken from the bedroom of a home that had a large infestation. You can see that they have made the gap between the blinds and the timber their home.

For German cockroaches to spread into areas other than the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, the infestation needs to be very well established. If you are seeing them in bedrooms, living rooms and the like, you will need professional help to bring the already well established population under control.

German Cockroaches above the blinds

German Cockroaches above the blinds

The ability of cockroaches to affect the health of humans is well known, and is the foremost reason why we do not want them in our homes. Something that is not as well-known is their ability to damage and break electrical appliances. Electrical appliances provide a dark, warm and protected place for cockroaches to live and breed, which is why they often seek out items such as televisions, fridges, toasters, alarm clocks and other similar products.

This television pictured here was ruined by German Cockroaches, as they damaged the electronics and the television had to be replaced.

German Cockroaches infesting the television

German Cockroaches infesting the television

German Cockroach Prevention Tips

  • Seal any cracks and crevices in your cupboards and other areas that German Cockroaches may want to hide, take out their hiding places.
  • Ensure your rubbish is in tightly sealed garbage bins. Empty the inside garbage regularly.
  • Clean regularly, wipe down surfaces to clean crumbs straight away. Deny them as much food as possible. Pay attention to ovens, stoves, benchtops, tables and chairs, sinks etc.
  • Sweep and Mop the floor regularly. Remove sticky residues from the floor. Ensure that when you do mop the floor you do not leave any excess water. You need to deny them any water, as they can live for a long time without food but only several days without water.
  • Store food in sealed containers.

When all else fails, call Amalgamated Pest Control for your Guaranteed Gone Solution to German Cockroaches. Our 12 month Service Warranty on cockroaches means if the pests come back, so will we.

Filed Under: News

Rodent Season

29/05/2015 by admin_apcmedia

With the colder months upon us, there is one unwelcome house guest in particular that is waiting to get into a nice warm home to raise their families.  Rats and Mice will attempt to enter homes from now and continue throughout winter.  This time of year is what the Pest Control industry refers to as ‘Rodent Season’.  The fact is, rodents are breeding all year around – they breed just as much in summer as they do in winter.  The difference in the colder months is that now our homes provide a fantastic warm place for rodents to continue to live during winter.

External conditions are starting to become less attractive for Rats and Mice.  This image shows a Norway Rat (often simply called a brown rat) about to enter a home.  These rats prefer to burrow, but have actually started to nest within the home due to the weather getting colder.  These are warm blooded mammals, and the warmth of an insulated roof space or cavity is much more appealing than a hole in the ground outside in the cold.

Norway Rat Entering Home

Norway rat entering home

Just like humans, rodents like to live in warm environments.  Rats and mice find their way into a structure through small holes, make their way through the wall cavities and exploit almost any area inside your home.  The roof void, wall cavities and other confined voids in and around your home make excellent nesting areas.  Apart from being a nice warm place to nest this time of year, once in your home food and water is more easily accessed, often directly from your very own kitchen.

Apart from the obvious threat of disease, rats will also cause a lot of damage.  Rodent’s teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetime, and if they do not continuously gnaw to keep them in check, their teeth will become too large and essentially useless to them.  Interestingly, the name Rodent comes from a Latin word which basically means to gnaw.

Wall Damage from Rats

Wall damage from rats

Some of the damage caused by these pests will be noticeable and repairable, like this hole made in a wall by rats, giving them further access to wall cavities and other areas of your home.

Some damage, however, is a lot harder to spot, like these internal electrical wires that have been chewed back to bare copper.

In cases like these, you will most likely not notice anything at all until there are problems with your power, or even worse, a potential fire. Remember, rats and mice will always be gnawing on something, and it’s well documented that they have been the cause of many fires.

Electrical wiring damaged by rodents

Electrical wiring damaged by rodents

There are things that you can do around your home that will help make your property less attractive for rodents to live.

  1. Ensure all of your household garbage is in tightly sealed bins which rats and mice cannot access. This helps to restrict their access to food as much as possible. Rodents are opportunistic feeders – while they have their preferred food sources, they will still eat almost anything.
  2. Alter your building so that Rodents cannot gain entry. Look for access holes that rats can use, such as where pipes enter buildings, gaps under external doors, etc. Sealing these and other similar points will make it harder for rodents to enter. Using a gutter guard can also be helpful to stop them entering the roof via the gutters.
  3. Trim excess trees and shrubs from around the perimeter of structure especially trees that overhang the roof. This will both take away harbourage areas and make accessing the roof a little bit harder for them.

When all else fails, other control measures will need to be implemented. Here at Amalgamated Pest Control, we are the experts at assessing all of your options and presenting the available solutions to you.

What will you do for me?

If we are called to your home because you suspect or know you have a rodent problem, the first thing we will do is conduct a full rodent inspection. We look at all areas of known activity, internally and externally, including the roof void and the sub-floor. This inspection allows us to identify the rodent species, any nesting areas, travel routes, and where they are getting food and water from.

With this crucial information, we can than implement a control strategy best suited to the problem and the property. We will also provide you with important recommendations on things you can alter or fix to manage the environment and make it less appealing to rodents. Once management has been implemented, we will keep coming back to check the bait/trap placement until the problem is controlled. We will also point out all the proofing measures that can be undertaken to keep rodents out in the future.

Remember – if the rodents come back, so will we.

If you even think you may have a rodent problem, call us here at your local Amalgamated Pest Control today.

Filed Under: News

RUSSELL INGALL ON WINTER PEST CONTROL

16/07/2014 by admin_apcmedia Leave a Comment

Filed Under: News

WINTER PEST CONTROL SHOALHAVEN

16/07/2014 by admin_apcmedia

Well winter is finally upon us and while things may slow down for some pests in ‘pest world’ not so with many other.

Winter Pests

During winter we get increased threats from rodents, but our favourite ‘general pests’ are still active. Termites keep munching, cockroaches keep on creeping and ants keep on crawling.

This year there a new mosquito on the loose that is a spreader of chronic disease – and this mosquito doesn’t mind the colder weather. You might even discover that some of the favourite winter woollies that you pull out of storage may have been damaged by some ‘pest’ as well, nothing much you can do about that now – but there are things to do before you store the winter clothes away before next spring.

Winter Pest Checklist

Here’s a checklist of things to do this winter to keep you pest problems to a minimum:

Tidy the Clutter:

  • Discover all the ‘hidden stuff’ you forgot you had – and re-stow it or throw it! If you have a lot of stuff – then its important to re-inspect/move it on a regular basis to discourage rats and mice from setting up an undetected camp.
  • Remove Cardboard and Fabric. If you need a box – think of things other than cardboard. Plastic or metal containers are much better, this can discourage rodents and cockroaches.

General Storage:

  • If you’re storing something a rodent would like – then put it in a sealed box or container that they can’t get in to.

Remove any food sources:

  • Don’t encourage rodents to stay by giving them an easy meal. (for example, don’t leave uneaten pet food lying around). Ants are also attracted to left over food.
  • Seal of entry points into the building. Especially for rodents you need to seal up any holes with small gauge mesh or similar material that a rodent cannot gnaw through, and seal the bottoms of doors with automatic weather seals or weather strips. A rat can gain entry through a hole as small as 12 mm in diameter and a mouse only needs a hole no larger than 6 mm in diameter. Don’t just look down – Look up. Often rodents get in via the roof, eaves or other less obvious entry points.

Rodent Traps:

You can use snap traps to catch the odd rogue rat or mouse, but don’t use cheese as the bait – its really doesn’t work that well – things like peanut butter or cotton wool are far more effective.

Inspect your home for any containers that hold water:

  • This is really for mosquitoes. Make sure that water containers are emptied. This includes pot plant reservoirs. Make sure that water tanks are screened. Any container that holds water (where levels rise and fall) will encourage mosquitoes to breed. Keep an eye out for drains that hold puddles, car tyres and old buckets that everyone forgets about. Clean up the garden and make sure there is nothing around the house that holds permanent water that will rise and fall.

Screen your home:

  • Make sure that all your windows and doors are properly screened so that you have a safe retreat from these mosquitoes and cockroaches.

Eaves and Walls:

Check your eaves and brickwork for wasp nests and spiders. Wasps can be prevalent even during winter.

Bins:

  • Keep bins away from the immediate vicinity of the home. Keep them as clean as possible and wash them out regularly. Keep bins well sealed. They are a great breeding environment for flies and can encourage rodents.

Trees and Foliage:

  • Foliage against the house can create a highway for ants, rodents, spiders and termites. Make sure that bushes and shrubs are kept well away from the walls. Trim off any tree branches that overhang the roof and gutters, yet another highway for ants and rodents.

Still concerned?

If you believe or suspect that you have a winter pest problem, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Sholahaven for further advice.

1300 860 970

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