Cockroaches are such a common pest in Brisbane and most of us are familiar with all of them. There are many different types of cockroaches and most of them can spread disease so it’s worthwhile knowing a little bit about them. The three main types of cockroaches in Australia are the German cockroach, Australian cockroach and the American cockroach. Identifying them can sometimes prove to be difficult however, the below information will help you.

 

German Cockroach

The German cockroach is one of the smallest of the cockroaches (12 to 15mm) and is probably the most commonly found species in South East Queensland.

You will find them most commonly where food handling takes place that is, they love domestic and commercial kitchens. They seek warmth, moisture and food. You can also find them nesting in electrical equipment such as toasters and dishwashers. They also love computers and keyboards.

 

Australian Cockroach

The Australian cockroach is larger than the German cockroach (30 to 35 mm) and is able to fly.  We’ve all seen these in and around our homes. They are dark brown with clearly defined yellow markings on the head and the front wings. This cockroach prefers plant food and is usually found outdoors. They are extremely fast movers unless they have been affected by treatment, often darting out of sight when someone enters a room and can fit into small cracks and under doors despite its fairly large size.

 

American Cockroach 

The American cockroach is one of the largest of the cockroaches (30 to 45mm). it’s similar to the Australia but it is a lighter red brown color with a pale-yellow border around the head and like the Australian it can fly. The American cockroach prefers warm and moist conditions. It is a very widespread pest which lives in wall and roof cavities, sewers, drains, grease traps and rubbish dumps. It can be found around any food preparation area.

 

There are about 80 different flea species in Australia and more than 2,000 globally.

 

Fleas are considered to be one of the most annoying pests. This is mainly due to their biting habit which can cause severe irritations or serve to transmit diseases. In homes, Flea bites are usually found on the lower part of the body. They can nest in grass, carpets, furniture, bedding and on pets. If you are being bitten by Fleas it is recommended to book in a Flea Treatment.

Signs of Fleas

If you are concerned about fleas, you can look for these signs:

 

• Can you see fleas crawling on your pet’s coat? They are normally reddy-brown and about 2mm long.
• Check the hind-quarters of your dog or the head and neck of your cat. These are the areas that are targeted and where you might see signs of flea activity.
• Carefully look at your pet’s skin for fine black droppings. This is ‘flea dirt’ or adult flea faeces and looks like ground black pepper. A good way to spot it is to use a flea comb over a sheet of white paper, which makes it easier to see the small black specks.
• Another sign of a problem is flea dirt on pet bedding, carpets or rugs.

 

Flea Prevention Tips

• Vacuum regularly.
• Wash pet bedding weekly, ideally at above 50°C.
• Other wildlife such as possums, wild cats, foxes, rabbits and rodents also carry fleas – when your pets are outside they can easily pick up these fleas and bring them back, so check them regularly using flea combs.
• Larvae feed on organic matter in carpets, bedding & furnishings. You need to try and remove any potential food supply to prevent fleas.
• When moving into a new home inspect carpets and flooring carefully for signs of eggs or ‘flea dirt’. If the previous owners had pets the flea larvae might be waiting for you.

 

Flea Treatments

A liquid spray with an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) will be used internally and externally to ensure best results. An insecticidal dust will also be used in the roof void, cracks and crevices and known Flea harbourage areas. While the Flea Treatment is taking place it is essential to remove pets from the premises. While the pets are away from the premises you should take them to get treated for Fleas to reduce the chance of a re-infestation of Fleas from the adults carried on pets.

 

 

 

An adult silverfish typically measures 15 mm. They are wingless with a sleek, tapered body that has scaly, silvery skin, making it slippery and easily able to slide into small crevices.

Found throughout Australia
Silverfish come into buildings in search of dark, damp areas and thrive in high humidity. They are commonly found in crevices and like gaps or cracks in buildings.

Behaviour
Silverfish are nocturnal and secretive insects that are difficult to spot making it easy for an infestation to occur. They have destructive feeding habits and will feed on an unusual diet which includes paper and glue, making wallpaper and books key targets. Unlike other insects, silverfish do not go through a metamorphosis, going straight from an egg to a nymph.

Risks
Silverfish can be very destructive and often go unnoticed until their feeding damage is identified. They can ruin carpets, furnishings and linen, in addition to paper and spoiling foodstuffs.

They ingest an incredibly wide variety of foods including cellulose, so can spoil shampoo and other beauty products.

Their faeces and excretions leave yellow staining.

Spiders

There are more than 35,000 species of spiders worldwide a few thousand of which (including the most dangerous) are found in Australia alone.

Spiders can be a particular nuisance in the home. They are attracted to warm, dark small spaces, like wall cracks, corners, air vents, and in the eaves of your home.

 

Spider Prevention

• Vacuum regularly, high and low – particularly sheltered spots such as beneath worktops, backs of cupboards or under/behind large furniture.
• Remove noticeable webs – on a regular basis.
• Fill in gaps – in walls, around pipework and under doors to deter entry.
• Remove sheltering sites – like firewood piles, garden bags, compost piles and general clutter from near your property.
• Deter all insects – use lighting in a way that is less attractive to the insects (flies) that spiders feed on.

 

Spider Treatments

Our Pest Control technician’s conduct very thorough Spider Treatments. The Treatment includes using liquid spray’s and insecticidal dusts. The Treatment is applied to all external entry points covering the weep holes, around doors and windows and any other cracks or crevices we may find. We also treat the internal floor corners, the roof void and underneath electrical appliances. Combining all these methods together ensure for a very effective Spider Treatment.

The Spider Treatment usually lasts 12 months. We provide warranties on all of our Spider Treatments.

We work with you to ensure the Treatment is effective and to ensure the safety and well-being of your family and pets.

 

Termites, also known in Australia as ‘White Ants’, are a highly destructive pest that can cause major structural damage to both domestic and commercial buildings within as little as 6 months.

Properties in built up urban areas are the most at risk, especially if there are Gum trees within 100 meters of the building.

The growing Termite epidemic is the worst it has ever been. The latest industry estimates place the annual cost of damage and treatment at $5 billion worldwide.

 

Termite Prevention

• Since termites are attracted to moisture, avoid moisture accumulation near your home’s foundation. Divert water away with properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
• Reduce humidity in crawl spaces with proper ventilation. Prevent shrubs, vines and other vegetation from growing over and covering vents.

Termites have incredible survival instincts. If they are disturbed in any way, the termites often will abandon their chosen area and move elsewhere on the property and end up causing further damage. If you find termites in or around your property, it is essential that you do NOT disturb them and immediately arrange for a professional inspection and application of a termite treatment solution.

Termite Identification

To deal with termite infestation, virtually all experts advise calling a pest management professional to protect the most important investment most people will make in their lifetime: their home. The proper identification of which species of Termite is essential as certain breeds are more destructive than others and require different treatment options.

Termite Treatment Options

Here at Bug Guy we have a number of effective and industry leading Termite Treatments and Management Systems that are affordable and highly effective. Such as;

• Chemical Treated Zones – a simple chemical soil treatment at the base of buildings, both to the external perimeter and under buildings, to create a Chemical ‘Termite Barrier’. It is a common method for protecting structures from termite infestation
• Reticulation Systems – designed to replenish chemicals to the soil and areas under concrete such as the perimeters of houses. The Reticulation System is a perforated pipe that saturates the surrounding soil with Termite treating chemicals when under pressure. Recommended by Bug Guy professionals.
• Treated Zone Refills/Top ups – once a system has been installed by Bug Guy Technicians, we return and observe the barriers and termite activity every year and can top up Reticulation and Baiting Systems to keep the protection as effective as possible for the safety of our clients.
• Termite Payments plans available – Weekly, Fortnightly, and Monthly payments plans are available at Bug Guy.

 

 

 

 

Mice and Rodents

 

Mice were introduced to Australia by the first European settlers and they have been a problem ever since.

They can multiply quickly and will do significant damage to your home, business and furniture through their gnawing activities. They will also contaminate food and other materials through the droppings they leave behind. Their droppings have even been implicated as potential asthma triggers in children.

Not only are mice destructive they have also been known to cause house fires after chewing through electrical cables.

Once inside your property, mice prefer to keep hidden during the day. Identifying a potential infestation through signs of activity is often a lot easier than trying to spot an actual mouse.

Getting professional treatment at the earliest sign of a problem can greatly help to reduce the length of time needed to effectively control an infestation.

 

Detection of Rodents

Rodents leave behind a few tell tail signs of their whereabouts. If you have seen or noticed any of the follow, it is strongly recommended to employ some type of Rodent Control.

• Droppings
• Burrows
• Gnawings
• Nests
• Tracks and Trails
• Urine Stains
• Disappearance or to damage of foods
• Bumping, squeaking, gnawing, scratching sounds
• Odours
• Visual sightings
• Excitement of pets

 

 

A Few Little Rodent Tips

A common query from clients is how to get rid of Rats and Mice. Below are some things that you can do to help with Rodent Control in your home before we carry out an Rodent Treatment:

• Clean-up straight after handling food
• Wipe down bench tops and wash used utensils and dishes at the end of each night
• Keep bins sealed where possible and empty each night
• Vacuum regularly
• Reduce the availability of water where possible
• Keep stored foods and air tight containers
• Where possible, seal cracks and crevices that may be possible entry points
• Keep stored food off of the floor
• Regularly clean those ‘hard to reach’ places
• Don’t forgot to wash and put away pet’s food bowls

 

Rodent Bait Stations

Using rat bait stations is an effective way to control a rat infestation on your property.

Developed by Bug Guy specifically to be tamper resistant, these stations are safe to use even in areas where children or pets may be present. The rat bait or rodenticide contained within the device is only accessible to rats and offers an effective solution to your rat problem.

Our large selection of baits, suitable for use indoors and outdoors, are installed and distributed through these bait stations as part of a customized rat control program for homes and businesses.