Many Brisbane residents ask us, during this time of year if pests will start to disappear now that summers over. Pests will start to reduce in numbers as the weather cools down and the optimal temperatures for maximum breeding and activity have reduced. This however doesn’t mean that your property will be pest free from now until next spring.

Generally temperatures inside homes are much warmer in the cooler months than outside and there is food and water available in and around the home. This being the case what usually tends to happen is many pests will seek out homes for these reasons. Nice warm shelter in which to live and breed, very good accessibility to food sources and access to water is also available.

Common Autumn Pests

The most common pests that will look to move inside are rodents such as rats and mice. The home is an ideal place for these pests. Roof voids can be full of insulation which is an ideal warm nesting material which they can burrow into to make their nests. Many believe that cooler months such as late autumn – winter is rat season. Rats actually breed heavily all year round, the cooler months however they much prefer, as we would, to get inside and out of the cold. Obviously once they are in the roof they can have easy access to your food and garbage. Once inside your property rats and mice can cause a lot of damage. They consistently gnaw; they have too to keep their teeth from growing too long. They’ll gnaw on anything. Many fires are started by rats gnawing on wires. Diseases are another big problem and its not just rats. Mice carry as many diseases as rats and potentially spread very easily.

What other pests are active in autumn?

Cockroaches will still remain a problem especially German Cockroaches. Their environment is your kitchen therefore they will continue to breed just as fast as in summer and due to their rapid lifecycle can become a big problem very quickly. They rely on humans for survival; we provide them with the shelter, food and water that they need. Amalgamated pest control offers 12 months Service Warranty on all species of cockroach including German Cockroaches meaning you never have to deal with these pests again.

How can I reduce autumn pests?

Some of the things that any home owner can do which will help reduce the chance of these and other pests getting into your home this autumn and winter are quite simple:

.    Reduce access to food. All pests need food. Keep food sealed, clean up spills straight away, clean up food crumbs get rid of food scraps into tightly sealed garbage bins and ensure bins, especially outside, don’t let your bin become so full that you can’t close it. Rats have an especially keen sense of smell and will smell garbage from a long way away.

.    Reduce excess water. If you have any leaking plumbing or pooling water around the home have them repaired. Water accumulating in sinks, showers and baths don’t’ help either ensure you wipe them dry. Pests actively seek water for survival.

.    Keep them out. Keeping out some pests can be done. To keep rodents out keep trees close to the home trimmed away from the roof. Make sure your roofing is in good condition, broken tiles and the like can allow rodents to slip in cracks and gain access. Gutters can be protected with a rodent resistant mesh covering. Any gaps/holes in the external wall such as where pipes enter or weep holes are present should be protected also with a rodent resistant material.

Some pests can’t be kept out with physical materials. Cockroaches, ants and spiders will always find a way into just about any home. A professional pest treatment will stop these insects living and breeding in the areas such as roof voids, sub-floors, wall cavities many internal areas of the home and Amalgamated Pest Control will give you a 12 month service warranty on these three pests which allows you too live all year around with no worries.

Still concerned?

Contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for a pest management solution for your property. We are professionals at what we do and can give you the best advice on how to keep the autumn pests and winter pests out of your home and away from your family.

1300 685 402

We are currently experiencing an increase in calls from concerned property owners who are discovering invasions of black ants at their properties.

Black ants are seeking shelter and moving their eggs and colonies inside homes to escape the rain and take up residence at the home owners expense.

Our technicians have been performing black ant treatments in area’s across Brisbane, including Indooroopilly, Norman Park, West End and Chermside.

We recently conducted a service treatment at a home in Norman Park where we discovered large amounts of black ants moving in and setting up inside the roof void. Our customer immediately asked us to treat the area and stop these pests from entering the living areas of the home.

Black Ant Characteristics

Most ants that are found in homes nest outdoors and enter homes only to search for food or water or some where to live. Almost all ants are workers, wingless females that search for food and maintain the colony.

A small proportion of an ant colony are winged reproductive forms. These emerge periodically in swarms and fly away on mating flights.

How to treat black ant problems

An effective pest control treatment will typically include the use of slow-acting insecticides in baits which allows the ants to take the insecticide back to the colony and is the most effective humane method of eliminating ants.

Health issues and problems

Black ants not only cause a nuisance but pack a nasty bite if disturbed. They are not known to cause serious health issues, but if you or a member of your family are bitten, follow these basic First Aid steps:

• Wash with soap and water and apply an antiseptic if available
• Ensure that the patient’s tetanus vaccination is up to date
• Apply an ice-pack to reduce local pain and swelling
• Pain relief may be required eg. paracetamol or an antihistamine (to reduce swelling, redness and itch)
• The patient should seek medical advice if they develop any other symptoms or signs of infection.

For any patient who shows signs of anaphylaxis, call 000 for an ambulance, and have the patient taken immediately to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

Top tips

Products purchased from the supermarket or hardware stores are generally not effective in controlling black ants. These products are often costly and are not designed to correctly attack the biology of these pests.

You can help reduce black ant colonies at your home by following these simple tips:

• Remove sources of food and water from the outside area such as pet food and water bowls – clean and change these regularly.
• Seal gaps in window frames and door frames.
• Follow good hygiene practices in the kitchen – keep benches clean and remove garbage regularly.

This will reduce visitation of ants and help baits work more effectively.

Still concerned

If you believe or suspect that you have ants, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for further advice.

1300 685 402

Termites are well know for the extensive damage they can cause to homes and can often go undetected for months.

Recently we attended a job in Jimboomba where we had previously performed a remedial treatment for active termites around the home. Unfortunately our customer did not want us to complete a thorough Timber Pest Inspection to make sure there was no further activity.

Some weeks after our customer contacted us to say the termites were still there. Following a further inspection, we discovered more termites that had established themselves inside the homes walls. Fortunately, our customer asked us to do a full inspection and treat the termites.

How to treat and manage termites

In this example,  a remedial treatment to any other activity found was carried out to stop any active termites and a full barrier with reticulation was installed around the property to stop termites accessing the home again.

A Timber Pest Inspection is the first step in the management plan for any property faced with termite activity in their area.

What does a timber pest inspection include?

A timber pest inspection will cover all readily accessible areas of your property – internal, external, (grounds, trees, fences etc), roof void, sub-floor and outbuildings (sheds, garages etc). Timber pest inspections take approximately two hours to complete on an average sized three bedroom home. Your Timber Pest Inspector will provide you with a detailed written report on:

• Any visual evidence of timber pest activity and the extent of the activity and/or damage located.
• A summary of any timber pest/s identified and a brief description of the potential damage they could to cause to your property.
• How susceptible your property is to Termite attack, by looking at elements in the environment of your property which will make it more conducive to infestation and make recommendations for improving the environment around the property, making it lest suitable for Subterranean Termites and other timber pests.
• Recommendations for a management plan to attack any current infestation and aid in reducing any risk of future infestations.
• Report on any pre existing property management plan and make recommendations to ensure its effectiveness, whilst educating you on its maintenance requirements.

Still Concerned

If you’re having problems with ticks in your yard, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for further advice.

1300 685 402

We are receiving unusually high rates of calls from clients regarding ticks at their homes. With the recent warmer days, ticks are quickly establishing themselves in home owners gardens much to the dislike of home owners and their pets.

Recently we completed a treatment to control ticks in the Toowong area where our customer was finding ticks on his arms and legs after working around his yard.

Tick Characteristics

Ticks only food source is blood of warm-blooded animals and all active stages require a blood meal for nutrition. The most common hosts are dogs, cats, bandicoots, echidnas and possums, however sometimes humans can also provide the nutrition they need.

Health risks and issues

Ticks are responsible for the poisoning of many native and domestic animals. The effects range from discomfort and illness to death. In humans, effects can range from mild to severe allergic reactions to paralysis. There have been recorded deaths attributed to the paralysis tick. Ticks also have the potential to spread infectious diseases, although Australia is largely free of tick borne diseases.

If you are bitten by a tick, do not touch the tick as this will make the situation worse. Follow these First Aid steps to remove the tick as quickly as possible.

Ref: Queensland Government Health

Health risks for your pets

Early signs that your pet may have come into contact with a tick include:

• Wobbly’ in the back legs or unsteady on their feet
• Change in tone of your dogs bark
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting or dry retching
• Excessive salivation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Coughing
• Noisy panting

If your suspect your pets are suffering from the effect of tick poisoning, please contact your local Veterinarian immediately.

How do you get rid of ticks?

Effective removal of ticks is best achieved through an Integrated Pest Management approach, which include changing the habitat and chemical control.

Top Tips – DIY

You can also follow these simple steps to help reduce ticks at your place:

• Mow lawns and attend to other habitat modifications as recommended by your technician.
• Treat pets with approved tick treatments.
• Remove children’s toys and similar items from the yard when not in use.
• Discuss other requirements with your local Amalgamated Pest Control branch. i.e., what needs to be done after treatment?

Still Concerned

If you’re having problems with ticks in your yard, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for further advice.

1300 685 402

With the recent change in weather here in Brisbane, it looks like spring may have arrived early, (despite a few cooler days recently). The spring season is the time when the majority of pests become active as they start their new life cycle and look for a new place to call home – often your home is an ideal location.

We recently conducted a job in Wynnum which was originally 
booked to treat ants, cockroaches and spiders. Our customer also mentioned that they found a large wasp nest under the eaves of their two story home. During our inspection of the property, we easily found the wasps nest which was well established and active with hundreds of wasps.

Wasp Characteristics

There are several different species of wasps throughout Australia. The most well known include the Paper Wasp, European Wasp and the Mud Wasp. Some species are highly aggressive while others are peaceful and rarely sting.

How do you treat wasps?

Typically, your technician will use a spray chemical that is applied to the nest at a distance to avoid being stung. Once the wasp activity stops, the nest is simply brushed away with a broom to remove any remnants of the nest and discourage other wasp colonies to quickly make it their home.

The picture below was taken about a minute after the treatment, directly under the nest. Very few of the wasps got further than a few meters.

What to do if you are stung by wasps

Wasps will sting when threatened and we recommend that homeowners DO NOT try and address any infestations themselves.

For any patient that is allergic to bee stings and shows signs of anaphylaxis, call 000 for an ambulance, and have the patient taken immediately to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.

If you or a family member are stung by bees, follow these general first aid steps:

• Remove stings by scraping sideways with your fingernail or with the edge of a knife.
• Apply a cold pack.
• Watch for allergic reactions – breathing difficulties, rashes, itching, or swelling around the mouth or eyelids.

If an allergic reaction takes place call 000 for an ambulance.

• Observe and record pulse and breathing.
• If casualty is carrying medication for the allergy it should be taken at once.
• If conscious: help casualty to sit in a position which most relieves breathing difficulty.
• If unconscious: open and clear casualty’s airway and prepare to resuscitate if necessary.

Ref: Summer Safety with St John First Aid

Still concerned?

If you need wasp removal, please contact your Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for further advice.

1300 685 402

Termites are well known around Australia for causing serious and costly damage to homes. Many home owners are also unaware that home insurance typically does not cover this type of damage which can often amount to tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.

We recently conducted a job at a home in Gumdale, near Brisbane’s Bayside area, where our customer was concerned about a dirty mess found in a cupboard, (see picture below). We quickly discovered that this mess was in fact Subterranean Termites, (Genus Coptotermes), nesting in the cricket board game Test Match. The game was resting against the wall in the top shelf of a child’s closet.

How do termites enter your home?

In this instance, the termites had accessed the house via shelter tubes hidden in in a small crack of the timber pier below the bedroom. They worked there way up the internal wall cavity where they decided the board game was the ideal nest.

How do you treat termites?

The remedy for this situation involved the use of a chemical called Termidor. Foam was injected into the active areas, (board game, adjoining wall cavity, adjoining timber piers). To prevent this happening again, a chemical barrier was installed to the base of the timber piers under the house. Due to the high clay content of the ground, soil had to be replaced at the base of all piers to ensure the residual effect of the Termidor chemical barrier which was challenging due to the low clearance of the suspended timber floor construction.

How to prevent termites

A regular termite inspection, not a termite check, is the first step toward a total pest management solution. Most people have never seen a termite or the damage they cause. Termites can go undetected for several months and might only be discovered when the vacuum cleaner bumps the skirting board which crumbles to dust or strange mounds of dirt start to appear in a cupboard, like this example, or around the property.

If you are unsure, contact Amalgamated Pest Control immediately. A qualified Timber Pest Technician will be able to accurately identify if your home has a termite problem and recommend solutions to stop an infestation before it’s too late.

How do I know if I have a termite problem?

Look for signs of termites which may include:

1. Mudding – mud trail on fences, walls, property footings.
2. Swollen floors and ceilings.
3. Walls that appear to be suffering water damage.
4. Hollow sounding timbers such as window frames and skirting.

If you find evidence of termites, DO NOT try and treat it yourself, contact a qualified timber pest controller immediately.

Top Tips

The following is a list of DIY tips that you can follow to help prevent termites establishing themselves at your place:

• Garden beds – don’t let vines and weeds over grow.
• Timber storage – don’t store timber pieces or objects beside the house.
• Bricks and pavers – don’t stack bricks, pavers or concrete blocks beside the house.
• Dispose of garden waste and building materials at your local council’s public waste and recycling centre, (check waste type accepted).
• An annual termite inspection by a qualified pest control technician will ensure that the risk to your home is managed and controlled.

Still Concerned?

If you believe or suspect that you have a rodent problem, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Brisbane for further advice.

1300 685 402

Termites: What are they, how they enter your home.

Termites are an ancient order of insects whose origins date back more than 100 million years to the Cretaceous period. Although they are commonly called ‘white ants’, the resemblance to ants is superficial and they are more closely related to cockroaches and in fact have been recently included into the cockroach order Blattodea.

Termite Characteristics

Termites can be grouped into three basic categories:

• Dampwood, these termites generally live in damp rotting logs or rot pockets in dead or living trees.

• Drywood, these termites obtain water from the wood in which they live and have no contact with the soil, or with any other source of moisture.

• Subterranean, these termites are generally ground-dwelling or require contact with the soil or some constant source of moisture and are the main threat posed to timber in the built environment, (timber-in-service).

What type of damage can they cause to your home

No matter where you are located in Australia, Subterranean Termites are present in your area. Subterranean termites are responsible for more economic loss each year than all natural disasters combined. There are more than 350 species of termites which have been recorded in this country, about 25 of which achieve economic importance as pests of timber in service.

Where do they live?

Subterranean termites live in colonies, numbering from a few hundred to millions. In each colony there is a division of labour, with several distinct castes, each specailising in particular duty. The worker termites are responsible for the damage to timber caused in their search for food, which consist mainly of cellulose, sugars and starch present in the timber. Subterranean termites generally nest underground in the soil,  build earthen mounds, or nest in the root crowns of trunks or living and dead trees. Having to maintain contact with soil or a reliable water source to obtain sufficient moisture to survive, subterranean termites construct protective mud shelter tubes from their nest to their food source- living trees, seasoned timbers, books, furniture, etc. Consuming the wood from inside out, usually by the time the termites work is visible, the timber is virtually eaten away.

How subterranean termites can enter your home.

• Constructing mud tubes over concrete piers
• Constructing tunnels up the centre of wood stumps
• Constructing mud tubes from the soil to the flooring, often within cavity walls
• Through hair line cracks which appear in concrete slabs around plumbing and electrical conduits
• Through service pipes such as telephone, plumbing and electrical
• Bridging by way of vegetation in contact with the building, through the soil abutting the base of the building, working their way through mortar or timber in soil contact
• Through colonsing flights, reproductive termites may form nests within or in close proximity to the building

Still concerned?

If you wish  further information or advice regarding termites or having a timber pest inspection, please contact your local Amalgamated Pest Control branch.