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COMMON HOUSEHOLD PESTS
You want your home to be comfortable – but not for pests! Our friendly technicians will free your home from pests and safeguard against their return – using products that are safe for your family, pets and the environment, backed by our 200% guarantee.
CRAWLING PESTS
ANTS
Foraging worker ants cause a nuisance as they travel widely in search of food, following well-defined trails and clustering around the food source. They are attracted to sweet or fatty substances in kitchens, pantries, storerooms and warehouses. In hospitals they have been found feeding on septic dressings, soiled linen and excrement.
Ants are the most prolific and successful group of insects. Their nests can be found almost anywhere, in lawns, under stones or wood, in decaying trees, under buildings, in cavity wall and roof voids. Anywhere that affords them protection.
BED BUGS
Bed Bug infestations are notoriously difficult to beat by yourself, without the careful inspection and treatment by a professional pest control technician, followed by a thorough, comprehensive treatment of all infested and adjoining areas. Infestations are often detected by the welts and irritation caused by the bites, and the fecal smears and blood spots visible on pillowcases, sheets and mattresses. Typical hiding places are in the tufts, folds and seams of mattresses, and cracks in the box springs and bed frame. Heavier infestations often spread to behind baseboards, window and door casings, pictures, electrical switch plates, loose wallpaper, and in furniture upholstery and the pleats of drapes.
COCKROACHES
Cockroaches generally don’t like light and if found in the home will be more common at night, usually darting away when you enter the room. If a large infestation is in the home, there is often a distinct odour. Droppings and vomit marks are normally visible on cupboards and hinges inside cupboards and drawers. The Australian cockroach is a very good flyer but mostly during warmer weather and prefers warmer climates, however it can survive indoors during colder weather as long as water is available, so warm, moist conditions are ideal.
FLEAS
Fleas are an annoying insect that feed on the blood from animals including humans in their adult form. There are over 70 species in Australia but the most common are the cat and dog fleas. Most of their life cycle actually occurs off the pet, and they can lie dormant in their cocoons for several months waiting for any vibrations that may stir them into action. It’s a common misperception that grass fleas or sand fleas are a different species. These fleas are just fleas that have been deposited onto the ground by the pet. If there are five on your pet there are usually many more out in the yard. The adult flea can survive for over four months without a single blood feed and successful eradication often involves a treatment by a qualified pest technician.
SILVERFISH
Silverfish have a long slender body, flattened and normally 13-25mm, giving them a fish like appearance. They completely lack wings and have two antennae which move side to side like a fish, cannot climb smooth surfaces and are nocturnal. They can typically live for two to four years, prefering warmer temperatures and will die in heat over 40 degrees. When indoors they can be found in roof and wall cavities, subfloors and in cupboards. They will eat foods like rolled oats, sugar, synthetic fibres. They can go for long periods of time without food, and signs of feeding are not obvious. They are fast and agile insects and this sometimes contributes to their downfall, as they often become trapped in bathtubs.
SPIDERS
The formidable appearance and size of spiders make them the most feared of all the creepy crawlies. However most spiders are harmless and avoid people. Among the most commonly found in Australia are the:
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Red Back
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Black House Spider
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Huntsman
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Funnel Web
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White Tail
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Daddy Long Legs
TICKS
Ticks are common in many parts of Australia and can even be found around the garden. They have mouthpiece like a beak and a body the shape of a pear, ranging in size from 1.2mm as larvae to 4mm as adults. Due to their small size, they can be difficult to see until engorged by blood feeding. They require a host to feed, which can often mean the family dog or cat. Ticks usually do not climb higher than around 50cm in the vegetation and there is no evidence to suggest that they fall out of trees. If you live in a Tick prone area, keeping the garden free of dead vegetation and the lawn mown short will reduce the likelihood of an infestation, with regular professional pest control treatments.
PANTRY MOTHS
Pantry moths, such as the Indian meal moth are attracted to foodstuff as a place to lay eggs and feed, including dry goods, grains, nuts, flours, spices, and chocolate. The extent of moth damage depends on the degree of infestation. A large population in the house can be quite costly, where large amounts of food may need to be thrown away due to contamination from pantry moth webbing, cocoons, and droppings. Often the first signs of pantry moths are too late to avoid contamination. Regular inspections and baits are an effective method of prevention.
FLYING INSECTS
BEES
Honey bees were introduced to Australia by early settlers for a good supply of honey, but naturally, a few escaped. Now they are found throughout Australia. Their size is about 1.3mm-1.6 mm and has very distinct yellow and black markings. The honey bee defends its nests very aggressively and if you are stung, it is fatal to the bee, as the stinger pulls out the bee’s lower abdomen leaving the venom gland pumping in the victim. This is why they are a danger and a pest to humans: the sting cause local pain and swelling. Nests are usually found undercover or in cavities. Increased activity in a specific area or a concentration of bees to one area often means there is a nest nearby.
CLOTHES MOTHS
Discovering an infestation of clothes moths usually occurs too late - once you find a hole in a garment. However you if you see an adult moth flying about in your home, it could be time to check the closet. Moths like to live in dark spaces like closets and infest items like clothing and upholstery made of animal-based materials. Their larvae eat the fabrics and can leave stains from vomit and feces. A large population of moths in the home can become costly. If you suspect there’s moths in your home talk to our trained technicians about prevention methods and a treatment plan for your home.
FLIES
Pests are frustrating and not many more annoying than flies. More than a nuisance, flies pose a serious risk to health, as the first responders to rotting food, especially meat. Fly infestations can spread diseases like Salmonella and E. Coli as they buzz from rotting matter, to surfaces to food, carrying their germs with them. Small infestations can quickly become serious problems with a rapid germination period, of sometimes, only seven days. If you’re experiencing more flies than usual, call Combat Pest Solutions to inspect your property for a potential infestation and quick action plan to treat and remove the threat.
MOSQUITOS
The signs of a mosquito infestation are annoying and clear - the high pitched buzzing and their bites. Only the females bite, for a blood meal to feed the eggs they’re about to lay. The immature stages of mosquitoes can be found in standing, preferably stagnant water. Small pools around the garden in watering dishes, containerised plants and many other places you may not be looking. Some people can have differing reactions to bites, from mild to intense inflammation. There are some measures you can take around the home to prevent mosquitoes however a professional inspection by our technicians can help with continued problems.
WASPS
The common paper wasps are found all across southern mainland Australia from Southern Queensland, through New South Wales, down into Victoria and across to South Australia. They are 10-15mm long and will sometimes appear yellow in or red in colour. The wasp is a social insect and will usually have colonies of many individuals. They make their ‘paper’ nests by chewing nectar and using their saliva to form the nest. The wasp is a beneficial insect around the home, they help control caterpillars, but they become extremely aggressive when approached or if their nest is disturbed. They can deliver a painful sting and the nests should be avoided during the day. Contact us if you have problems with wasps and our professional technicians will take care of it for you.
RODENTS AND WILD LIFE
BIRDS
The unsightly bird droppings you see on signs and buildings are more dangerous than they look. Birds carry more than 60 transmutable diseases and pathogens in their droppings, including E.Coli and Salmonella. As the droppings dry out they turn to powder, carrying the pathogens in the air. Flocks of birds can cause significant structural damage and corrosion to building surfaces, while their nests can have a negative effect on electrical systems and air conditioners. If you have birds wreaking havoc on your property, contact us to have one of our bird pest control specialists inspect your property and develop a tailored plan to effectively remove the birds and stop them coming back.
FERAL ANIMALS
Feral animals making a home in your home can cause distress, damage to your property or worse, pose a danger to your family and pets. Our technicians are trained to handle feral animals to remove them as the first step in a customised pest control plan. Our solution will target every vulnerability feral animals use to enter your home, including cavities, crawl spaces, voids and damage to building structures. Our treatments include traditional traps, bats and other tools to remove these pests and ensure they don’t come back.
MICE
The common house mouse is a slender little rodent usually coloured brown to grey, with large rounded ears and bulging eyes. They are excellent climbers, jumpers and swimmers although they prefer not to swim. They will feed on animal feed, nuts, grains but despite what you may have been told cheese is not a favourite food. Telltale signs of mice in the home are small droppings, urine stains/smells, gnaw marks on food products or even sighting them out in the open. Their population size can increase rapidly and the female can reproduce from two months of age having up to eight in a litter at a time, so if you suspect you have mice, contact us quickly for a professional inspection and eradication plan.
RATS
Two species of rat are most commonly found in homes, The larger, heavy set Brown Rat and the slender Black Rat with a pointy nose and big ears. They require access to a lot more water than mice and leave larger telltale droppings, around 12mm - 18mm in length. Prolific breeders, they like to live in roof and wall cavities, living for about a year producing 4 - 5 litters from as early as 3 months old. Rats can be a fire hazard in older buildings, with a tendency to gnaw on loose wiring. If you suspect rats are in your home, contact us for a professional inspection right away.
OTHER WILD LIFE
For some homes, the proximity to nature means inevitable visitors of the furry and scaly kind. We all love animals, but sometimes they’re not welcome in our homes. Wildlife in your home can quickly go from being a nuisance to causing distress and worse, damage to your property. We have technicians trained to find entry points and nesting spots for all manner of wildlife and then removing them by various means. Sometimes it means getting down on our hands and knees, but we’ll do what it takes to protect your home and property for the long term. We’re experienced with developing removal plans for wildlife including bats, birds, bush animals, feral cats, foxes, possums and rabbits while taking measures to prevent their return.
BRISBANE'S BEST PEST CONTROL CUSTOMER SERVICE
How we get the pest control job done is just important to our team, as the removal of pests from your Brisbane based business. With dedicated client service for our commercial pest control customers, we know what you need, when you need it and the best way to appraoch the pest problem. Combat Pest Control are the experts in Brisbane to keep the pests away from your business.
We provide yearly, quarterly pest control plans for your business. We will quote you based upon your individual needs with no hidden costs. Our commercial pest control team will then be able to treat any problems, and safeguarding the return of pests.