COCKROACH CONTROL
Cockroaches can be
found infesting everything from homes to restaurants to ships and planes. They
may follow water pipes and electrical lines through walls from one room to
another and even from one apartment to another.
Cockroach infestation
Cockroaches are accomplished
hitchhikers. In fact, German cockroaches usually first get into buildings by
riding in boxes, in furniture and in other items brought into the building.
Most other cockroach species invade from the outside or from sewers or drains.
Most cockroaches
prefer to rest on wood rather than on metal and other surfaces. That’s why
you’ll often find them living in wood cabinets or in cardboard boxes. German
cockroach fecal material contains a pheromone that tells other cockroaches that
the area is a good place to harbor. Large numbers of cockroaches may congregate
in areas where fecal material has accumulated. These areas are called
aggregation points.
All dishes and food
items should be removed from shelving before treating for cockroaches. Good
sanitation helps put stress on a cockroach population by making them more
susceptible to treatments and baits.
Managing Cockroach Infestation
GIS Pest Management
Services professionals begin by inspecting and treating available hiding
places in which cockroaches might live. This includes electric motors,
electronic equipment, false ceilings, wall voids and accessible cracks and
voids.
Vacuuming may be used
in some cases to provide immediate reduction in the number of cockroaches. A
variety of application techniques and methods may then be used to provide a
comprehensive cockroach treatment, including crack and crevice treatments, void
treatments and baits.
TERMITES MANAGEMENT
No property is safe from termites. Termites are the cause of the greatest economic losses of timber in structures in Australia. Australia’s Subterranean termite species (white ants) are the most destructive termites in the world. Did you know it can take up to as little as 3 months for a termite colony to severely damage almost all timbers in a home. Termites will travel up to 100 metres from their nest in search of food.
About Termites: Subterranean termites are social insects usually living in underground nests. Nests maybe located in trees or in rare instances located in above ground areas within the property. They tunnel underground to enter the building and then remain hidden within the timbers making it difficult to locate them. Termites are also hard to locate if gardens are built up around the home and termite management systems are either not in place or poorly maintained. Termites are extremely sensitive to temperature, humidity and light, which is why they do not move above ground. They travel in mud encrusted (termite tracking) tunnels searching for food. Detection of termites is usually made by locating these mud tunnels rising from the ground into the affected structure. A fully qualified timber pest inspector will be able to spot any mud tunnels around your property.
How termites attack your home: The most destructive species live in large underground nests containing several million timber destroying insects. If a nest is located near your home this is when the problem arises. Your home provides natural shelter and food source for the termites. A single colony may exploit food sources over as much as one hectare. Concrete slabs are not a barrier, termites can penetrate through cracks in the slab and gain access into your home.
Termite Damage: Once in contact with the timber they excavate it, often leaving only a thin veneer on the outside. If left undetected they can cause many thousands of dollars damage and become costly to treat.
RODENTS CONTROL
Rodents are highly
adaptable animals that make up over 40 percent of the mammal class. With more
than 2,230 species identified, their ranks are massive, although only three
types are considered major pests in the United States. They are the house
mouse, the Norway rat and the roof rat.
These three rodents
are identified as major pests because they are commonly found near human
dwellings and are most likely to benefit from human structures, food and waste.
Rats and mice pose an issue for humans living within the same vicinity for a
number of reasons.
Basic rodent biology
Rats and mice are both
capable of transmitting disease to humans through their hair, droppings and
urine. A single mouse can excrete 40 to 100 droppings per day, according to the
Mallis Handbook of Pest Control by Arnold Mallis.
Rats and mice might
also bite, although it is not common. Sometimes a bite can result in rat-bite
fever, a potentially fatal disease if not treated. Some people develop an
allergic reaction to the excrement of rats or house mice, which can cause
asthma-related symptoms.
In addition to causing
disease, food contamination by rats and mice can cause billions of dollars in
damage. Between one-fifth and one-third of total food production is lost
annually due to rat contamination according to Mallis, who also states that a
single rat can consume about 1 ounce of food per night. Some rat colonies can
harbor more than 100 rats.
Rats and mice are also
successful breeders. A female rat can reproduce every three weeks, and usually
gives birth to about six to 10 young at one time. A female mouse reproduces
every three to four weeks and usually gives birth to about five or six young,
although sometimes up to 12. This means that both rat and mice colonies can
grow large quickly, although rats only live for about a year. Mice can live up
to two or three years under ideal conditions.
How to Control
Attempting to control
a rat or mouse infestation can be dangerous. The most effective rodent control
requires an integrated approach. Rodenticide alone is often not enough.
Additionally, rodent control requires rodent proofing, harborage reduction,
trapping and increased attention to sanitation. For the most comprehensive
solution, call a pest management professional.