Monthly Archives: March 2013

The Pesticide Issue

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Have you often worried that perhaps you went a little too far with your spray or chemicals? Perhaps you just become frightened and wanted a quick solution. Or maybe you believe that pests are meant to be destroyed in the most effective way possible? Whatever your stance may be on this subject, it’s a debate that has people divided.  Do you use pesticide? Or are you someone who likes to look at natural solutions before administering a pesticide?

Definition of a Pesticide: A pesticide is a broad category that includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides or rodenticides. All of these are the strongest means of getting rid of your relative problems.

However it is warned that using any of these unnecessarily or in the wrong amount,  it comes with certain dangers.  You could end up creating a worse problem, or nothing could happen at all. Exposing yourself to these substances without proper merit can be dangerous to your health. Not too mention the environmental damage they can cause.

Health Issues:

Depending on how the poison is ingested and how much, will determine the affects on your health. As a human you are at risk of being poisoned by the chemicals contained in the pesticides, and the severity will vary depending on toxicity. Most of the symptoms are quite normal of any type of poisoning, or even a virus, which makes it more impossible to tell whether it’s due to the pesticide. 

Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness. As you can see it’s not out of the ordinary, but if these symptoms are recurring then this will be a constant illness. Or in the worst cases you can experience lifelong memory issues, muscle soreness and chronic fatigue. All these have certified links with overusing or using pesticides.

All pesticides are ranked on their Toxicity level in order to help all users determine what sort of pesticides will be safe to use in your own environment.  If you have children or pets you will be looking for pesticides that won’t put these precious beings in danger.  What also helps in accordance with the toxicity level is the label warnings, you know the ones, : Keep out of reach of children, Caution, Poison, Dangerous Poison.

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Should I not use pesticides then?

Well, it’s really up the individual. However it is safer to look at all options and get a thorough inspection of what exactly your pest problem is, before using something of a chemical nature. It’s not going to harm you if you use it in it’s intended manner, and with professional advice, or help.

Try contacting Pest Control Toowoomba-Action Pest Services!

 

Profiling the Bed Bug

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If you’re looking at a bug you’ve found under your mattress, then it could be the dreaded, and famous, bed bug. Yes, it seems like the bed bug is one of those creatures that you only hear about in movies, or when you’re little and very fragile about nasty creatures.  Unfortunately these little nasty creatures are real, and have many distinct features. Here’s a profile of your predator.

What does the bed bug look like?

-It has no wings

-It is oval shaped

-It is usually a light brown shade

-It is flat, and thin around the body.

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What’s their damage?

Bed Bugs are actually more brutal than they appear, don’t let their size fool you. These critters live on a diet of blood, much like the vampire, but not as much blood of course.  When you find yourself bitten by this insect you may not even notice, until you see the after damage. You will break out in red welts or a rash. Although in some cases you will not get any noticeable marks.

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Their species…

There are a few different types of bed bugs, but one type is the more prevalent pest to all home owners. This is the Cimex lectularius. 

Although there are more uncommon types such as chimney swift bug(Cimexopsis nyctalis and the swallow bug(Oeciacus vicarius).  Even though they are of the same family, we as humans wouldn’t consider them our bed bugs.

Daily activity…

-These creatures are night owls, they are readily active during the night period, and then rest during the day. Perfect timing to get you while you’re sleeping.

-Adult bed bugs can lay up to twelve eggs a day, and often you will have no clue that they all around you in the smallest places and holes.

-Their lifespan is about a year and a half, but this is not a permanent rule for all bed bugs.

How to get rid of them…

Unfortunately once you get a major infestation of bed bugs it’s best to seek people with extensive knowledge and the right equipment. Due to the nature of how sneaky these bugs are it’s impossible to carry out a proper inspection yourself, they are too good at hiding.  Once a professional pest control company knows exactly how big of an infestation they are dealing with, they can treat it accordingly.  It may take the form of chemical treatments or cleaning techniques. Either way, these guys know what they are dealing with.  If you’re a Penrith resident in need of some help with pest control, allow Pest Control Penrith- Emblem Pest Services to guide you through.

 

 

 

 

Flea problems are worth worrying about.

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Just washed your canine friend recently? Well that’s a good thing.  However, even providing good hygiene for your dog is not always enough. When fleas strike it’s always saddening to see your pet dog or cat in pain, so if this problem has just occurred, or is recurring, then it’s best you sort it out.  It’s not just an issue for your pets, but also yourself.  Fleas bite.  Don’t you feel intrigued to know what exactly fleas can do, and how to fix the flea infestation?

How do I know if I’ve been bitten by a flea?

Ticks and fleas are often hard for us to pick apart. So when we are bitten by these pests appropriate treatment confusing. Well, tick and flea bites can be similar but the bugs themselves have different lifestyles.

-Ticks are often larger

-Ticks are catorgorised in the arachnid family, whilst fleas are just your everyday insect.

-Unfortunately ticks can handle almost any climate, but a flea enjoys warm temperatures.

-A tick lays a lot more eggs than fleas, but once it does, it will be deceased.

-A flea only has a few victims to his list of homes, whereas the tick is happy to latch onto almost any animal or human.

With flea bites you are likely to get bitten, then small red bumps may appear.  A tick bite can look a bit different, as circles around the bite may appear. Either way they are both aggravating and itchy, very unpleasant.

Still unsure what the different is? Have a look. (Picture 1: Flea, Picture 2: Tick)

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What should I do about my flea problem?

 

–Well to first prevent a flea problem you can handily find chemical treatments for your outdoor living space. In doing this you will be preventing the insects from traveling casually into your home.

-Due to fleas laying eggs frequently it is an extremely good idea to regularly clean any material based bedding that your pet sleeps in or with. If you can vacuum them up before they hatch, this controls the area in which they can spread.

–You can treat your pets with specifically designed shampoos and treatments for fleas, which in turn we keep your friend on good terms with you.

-Sometimes, no matter what DIY method of treatment you attempt, there’s that chance you won’t be able to solve it without a professional.

Why rodents are best kept away…

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Yes, one of the most common and annoying pest issues are our lovely rodent friends.  Although in most cases you only ever see mice or rats on the odd occasion at certain times of the year, sometimes you can’t get rid of the constant scampering.  Even if you own a nice predatory cat, you are still going to become very aware if you have a rodent problem. Usually you find out the hard way, when you cat accidentally leaves parts of the rodent in you house.  Even though there is usually no immediate harm of a few mice, apart from them eating your food, and creating bad hygiene, you should  still get on top of things before they take over. 

We all the know the embarrassment when we have our nice posh dinner plates out for a lovely tea with friends, then suddenly someone screams. You get this embarrassing chill come over you when you hear the words “mouse”. It’d be nice to think we are all extremely hygienic and would never have mice in our house, but unfortunately this reality is a bit distorted. 

What are the risks of rodents, apart from embarrassment?

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– Fleas! Yes these little buggers can hitch a ride on your family pet, but also rodents.

-Damage to your house can often occur, not usually as bad as termites, but certainly enough to create unecessary costs. Especially if ignored.

-A common one is when the pests get to electrical cables, that is a common, and costly situation. You’ll be needing to call the electrician as well as the pest control company.

-Food wastage (due to your constant throwing out of rodent infested food). Also the droppings of rodents aren’t usually great when placed in or next to your food.

If you think you have a rodent problem that’s beyond a few rat traps or poisons, then there are always professional services such as pest control in Turramurra that can help you out. However if you keep on top of regular cleaning and trapping, then you’ll be pretty unlucky to have a major rodent infestation.

 

 

 

Why Subterranean Termites Are Costly and Dangerous

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If you’re living in the Joondalup area you are probably already quite aware of the “white ants” that cause major destruction to family homes or buildings. Joondalup is high risk area for these nasty pests. Unfortunately termites are rife among many northern areas of Australia, due to the heat and vulnerability to humidity. Humid and damp climates are the perfect haven for these nasty critter.

Probably the most annoying and dangerous issues related to the Subterranean termite are their economical costs.

– Termite damage to timber is not covered by insurance companies, which means that any damage must be covered out of your own pocket.

-Damage can be deeper than it looks in most cases, that’s why a proper termite inspection needs to be undertaken or you can have a much larger cost on your hands. Some people may choose to take it upon themselves for a DIY inspection but the risks involved may not be worth it. These swarms of destructive ants can create holes you don’t see until it’s too late.

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What’s involved in treating and preventing termite invasions?

Termite Baiting:

Termite baiting is pretty much exactly how it sounds. You are providing bait to a colony of termites who will slowly be killed by your poisonous treat.  You will be feeding the termites until they stop eating your bait, then it is pretty much done. In order for the termites to be baited the bait must be placed in the spots of the timber they are already eating away at, a small hole must be made. 

Soil Treatment:

Soil treatments are used as a preventative measure for Subterranean termites.  A treatment is literally placed in the soil adjacent to the structure you are protecting, after a large hole is created in which to place the treatment.  In order to get the hole the right depth and diameter it is probably best left to professional assistance.

Measures to prevent termites:

Due to termites loving damp and humid places, it is best to keep spaces in buildings well ventilated. You should also think about alternative building materials other than timber, or at least attempt to keep soil at a distance to timber. Try and use concrete to create a barrier between any damp material structures.

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Subterranean termites do not pose a small threat, they pose a large threat to all properties, which is why you should contact a professional. You should contact a pest team for help.

 

Bee or Wasp?

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Often there are problems we don’t really think about unless they directly affect us.  If you’re walking down the street or wandering around the backyard you can encounter the occasional bee or wasp, have a minor irrational outbreak of stress, then move on. Bees are quite the common fear, and usually an irrational one, because in retrospect it’s rare to be stung.

However in the unlikely situation of being stung, that fear usually increases.  What is actually worse for the stress levels is when you find yourself with a worse problem than one bee or wasp, and that’s a whole nest of them. 

You always hear about nests, and may have stumbled across one out in the natural surrounds, but when it becomes an in- house problem, that’s when you start to wonder.  Most people will immediately call a pest control service, which is the common solution. However it’s handy to know a few things before making any decisions, if only for your own information.

What’s the difference between a bee and a wasp?

This question isn’t as silly as it sounds. It’s actually amazing how little people know about how to tell the difference, without jumping to the conclusion that one is bigger than the other.  Without going into every single species of bee and wasp, there are some small things you can look for to find your intruder.  It’s also very handy to know the difference between these  insects because if you get stung, medical attention can vary.

I’m a Bee because…

– Smaller

-Mild natured (unless provoked)

-I am hairy

– I have a more full figure body

-I enjoy the flowers and nature, I pollinate.

-I’ll likely die after I sting you

Public domain image, royalty free stock photo from www.public-domain-image.com

 

I am a Wasp because…

– I am longer than my fellow Bee

-I often have a bad temper and am most likely to sting you

-I have leathery looking skin, with harsher black and yellow colours.

– I feed my babies fellow insects, I’m a carnivore.

-I’ll keep stinging after I sting you.

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Hopefully these pictures can help you decifer whether your pest problem is one of the “bee” variety or the “wasp” category.  In terms of how to get rid of them, and whether you should, is quite a topical issue. 

Often people and professionals will advise you to leave the nest of bees, due to their usually docile manner and there pollination benefits.  Also, their nests are seasonal. Although this is still a personal choice, and if safety is a concern then it’s best to call a professional.  There is also the choice between killing the bees on removing them, or just having the nest moved.  Not all pest control companies will follow the same procedures. With wasps in most cases it is better to get the nest removed, due to their bad tempers and ability to stay strong after stinging. They pose much more risk to our safety.

In the end it’s probably better to talk to someone who knows how to inspect and judge the nest, as most people probably won’t be able to get past their fear of the thought.