Tag Archives: pest control

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.

 

 

 

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.

wasp

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.