The Complete Queensland Pest Control Guide

Having your home overrun by pests can be annoying. The good thing about this type of situation is that most pests will leave some kind of evidence that they are there. If you happen to see any of these signs, you’ll be able to figure out pretty quickly what kind of infestation you have.

We’ve put together this complete pest control guide for those living in the Queensland area. In addition to talking about the importance of pest control, we’re also going to look at some of the common pests, what you can do yourself to help get rid of them and what you should look for when trying to find a technician or company.

This guide was written to help you understand what kinds of pests are native to Queensland and what you can do to get rid of them. Some of the questions that will be answered are listed below.

• Reasons why pest control is so important.
• Things you can do at home to get rid of these pests.
• Information about pests including appearance, signs they are there, how long they live, and what they eat.
• What to look for when trying to find a pest control company or technician to hire.

Importance of Pest Control

There are many reasons why pest control is so importan besides just getting rid of the problem. Unfortunately, many pests are more than just an annoyance so it’s important to get rid of them. We talk about some of these reasons more in-depth below.

• Rodent Issues

Not only do rodents carry other pests but they also carry many diseases that can be caught by both people and animals. Rodents also eat about 20% of the world’s food. One other issue that people have with them is that they leave droppings everywhere and chew holes in things.

Since ingesting anything that has been in contact with rodent urine can make you extremely sick, getting rid of them is the best option to keep yourself and your family safe.

• Allergies

Many insects are considered pests and quite a few of them cause allergic reactions. Some people will only have a mild reaction, like slight swelling or redness around the area, while others could get into a life-threatening situation if they are bitten or stung.

It can be hard to know what different insects you’re allergic to, so it’s a good idea to get rid of as many as you can. Even if you don’t end up being allergic, it’s much better to be safe than sorry.

• Deadly Diseases

In addition to mice, other pests also carry diseases. Many of these can be transmitted to both humans and animals. This is especially bad if you’re in an area that has a lot of people. Some of the well-known diseases are listed below. Most of these can be very serious or even deadly.

1. Lyme Disease
2. Malaria
3. plague
4. West Nile Virus
5. Yellow Fever
6. Dengue Fever

• Property Damage

Another reason why pest control is so important is that they can cause quite a bit of property damage. Some can cause damage to the wood in your house while others can chew through things like wires. Some can chew through almost any material that isn’t metal.

This is even more upsetting if the infestation went undetected for a long period because it could cost thousands of dollars to repair the damage. Depending on the location, there’s also a chance you could lose keepsakes that you can’t get back.

• Poison/Venom

The last thing you want is to have a pest that’s poisonous or venomous around your family. Some have an amount of poison or venom that’s small enough to barely do anything, while others have some that can cause serious injuries or even death. You never know what could happen, so getting the problem taken care of early is very important.

• Annoyance

One final reason why pest control is important is that it’s simply annoying. Having these creatures making noises and destroying things can get old very quickly. This is especially true if you have pests that leave itchy bites that aren’t harmful.

It can also be aggravating to have something flying around your face. To save your sanity, make sure you get the problem taken care of as soon as possible.

DIY Options

If you don’t want to have someone come out and treat your home at first, you can try to do some DIY options at home. Remember, there’s no guarantee that any of these options will get rid of the problem, but you can try it before calling someone in.

Remember to use all safety precautions and pay attention to what you’re doing. We’ll talk about a few of the more common options next.

• Cucumber Peels

Many pests like ants have a dislike for cucumber peels. Putting them in areas where ants usually come into your home is a great idea. They will come across the peels and turn back. Make sure you remove all of the cucumber and use only the peels to prevent other pests from appearing.

Remember, you only want to do this outside because you don’t want to have rotting cucumber peels laying around your home.

• Mint

Another natural thing that deters insects is mint. This includes peppermint and spearmint. There are a few ways to use this. First, you can plant some around your home. This will prevent pests from reappearing every year.

On the other hand, you can use mint oil and put a little bit in problem areas. You shouldn’t use the oil version if you have animals that could have a bad reaction.

Another great DIY option is to make natural sprays. Some of these are great for many different types of pests, while others are targeted to just a few. You can put your mixture into a squirt bottle and spray areas where you notice a large amount of the creature.

Some of the ingredients you could use are listed below.

1. Apple cider vinegar
2. Hot peppers
3. Garlic
4. Soap
5. Vegetable oil

You could also choose to try out traps. These include human traps that let you set the pests free and traps that will kill them. Some of them will use different kinds of poison, while others will use something that will make the pest stick.

There are also traps that you have to bait and set. Some of these are going to do a better job than others and you’ll need to consider your needs and environment before choosing the exact trap.

If possible, try to caulk and seal any areas around your home that have space. Not only will this prevent the infestation from spreading, but it can also help prevent more pests from entering your home.

If outside, make sure you use something that is weather-resistant and built to last. If inside, make sure you use something that won’t be harmful to you, your family, or your pets.

One other thing you can do is try and use various commercial sprays. These can be bought at most home improvement or mass merchandiser. These usually have different kinds of poison, so you want to make sure you be as careful as possible.

If you have pets or children, you want to make sure you use the spray when they aren’t around. You should also make sure you wear any protective gear that’s needed.

Common Pests in Queensland

Before starting to treat for any pests, it’s important to know what the exact species might be. Not only will this give you a better idea of what can be used to get rid of them, but you’ll also have a better understanding of what kind of damage they can do. We haven’t listed every pest, but the ones below are some of the more common ones.

• Potato Moth

Scientific Name: Phthorimaea operculella
Appearance: Narrow, silver, brown or black markings
Habitat: Near potatoes
Lifecycle: 17-125 days
Food Source: Potato plants
Signs: Plants in the Nightshade family, especially potatos

Scientific Name: Bemisia tabaci
Appearance: Small, yellow body, white wings
Habitat: Tropical, subtropical, temperate
Lifecycle: 18-28 days
Food Source: Plants
Signs: Spots on leaves, leaves covered in honeydew, yellow and white scales

Scientific Name: Bactrocera tryoni
Appearance: Red-brown, yellow marks
Habitat: Tropical, subtropical
Lifecycle: 2.5 weeks
Food Source: Food, sugary substances
Signs: Adults flying around

Scientific Name: Periplaneta australasiae
Appearance: Light brown, black spot or shape on the back
Habitat: Tropical, subtropical
Lifecycle: 8 months
Food Source: Plant and decaying material
Signs: Egg cases, faeces, insects

Scientific Name: Cimex lectularius
Appearance: Oval, flat, brown or red when full
Habitat: Cracks, crevices, or areas close to human environments
Lifecycle: 6-12 months
Food Source: Blood
Signs: Blood stains, dark or rusty spots, small black spots that move, and bites on your body

Scientific Name: Isoptera
Appearance: White, light brown
Habitat: Warmer areas
Lifecycle: 12-24 months
Food Source: Wood
Signs: Tunnels in woods, ill-fitting windows or doors, hollow sounding walls

Scientific Name: Pseudomys delicatulus
Appearance: yellow-brown or grey-brown on top, white on bottom
Habitat: Dry and bare areas
Lifecycle: 2 years
Food Source: Fruits, seeds, grains
Signs: Droppings, chewed holes, mouse sighting

Scientific Name: Myrmecia pilosula
Appearance: Black body, orange or brown jaws and pincers
Habitat: Tropic, subtropic
Lifecycle: 1.3 years
Food Source: Insects like crickets
Signs: Ant sighting

How to Find A Pest Controller

Before finishing up, it’s important to know what you should look for when you go to hire a company or technician to take care of your pest problem. There might be other questions you have but these should give you a good starting point.

Since pests aren’t something that you should really wait on, do your research and collect information as soon as you can.

Licensing

The first thing you want to do is consider what licensing the different technicians or companies have. In order to do their job legally, there are certain licenses and certifications they must get. Your area’s website or authorities should be able to let you know what they should have.

Once you know this information, you can talk with the technicians or companies you’re considering and see if they have them.

Experience

Another thing to consider is how much experience they have. There are a few good reasons for this. The first is because they’ll be using dangerous chemicals and they can cause serious harm to you, your family, or pets if precautions aren’t taken.

The other big reason is that pest control needs to be done a certain way to take care of the problem. If they don’t spray the right amount or let it work for a certain amount of time, there’s a high chance that the problem won’t be completely taken care of.

Recommendations/Reviews

Another thing you should do is look at as many recommendations and reviews as possible. Not only will this give you a good idea of what you should expect but you’ll also be able to get real experiences that are positive and negative.

If a company has a lot of practices that aren’t that good, then you’ll probably learn about them through the reviews. Below are some places you can get recommendations or reviews.

• Word of mouth
• Social media
• Review websites

Value/Pricing

It’s also important to look at the value and pricing of the company. Some places might charge a lot lower but they might not offer as many services as a company that charges more. There’s also a chance that some companies will charge way more than what they should.

It’s important to figure out how much you want to spend and what services you need. Once you know these, you’ll be able to decide which one has the best value or pricing for your needs.

Customer Service Quality

The quality of the company’s customer service is another thing you should look at. You’ll be in contact with the technicians, so it’s important to make sure the companies have people that aren’t rude, aggressive, or able to make people uncomfortable.

You’ll also want to make sure any questions or issues you have will be solved as soon as possible. Having an infestation is stressful enough and you don’t want to have to worry about dealing with bad people.

Safety Practices

Finally, ensuring that any company you consider has the safety practices they need. This includes things like protective gear and keeping in contact with the homeowners. Most of the time, you can get this information before you ever book a company.

If they won’t tell you or seem like they are uncomfortable, it might be a good idea to go with a different company to minimize the risk of issues.

In conclusion, it’s extremely important to control any pests that are invading your home. Not only will you be able to live peacefully but you’ll also have less to worry about in terms of damage or serious injury.

If you have any questions or concerns that weren’t answered in this pest control guide, then don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional and get answers. Proudly published by from www.propestcontrolgoldcoast.com.au who specialise in management of pests and termites.