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Of the few thousand ant species that exist in Australia, only a few are considered pests. The small Black House ants and Coastal Brown ants that develop large colonies in and around houses are often of the most concern.

Ants live in permanent nests which may be in the soil, in timber, under pavers, in wall cavities or roof voids.  They may travel considerable distances for food – if it can possibly be considered food, there will be a species of ant that will want to take it back to its nest.

Severe infestations can nest around power points which offer easy and direct access to a nest inside the wall cavity.

Ant activity often increases during periods of high humidity and often new nests are established in areas where ants may not have been noticed before.  Some believe that you can predict the weather by ant activity, that ants are more active just before rain.  If you happen to notice ants carrying small white objects that look like grains of rice, these are their eggs, and they may be relocating the nest before a heavy rain.

In the warmer weather, you might see swarms of flying ants, leaving the nest to set up a new home.  But beware, they may not actually be ants at all!

Ant treatments vary according to the species and may include the judicial placement of specific ant baits, the use of pesticide sprays along trails, and/or application of dusts in crevices and weep holes.

If the ant population is getting too big to control yourself, it’s time to call in the professionals.  Contact us today for a free quote.

Except for some types of venomous spiders such as the Redback, Funnel-web and White Tail, most spiders are relatively harmless.  All spider bites, however, should receive prompt medical attention as blood poisoning or infection can result.

Spiders will often hide in dark crevices and emerge to feed when other insects are caught in their webs.  They will strategically place their webs to intercept insect flight paths.  Outside lights on at night attract insects so you might notice webs near these.  Another common harbourage for spiders is in the roof void, particularly in homes that have ceiling downlights as they emit light upwards into the roof space and therefore attract insects.

Treatment for spiders is carried out to cracks and crevices around the home where spiders and their prey inhabit, such as eaves, windows and fences.  For maximum effect, the roof void, sub floor, exterior, outdoor furniture, play equipment and garage are treated, with special attention being paid to known harbourage points.

If there are any problem areas inside the house, we can carry out a targeted treatment to these areas.  All pesticides used at Pestgo are low toxic and people and pet safe.

Contact us today to book in a spider treatment.

As the weather becomes cooler and less favourable, rats and mice, part of the rodent family, move indoors to seek both shelter and food.  They actively forage for food at night so are rarely seen during daylight hours, however tell-tale signs such as droppings, gnawed food or other objects, and scurrying noises in the roof give away their presence.

The three most common rodents in Australia are the Norway Rat, the Roof Rat and the House Mouse.

Rats and mice have continuously growing, razor sharp incisors and so need to constantly gnaw on items to keep them down.  In the wild, they gnaw on bark, plants and seed shells but in the home, they can chew through doors, floors, windows and walls, as well as plastics, vinyls and other materials.

That scratching or grinding sound you can hear late at night or early morning could be a rat or mouse happily gnawing its way through an electrical wire!

The resulting damage from this may go unnoticed for some time but rodents have been known to chew completely through insulated electrical cables causing electrical faults and even fires!

If you see any evidence of rodents or you’re hearing noises in the roof, it’s time to act.  That’s because they’ve settled in and are unlikely to go away on their own.

There are many methods of rodent control ranging from chemical methods such as baiting to non-chemical methods such as trapping.  The trick is to place whatever method of control you use as close as possible to where you are seeing or hearing them.

So if you’ve tried to solve the problem and don’t seem to be getting anywhere, it’s time to call in the professionals.  Leaving a rodent infestation untreated can result in significant costs for repairs, not to mention sleepless nights and very unpleasant smells.

Contact us today for a free quote.

Sydney is home to many wasp species but the 3 most commonly noticed ones are:

The mud dauber wasps (or simply mud wasps) are relatively harmless, however paper and European wasps can be extremely aggressive.

Unlike bees that can sting you only once, wasps can sting multiple times – and the sting is far more painful.

When a wasp stings an intruder, it releases a pheromone (chemical) to alert other members of the colony to come and join them in the attack.

The most important part of treatment is to identify the species of wasp.  All wasps are different in size, shape and colour, as are their nests.

If you’re seeing wasps and not sure which species they are, read on or call us and we’ll help you to identify them.

Mud dauber wasp

The tell-tale sign of a mud wasp is its nest.  Usually made from mud and clay, it often resembles one or more mud tubes.  The female stores spiders that she has paralysed and lays an egg in each cell.  The newly hatched young feed on the live spiders before they emerge.

A mud wasp nest will be in a sheltered place, usually high up like under an eave or in a door jam.  They may also set up in the folds of an item that is not used regularly such as an outdoor umbrella or a raincoat.

When left alone, mud wasps only use their stingers to paralyse spiders, which they eat.  Because they are a natural form of pest control and aren’t threatening to humans, it is recommended to leave them alone. 

Their nests can be removed safely with a broom or paint scraper.

Paper wasps

The paper wasp nest is also easy to identify.  It is constructed of a series of hexagonal cells.  Often the nest is hanging like a light shade from a strand, but it can also be clumped against the surface.  You will often see wasps around the nest.

Do not approach a paper wasp nest as they can be aggressive and attack if they feel the nest is threatened.

The nest can start very small and therefore be hard to see.  It is not uncommon for people to get stung walking under a tree branch or next to a shrub.  Like the mud wasp, paper wasps often seek shelter from the elements so under eaves or outdoor furniture is common.

The sting from a paper wasp is very painful and can be dangerous if a person who is stung happens to be allergic to them.

DIY wasp treatments can be dangerous and ineffective, often resulting in  an unexpected attack.  It is best to leave a paper wasp treatment to the professionals.  We have the necessary knowledge and experience, coupled with access to specifically targeted products, to eliminate the problem and any risk to  you or your family.

European wasps

The European wasp is an established pest in Australia.  A non-native wasp, it was first found in 1959 in Tasmania and has since spread across the country.  Numbers in some states are so bad that there are government funded eradication programmes.

European wasps are a significant problem because of the distance they will travel from their nest in search of food and the types of foods they are attracted to. 

They love all forms of meat, sweet food and drinks.  A human picnic is their ideal food source!

In Sydney, whilst they are not as common as paper wasps, they can often be mistaken for them.  Slightly smaller and more stout than the paper wasp, the most noticeable difference is the colour of their antennae – paper wasps have yellow, European wasps have black. 

Their nest, however, is very different to that of a mud or paper wasp.  It is made from chewed wood fibre and is usually built either underground or in cavities in walls, ceilings, logs or trees.

If you think you have seen a European wasp or its nest, leave it alone and call us immediately.

A flea is a tiny dark brown insect that feeds on blood.  They don’t actually fly but instead can jump up to 150 times their own length enabling them to transit easily between hosts and the surrounding environment.

While the most common flea prefers to feed on the blood of cats and dogs, fleas can also feed on human blood.  Skin reactions to flea bites can appear within minutes or may be delayed over hours and even days.  People who are allergic to flea bites can develop lesions, itching or other symptoms.

The fleas you see on your pet represent only 5-10% of the total number of fleas in your environment.

The rest are in the egg and larval stages which can be found in your carpets, furniture, bedding and garden.

Fleas generally become a problem to humans when their preferred food source is not available.  For example, an outbreak can occur after a pet’s death or when people move into premises where a dog or cat previously lived.  This is because fleas in the early stages of development can lay dormant in carpets or undisturbed edges of floors for many months.  Once the house is reoccupied, the fleas then develop into adults.

Treatment

A professional flea treatment involves a low-toxic liquid pesticide being applied to all areas accessed by pets which may include flooring areas inside and/or garden areas outside.  This is to ensure that the product will be effective when the dormant fleas do finally emerge. 

Because all flooring and/or turfed areas are thoroughly treated, the product will take a while to dry.  You and your pets must stay away from all treated areas for at least 2 hours and possibly longer depending on the product label recommendation.

If pets reside at the home, you will also need to carry out the following:

Our feline friends are extremely sensitive

Certain pesticides are highly toxic to cats.  They are very sensitive to the pyrethroids commonly used in commercial pest control products because they’re unable to metabolize (break down) these agents quickly and efficiently due to their peculiar liver metabolism.

Unfortunately, feline pyrethroid poisoning is commonly caused by an owner applying a dog flea product to their cat.

Flea products made for dogs have a much higher concentration of pyrethroids than those made for cats.  Pyrethroid poisoning is serious and life threatening so if you are unsure which product to use, consult your vet,

At Pestgo, we always carry out a Health Risk Assessment before any treatment to ensure that we select the most appropriate pesticide to control the pest and be kind to your pets and family.

Let’s be kind to our pets

You may not know that fleas are the number one cause of skin disease in pets and can cause problems ranging from simple itchiness to weeping sores, scaly skin and a strong smell.

Some dogs and cats can develop an allergy to flea bites (known as Flea Allergy Dermatitis) where just one bite can set off a serious and painful reaction.

The kindest thing we can do for our pets is to maintain a year-round flea protection programme.