Termite trails (mudding) in the fork of the tree

We were recently called out to a residential property in Jerrabomberra to conduct a Timber Pest Inspection on behalf of the home owner.

While conducting our regular, full inspection, which includes not only the home but the yard as well, our technician noticed some termite ‘mudding’ on a tree close to the house. ‘Mudding’ is the term given to the tunnels that termites build to travel through unseen (which just look like mud).

Essentially a termite highway, the presence of the mudding posed a potenitally very large risk in to the property, with a highly destructive species of subterranean termite within meters of the structure.

Treatment process

Whilst the home itself had no visible evidence of termite damage or activity, our technician provided the owner with a Property Management Plan.

This plan contains options that included:

• a treated zone to protect the property from future termite attack;
• a termite monitoring and interception system, aimed at reducing the pressure on the structure itself; and
• service to drill and treat the tree to control the active termites.

Termites in the tree, coming out of the drill hole

The home owner recognised the potential for disaster, and chose all of the options for maximum protection. Once the tree was drilled, our technician identified that there was most definitely an active nest within the tree.

Termites found in this situation are quite easy to control, and more importantly it allowed us to take out the entire colony. The home owner was very lucky that they had confined their activity to the tree up to this point, and had not attacked their home.

After coming back and completing a follow up inspection of the tree and surrounding area, our technician confirmed that the colony had been successfully controlled before continuing to install preventative measures to protect the structure from future attacks.

Want to protect your property?

It all starts with a Timber Pest Inspection, conducted by an experienced and professional local pest manager.

This inspection takes a comprehensive look at your home, assesses whether or not you have a termite or other timber pest problem, what conditions around your home may encourage termites and other timber pests to enter, and what you can do to protect your home from attack from termites in the future.

If you need advice on a termite problem or require a timber pest inspection, call Amalgamated Pest Control Canberra for a Guaranteed Gone solution!

Call 1300 708 948 today!

As many of us are packing up the family and hitting the road for some well-earned time away, we will inevitably be leaving our home for a period of time. While we’re away, what is to stop the pests moving in?

Here are our Top Tips on how to deter pests from your home these holidays while you’re away.

1. Ants

Store food in sealed containers

• Make sure all foods are sealed in air tight containers.
• Do not leave dirty dishes in the kitchen sink.
• Do not leave dirty laundry in rooms or on the laundry floor.
• Only feed pets with enough food for immediate consumption. Do not overfeed pets with food in the morning. If they don’t eat it all, ants will definitely be attracted to it.
• Ensure all tree and shrub branches/palms/ foliage do not make contact with the external house walls or roof structure. This often provides an ideal opportunity for ants to gain access into the building.
• Remove items away from external walls (e.g. firewood) building supplies, pipes, hoses. This deters concealed access by ants but is also quite relevant for subterranean termites.
• Ensure all water taps are firmly turned-off as excess water and dampness attracts a multitude of pests (e.g. ants, flies, termites).

2. Bed Bugs

Protectabed mattress covering

• Install bed mattress covers (e.g. Protecta-Bed covers) on your bed mattress as this will exclude the opportunity for Bed Bugs to conceal themselves around the folds and seams. Speak to your local Amalgamated Branch about Protecta-Bed covers
• Sadly, fold out sofas are notorious harbourage areas for Bed Bugs as they conceal themselves in and around all the cracks and crevices within.
• Check the bed, bed base and bed mattress – Particularly the mattress folds and seams for any sign of blood spotting or staining (SEE PHOTO).

3. Flies (Maggots)

Blowflies

• Keep all foods sealed in air tight containers.
• Rinse out and wash all rubbish bins including waste receptacles or before re-lining them for ease of rubbish removal (Even the wheelie bins).
• Do not overload the rubbish bin days before collection with perishables (e.g. seafood remnants). Store these few items in a freezer unit and dispose of on the day of rubbish collection.
• Regularly remove all dog droppings and clean out the kitty litter trays.
• Only feed pets with enough food for immediate consumption. Do not overfeed pets with food in the morning. If they don’t eat it all many fly species will soon locate it and deposit eggs/larvae into it.

4. Mosquitoes

Leaving dirty dishes in the sink can attract all sorts of insects

• Avoid strongly scented perfumes or toiletries, as the smell can attract insects. Seal and put these away carefully before you leave.
• Ensure there are no pools of water outside, or areas where rain can accumulate.  Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, so remove the possibility.

5. Ticks/Fleas

• Check everybody (adults, children & pets), including shoes and clothing when leaving risk areas (e.g. Bushland /long grassy areas). Ticks/Fleas are ideally suited to hitching a ride on the host.
• Pay careful attention and brush yourself off before going into the home.
• Regular vacuuming of floor areas will keep the flea population controlled.
• Protect your animal pets (dogs, cats) by keeping their Tick and Flea program/treatments up to date – Keep it marked on a calendar or set it on your phone alarm for easy reminders.
• Keep your animal pets (dog, cats) bedding area regularly cleaned and treated (for further information consult with your pest management technician).

Come back to a pest free home!

Follow these simple tips and you won’t be confronted with an avoidable pest problem when returning home these holidays.

Enjoy your break!

Over the next few weeks, many of us will be packing up the family and hitting the road for some well-earned time away. While bringing home souvenirs from your trip is all part of the fun, quite often you may pick up some unwanted guests on your travels, and unknowingly bring them home with you too.

Here are our Top Tips on how to avoid pests coming home with you this holiday season.

1. Ants

• Keep all foods sealed in air tight containers.
• Avoid attracting ants to your camping area and personal belongings by storing food items in a separate area.
• Use a broom, dust pan and brush to sweep out the caravan, camper trailer prior to heading home.

Insects like ants are ideal hitch-hikers. Migrating ants such as Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA) have been able to infest soils, potted plants and hay bales, before being transported away from the area. Once ‘off-loaded’ at the new area, they can quickly establish a new colony.

2. Bed Bugs

Do you really think your suitcase couldn’t pick up bed bugs?

• When travelling with suitcases – DO NOT PUT SUITCASES ON BEDS!! This provides an ideal opportunity for Bed Bugs to enter the suitcase. If necessary, place suitcases in the rooms wardrobe.
• Do NOT store your suitcase under the bed, as this allows Bed Bugs easy access to enter the suitcase. If necessary, place suitcases in the room’s wardrobe.
• Check fold out sofa beds for Bed Bugs, as these insects conceal themselves well in and around all the cracks and crevices within.
• Check the bed, bed base and bed mattress – particularly the mattress folds and seams – for any sign of blood spotting, staining, eggs or bugs (see photo below). Discretely notify reception of any pest problems you may find.

This is what you’re looking for – bed bugs in the corner of a mattress

3. Flies (Maggots)

• Keep all foods sealed in air tight containers.
• Regular rubbish removal (daily) from around campsite areas will deter fly presence and persistent activity.

A reaction to mozzie bites after a brief walk at dusk

4. Mosquitoes

• Reduce your exposure time by modifying your outdoor activities
• Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk. Peak mosquito activity around dusk (4 – 6 pm). Some mosquitoes prefer to attack outdoors while a few species will bite indoors, primarily biting human hosts.
• Use personal repellents in situations where high risk of mosquito activity is expected, use of personal repellents will provide protection against these biting insect pests. Many travel medicine experts recommend repellents containing DEET.

5. Ticks/Fleas

You can still enjoy the great outdoors!

• Check everybody (adults/children/pets) including shoes and clothing when leaving high risk areas (e.g. Bushland / long grassed areas). Ticks/Fleas are ideally suited to hitching a ride on a host.
• Pay careful attention and brush yourself off before you get into your vehicle.
• Use personal repellents in areas of high risks and exposure to Ticks/Fleas is possible, use of personal repellents will provide protection against biting insect pests.

Follow these tips and you are much less likely to bring home those unwanted guests these holidays.

Happy travels!

As a result of an internal promotion, an excellent opportunity has become available in Amalgamated Pest Control Canberra. We are looking for a passionate customer service professional to join the team and showcase their skills here in Fyshwick.

The role will require excellent customer service skills, and will include booking and scheduling, office co-ordination and other administrative and clerical duties.

The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes:

• A Passion for Customer Service excellence
• Excellent communication skills, verbally, written and over the phone
• Ability to Identify sales opportunities
• A commitment to ensuring all relevant paperwork and associated administration is completed daily
• Sound computer skills
• Loves to work in a team but just as comfortable working independently
• High attention to detail, accuracy and follow through
• A can do attitude !!

If this sounds like you, then please forward your resume with a cover letter to us here today. We look forward to hearing from you!

During our daily practice of managing pests in Canberra, we are often asked by customers “We have all these small flies that we can’t get rid of. We keep spraying them, but they always come back. What are they?”. The simple answer is that they are most likely to be a drain fly. Spraying them with insect sprays and the like will kill the adult fly, but the problem will continue.

The Moth Fly – the most common drain fly species

There are a number of flies that can utilise drains for breeding, which is where they come by the common name ‘drain fly’.

The most common drain fly is the Moth Fly: these flies are fairly small, with hairs that are easily identifiable around the wings, and can increase their population to large numbers very quickly. They look a bit like a small moth.

There is another small fly that also exploit drains and are found frequently in kitchens and bars known as the Phorid fly, which is a small fly similar in appearance to a fruit fly, but with a distinctive humped back.

Drain fly characteristics

Drain flies resting on the ceiling

The Moth Fly is possibly the most common drain fly found in domestic properties and very common at commercial properties. They seek out decomposing organic matter to deposit their eggs. Inside your home, this matter often exists inside common drains such as the shower, sinks and floor wastes, which is where these flies will lay their eggs.

Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on microbiological organisms inside the dirty drains, grow into adults and fly up from there. This is why customers ‘keep spraying’ to no avail. While the hatched adult flies may be killed, the larvae are still hatching in the drains, feeding, growing and emerging as adults. Like many pests, if we don’t tackle the source, the problem will remain and continue.

A drain filled with organic matter

How can I get rid of drain flies?

If you have a problem with the Moth Fly or any other species of drain fly, it’s recommended that you call in an expert to treat the problem for you. The only sure way to manage the problem is to directly treat the drain itself – going to the source!

This is done with specialised equipment, and a non-toxic biological agent. When combined with a foaming agent, the treatment will break down the decomposing organic matter within the drain which the Moth Fly larvae feed on. Cleaning the drain, leaving no available food source will control the problem as adults will seek other places to lay eggs. In most cases only one treatment will be needed, however in the more extreme infestations more than one treatment may be required.

Drain flies Foaming Kit

The Drain Fly Solution

A special Foaming kit is filled with microbial concentrate and foaming agent. The Foaming kit is then hooked up to a compressor, and the drain is filled with the foam until it’s full. The foam pushes out the water and starts to breakdown the decaying organic matter inside the drain. The same process is undertaken with any connecting drains.

Once the treatment is completed, the matter in the drain that supports the larvae of the Moth Fly is gone, and these annoying flies are no longer a problem for you.

This procedure doesn’t take long to complete, and can easily be carried out in addition to any other pest management treatments being conducted at your home. Just ask our technician on arrival, or mention it to our office staff when you book your treatment.

Foaming treatment for the drain

Still concerned?

If you suspect that you may have a drain fly problem, or any other pest issue, please contact your local Amalgamated Pest Control Canberra team. We can offer you further advice or book an inspection – all with our Guaranteed Gone promise. If the pests come back, so do we!

Call 1300 708 948 today!

During these colder months, there is a belief out there that there’s no need to have a pest control treatment done on your home at all, as it’s winter and there are no bugs around.  In reality, there are some pests that aren’t too concerned with the weather outside, because it’s inside that they make their homes.  Inside, where humans like to use heaters to keep warm.  Inside, around your kitchen where there are warm electrical appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and the like.  Inside, where there is plenty of food and water at their disposal.

One pest that will infest your home this winter are German Cockroaches.  The vast majority of German Cockroach infestations occur in kitchens or indoors where humans live. They seek out cracks and crevices to hide, normally close to a food and water source, preferably in areas providing warmth where they will hide themselves during the day.

This means the early stages of an infestation usually goes un-noticed. If you are seeing them in the day time, it usually means the infestation is well established. This cockroach can live up to its full breeding potential through the winter months, making it a significant winter pest. Infestations usually start in an area such as a kitchen, where food and water is abundant, and move out from there.

German Cockroaches under the sink

This photo shows a common place that German Cockroaches love to hide – below the kitchen sink. In cupboards such as this, there are almost always cracks and crevices for them to hide, and very often the household bin may even be in these cupboards.

The only way to prevent cockroaches from living here is to effectively treat all of these cracks and crevices using the techniques that we here at Amalgamated Pest Control use, which is what allows us to provide a 12 month service warranty for this pest. If they come back, so will we.

Once populations become too large for the kitchen, they spread out, and if not managed will infest the whole home, taking up hiding places in living areas and bedrooms. This photo below was taken from the bedroom of a home that had a large infestation. You can see that they have made the gap between the blinds and the timber their home.

For German cockroaches to spread into areas other than the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, the infestation needs to be very well established. If you are seeing them in bedrooms, living rooms and the like, you will need professional help to bring the already well established population under control.

German Cockroaches above the blinds

The ability of cockroaches to affect the health of humans is well known, and is the foremost reason why we do not want them in our homes. Something that is not as well-known is their ability to damage and break electrical appliances. Electrical appliances provide a dark, warm and protected place for cockroaches to live and breed, which is why they often seek out items such as televisions, fridges, toasters, alarm clocks and other similar products.

This television pictured here was ruined by German Cockroaches, as they damaged the electronics and the television had to be replaced.

German Cockroaches infesting the television

German Cockroach Prevention Tips

• Seal any cracks and crevices in your cupboards and other areas that German Cockroaches may want to hide, take out their hiding places.
• Ensure your rubbish is in tightly sealed garbage bins. Empty the inside garbage regularly.
• Clean regularly, wipe down surfaces to clean crumbs straight away. Deny them as much food as possible. Pay attention to ovens, stoves, benchtops, tables and chairs, sinks etc.
• Sweep and Mop the floor regularly. Remove sticky residues from the floor. Ensure that when you do mop the floor you do not leave any excess water. You need to deny them any water, as they can live for a long time without food but only several days without water.
• Store food in sealed containers.

When all else fails, call Amalgamated Pest Control for your Guaranteed Gone Solution to German Cockroaches. Our 12 month Service Warranty on cockroaches means if the pests come back, so will we.

With the colder months upon us, there is one unwelcome house guest in particular that is waiting to get into a nice warm home to raise their families.  Rats and Mice will attempt to enter homes from now and continue throughout winter.  This time of year is what the Pest Control industry refers to as ‘Rodent Season’.  The fact is, rodents are breeding all year around – they breed just as much in summer as they do in winter.  The difference in the colder months is that now our homes provide a fantastic warm place for rodents to continue to live during winter.

External conditions are starting to become less attractive for Rats and Mice.  This image shows a Norway Rat (often simply called a brown rat) about to enter a home.  These rats prefer to burrow, but have actually started to nest within the home due to the weather getting colder.  These are warm blooded mammals, and the warmth of an insulated roof space or cavity is much more appealing than a hole in the ground outside in the cold.

Norway Rat Entering Home

Just like humans, rodents like to live in warm environments.  Rats and mice find their way into a structure through small holes, make their way through the wall cavities and exploit almost any area inside your home.  The roof void, wall cavities and other confined voids in and around your home make excellent nesting areas.  Apart from being a nice warm place to nest this time of year, once in your home food and water is more easily accessed, often directly from your very own kitchen.

Apart from the obvious threat of disease, rats will also cause a lot of damage.  Rodent’s teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetime, and if they do not continuously gnaw to keep them in check, their teeth will become too large and essentially useless to them.  Interestingly, the name Rodent comes from a Latin word which basically means to gnaw.

Wall Damage from Rats

Some of the damage caused by these pests will be noticeable and repairable, like this hole made in a wall by rats, giving them further access to wall cavities and other areas of your home.

Some damage, however, is a lot harder to spot, like these internal electrical wires that have been chewed back to bare copper.

In cases like these, you will most likely not notice anything at all until there are problems with your power, or even worse, a potential fire. Remember, rats and mice will always be gnawing on something, and it’s well documented that they have been the cause of many fires.

Electrical wiring damaged by rodents

There are things that you can do around your home that will help make your property less attractive for rodents to live.

1. Ensure all of your household garbage is in tightly sealed bins which rats and mice cannot access. This helps to restrict their access to food as much as possible. Rodents are opportunistic feeders – while they have their preferred food sources, they will still eat almost anything.
2. Alter your building so that Rodents cannot gain entry. Look for access holes that rats can use, such as where pipes enter buildings, gaps under external doors, etc. Sealing these and other similar points will make it harder for rodents to enter. Using a gutter guard can also be helpful to stop them entering the roof via the gutters.
3. Trim excess trees and shrubs from around the perimeter of structure especially trees that overhang the roof. This will both take away harbourage areas and make accessing the roof a little bit harder for them.

When all else fails, other control measures will need to be implemented. Here at Amalgamated Pest Control, we are the experts at assessing all of your options and presenting the available solutions to you.

What will you do for me?

If we are called to your home because you suspect or know you have a rodent problem, the first thing we will do is conduct a full rodent inspection. We look at all areas of known activity, internally and externally, including the roof void and the sub-floor. This inspection allows us to identify the rodent species, any nesting areas, travel routes, and where they are getting food and water from.

With this crucial information, we can than implement a control strategy best suited to the problem and the property. We will also provide you with important recommendations on things you can alter or fix to manage the environment and make it less appealing to rodents. Once management has been implemented, we will keep coming back to check the bait/trap placement until the problem is controlled. We will also point out all the proofing measures that can be undertaken to keep rodents out in the future.

Remember – if the rodents come back, so will we.

If you even think you may have a rodent problem, call us here at your local Amalgamated Pest Control today.

Hibernation is well and truly over for the European Wasp and they’re now out in force looking around homes in Canberra in search of food and suitable places to make their nests. This wasps loves to nest in and around structure. The majority of nests we are called to control are in roof cavities or wall cavities which puts this highly aggressive wasp right in reach of your family. They will also make their nests underground also.

Cavities in walls and roofs are perfect for them. These places provide protection for the nest in a virtually inaccessible area giving them the security they need to ensure their nest is safe.

Here is a picture taken by one of our technicians recently after treating quite a large nest within a long time customer’s roof space in Canberra.

Being stung is an obvious and well documented risk when dealing with wasps, the venom from the sting can cause allergic reactions in some individuals. If they are nesting within your wall they can quite easily damage the plaster board as they chew through and excavate. This can damage your walls and also place the wasps in your home and increase the risk of being stung.

These wasps will defend their nests forcefully. If their nest is disturbed they will raise the alarm to the rest of the colony by releasing a pheromone calling for other wasps within in nest to assist with attack. They will actively chase their targets for great distances and unlike bee’s, each wasp can sting numerous times. There sting can be extremely painful. It is for this reason that control of these dangerous pests are best left to professionals who have excellent equipment and products to effectively manage them and also the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. Do not attempt to treat a nest yourself. It can be very dangerous exercise.

We are receiving many calls right now to treat these pests in all areas of Canberra so you need to be on the lookout for this pest. These wasps are quite large, bright yellow and black and are fast fliers. You may very well see on or two from time to time in your yard as they may be flying by or searching for food. If you see them regularly in your yard in numbers or see them coming in and out of gaps or holes in your external walls or roof, you should call a professional pest controller.

What to do if you’re stung by a wasp

If you are stung by European Wasps the recommendation is to apply a cold compress or ice pack directly over the bite site to relieve the pain and seek medical aid if necessary. If the victim suffers anaphylaxis, call 000 immediately.

We currently are running a special for a limited time on European Wasp and Bee treatments. If you have a problem with European Wasps call Amalgamated Pest Control Canberra today.

1300 708 948