How do rats cause damage?

Rats have one objective and that is keep their teeth from growing too much. This means that they will gnaw at anything to keep their weapon of choice in perfect working order. Nothing is off limits: rats will chew at pipes, electrical cables, EFT and POS cables, plaster and even ducting for your heater and air-conditioning. Rats cause approximately 20% of house fires in Australia and cause millions of dollars in damages each year. Rats will chew the plastic coating on electrical wiring which leads to house fires starting in roof and wall cavities.

Rats carry Weil's Disease (Leptospirosis) which is a major risk factor to household pets. Rat urine spreads the disease to water around the house. Doctor Vicki Wade from Ringwood Veterinary Hospital stated that Leptospirosis disease carried by rats is on the rise in Melbourne. Dogs generally die within 48 hours of drinking the infected water.

Rat Bite Fever (RBF) is a bacterial disease spread through rat bites, scratches and food or liquid contaminated by rat urine and feces.

Here are some quick rat facts

• Rats can carry over 35 diseases

• Rats were the cause of the Bubonic plague (Black Death) and were responsible for the death of over 25 million people in the Middle ages 

• 2020 was the Year of the Rat (Chinese New Year)

How do we get rid of rats?

1. We use Bell Laboratories most advanced Bait Station the Protecta Evo Ambush. This unit is tamper resistant, single lock and child and pet proof. We also use the Trapper T-rex and Mini-rex.

2. Our technicians have undergone training programs with both Bell Laboratories and LiphaTech.

3. We have formed great relationships with LiphaTech and use their rodenticides.

How do mice cause damage?

We often get calls saying “there's something living in my roof”. Mice will often nest in the Insulation and at night scurry about the roof cavity gnawing at electrical wiring. Upon inspections we often find wiring to down lights gnawed at. The heat from the down lights keeps the mice warm but this an extreme fire hazard.

What’s our process?

1. First, we’ll chat to the customer to understand what the root cause of their issue might be

2. Second, We will enter the roof cavity and photograph and video stream the mice droppings and damage caused by the mice

3. Lastly, We will apply our relevant treatment to ensure the problem is dealt with quickly.

How do spiders cause damage?

White tails spiders spend daylight hours hiding in brickwork, crevices and window sills and prefer work at night and that is why most bites from white tails occur while the victim is sleeping.

White tails have a preference for resting in tight spaces which means they like the folds of clothes left on the floor and bed sheets. The venom from white tails is thought to contain a flesh eating bacteria.

Here are some quick spider facts

• Spiders are the most widely distributed venomous creatures in Australia, with an estimated 10,000 species inhabiting a variety of ecosystems.

• During mating the female red back eats the male red back spider.

• Spiders are responsible for over 2000 hospitalized bite cases each year

Here’s our spider identification treatment process

1. For the effective treatment of Spiders we use Sundew chemical Solutions (DeltaPro 25) and Syngenta products. Both companies are Australian owned and made in Melbourne.

2. We carry out chemical treatments using EC (emulsifiable concentrate) and SC (suspension concentrate) formulations to tackle spider problems

3. The most effective chemical management involves treatments that target the spider directly in its harbourage ie. windows, doors, eaves, cracks and crevices and around the outside of the building.

How do cockroaches cause damage?

There are over 4000 species of cockroaches but only a handful are considered major pests. Cockroaches are harmful due to their ability to spread diseases. Australian cockroaches are nocturnal and work in groups, larger groups of active roaches often indicate a severe problem which should be dealt with immediately. The World Health Organisation says that cockroaches are tropical in origin and live in parts of the house that are warm and provide the best access to food, water and shelter. Keep this in mind if you ever suspect a cockroach infestation might be lingering around your kitchen or bathroom.

A Cockroach allergy is said to trigger up to 70% of Asthma attacks in children living in inner city dwellings. The body parts, saliva and waste of cockroaches are allergens. These allergens cause the majority of asthma attacks among children living in the city.

Cockroaches spread the following diseases

• Salmonella

• Typhoid Fever

• Cholera

• Dysentery

This is how to kill cockroaches professionally

1. For the German and American cockroach we use a combination of baits and non repellent sprays. The baits used are Battleaxe Pro and Advion gel by Syngenta Australia. Both companies are Australian owned and both are world leaders in Pest control solutions. We rotate our baits to ensure the german cockroach does not become resistant. Rotation occurs every three months in a Commercial setting

2. We also use Sticky traps with built in attractants. We use sticky traps to monitor the level and locations of cockroach infestations. These are checked weekly so we can pin-point our treatment areas.

Let’s keep this simple: What do termites look like in Australia?

There are over 300 species of termites but the most lethal in Australia are subterranean termites. Better known as white ants, these insects are long, narrow and have an oval-like shape. But what do you look for? If you’ve done your research and happen to find mud tubes on the exterior of the home, you are likely to have a termite problem.

Here are some quick termite facts

• Termite queens have the longest lifespan of any insect in the world. 

• Termites can sometimes be mistaken for ants. 

• Termites never sleep, ever. 

• Termites have 6 legs.