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Identify and Control Pests
Pests are unfortunate and often unsanitary residents in our homes, settling in uninvited and unwanted. But with a bit more knowledge, including information about the pests and how to control them, it is possible to evict these visitors once and for all. Here, we concentrate on the most common household pests – ants, cockroaches, fleas, silverfish and spiders.
Ants
Ants belong to same insect family as bees and wasps and are actually a small, highly specialised, form of wasps. Some types of ants will favour certain foods though they are usually omnivorous, with their diet including insects, grease, oil, vegetables, meat and so on.
To control ants, their species must first be correctly identified. Chemical treatments such as permethrin dust (derived from pyrethrum) are then used to eliminate the ants. Alternatively, ant baiting systems may be used. To help avoid an infestation of ants, it is important to keep the home clean and to get regular pest control treatments.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the most common pests in the home. Most species feed on vegetable matter but those in the home may eat foods as diverse as cheese, beer, leather, glue, and even hair. They commonly hide in warm, dark places that are unlikely to be disturbed. Cockroaches can be a carrier of diseases such as salmonella, dysentery and diarrhoea, making them a very unsavoury resident in the home.
Treatment is required to control a cockroach problem. Insecticidal dusts and/or sprays are used to kill the cockroaches. To avoid further cockroaches in the home, keep the home as clean as possible, fill any cracks that may give cockroaches access, and use surface spray or cockroach bombs as a preventative measure.
Fleas
Fleas are an irritating problem and often occur in households that have cats or dogs. Fleas only spend five percent of their total lifecycle on the host animal, with the other ninety five percent spent in carpet, animal bedding, the soil or other areas. Fleas can remain dormant for several months and can live for up to three months without food (which is usually blood from the host animal).
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the area of infestation must be chemically sprayed (remove children and pets)
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the carpet should be well-vacuumed before treatment, including hard to reach areas such as under furniture and the vacuum bag should be discarded
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if there is a sub-floor area, block it off so that pets cannot access it
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wash or throw away pet bedding
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bathe the pet with a flea shampoo as soon as possible after the area has been treated
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if the infestation is very severe, an insect growth regulator may need to be added to the pet’s food
Silverfish
Silverfish are well known for eating clothes and other natural products but they also eat proteins and carbohydrates such as flour, rolled oats, starch, sugar and glue. Silverfish damage both natural and synthetic fibres, books and other paper products. Both the adult and the nymph are considered to be pests.
To control silverfish, it is important to check books and clothing for any evidence of the pests and, if necessary, move them to an environment that is less dark and secluded. Chemical treatments such as dusts or surface sprays can be used but it is far more effective to limit access to, or remove, food sources.
Spiders
There are two main types of spiders – crawling or hunting spiders and webbing spiders. Crawling or hunting spiders usually make their home underneath leaf litter or bark, in hollows or burrows, or in general garden areas. Webbing spiders use silk to build their web and the web then catches the spider’s food.
To control crawling or hunting spiders, simply remove or eliminate the spiders. It is often best to place them back in their natural habitat. Of course, this does not apply if the spider is dangerous, such as a funnel web. Chemical treatments to stop spiders from entering the home generally do not work as chemicals need to be applied directly to the spider.
Webbing spiders can be controlled by reducing or eliminating their food source, physically removing the webs, or by using chemical sprays that target the spiders directly.
After having your home treated, it is a good idea to vacuum away any visible webs. This is so you can get any baby spiders that may not have been reached by chemical treatments.
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References
Related Categories
Inspections - Building
Pest Control