Common pests found around brisbane
The wonderful year round climate we experience in Brisbane is the perfect environment for a variety of pests.Target Pest & Termite Control take pride in the standard of work and skill we use when treating these pests, using up to date techniques and quality products and local knowledge to ensure your home or business is free and safe from any annoying or dangerous pests. We can help you with all your pest needs.
Ants
Australia hosts many species of ants but there are two that are most commonly found in and around the family home. They are the Black house and Coastal brown ants. They both develop and live in large colonies very similar to termites and white ants.
Although these are the two most common ant types, we specialise in treating all residential ant species.
Black House Ant (Common Ant)
Shiny in appearance and only a small 2.5mm – 3 mm in length. They are commonly described as a nuisance and are found mainly in the kitchens and rubbish bins around the home. They also like to explore dog poo and potentially could spread diseases such as salmonella. They are also attracted to sugary sweets.
Brown Coastal Ant
Tend to be a yellow brown to brown in colour and slightly smaller than the Black house ant (2-2.5mm in length). They like to nest in soil and can be found along pathways near your house including gardens and walls. They prefer dry areas for nesting and will attack foods such as meat, fruit and greasy food.
Cockroaches
There are approximately 400 cockroach species in Australia, 6 of these are considered serious pests to households and businesses in and around Brisbane.
The larger sized cockroaches that move relatively slower than the pest species are, considered to be native and do not require treatment. They are an important part of our unique bio-diverse eco-system therefore should be left alone.
The pest cockroaches that spread disease and germs include:
- American cockroach
- Australian cockroach
- Brown-banded cockroach
- German cockroach
- Oriental cockroach
- Smokey Brown cockroach
These species live comfortably in warm, moist, dark areas, situated close to food sources usually in your kitchen or bathroom. They reproduce at rapid speeds and can thrive in temperatures as high as 40+ degrees Celsius, or as cold as -5 degrees Celsius.
Cockroaches are not fussy eaters and will eat whatever they can get their feelers on. They are most active at night and usually go into hiding during the day which can make it hard to know if you have a cockroach infestation. Once they are in your home, they use the electrical wiring and pipes to travel.
Not only is it hazardous to your health to live with these pests as they spread disease and contaminate food with their foul-smelling secretions but effectively treating them needs to be done by a trained, knowledgeable technician who understands cockroach habit and patterns.
Target Pest & Turf Services are fully trained in cockroach pest control.
For a less stressful and time-consuming way to deal with this household pest many homeowners choose to contact Target Pest & Turf Services.
Spiders
Spiders may look creepy, but they are considered very beneficial to our ecosystem. There are many different varieties found all over Australia but only a select few are considered urban pests.
Spiders are capable of reproducing at a rapid pace. They create a silken sac and then lay hundreds of eggs inside (this varies with the species). The sac is usually attached to something, concealed in the web or carried on the body of the female. If you spot a sac fixed somewhere in your home, that’s a sign that there will soon be more spiders.
Although we have many spider species in Australia the most common that are encountered and considered pests are:
- Mouse Spider
- Funnel-web spider
- Redback Spider
- White tail Spider
- Black House Spider
- Northern Tree Spider
To make sure you don’t encounter a spider invasion and in order to stop minor spikes in population occurring it is recommended that treatments be carried out regularly. Spiders can be elusive as certain species like to hide in difficult places therefore it is important to have regular inspections and treatments to keep the population under control.
Rodents
Rats and mice can cause widespread damage to your home and business. The devastation they can cause may not only affect your back pocket but could also affect your health.
These rodents can eat all kinds of food and products. With the help of continual growing teeth, they feel the need to chew on absolutely everything. They also produce astounding amounts of urine and droppings. A family of ten rats can produce up to 54 litres of urine and over 146,000 droppings per year.
Although there are several different species of rats and mice there are only 3 breeds of pest rodents. They are:
- House mouse
- Norway rat
- Roof rat
Being a nocturnal animal, they are most active at night. To have a flea treatment done in your home, or to know more about our treatments give us a call 1300 638 938.
Fleas
There are more than 2,000 flea species around the world. Fleas are a common pest that many Australian households fall victim to, especially those with pets or those that work closely with animals in their career.
They are usually found around pets bedding, carpets and outdoors in sandy soil. Their thin bodies enable them to move freely between pet fur, hair and feathers.
They prefer warm humid conditions and they are equipped with long legs that enable them to jump great distances. Fleas can jump heights of up to 18cm or horizontally up to 33cm relative to the size of their bodies. This is how easy it is for fleas to transfer from host to host.
Once you or your pet are bitten by a flea it can be extremely uncomfortable and annoying and can affect you or your pet in the following ways:
- They leave a red itchy bite mark
- Can trigger allergies and skin conditions such as dermatitis and mange in cats and dogs
- Transmit tapeworms to cats and dogs
- Scratching flea bites can result in secondary infections
Fleas have a very durable, polished appearance that is very resistant to pressure therefore they can withstand the scratching that humans and animals do to try and rid themselves of them. Another interesting fact about fleas is that they can lie dormant for up to a year so even though you have performed a flea treatment on your pet there is a chance that they could come back. Therefore, we recommend getting your flea treatment performed by a professional.
Flies
Controlling flies around your home is more difficult than it appears and requires a carefully planned strategy. Target Pest & Termite Control has the knowledge that can help you with this annoying a very common household pest.
Before we can treat your property we must identify the fly species infesting your home. Different species of flies means different control methods.
Some of the most common flies found in Australia are:
- Blow Fly
- Fruit Fly
- House Fly
- Moth Fly
Queensland is the perfect breeding ground for flies as they are most active in sunny conditions this is also when they lay their eggs.
There are many ways you can reduce the number flies in your home.
- Close all windows and doors when possible
- Install insect screens
- Always keep rubbish bins and compost bins closed and that they have fitted lids. This is to ensure flies cannot enter and lay their eggs
- Clean up after your pets’ flies are attracted to the faeces and food scraps
For a less stressful and time-consuming way to deal with this household pest many homeowners choose to contact Target Pest & Turf Services.
Bed Bugs
Cimex lectularius or Bed Bug is light yellow to brown in color and about the size of an apple seed. Females can lay up to five eggs per day and take about two weeks to hatch. When deprived of food Bed bugs can lay dormant for up to a year.
Bed bugs are parasites that feed on human blood therefore thrive in human environments. They are usually transported unknowingly via used furniture, backpacks or suitcases and once they are in your home travel around through cavities in the walls and floors.
Allergic reactions are common to the Bed bug bite and their saliva can cause redness, itching and swelling. Their bite is not unlike the common mosquito and although the damage they can cause is limited in the way of physical destruction they can cause considerable damage to your reputation if you are a hotel, motel, inns, backpacker businesses and even transportation vehicles. With severe infestation you could experience loss of income through bad reviews and limited services due to professional treatment.
To avoid Bed bugs from infesting your property:
- Inspect all used furniture before taking it home
- When on vacation never leave your suitcase open on the floor
- Check over your suitcase on return from your holiday and before you bring it into your home
- Wash your clothes on a temperature higher than 60 degrees on return from your holiday
- If you suspect you have bed bugs place objects in the freezer for at least 24 hours.
You cannot treat Bed bugs by yourself and they are not a problem that will just go away. Using a combined effort between the property Owner and Target Pest & Turf Services we can provide a long-term effective bed bug control system.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are not only a huge problem in Australia but also across the world. Millions of deaths around the world occur from the diseases that these pests spread. Mosquitoes are very prominent in tropical and sub-tropical areas, making Queensland a perfect host. They are most active during the warmer months and being an aquatic animal that requires oxygen can be found in stagnant bodies of water like puddles, pools, ponds and bird baths.
Mosquitoes are attracted to people (some more than others) because of a combination of the following factors:
Survival – female mosquitoes feed on the blood of humans because female mosquitoes require blood for nutrients needed to develop eggs. While males only exist for reproductive purposes, females have a proboscis, a long tube (their mouth), which can penetrate the human skin with the proboscis in order to suck blood. The blood provides nutrients for egg development.
Carbon dioxide – female mosquitoes have long antennae, as well as palps, which sense odours. These are highly sensitive to the smell of carbon dioxide; which humans give off each time they breathe out. Mosquitoes can detect CO² from over 50 metres away, which they follow in search of prey. However, carbon dioxide exhalation isn’t the only factor which determines which person the mosquitoes choose to feed on.
Human sweat – when we perspire, we release odours and kairomones which attract mosquitoes. Certain types of bacteria which reside on human skin also give off substances like lactic acid, uric acid and ammonia, which mosquitoes can detect. When your body temperature rises, you are more likely to perspire, which then increases your attraction to mosquitoes. Mozzie bites tend to be more frequent on the wrists, ankles, hands and feet, as these are the parts of the body which often remain uncovered.
Controlling mosquitoes in Australia requires a multitudinous approach. First, we must locate the breeding site and then remove any stagnant water sources they could be using to survive and breed.
Beetle Species
Worldwide there are over 350,00 different beetle species. Each species has different living environments and display a variety of feeding habits and unique behaviours.
The beetle starts from an egg and develops into larva, pupa to a fully formed insect. Most often than not it’s the larvae that causes the most damage and the presence of a beetle may be as simple of a moisture problem.
Although there are thousands of beetle species the following are the most common pest beetle:
- Carpet beetle
- Furniture beetle
- Larder beetle
- Powderpost beetle
- Spider beetle
They can cause wide damage to your carpet, furniture, clothes and insulation.
Treatments
Target Pest and Turf Services are skilled and knowledgeable in the treatment of domestic pest prevention and control. They are continually updating their credentials and familiarising themselves with the most update to date information on treating and preventing annoying pests. They know and understand the habits of each pest and use this information to develop a program to control the problems around your home. They also have respect for you, your family, your home and business when developing and carrying out a treatment plan.
Many homeowners attempt the DIY strategy when dealing with pests but the results can be less than satisfactory and what started as a small problem can develop into a much larger, unnecessary one. It is at this stage that people seek our services and our help is required.
We will identify your pest problem (crucial to the treatment plan) and then use the appropriate pesticide to target your species of ant whilst ensuring the safety of your family and pets.