Termites cause more damage to Australian homes than fires, storms and earthquakes, as termites eat wood from the inside out, by the time it is detected termite damage can be substantial.
Annual termite inspections on your residential or commercial property by a qualified timber pest technician is highly recommended.
Even though annual inspections are not going to prevent your home from getting termites it reduces the risk of major termite damage being done to your home. Like most things early detection is the key as a developed infestation could be more expensive to treat!
By Australian standards it is recommended that termite inspections are conducted annually
Why do I need a termite inspection?
Termite inspections are the first step required to assess if a property has evidence of termites or other timber pests such as borers and if activity is found what steps need to be taken to manage the problem
Termite inspections are a vital part of all termite management programs.
As previously mentioned termite inspections should comply with the Australian Standard AS3660 recommendation that a termite inspection is completed annually.
Things do change around your property from year to year that might have encouraged a termite attack.
Termite Inspections are required on building structures however sometimes trees, retaining walls or other items can have timber pest activity. If this is the case we would also not just recommend having the infested items inspected but also the building structures inspected
Please Note: termite inspections will not eradicate existing termite activity or provide any future protection from further attack.
What areas are checked with termite inspections?
Accessible internal and external areas of your property
Roof cavity
Sub floor area if accessible
External areas extending up to 30 metres or the boundary line of your property.
Inspection of termite-friendly areas
What equipment is used?
Termite inspections are performed using industry-best equipment including:
Sounding equipment
Moisture meters
Listening devices
Termatrac (a movement detection device based on microwave technology)
Access to additional advanced technology like thermal imaging cameras & termite sniffer dog is also available.
Pest Control Today technicians are Termatrac certified
The Termatrac device gives us the ability to perform non-invasive inspections including identifying high risk termite areas.
The Termatrac allows the inspector to accurately detect, confirm and track the presence of termites locate nests, mud-leads and entry points.
This enables us to provide you with a more detailed report and allows us to treat your home more cost effectively.
With the aid of the termatrac we can access areas of your home that without this technology would not be possible. These areas include inside wall cavities and sub-floors without the need to cut traps and entry points.
The 3-in-1 functionality makes the Termatrac T3i the best available tool for Pest Control Professionals.
How long does a termite inspection take?
Pest Control Todays’ termite inspection process typically takes 1-2 hours.
Termite Inspection Reports
At the completion of the inspection you will be issued with a written termite inspection report. This report is designed to give you an idea of your properties termite exposure and/or damage status.
The report will document if there was any visual evidence of a timber pest, a summary of the pests identified, if your property is at risk of a timber pest invasion.
It will also provide you with recommendations for improving the environment around your home. If activity was found where it was found, recommended treatment guide & advice on how to protect your home.
Each property, building and location is different, a customised management solution should be designed to suit your specific needs.
We would love to find out more on how we may be able to help you.
Termites also known as white ants are small and a similar in size to ants. Due to their size and similarities to ants this can often lead to confusion. Knowing the differences between these two pests is a good starting point for identification.
Termites are secretive in nature which makes their detection difficult to an untrained eye. Most people would be more likely to spot the signs of termite damage rather than the actual termites.
Correct identification ensures the most effective treatment methods are used and allows you the home or business owner to choose appropriate prevention steps to try and avoid termite infestations in the future.
What Do Termites Look Like?
Do termites really look like ants?
Termite Pest Control Sydney
Termite alates or swarmers can look like flying ants. There is a simple way to determine if the flying ants you are seeing are termites or flying ants, and this is simply by how many body sections there are. As seen in the image below – Termite alates have 2 body sections while standard flying ants have 3.
Here’s how to establish the general differences in appearance and behaviour between ants and termites:
Termites have a straight waist, ants have a pinched waist.
Straight antennae, ants have bent antennae.
Their wings are the same length, ants have wings of different length.
NOTE: Flying ants do not shed their wings. If you have seen flying ants in your property and have found discarded wings,chances are you have identified termites in your property.
Termite Pest Control Sydney – How can termite damage be identified?
Rather than just looking at the areas where visible damage has been identified, Pest Control Today confirms termite infestations with a visual inspection and the use of a termatrac system.
When checking your property whether it be your residential home or business there are some points that could assist you in identifying possible termite activity.
Subterranean termites begin their feeding process from the ground up and enter a building through the sub-structure. Houses that are built on concrete slabs can still be affected if the slab has cracked and allowed an opening from the soil through the slab to the house.
Houses that have an open access sun floor or crawl space are at a great risk of termite infestations. This area should be checked for evidence of wood damage and/or mud tubes.
This species of termite damages the wood by developing hollow tunnels known as galleries which run along the wood grain.
Drywood termites usually enter the building near the roof line or in areas where wood has been exposed. Attics and roof cavities should be checked for wood that has been damaged. You may see tiny holes in the wood with collected frass nearby. Probing the wood can also expose galleries
I have found termites, what do I do?
Finding termites in your home can be distressing, however Pest Control Today recommends firstly that you stay calm and call a professional. Do not disturb any termite workings, mud trails, leads of galleries and we ask that you do not spray the area with any insecticides as it can be make treatment harder.
How are termites treated?
Not all building structures are the same Pest Control Today will offer you a program designed to suit your properties needs.
There are 2 ways to treat termites, baiting/dusting or direct chemical treatment. Sometimes a combination of both treatments will be required or recommend.
Baiting or Dusting
Termite baiting
is conducted by placing bait stations in specific areas around your home which are baited using a non-chemical bait that contains an active ingredient which the termites eat and carry back to the colony where they share it amongst other termites in the nest.
Termite Dusting
is completed using Termidor Dust which is a non-repellent which is very similar to the material used in the bait systems. Small holes are made into the infested timber or directly on termite trails. The fine dust is applied directly to the termites and the holes are then covered which prevents any dust escaping and to also reduce the risk of the termites being disturbed.
NOTE: Termite dusting & baiting does not provide protection to the building from future termite infestations.
Chemical Application
Termite Soil Treatment
Preferred option by many pest controllers however its use does depend on the construction type of your property. The treatment is applied to soil areas where the building is in contact with:
Subfloor
Concrete slab perimeters
External wall perimeters.
If there is a distance greater than 400mm between the soil and the timbers in the floor, the subfloor would also be trenched and treated, however it is preferred that the entire sub floor area is treated which increases the coverage area in the subfloor which in then increases the chance of the termites encountering the chemical.
Drilling & Injection of chemical to the concrete perimeters occur approximately at 20-30cm intervals. The drilled holes are then re concreted on completion
The areas that may need to be drilled and injected can include:
Patios
Paths
Garage
Fireplaces
Bathrooms
Laundries
External Perimeter Walls
What types of soil treatments are there for termites?
There are 2 main types of soil treatment available, the repellent and the non-repellent.
Repellent
This type of termiticide works by creating a barrier around the house which create a no-go zone for termites. For this treatment to be effective it needs to be applied in an unbroken method around the foundations. This method is often difficult to achieve simply because of the construction and design of your property or if there Is concrete against the house.
Non-repellent
This type of termiticide works as termites are unable to detect the area that has been treated and will not avoid the treated area. When termites pass through the chemical in the treated area they become in contact with it, return to the nest and pass it amongst the other termites in the colony.
Pest Control Today Recommendations
Disturb any termite workings, leads, galleries.
Spray termite infested area with any chemical.
Plant trees or plants close to the house.
Add mulch or any type of bark to the gardens too close to the property.
Cover weep holes in brickwork.
Allow soil to build up over the edge of the slabs.
Place plastic or newspaper on gardens.
Allow moisture or dampness to build up in the sub floor as poor sub-floor drainage will attract termites.
If you notice or worried about possible termite activity do not hesitate to seek professional assistance.
You should check the following areas on a regular basis
Timber frames inside the home
Fences
Blistered paint on the walls
Bulging or rippled walls
Timber joints or gyp-rock walls for mud packing
Foundation walls, piers and edges of concrete slabs for termite mud galleries
Stored timber or cardboard that is contact with the ground in the sub-floor
Timber stored alongside the house & kept as far away from the house as possible
Common misconceptions about termites
Myth: Termite damage can be easily seen
Fact: As termites eat wood from the inside out a new termite infestation would not have any visual signs that can be easily seen. By the time damage is noticed on the outside of the wood, extensive damage could have already occurred.
Myth: Termites are more active during spring and summer
Fact: Termites are active all year round.
Myth: Preventing termites is hard
Fact:Termite prevention is a matter of common sense and regular home maintenance such as
Keeping gutters clean of debris
Removing dead trees and their stumps
Removing fallen branches
Keeping timber and firewood off the ground and away from your home.
Fixing water leaks in and around your home
Having your home inspected annually by a timber pest expert. Click here to read more about termite inspections.
Redback Spider Pest Control Sydney | Hunstman Spider Pest Control Sydney| Funnel Web Spider Pest Control Sydney | White Tail Spider Pest Control Sydney | Mouse Spider Pest Control Sydney | Brown House Spider Pest Control Sydney | Trap Door Spider Pest Control Sydney | St Andrews Cross Pest Control Sydney
Need Pest Control for spiders?
Spiders are one of the most feared and disliked creatures worldwide. Australia is home to some of the world’s deadliest spiders such as the funnel-web and red back spider.
It must be stated that not all spiders are dangerous, and some are beneficial to the environment.
Spiders can be divided into two main groups:
Ground/crawling or Hunting spiders
Webbing Spiders
Common Spiders Found in Sydney
The most common spiders that can be found in sydney are
To view the Australia Spider Identification chart – Please click here
The Red Back Spider
The red back spider can be found across all parts of Australia and will live anywhere there is adequate food, a sheltered area for its web and is warm enough for breeding. The Red Back Spider is easily recognised by its black body with a prominent red hourglass shape on its abdomen.
Appearance
The female is about 1cm in length & the male can range from 3-4mm in length
The female is black (sometimes brown) with a distinctive red or orange marking on its back
Markings may be broken into spots in front
White lines may be visible
The female can grow up to 15mm long.
Males are very small and usually only grow up to 5mm long
The male has more complex markings than those of the female
White and yellow markings may also be seen on the male
Habitat
Can be found in logs or under rocks
They tend to reside in dark, dry areas.
They can also be seen in roof eaves floorboards, toilets, shelves, flower pots, garages or sheds
Their web is a triangle shape of dry silk
Trap lines are sticky which assist in catching prey
Red back spiders are carnivorous eating almost any small insects that are caught in their webs.
They are known to also eat skinks and even juvenile mice, snakes and frogs
The red back spider rarely leaves its web
The Huntsman Spider
Huntsman spiders are known as being the “hairy tarantulas”. They are often seen inside your home on the walls or from coming out from behind curtains.
Appearance
Mostly brown, black and grey in colour
The body length of the male is 1.6cm and the female has a body length of 2cm
Their legs can span up to 15cm
The back legs are shorter than the front legs
Their legs span out sideways allowing them to walk both forward and sideways
Habitat
Can be found on tree trunks, under stones, under bark, on the windows and walls inside your home.
Can also enter cars & run across the dashboards
Can live between hairline cracks, sandstone and granite outcrops
Feeds on a variety of insects, small lizards and frogs
Stalks and run down its prey
Poisonous to humans but not fatal
The Funnel Web Spider
The Sydney Funnel-web Spider is one of the deadliest spiders in the world. When the funnel web is threatened it raises its front legs high off the ground and point its fangs forward ready to strike. When it strikes it drives its fangs down with force and speed.
Appearance
The cephalothorax is hairless and appears smooth and glossy black
Black, brown or purplish abdomen
Body and legs are covered with fine hairs
The male has more slender legs
The male has a spur on the 3rd part of the 2nd leg
The male is 20mm in length & Female is 30mm in length
Habitat
Prefer forested areas
Private gardens
They build silk-lined burrow under a rock or log
The burrow can be up to 60cm long
The burrow has 2 entrances
The burrow entrance has thicker lines of silk radiating from the entrance to form trip-lines
They are attracted to water
Can be found in your swimming pool
The White Tail Spider
White-tailed Spiders can be found all over Australia and its bites cause severe skin ulceration in humans. White-tailed spiders hunt their prey instead of waiting to catch it in a web. Their preferred diet is other spiders
Appearance
Medium sized spider
Male body length is 12mm & Female body length is 20mm
Long cigar-shaped dark grey abdomen
The abdomen is grey and has two pairs of faint white spots
A distinct white or cream spot can be seen at the tip of the abdomen just above the spinnerets.
The legs are brown or reddish brown in colour.
They are slow moving spiders
They travel great distances looking for prey
Mostly active at night.
Habitat
Cool dark areas
They often come into houses
They are sometimes found in the folds of clothes, towels and shoes.
They live beneath bark and rocks
In leaf litter
Logs
Detritus in bush
Gardens
Houses
The Mouse Spider
There are 11 known species of mouse spider in Australia and they are related to the trapdoor and the Sydney funnel web spider. Mouse spiders should be considered dangerous and treated with caution as they can be aggressive and will bite if provoked.
Appearance
Dark brown or black in colour
medium to large spiders located at the rear of the abdomen
Their size varies between 10-35mm with the male being smaller than the female
High, bulbous heads and jaws
The carapace is smooth and shiny
The eyes are spread across the front of the carapace
The spinnerets are short, the last segment domed and button-like
Male spiders have long slender pedipalps
Male spiders have no mating spurs on the legs
Males of some species have distinctive colour markings, but others are black overall
Habitat
Can be found in both coastal and drier habitats throughout Australia
Live in burrows in soil covered with a hinged top
Large, silk-lined burrows can vary from 20 cm to 55 cm deep
They create two surface trapdoors, at right angles to each other
Difficult to see as the silk and soil trapdoors merge well with the soil
Heavy rain often forces them out of their burrows
The Brown House Spider
The brown house spider is sometimes mistaken for the red back spider as it has a similar body shape and webbing. It can often be found in dark places inside your home. External sheds, under empty plant pots or among general rubbish.
Appearance
The female can grow up to 1.2cm and the male being slightly smaller
Mottled cream to brown in colour
The legs are reddish brown and are shiny and thin
Legs can span up to 25mm
Spider but does not inflict a dangerous bite.
Web may include a curled leaf as a retreat for the spider.
Habitat
Builds untidy, tangled webs
Webs can be found on walls, under eaves, around garage doors and among leaves on trees and shrubs.
Undisturbed dark areas are ideal for this spider
In a cupboard signs of a brown house spider could be white specs of spider droppings
The Trap Door Spider
Most trapdoor spiders are misleadingly named, as not all species make a door for their burrows. Their camouflaged entrances are almost undetectable, unless the door is open. Brown Trapdoor Spiders are often mistaken for Funnel-web spiders, but their bites are not dangerous. Local pain and swelling may occur.
Appearance
Medium to large spider
female larger than the male
Female size 35mm and the male is 20mm in length
The female has a stocky build
Short, blunt spinnerets
There are often pale bars across the abdomen
Dull brown to black in colour
Males have boxing glove shaped palps at the front of the head
Hairs cover the body and legs
Habitat
Spends most of the time in their burrows
They wait for food by the front of their burrows
Burrows are lined with silk
The burrow can be as long as 25cm and approx. 25mm in width
Silk trip lines radiate from the burrow entrance
Burrows are used for protection and raising young
The burrow is made wider and longer as the spider grows
St Andrews Cross Spider
The St Andrews cross spider can be found across Australia and is named because of the silky bluish white cross pattern it creates on its web, like that of the St Andrews Cross on the flag of Scotland.
Appearance
The Female is 10 – 16 mm in body length
The male is 3-4mm in body length
Females abdomen is banded silver, yellow, red and black with 2 yellow stripes below
Sits with its legs in pairs
The males are brown and cream coloured
The web is a medium-sized orb
The spiderlings are cream-coloured
Habitat
Can be found on Low shrubby vegetation both during the day and night
Suburban gardens
Rainforest margins
Males build smaller webs close to the female
Each property, building and location is different, a customised management solution should be designed to suit your specific needs.
We would love to find out more on how we may be able to help you.
Silverfish are known for their destructive feeding habits and prefer to live in warm and moist spaces, like basements, crawl spaces and can often be found in the bathroom or laundry. They can survive in almost any environment and are nocturnal pests that move quickly.
Silverfish have been known to stain the items they hide in such as books, cupboards, stored clothing and wall paper.
What do silverfish look like?
Silverfish are white to brown-grey or a blue – silvery colour, their bodies are shaped like a teardrop and range from 12-19 mm in length. They have 3 long bristles on their rear end.
Where do silverfish live?
Silverfish are capable of surviving in all climates, however they do prefer to live in dark & damp areas such as basements, kitchens, bathrooms & attic spaces. They are attracted to paper goods and damp clothing. Silverfish can be found in stored boxes that are kept in sheds or garages.
What do silverfish eat?
As silverfish like to dine on anything and everything they have been known to feed on paper, clothing and even wall paper. They feed on carbohydrates, sugars and starch. It is suspected that silverfish will also feed on shampoo, glue in books, linen & dead insects. Silverfish have also been found in unopened food packages.
How did I get Silverfish?
Silverfish are usually introduced to the home by carrying them in either by cardboard boxes or plastic containers which had been stored in infested areas.
They usually enter homes through cracks in the foundation, torn fly or door screens, gaps around doors. Leaving dirty dishes out in the open will also attract silverfish indoors.
What issues can silverfish cause?
Silverfish have been linked to:
Allergies
Attract other pests
Damage to personal items
Each property, building and location is different, a customised management solution should be designed to suit your specific needs.
We would love to find out more on how we may be able to help you.
Bee Pest Control Sydney – Wasp Pest Control Sydney
Need Pest Control For bees or wasps?
Is this a bee or a wasp?
Wasps and bees can easily be mistaken for one another because both insects can give painful stings and look very similar with their black and yellow colouring.
Bees usually attack when provoked, while wasps are naturally and more aggressive predators.
Identifying the difference between honey bees and wasps is important to administer proper treatment of stings and to ensure the appropriate pest control is carried out.
Bee and Wasp Pest Control Sydney
What are the differences between a bee and a wasp?
Bees
Fat little body
Round thorax
Fuzzy
Hairy
Robust
Flat legs
Wide legs
Loose stinger
Geometric Wax hives
Less Aggressive
Wasps
Slender body
Cylindrical body
Fidgeting
Smooth body
Smooth legs
Waxy legs
Multiple stinging capabilities
Papery nests
More aggressive
Bees : For more detailed information please click links below
What are bed bugs? Where are bed bugs found? How did I get bed bugs?
Need Pest Control For bed bugs?
What is a bed bug?
Bed bug Pest Control Sydney – Bed bugs probably got their name with the close association with human beds where they are often found hiding during the daylight hours. At night bed bugs come out to feed and are attracted to body heat. The bite of a bed bug is normally painless; however, about 80% of the population will develop an allergic type reaction to the bite. The bed bug bite can cause general swelling that extends beyond the area of the bite leaving no red spot at the bite point.
What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are flat, reddish-brown, and somewhat oval and flat and about 5-6 mm long or the size of an apple seed. As the bed bug feeds their bodies swell and appear to be red in colour due to the blood they have injected. An unfed bed bug would usually be a cream colour.
The Young:
Small and colourless.
General body appearance of adults.
Turn red or purple when engorged with blood.
Adult:
4-5 mm long.
Reddish-brown in colour.
Wingless (oval structure in their place)
Flat, oval shaped body.
Body appears to be shiny.
Piercing/Sucking mouth parts.
Bed bug Pest Control Sydney
Where can bed bugs be found?
Bed bugs are often found hiding in Cracks and crevices including mattress seams, sheets, furniture, behind baseboards, electrical outlet plates and picture frames. Bed Bugs are often found in hotels, where they can travel from room to room and in visitors’ luggage.
What do bed bugs eat?
Bed bugs preferably feed on human blood, but they can also make use of other hosts such as bats, poultry and other birds.
How many eggs can a bed bug lay?
An adult Bed bug under normal room temperatures and with an adequate food supply, can live over 300 days. Female bed bugs deposit their eggs into cracks and crevices or on rough surfaces. The female bed bug lays one to five eggs a day and may lay 200 to 500 eggs in her lifetime.
What is the life cycle of a bedbug?
Under ideal conditions, the bed Bug cycle takes about 21 days from egg to adult. Nymphs go through 5 moults and require a blood feed before each moult. In the absence of blood meals, nymphs have been known to survive for 2 years.
What Impacts can bed bugs cause ?
Bed bugs feed on the blood of humans and other mammals.
Bed bugs are not known to transmit any diseases.
The fear of bed bug infestations and their bites has known to lead to emotional distress
Bites may result in an itchy welt that can cause discomfort and may lead to a secondary infection
Bed bug Pest Control in Sydney
Do I have bed bugs?
The real answer to this and to know 100% for sure if you have bedbugs is to see the bug itself. Not all bites are caused from bedbugs and by presuming you have bedbugs, you could be giving yourself unnecessary stress!
It is important to realise that it is not possible to provide a diagnosis simply by examining the bite, the reason being is that simply that everyone reacts differently to bites!
If you are being bitten you should consider all possible causes of the bites also taking the following questions into consideration:
Have you travelled recently?
Did the bites start after you have come home from travelling?
Has anyone stayed over that has been travelling?
Do you have pets?
Have you seen or heard any birds nesting in or around the window seals/roof cavity/balcony etc?
Bed bug Inspection in Sydney
How can I check if I have bed bugs?
If you believe you may have bedbugs you should inspect the areas marked in the image below looking for:
Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses
Dark spots, similar in size to this dot • which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a mark from a permanent marker or texta
Eggs & egg casings, which are about 1 mm, pale yellow skins that baby bed bugs shed as they grow larger.
Live bed bugs
Pay Special Attention to:
The seams of the mattress, chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains.
Mattress Base – Bed Joints especially where the bedhead and side rails meet – Bed slats – Bed legs etc
In drawer joints
In electrical outlets & appliances.
Under loose wall paper and wall art/pictures
Where the wall and the ceiling meet
Where the wall and floor meet
Further Reading
We would love to find out more on how we may be able to help you.
Ant Pest Control Sydney – Ants are a part of the insect family and are in fact a group of small and highly specialised wasp and have one of the most advanced forms of social life amongst the insect world. They live in colonies that vary in sizes from a few to hundreds of thousands of individuals. Ants are a unique and superior species that can administer and organise their colony, where each type of ant has a specific role to play.
What do ants eat?
Ants are omnivorous, which means they will eat a wide variety of substances including insects, sweets, oils, vegetables etc which they carry the food back to the nest where they provide food for each other, and it is because of this process of the ants carrying the food back to the nest the products Pest Control Today use for ant eradication work so well.
Why are ants classified as pests?
Ant Pest Control Sydney – There are many different species of ants in Australia and in fact there is only a small number of ant species that have become pests in and around homes and offices.
Ants travel through unsanitary areas before they end up inside. They are known to carry disease organisms which can cause dysentery, smallpox and even salmonella
Ants scavenge for food in kitchens, other food handling areas, garbage areas and even dog poo. Hence, an ant issue in your home should not be taken lightly.
Some species of ants that can sting and bite, which can even be fatal!
An Australian native found in rural and urban areas. They are often a pest of domestic environments and will build their nest in cracks or gaps, beside pathways. They generally enter the home in search of food.
Like other ant species, they will nest underground and in voids, for e.g. roof voids or wall cavities. They prefer sugary liquids and will tend to also feed on aphids and other bugs on domestic plants to feed off their sweet secretions.
Appearance
5-3mm long
Black in colour
Nuisance and scavenge in kitchens, garbage and dog excrement
Able to spread diseases such as salmonella.
Attracted to sweets
Habitat
Nest outside against paths, in rockeries and cracks & crevices.
Will nest indoors
Nests have been found in wall & ceiling cavities, doors & fences
Adults will usually run in distinct trails which can assist in finding nests.
Black droppings can sometimes be seen on floors, window sills and benches
Carpenter Ant
Large and are often mistaken for termites, as they prefer to live in rotting and damp woo. Carpenter ants are often found eating at night, so it might not be an ant that you would see during the day, but you may see or hear evidence of their activities late at night. The carpenter ant eats insects, sweets & meat.
Appearance
Largest ant found in homes
Black to brown in colour
Can also be dark brown to brownish orange
Mandibles have 5-8 teeth
2.5mm in length
Habitat
Nest in Decaying wood
Found nesting in soil
Bull Ant
Well known in Australia for their aggressive behaviour and their powerful stings. Their venom has known to induce an anaphylactic reaction to victims who have allergies to bull ant stings.
They have large eyes and long, slender mandibles. They have super vision which allows them to be able to track and even follow intruders from approx. 1 meter.
Appearance
18-20 mm
Often black or red
Very aggressive
Habitat
Nests outdoors in soil, under logs or under rocks. They also build a unique, extensive tunnel system.
Found in bushy areas (they rarely enter buildings)
They give a very painful sting.
Able to sting repeatedly.
Feeds on other insects and honeydew from scale insects or plant nectar.
Coastal Brown Ant
Often nest between pavers and along pathways and will throw out soils. They can also infest wall cavities, leaving piles of debris at the nest entrance. Nests can become very large.
Appearance
Golden brown to brown in colour
Two raised nodes on pedicel.
Sting present
2 jointed waist
1.5 – 2.5mm
Soldier has enlarged darkened head
Habitat
Infests houses
stores and gardens
Eat sugar to cheese, meat & bread
They prefer to feed on fatty foods
Ant Pest Control Sydney
What are the signs of an ant infestation?
Live ants
Ant trails either internally/externally
Small heaps of dirt in the lawn or in the areas between pathing
How are ants treated?
Pest Control Today uses a product that is designed to eradicate not just the surface ants but the entire nest of ants.
Internally
A low toxic bait is placed in areas where ant trails have been seen. The ants feed from the bait and carry it back with them to the nest which is designed to kill the colony and Queen.
Externally
External ant treatments are conducted with a product called Termidor. The benefit of this product is that as ants cannot detect that the spray is an insecticide they carry it back to the nest where the chemical is transferred amongst the other ants in the colony which in turn eradicates the entire nest of ants.
How can ants be Prevented?
Ants usually come inside your home or business looking for food. They are attracted to sweet and sticky substances.
Internally
Clean up spills and food crumbs
Empty rubbish bins
Feed pets outside and wash their feed dishes daily
Store food in pest-proof containers
Rinse out jars and containers
Externally
Keep trees and shrubs near your house trimmed
clear gutters and storm drains
Look out for new ant mounds or nests around your home
Keep garbage bags sealed
Keep the lid of the garbage bin closed
Seal around doors and windows where ants could enter
Ant Pest Control Sydney
We would love to find out more on how we may be able to help you.