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Top 20 Common Household Bugs in Australia

Top 20 Common Household Bugs in Australia

by | Oct 20, 2024 | Bed Bug

Maintaining a safe, pest-free home in Australia means understanding and managing the common household bugs that frequently invade residential spaces. Identifying common household bugs in Australia promptly is essential for prevention and eco-friendly pest control. Here’s an overview of the most common household pests and practical prevention strategies.

 

Overview of Common Household Bugs Australia

Australia’s climate and varied ecosystems make it a hotspot for diverse household pests. Many of these common household bugs have adapted to thrive in residential environments, especially due to the warm and humid conditions present in many regions. Understanding and identifying common household bugs in Australia is essential for proactive pest control and maintaining a healthy living space. 

From tiny coastal brown ants to larger venomous spiders, each household pest poses unique challenges that require specific prevention methods. Seasonal shifts often lead to fluctuations in pest activity, prompting homeowners to stay vigilant year-round. Effective pest control management helps in the identification of common household bugs in Australia, preventing health risks and potential property damage caused by these common household insects.

The warmer months often spike in pest activity, with common pests like German cockroaches and bed bugs becoming more active. These household pests cause discomfort and can spread diseases and wreak havoc on homes if left untreated. 

Rodent infestation, such as mice infestation, adds to the challenges by damaging food materials and contaminating spaces. Partnering with a professional pest control company to tackle serious issues effectively ensures that extensive damage is minimised and household safety is maintained over a decade of use and habitation.

Ants: Small but Troublesome

Identification and Impact
Australian homes commonly host black house ants, carpenter ants, and coastal brown ants. Coastal brown ants are light brown and often infest kitchens and bathrooms, leading to an ant infestation. Carpenter ants, while less common, can cause significant damage by nesting in wood.

Habitats and Prevention
Ants found in homes thrive in warm environments near food and water. Effective prevention methods include:

  • Seal Food Containers: Store food securely in airtight containers to avoid attracting ants.
  • Clean Surfaces: Regularly clean to remove food traces and crumbs.
  • Natural Repellents: Use eco-friendly deterrents like vinegar or citrus peels to deter ants moving into the home.

Cockroaches: Persistent House Invaders

Identification and Health Risks
Cockroach infestations in Australian homes typically involve German and Australian cockroaches. These common small bugs in houses in Australia spread diseases and can cause common diseases such as infectious jaundice. Cockroaches are particularly problematic in commercial properties due to their ability to contaminate food materials.

Signs of Infestation

  • Droppings: Tiny black specks near food sources.
  • Shed Skins: Skin sheds are found in dark, humid areas.
  • Odour: A musty smell indicating a severe infestation.

Control Strategies

  • Sanitation: Maintain cleanliness in food areas to deter household pests.
  • Seal Entry Points: Caulk gaps around skirting boards and windows.
  • Child-Safe Sprays: Use non-toxic pest control solutions.

Spiders: Common Arachnid Visitors

Common Species and Risks
Huntsman spiders and redback spiders are household pests commonly found in Australia. Redbacks, which are venomous spiders, pose severe risks due to their painful stings. Spiders can be life-threatening if left untreated, mainly if bites result from species like redbacks.

Prevention Tips

  • Declutter: Minimise areas where spiders can hide, particularly in warmer months.
  • Seal Cracks: Ensure doors and windows are properly sealed to keep house insects out.
  • Natural Deterrents: Use peppermint oil as a repellent to reduce the presence of these dangerous creatures.

Don’t delay your termite inspection, speak to our expert team

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8371 1277

Termites: The Hidden Threat

Damage and Detection
Termite infestation is notorious for causing significant damage. White ants, or subterranean termites, can wreak havoc by feeding on wood and potentially damaging electrical cables, posing severe threats if left untreated.

Signs of Termite Infestation

  • Hollow-Sounding Wood: A sign of internal damage.
  • Mud Tubes: Pathways for movement.
  • Discarded Wings: Found near windows and doors.

Prevention and Control

  • Routine Inspections: Annual checks with a professional pest control company are vital.
  • Moisture Control: Keep basements and other damp areas dry to prevent infestations.
  • Non-Toxic Treatments: Use eco-friendly termite barriers to avoid extensive damage.

Bed Bugs: Silent Nighttime Nuisances

Identification and Impact
Bed bug infestations can disrupt sleep and cause severe itching. Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects often hiding in bed frames and mattresses.

Signs of Bed Bug Infestation

  • Blood Stains: Found on sheets or pillowcases.
  • Excrement Spots: Dark spots on mattresses.
  • Live Bugs: Seen in mattress seams.

Treatment Options

  • Heat Treatment: Kills all life stages of bed bugs.
  • Mattress Encasements: Protects against further infestation.
  • Natural Solutions: Use non-toxic sprays safe for pets and children to control these common household pests.

Moths: Uninvited Closet Guests

Common Species
Clothes moths and pantry moths are common household pests in Australia. Pantry moths infest food supplies, contaminating grains and pet food, while clothes moths damage fabrics.

Prevention Tips

  • Wardrobe Protection: Use cedar chips or lavender sachets.
  • Proper Food Storage: Seal pantry items securely to prevent food contamination.
  • Regular Inspections: Check closets and pantries for signs of moths and other household pests.

Silverfish: Ancient Home Invaders

Behaviour and Damage
Silverfish are typically nocturnal creatures that thrive in damp areas and feed on paper and fabrics. These pests can wreak havoc on stored items and cause extensive damage.

Prevention and Control

  • Humidity Control: Use dehumidifiers in bathrooms and other damp areas.
  • Sticky Traps: Set eco-friendly traps for these pests.
  • DIY Solutions: Apply diatomaceous earth in problem areas to combat these house insects.

Fleas: Protecting Your Pets and Home

Common Sources and Risks
Fleas, which pets can bring in, infest carpets, bedding, and upholstery. A severe infestation can lead to skin irritation and bites that result in other illnesses.

Prevention and Treatment

  • Pet Care: Regular flea treatments and natural shampoos help prevent infestations.
  • Vacuuming: Frequent vacuuming removes fleas and their eggs.
  • Eco-Friendly Shampoos: Use products safe for pets and humans to avoid dangerous diseases.

Other Notable Bugs to Recognise

Beetles and Weevils

Carpet beetles feed on natural fibres, causing damage to clothing and upholstery, while weevils infest pantry items, contaminating stored food materials.

Other Pests to Watch

  • Houseflies: Spread bacteria and common diseases.
  • Fruit Flies: Gather around overripe fruit.
  • Earwigs: Found in damp, dark places.
  • Millipedes and Centipedes: Often enter homes during wet weather.
  • Mosquitoes: Female mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, spreading dangerous diseases like dengue fever and Ross River virus through mosquito bites.
  • Stink Bugs and Booklice: Thrive in humid areas.
  • Crickets: Known for chirping and chewing on fabrics.
  • Paper Wasps and European Wasps: Build wasp nests and can deliver painful stings.
  • Rodent Infestation: Rats or mice infestation can spread diseases and cause significant structural damage.

Quick Recognition Tips

  • Pest Sightings: Check food storage areas for common household insects and ants.
  • Routine Checks: Inspect undisturbed places regularly for household bugs in Australia.
  • Professional Help: Contact a pest control specialist if infestations like a termite infestation or rat or mice infestation persist.

Conclusion

Eco-friendly pest control practices are essential for maintaining a safe home. Use child-safe and non-toxic solutions such as essential oil sprays and traps. For persistent problems, consult a professional pest control company like Allstate Pest Control for comprehensive, eco-friendly management. Sustainable methods protect your home and family from most common household bugs, severe damage, and other pests.

Don’t delay your termite inspection, speak to our expert team

or

8371 1277

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common household bugs in Australia?

Ants, cockroaches, spiders, termites, and bed bugs are the most commonly found pests.

How can I identify household pests safely at home?

Regular visual inspections and recognising signs like droppings, bites, and damaged items effectively identify common household bugs.

What eco-friendly methods are best for controlling common bugs?

Use natural repellents, essential oils, and non-toxic traps to manage household pests.

When should I call a professional pest control service?

Contact a pest control specialist if DIY methods fail or for serious issues like a cockroach or termite infestation.

Are there safe pest control options for homes with children and pets?


Yes, choose child-safe and eco-friendly products like non-toxic sprays and natural deterrents.

Your Go-to Guide for Bed Bug Control in Adelaide | Clean Bed Bug Infested Hotels, Healthcare Facilities and Apartment Buildings

Your Go-to Guide for Bed Bug Control in Adelaide | Clean Bed Bug Infested Hotels, Healthcare Facilities and Apartment Buildings

by | May 13, 2021 | Bed Bug, Blog

YOUR GUIDE TO BED BUG CONTROL IN ADELAIDE
BED BUG INFESTATIONS ADELAIDE

Over the past 10 years, the number of Adelaide bedbug infestations has been on the rise. They’ve become a menace in homes, hotels and hostels alike, and it’s not hard to see why.

Bed bugs feast on blood while you’re fast asleep, and their bites can cause allergies. Squished bugs and droppings will stain your linen, and they certainly get in the way of a good night’s sleep.

They’re good at avoiding detection and pesticide control, but that’s not all. Bed bugs breed quickly, and hitch-hike on clothes and luggage to spread all over Adelaide and beyond.

If you’re concerned that you have bed bugs, this guide will help you identify an outbreak, the problems caused by bed bugs, and how to prevent and control them.

What questions will this article answer?

What are bed bugs?

The most likely types of bed bugs you’ll encounter in Australia are the Common Bed Bug (Cimex Lectularius, C. lectularius) and the Tropical Bed Bug (Cimex hemipterus, C. hemipterus). Here’s some facts that will help you to understand why they are such a nuisance:

They are physically built to hide in narrow spaces in bed mattresses and ensembles

  • Flat oval shaped body
  • Grow to 1-5mm in size (fully grown adults are the size of an apple seed)
  • Rusty brown coloured

They feed on blood

They usually do this every 5-10 days, but can survive for up to 6 months without a blood meal.

They have evolved to feed without being detected

They have 2 mouth tubes:

  • One to pierce the skin to draw blood
  • Another to inject an anaesthetic and an anticoagulant so that they can draw as much blood as possible without you noticing

They like living in beds

Because bed bugs are attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide, and tend to feed at night while you’re asleep, you are their preferred host. Apartment complexes, cruise ships, aged care facilities and hospitals can be a haven for exploding bed bug populations.

Signs you have an infestation of bed bugs

Bed bug outbreaks are becoming increasingly common in Adelaide, so it’s helpful to be able to recognise the clues that suggest it’s happening in your home or hotel room:

Bite marks on your skin

Bed bugs’ characteristic feeding pattern will leave the “breakfast, lunch and dinner” sign: a row of red bite marks on your skin, or blood stains on your sheets, they love the blood of humans. These can appear straight away or take up to 14 days to develop. They may trigger allergies such as blisters, rashes and hives, causing swelling, redness and itching.

In some cases you may have no reaction, or a delayed reaction and a mark on your skin.

Bite marks on your skin

Bed bugs’ characteristic feeding pattern will leave the “breakfast, lunch and dinner” sign: a row of red bite marks on your skin, or blood stains on your sheets, they love the blood of humans. These can appear straight away or take up to 14 days to develop. They may trigger allergies such as blisters, rashes and hives, causing swelling, redness and itching and even a secondary skin infection.

In some cases you may have no reaction, or a delayed reaction and a mark on your skin.

Bites on cats and dogs

Pets are not immune to bed bugs in a heavy infestation.

Dark Spots : dark brown or red marks

These are caused by bed bug droppings and by blood leaking from squashed bugs. Check for these on your upholstery, bed linen, mattresses, and walls.

Eggs and egg cases

These won’t be such an obvious sign. They are usually 1mm in size and require a magnifying glass to see them properly.

Bed bug cast skins

As bed bugs mature and grow larger, they shed an outer skin which is pale yellow coloured.

Sickly sweet or musty smell

This is a sign of a heavy infestation.

Common Hiding Spots : Have a peek at their favourite haunts

You won’t need to look far to find bed bugs as they only move short distances to feed. You can check the following places:

  • Mattresses: peel back stitched edges with folds as bed bugs conceal themselves there
  • Mattress Seams
  • Bed frames and slats, crevices of beds (check for bedbug excrement)
  • Bedside furniture
  • Picture frames, cracks in plaster
  • Behind wallpaper, crevices of walls, inside electrical outlets
  • Carpet edges, behind skirting boards, between wooden floorboards
  • In cracks and crevices

If you see them in the daytime

This means that the infestation is severe and they are very hungry.

If you suspect that you may have a bed bug issue, or you need some advice about how to treat it, contact one of our friendly Adelaide bed bug exterminators today.

Problems caused by an Adelaide bed bug outbreak

A few bed bugs can quickly become a large colony, with females laying up to 2-3 eggs a day, which take 5-10 days to hatch. It doesn’t take long for the situation to get out of control. Here are some of the issues that can come about from an infestation:

Sleep deprivation and stress

Once you’ve been bitten by bed bugs, it’s common to experience insomnia due to the fear of falling asleep and getting bitten again. This can lead to physical and mental fatigue over a long period of time.

Damage to belongings

Bed bug droppings, blood from squashed bugs and shed skin can stain furniture, bedding, flooring, curtains and linen.

Anaemia

In repeated bites in children.

Allergies

You can experience allergic reactions to their droppings and shedding, or the chemicals in their bites.

Infected bites

Continuous scratching at bed bug bites can result in secondary infections.

Ongoing infestations

As their eggs are deposited in hard to reach places, this makes treating the outbreak more challenging. The eggs will eventually hatch and produce more bed bugs, which in turn will keep laying more eggs, continuing the cycle.

Spreading to other places

Bed bugs “hitch a ride” and latch on to clothes, luggage, linen, and other materials, initiating an outbreak in a separate location. They then multiply very quickly – females can lay hundreds of eggs over their lifetime.

Bed bugs in accommodation and health care facilities

Bed bugs spell trouble within the accommodation, hospitality and health care industries. Their ability to spread and breed quickly means these businesses have to be especially vigilant in preventing and treating infestations.

A bed bug infestation can damage your reputation overnight. What’s more, you could receive hefty fines for breaching health and safety standards, and have to undergo a costly replacement of furniture and linen. A health care provider has the most to lose from a bedbug infestation.

Hotels, hostels and other accommodation facilities

With high foot traffic and new guest arrivals every day, it only takes one unknowingly infested traveller to create a bed bug infestation throughout the entire premises.

Read more about commercial bed bug control and pest control in accommodation businesses.

Hospitals and aged care facilities

The presence of bed bugs puts people with pre-existing medical issues and compromised immune systems at risk of further health complications.

Read more about bed bug control in aged care.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

or

8371 1277

How to prevent a bed bug outbreak

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of having these pesky creatures roaming around at night:

  • Avoid visiting infested areas or properties
  • Seal your mattress and pillow with a bed bug prevention case, check the seams of mattresses before you do
  • Avoid storing luggage under the bed, check any crevices in beds
  • Remove clutter and vacuum the floors frequently
  • Keep work or school belongings away from bedrooms
  • Don’t allow guests to use their own bed linen
  • Be wary of second hand furniture: inspect it carefully first before bringing it back with you

When staying at an accommodation facility

  • Check the room thoroughly for evidence of bed bugs, including the mattress, headboard and luggage rack
  • Keep your suitcase on a luggage rack away from the mattress and off the floor
  • Don’t leave an open suitcase lying around
  • When you return home, inspect your luggage before bringing it indoors, and wash your clothes immediately with hot water (above 60°C), or dry them at high temperature (using the hot setting for over 30 minutes)

DIY bed bug control

To control an Adelaide bed bug infestation, you will need to do more than apply conventional insect repellent. You will need to target all infestation sites and possible hiding spots with specialised bed bug treatment. The trouble is, bed bugs usually lay their eggs in places that are difficult to find and access. Here are some ways to gain the upper hand against an infestation:

Apply bed bug killer powder

There are several products which are commercially available through hardware stores.

Vacuum and maintain good hygiene

  • This is helpful to remove dust, debris and dead bugs before starting treatment, to make it easier for the chemical control to penetrate and be effective
  • Vacuum behind and under beds, paying attention to the corners of the room, near furniture and around fixtures
  • Immediately after cleaning, place the vacuum bag in a sealed bag, then incinerate or discard it appropriately
  • Don’t use appliances with stiff brushes as this may unintentionally spread the eggs

Physical removal

Adhesive tape can be used to trap a few insects.

Heat

  • This is useful on bedding and sheets
  • You can prevente bed bugs instantly if you apply heat above 60°C, and within 1 hour when exposed to temperatures above 45°C
  • Take care to not apply slow and gradual heating, as this causes them to migrate away from the heat source and infest another area

Steam

  • This is effective at getting rid of bed bugs in all stages of its life cycle
  • Steam can be used on all soft and hard surfaces, especially along seams and in small crevices

Freezing

Rapidly freezing infested textiles and fabrics can successfully remove bed bugs. Place them in the freezer for 10 hours per 2.5kg of dry linen weight.

Seal cracks and crevices

Use gap filler to plug small hiding places for bed bugs.

Professional bed bug control

In most cases, you will need professional help to exterminate bed bugs in Adelaide. This is especially important for any commercial facilities.

This will ensure you’re removing both the bed bugs and their eggs, as chemical sprays alone are ineffective on the eggs.

At Allstate Pest Control Adelaide, we are equipped to deal with the complexities of treating a bed bug outbreak.

We provide a comprehensive 5-stage treatment and prevention plan, which carries a 3-month warranty:

Pre-treatment inspection

A pest control technician will conduct a thorough assessment of the affected rooms, adjacent rooms, and all possible hiding places, to come up with a plan to treat the problem. We want to ensure that the treatment is successful the first time, so that bed bugs don’t build a resistance to the pesticides.

Control

Our licensed technicians are careful to only use pesticides that are permitted for use by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and we are aware that some cannot be applied to mattresses. We normally use a combination of the following ywo treatment methods:

Bed bug powder/dust

This is helpful for penetrating voids and cracks. It is less effective in areas where they can be dispersed by foot traffic and vacuuming.

Spray

This forms a residue that can remove bed bugs from mattresses, cracks and crevices in furniture and flooring. This method is not effective on eggs.

We apply the spray is applied accurately and directly. Otherwise, there is a good chance any bed bugs that are not prevented properly will release pheromones to warn others away, so they will disperse to other areas of the building.

Follow up

We allow 1-2 weeks for bed bug eggs to finally hatch before we return to re-apply more pesticide.

Prevention

Once your outbreak is under control, we use mattress protectors to protect your bed from future outbreaks.

We report back to you

Once the treatment has been completed, our technicians will send you a report with recommendations and feedback so you can refer back to it at any time.

Why choose Allstate?

We understand the stress and overwhelm that a bed bug outbreak can cause, so our team of expert bed bug removalists is ready to help you any time.

Emergency call outs
For all urgent problems or advice, we’re here for you.

Available 24/7, anywhere in Adelaide
Contact us through the chat button at the bottom right.

100% guarantee money back guarantee
If you’re not satisfied with any of our pest control services, we will provide corrective service for no extra charge – or refund you if you are still not happy after 30 days.

Interest-free payment plans
So that you don’t have to delay your bed bug extermination.

Targeted, effective solutions with follow ups
We’ll take the time to inspect your outbreak, apply treatment and ensure that you’re permanently protected from another one.

Non-toxic treatments
Rest assured that the chemicals used are child, pet and environmentally safe.

We work around you
To minimise disruption to your family or your business operations.

Speak to an Adelaide bed bug expert today

or

8371 1277