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Your Guide to Flea Control in Adelaide

Your Guide to Flea Control in Adelaide

by | Jun 30, 2021 | Blog, Fleas

YOUR GUIDE TO FLEA CONTROL IN ADELAIDE

 

Throughout history, fleas have been responsible for spreading diseases such as the Bubonic plague. They may be small in size, and lay eggs which are hard to see, but don’t underestimate their ability to cause huge problems in your home or business.

So how do they do it? Fleas irritate your pets as they live and breed in pet fur. Females can lay up to 50 eggs a day which can disperse anywhere that your pet moves, so an outbreak doesn’t take long to happen. Flea bites carry infections, become swollen and itchy, trigger allergies and make both people and pets unwell. There’s no need to panic though, because Allstate Pest Control is ready to help.

If you’re experiencing any issues with flea control in Adelaide, this guide is designed to help you to learn more about fleas, why they are such a nuisance, as well as prevention and removal techniques.

What questions will this article answer?

What are fleas?

Fleas are considered to be parasites because they rely on a host to survive. It’s thought that flea outbreaks are becoming more common due to an increasing number of household pets, so learning more about these tiny pests can help us to easily identify them.

What do fleas look like?

  • Red-brown coloured
  • Oval shaped with small antennae
  • 2mm long
  • Have 6 legs with powerful hind legs for jumping
  • They have saw-like jaws for piercing through skin, and needles for feeding on blood from their host
  • Their saliva assists with feeding as it contains an anticoagulant to thin the blood and keep it flowing

Main flea species in Australia

  • Cat flea: this is the most commonly found flea, and it also infects dogs, rats, people and other mammals
  • Dog flea: this is less common than the cat flea and can survive on a large variety of mammals.
  • Human flea: this is relatively uncommon due to high hygiene standards. This species can also be found on dogs, pigs, rats and mice.

When and where fleas are most active

  • Fleas survive best in warm humid environments (such as pet fur)
  • They breed in the warmer months
  • Larvae can survive by remaining dormant in colder months or when they’re waiting for a suitable host

Is it a tick?

Fleas and ticks can look similar, but Paralysis Tick bites can cause a life-threatening paralysis in pets. This means that being able to identify a Paralysis Tick from a flea can be critical to the survival of your pet, so here’s how to tell:

  • Fleas have wings and can jump, while ticks are wingless
  • Tick bites give a characteristic “bullseye appearance”: they will burrow themselves to the skin when they bite, so the affected area becomes red. If you look closely, you’ll also notice a fainter red ring surrounding the affected area
  • Adult ticks have 8 legs, newly-hatched ticks have 6 legs, and adult fleas have 6 legs

Signs of a flea infestation

Don’t ignore these characteristic signs that point to serious flea problem:

Flea droppings (flea dirt)

  • Look like ground black pepper
  • To distinguish flea dirt from soil, you can place it on a white paper towel and spray it with water. Flea dirt will take on a reddish hue, as it contains digested blood from feeding
  • Use a fine comb to check for it in your pet’s fur

Flea bites in pets

  • Look for behaviour changes: your pet becomes more snappy or fidgety rather than being calm and friendly, it scratches itself more frequently or seems restless
  • Flea bite dermatitis: this is a skin condition from flea saliva which causes red, irritated patches of skin and painful-looking welts. Check for this in their fur in groin areas and armpits
  • Look for bites in hard to reach places: including the back of the head and neck of cats and hind quarters of dogs
  • Check for spots of dried blood on the skin from bite wounds

Flea eggs

  • These can be hard to spot, as they are around 0.5mm long, white and oval-shaped
  • Easily fall out of pet fur
  • Usually hidden out of sight, but when they hatch, they are responsible for a re-infestation even if the outbreak is under control
  • Look for them hidden in small gaps, pet bedding, carpets, rugs and crevices in floorboards

Flea bites in people

  • Cause a mild stinging sensation
  • Skin swelling around the bite mark, causing irritation and itching

Look for a rash of red bumps

  • If you walk around barefoot, you may see bites on your ankles or knees
  • Try the white sock test: walk around with white cotton socks, making sure to dig and shuffle your feet into the carpet, and then inspect your socks for fleas, flea dirt or eggs

Pet hair loss (alopecia)

  • Some species of fleas can cause a reaction in pets which results in hair loss
  • This can occur in areas of fur where your pet is constantly scratching and biting

Pale gums in pets

If your pet appears more tired than usual and has pale gums, this can indicate anaemia, which can be due to a significant loss of blood from fleas feeding. If you suspect this is the case, speak to your vet ASAP.

If you suspect that you may have a flea outbreak on your hands, get in touch with an Adelaide flea removal expert today.

Speak to our flea extermination team

or

8371 1277

Problems caused by fleas

If you’ve been noticing more fleas around the place than usual, it’s best not to ignore them. Here’s why:

They can spread serious diseases

  • Typhus: Typhus is transmitted from rats, cats and possums to people and pets, via fleas. This results in fever, nausea, cough, stomach pain, rash and body aches
  • Tapeworm larvae: A tapeworm infection can be transmitted from rodents to humans or pets via fleas. One famous example (but fortunately now very rare) is the Bubonic plague. This condition causes nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, weight loss and an overall feeling of weakness.

Their bites are uncomfortable

  • You may experience skin irritation, itching and mild swelling around the bite mark
  • The bites trigger allergies, and may result in hypersensitivity to repeated bites

Outbreaks can occur quickly

  • A single female flea can lay up to 2000 eggs in its lifetime
  • Eggs only take 2-12 days to hatch

How to prevent flea outbreaks

There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of a flea infestation and the chances of needing professional pest control treatment.

Clean regularly and thoroughly

  • Pay special attention to areas that are heavily used by pets, such as upholstered furniture
  • Sweep, scrub, mop, steam clean floors and carpets
  • Vacuum with the strongest suction setting possible
  • Spray vacuum cleaner contents with pesticide and double bag them, before sealing them off; discard the bags immediately
  • Try to avoid spreading eggs when moving around pet bedding and rugs

Garden maintenance

  • Fleas will hide in lawns and then latch onto pets as they walk by.
  • Remove weeds and loose debris
  • Keep lawns trimmed
  • Larvae are more commonly found in shaded areas

Remove pests that attract fleas

This includes rats, mice, and pest birds

Consider fitting your pet with a flea collar

This collar slowly releases flea-repelling chemicals to keep your pet safe, and needs to be replenished every few months

Regularly inspect and wash your pets

Pets pick up fleas from other places and pets, so practicing good hygiene is important. Remember to wear gloves to avoid transferring fleas onto yourself.

  • Use flea wash
  • Groom your pets regularly
  • Consider keeping pets outside to avoid introducing a flea outbreak inside
  • If your pet is scratching or biting its fur, take them to the vet for flea spray or powder treatment

Regularly wash pet bedding

  • Use hot water (>50°C) to kill fleas, eggs and larvae
  • Place pet bedding on hard floors rather than carpet and rugs which can harbour eggs

Our expert team is ready to help you now

or

8371 1277

Flea outbreaks in commercial buildings and hotels

The sight of fleas crawling around in a business isn’t just a distraction – they can put the health and wellbeing of employees, guests and customers at risk. You also run the risk of breaching health and safety regulations which can lead to costly fines and affect your business reputation.

Commercial buildings and retail centres

With a mixture of different retailers and heavy foot traffic, fleas can find many hiding spots and hosts. By leaving eggs and flea dirt on stock and goods, fleas can make unsuspecting shoppers, clients and staff feel unwell after visiting and potentially introduce an outbreak into their own homes.

Read more about fleas in commercial buildings

Hotels, hostels and accommodation facilities

Guests noticing fleas or experiencing fleabites could lead to serious damage to your business’s reputation.

Read more about fleas in accommodation facilities

Treating a flea outbreak

Once you have a confirmed a flea problem, you can immediately take action to try and control it before it becomes more severe. Alongside cleaning and maintaining infested areas and removing other pests, there are more targeted approaches you can take:

Treat your pet

Consult your vet for flea treatment options and recommended products, including combing, tablets, and applying solutions and powders to their fur. It can also be worth considering treatment for tapeworm infections.

Chemical treatment

There are many commercial products available. Remember to wear gloves, long sleeve protective clothing and a face mask and store away children’s toys and water and food bowls for pets before applying.

  • Surface spray indoors and outdoors where pets frequent
  • Use flea bombs
  • Repeat treatments as flea eggs may take a few weeks to hatch
  • For severe infestations, or if there is also a rodent outbreak, contact Allstate Pest Control

Professional flea removal and treatment

At Allstate, we’re available 24/7 for any emergency flea problems in your home or business. Our 3 step approach to flea prevention focuses on where fleas live, breed and feed:

Initial inspection

Our technicians will come over and perform a thorough assessment of your flea outbreak, then devise a treatment plan.

Treatment

We use a combination of the following methods:

  • Flea control dust – This is applied to cracks and crevices or wall voids in infested areas, where spraying is difficult
  • Flea control insecticide – This is useful for treating fleas at all stages of their life cycle. We apply the spray to treated zones around the perimeters around the home and flea hot spots. This includes floor to wall joints, flooring, skirting boards under rugs. You won’t be able to enter the treated rooms for several hours afterwards.

Follow up treatment

Fleas can be difficult to remove as hidden eggs take time to hatch. Severe outbreaks can also require several treatments, so we’ll come back to review and replenish your treatments to ensure that the problem is completely resolved.

Why choose Allstate?

We understand how stressful and overwhelming a flea problem can be to your family and pets at home or place of business. That’s why our flea control team is always available and fully equipped to handle any outbreak.

We’re available for call outs all over Adelaide 24/7
Use the chat box on the bottom right of this page to get in touch

Contact us with your emergencies
Our team is always on standby for urgent call outs

100% money back guarantee
If you aren’t satisfied with your flea treatment, we’ll refund you the cost

We offer interest-free payment plans
To ensure that you can access our services quickly to get on top of an outbreak

We offer targeted, effective solutions with follow ups
We’ll thoroughly inspect the flea problem your home or business before coming up with a tailored treatment plan. We’ll then follow up to ensure that you are protected for the long term.

Our treatments are non-toxic
All of our flea control solutions are child, pet and environmentally friendly

Our technicians are flexible and discreet
We’re happy to work around your schedule and business hours

Speak to an Adelaide flea control expert today

or

8371 1277

Your Guide to Spider Control in Adelaide

Your Guide to Spider Control in Adelaide

by | Jun 30, 2021 | Blog, Spider

YOUR GUIDE TO SPIDER CONTROL IN ADELAIDE

 

From the Redback and Funnel Web to the hairy Huntsman, Australia is home to an estimated 10,000 species of spiders. You’ll most definitely have come across them crawling around your home or business at some point.

They can be a nuisance by weaving sticky, messy cobwebs wherever they please, and aren’t afraid to bite if they feel threatened. Females can lay hundreds of eggs all at once, so it doesn’t take long for an outbreak to happen.

For those who are afraid of spiders, this can be a real worry, but luckily, Allstate Pest Control can help.

If you suspect that you have a spider problem, continue reading to find out about the most common types of spiders that could be responsible, the problems they cause and how to prevent and treat an outbreak.

What questions will this article answer?

Types of spiders

Although there are many different species of spiders, bites from some common household spiders are more venomous than others. Even though most bites are unlikely to make you very sick, it’s still helpful to know which spiders to avoid, and where they prefer to live. Let’s get to know some of them:

White-tail spider (also known as white tip spiders)

  • 1.2-1.8 cm, dark reddish grey colour with white tip
  • Not considered venomous to humans but cause a painful, itchy bite
  • They tend to live under rocks and leaf litter in the garden

Black house spider

  • Venomous
  • 1-1.5cm length, grey abdomen, dark brown to black legs
  • Cobwebs look like untidy lacy sheets with a funnel-like entrance
  • Prefer tree trunks, logs, rocks, walls and buildings – especially window frames and crevices
  • Look for them in dark corners of windows, sheds, verandas, and fences

Brown house spider (cupboard spider)

  • Up to 1.2cm length, yellow-brown body with faint markings, pale grey-brown abdomen with short hairs
  • Spin sheet-like cobwebs
  • Find them in buildings, walls and sheds

Redback spider

  • Venomous – seek medical attention immediately if bitten
  • Up to 15mm long, has a distinctive orange-red stripe on its abdomen
  • Commonly found in dark, dry areas – particularly under logs or rocks in the bush, roof eaves, floorboards, shelves, flower pots and garden sheds

Funnel web spider

  • Venomous – seek medical attention immediately if bitten
  • Up to 35mm long, black or brown, with glossy and segmented looking legs
  • Prefer moist, cool, sheltered habitats outside – under rocks, in rotting logs, crevices, timber rot and borer holes in trees
  • Can survive up to 2 days in a swimming pool

Daddy long legs

  • Brown, 7-9mm, characterised by long, thin legs
  • Live in houses, garages, sheds
  • Have spindly, flimsy webs that often go unnoticed

Huntsman

  • Venomous but not fatal
  • Can be > 160mm in size, brown, furry looking with long legs which range from 6-20cm long
  • Live in tree trunks and walls, under bark or stones. Also check for them in between the hairline cracks of sandstone and granite outcrops

Problems caused by spiders

Here are some reasons why you will want to avoid a spider outbreak:

Spider bites and venom

When you disturb a spider, they react by biting and injecting venom. In most cases, the venom is not toxic and doesn’t cause severe illness.

  • Most bites don’t show symptoms.
  • Some bites cause pain, followed by minor swelling and redness around the area of the bite, lasting up to a few days. You can use an ice pack for temporary relief.
  • Bites from funnel web, redback and mouse spiders require immediate medical attention.

Cobwebs are messy

Cobwebs are unsightly and make your home or workplace look untidy. The strands accumulate over time to become tough, and become harder to clear away.

Cobwebs are unhygienic

The fine, sticky strands collect insects, pollen and dust which can trigger allergies within an enclosed area.

Outbreaks can happen quickly

Female spiders can lay hundreds of eggs at once, so a small problem can quickly escalate if you don’t act fast.

They can trigger anxiety in some people

It’s estimated that around 5% of the population has arachnophobia, otherwise known as a fear of spiders

They can attract other pests to use the same entry point

  • Spiders are drawn towards shelter and food sources, such as other insects that may have already entered the building through the same entry point.
  • This can encourage even more pests inside, so check that you don’t have outbreaks of other pests and creepy crawlies too.

If you’ve noticed any of these telling signs of a spider outbreak, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Adelaide spider control team.

Get help from our spider experts now

or

8371 1277

Signs of a spider infestation

Most spiders are small in size, but this just means that they can hide better. Once you know what to look for, you will probably realise just how many spiders are hiding around your home. Here are some signs:

Spider webs

These come in all different shapes and sizes, depending on the species of spider. In severe infestations you’ll see extensive networks in less frequently used areas.

Spider burrows in the front or backyard

Wolf spiders are commonly found living in burrows or leaf litter in lawns and gardens.

Spiders living in gaps and cracks

Spiders can easily crawl into small spaces so be sure not to overlook these places as hiding spots.

Spiders settled in moist environments

Some spiders that live in drains, drainage pipes and toilets don’t leave cobwebs. They survive in walls, basements, sheds, attics, at the intersection between the wall and ceiling, closets and storage boxes.

Check where there are lots of insects

If you frequently see ants, woodlice and flies around your home, this is sure to attract hungry spiders.

Spider egg sacs

This is a sign that there are more spiders around. These can carry hundreds of eggs, and are sometimes seen fixed to a surface indoors or hidden within a web.

Look in dark, isolated areas, in your home and garden

Look for cobwebs and other insects in the area as well.

Look for spiders in autumn

This is the season where they leave their hiding spot to look for a mate.

How to prevent spider outbreaks

The best way to control a spider infestation is to prevent them from entering the building in the first place, as well as removing their food sources. We have some tips to help you keep spiders at bay:

Clean frequently

  • Inside and outside the building
  • Don’t forget the walls, ceilings and windows
  • Wash, vacuum, wipe, dust and sweep to remove insects that attract the spiders, spider eggs and webs

Reduce clutter

Keeping your spaces clear offers spiders less hiding places

Regular garden and yard maintenance

  • Trim tree branches, foliage, vines and shrubs that hang close to the building to reduce access
  • Clear plant pots
  • Move firewood and construction materials away from the building
  • Dispose of piles of vegetation into the organic waste bin

Secure rubbish bins properly and move them away from the building

Flies are attracted to rubbish, which in turn attracts spiders

Thoroughly clean window frames and screens

The corners are especially a popular hiding spot for spiders

Install insect repelling night light bulbs outside

Less insects attracts less spiders

Use draught excluders

These will seal off gaps for spiders to easily crawl through like open windows without a screen, or under doors

Switch off unnecessary lighting

Lights attract insects, which are food for spiders

Inspect items that have been sitting outside or on the floor before using them

  • This includes furniture, pots and laundry
  • Gives clothes that have been left on the floor a shake before wearing them

Spider outbreaks in businesses

Having a colony of spiders crawling around your business is not only distracting and distressing for employees, clients, and customers, but also risks their safety.

You also don’t want to be left cleaning up the mess made by their unsightly cobwebs on your stock, supplies and equipment.

Warehouses and distribution facilities

Spiders can easily find many dark places to hide within a large facility, and spider infestation can be dangerous when operating heavy machinery.

Read more about spiders in distribution facilities

Hotels, hostels and accommodation facilities

Spiders crawling around a room gives guests an unwanted surprise, and cobwebs will have them questioning the cleanliness. As a result they will be likely to cut their stay short, leave poor reviews and be reluctant to return.

Read more about spiders in accommodation facilities

How to control a spider outbreak

If you’ve been seeing lots of spiders around the place, there are a couple of options available to help you to remove them without having to call a professional pest controller:

Spider sprays

Commercially available aerosol sprays can leave a residue, but are easy to use and very effective. They do however contain a chemical called pyrethoid.

Spider traps

A glue board spider trap is a tray coated in a sticky substance to trap unwanted spiders. It is a nontoxic alternative to sprays, more effective in mild infestations and can be placed along walls and in corners where spiders are lurking.

Catch and release

Use a glass jar to safely trap the spider and then take it outside to release.

Natural spider repellents

Sprays can be applied directly onto spiders, and can be prepared with different ingredients such as:

  • Vinegar: mix of equal parts of white vinegar and water
  • Peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil: mix about 20 drops with water

Diatomaceous earth

This can be sprinkled in hard to reach areas inside the home and around the perimeter of the building to stop spiders from crawling inside.

Professional spider extermination

Larger spider outbreaks can leave you feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. Fortunately, our technicians at Allstate are equipped and ready to help. Our removal method involves 4 steps:

Inspection

Our spider removal team will begin by thoroughly inspecting the spider problem in your home or business so that we can come up with a specific plan to treat it.

Spider removal and treatment

You can have peace of mind that we only use chemicals that are approved for use by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

Depending on your situation, we may use a combination of:

  • Spider control dust, which is applied to voids in the affected areas
  • Spider control insecticide, which is applied to treated zones at the perimeters of the building

You will need to leave enough time for the treatments to dry before re-entering the treated areas.

Follow-up treatment

Sometimes more severe outbreaks can be difficult to treat in one visit, so we will review and replenish the treatment as needed.

You receive a report

We will give you a written report so you can understand how we treated the outbreak and future spider prevention tips.

Available for emergencies

For advice and urgent problems, contact us through the chat box on the bottom right at any time.

Why choose Allstate?

Whether you’re at home or running a business, we are aware of how unpredictable and disruptive a spider outbreak of can be. That’s why we’ve made it easy for you to reach out to us for Adelaide spider control.

Available 24/7, all suburbs in Adelaide
Send us a message via our chat box on the bottom right of this page.

We respond to your emergencies
A small spider problem can quickly escalate, so out team is always ready for urgent call outs.

100% money back guarantee
We are confident that our spider removal techniques will work successfully at your home or business.

Interest-free payment plans
To ensure that you can access our services quickly to get on top of an outbreak.

Targeted, effective solutions with follow ups
Our team takes the time to understand the problem, perform a thorough inspection, apply treatment and take steps to actively prevent it from happening again.

Non-toxic treatments
We only use chemicals that are child, pet and environmentally safe.

We work around your schedule
To minimise disruption to your home and business.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

or

8371 1277

Remote Management Operations During COVID-19

Remote Management Operations During COVID-19

by | Jun 24, 2021 | Blog

While working remotely is a fact of life for pest control technicians, team members in administration, HR, and other areas of pest control businesses have had to adjust their work lives to accommodate COVID safety operations.

During the pandemic, maintaining a positive company culture, conducting training, and delivering vital information to staff has been a challenge, but we have been excited to embrace this new future of working online at Allstate.

With research and trial and error, we have discovered that our teams thrive by using new technologies and focusing on leadership and clear communication during this time.

Online Platforms for Team Collaboration

Old-school technologies like the humble telephone have never been conducive to productive meetings. However, with the rise of modern platforms for seamless video conferencing, we can conduct incredibly effective discussions, seminars, and training, even with the added challenge of remote work.

How people talk is often just as important as what they say. Using Microsoft Teams and Zoom, we can easily observe body language, accurately hear the tone of voice, and physically see what people are talking about. As a result, holding discussions remotely is no longer the barrier that it once was, even in a large business.

Microsoft Teams also provides the opportunity for online file management, so that we can send, receive, and store files for seamless collaboration between different teams, business areas, and locations. Our team leaders use these apps to help encourage team productivity, reduce isolation in remote teams, and seamlessly manage in-house and remote workers.

How We Build Leadership Through COVID-19

Resilient and trustworthy leadership is integral to the success of businesses during COVID-19. At Allstate, we are building trust by providing consistency and structure despite our current confusing world.

We understand that there are many different roles throughout our company, and each role and person in that role has different needs when it comes to working remotely.

As such, we work with our team members to define working agreements and workplace norms. We seek out their input, clearly define their roles, and help them navigate their responsibilities, goals, and tasks to work toward. With these changes, we believe our staff will continue to thrive in the remote environment, and new hires will be able to be seamlessly integrated into the business.

To promote equality and transparency amongst our team no matter where they are located, we strive to proactively communicate and share information openly (where information is not confidential or sensitive in nature). We also encourage our managers to promote team cohesiveness by treating all team members equally and not having favourites.

As some team members may feel disconnected by working remotely, we acknowledge the importance of recognising and rewarding people for a job well done. Therefore, we urge team leaders to reward team members equally and only provide negative feedback confidentially.

Even while working remotely, everyone should be given the same opportunities, and task delegation should always be shared equally. By maintaining a balanced workload, team members will thrive.

Get help from an expert today

or

8371 1277

Removing Roadblocks

Just like your in-house team, your remote workers need the right tools to be successful. We remove roadblocks by providing the appropriate tools and equipment like laptops, phones, and even internet bill rebates to remote workers. We also encourage team leaders to be mindful of time zones and international/interstate holidays to cultivate cross-cultural awareness.

Remote working can still be challenging for some team members, even with all these considerations. That’s why it’s essential to create opportunities for in-person team interactions where possible. When travel and COVID restrictions allow, you can arrange one-on-one or small group meetings face-to-face for some respite from remote working.

In some instances, your team may be a mix of remote and on-site. In these cases, task delegation should be fair across both teams. We also suggest that leaders allow on-site teams some flexibility similar to remote workers, like starting later or finishing earlier.

Communication is key when it comes to managing a mix of in-house and remote teams. Excellent communication ensures that all team members can be afforded the same or similar opportunities, perks, and information no matter where they work from.

Nurturing Team Culture and Connection

Nurturing team culture and connection can seem daunting with the added complexity of remote work, but managers and leaders play an essential role in connecting the remote team to the broader business. A great manager can nurture, guide, and support all team members.

We encourage our team leaders to support remote workers through structured check-ins, where team members know their questions and concerns will be heard, creating time for sharing non-work topics like birthdays and hobbies, and using video calling to reduce isolation and encourage connection.

By combining these elements and maintaining a focus on strong leadership, transparent communication, and team connectivity, Allstate has continued to thrive throughout COVID. We are incredibly proud of our team leadership, in-house and remote team members, and continuously search for new and innovative ways to improve their work during the pandemic.

Our expert team is ready to help you now

or

8371 1277

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

What you need to know about Ant Control in Adelaide

What you need to know about Ant Control in Adelaide

by | May 13, 2021 | Ants, Blog

YOUR GUIDE TO ANT CONTROL IN ADELAIDE

 

When the ants go marching, it’s hardly a “hurrah” for many us who are home and business owners.

Ants have good reason to be a dreaded pest in Adelaide, and it’s not just their painful bites. Like other creepy crawlies, they forage in unsanitary areas and encounter all sorts of nasty germs. They then introduce them to clean food and places, leading to contamination and illness. Ants also damage buildings and electrical wiring.

If you’re experiencing an ant problem, this guide has tips on identifying the signs of an outbreak, which species of ant is responsible and how to prevent and remove them.

What questions will this article answer?

a nest of ants eating a piece of bread

Signs of an ant outbreak

Ants are generally discreet and don’t make noise or leave an obvious mess, especially when compared to other pests. However, you will get the following hints that they have set up a nest nearby:

Frequent ant sightings

  • They tend to move around in large groups along defined trails, travelling between food sources and their nest; this makes them quite easy to spot

Disturbed soil or dirt

  • Small mounds of soil or dirt with a central opening indicate an entrance to ant nest, or that a nest is nearby
  • Fire ants have nest mounds which can be up to 40cm high

Wood shavings (frass)

  • When carpenter ants carve space for their colony within wood, they leave behind discarded wood shavings, debris and other dead insects

Termite

  • Termites are not ants, but they are called white ants, and there is a reason for that. White ants have several characteristics in common with ants: they are not winged, live together in colonies and go on raids together. But termites are not ants at all; they have evolved separately.

Control

Problems caused by ants

Despite being small, ants come in large numbers and work well together to create big problems. Ant problems include:

They contaminate food

Although ants themselves aren’t known to carry diseases, they come across many germs, including viruses, parasites, fungi and bacteria, as they forage through rubbish, toilets and dog droppings. So, if they come into contact with your food, it’s best not to risk eating it.

Ants spread disease

Ants scavenge in rotting waste contaminated with germs, such as salmonella, streptococcus, staphylococcus and e.coli. They are then able to spread this bacteria by roaming around to other places. This can lead to illnesses such as diarrhoea and food poisoning.

Ant bites sting and cause allergies

The sharp sting of an ant bite is due to the secretion of formic acid. In some people, this chemical can trigger an allergic reaction, forming red bumps or an uncomfortable rash on the skin at best, and anaphylaxis at worst. Fire ant stings have been known to cause significant swelling.

They attract more ants

Ants communicate to each other through pheromones, so they leave trails of chemical markers for other ants to follow. That’s how a small cluster of ants can quickly turn into an army.

They damage buildings

Carpenter ants make nests inside wooden structures by tunnelling into beams, wall cavities, window and floor panels and floorboards.

They can also introduce moisture and soil from outside to inside your walls, resulting in corrosion over time.

Ants can damage electrical wiring

Ants crawl into electric sockets and chew through wiring, causing it to short circuit and potentially spark a fire.

They damage electrical wiring in vehicles

Ants are attracted to dead insects in your radiator grill, scraps and drink packaging, or spills inside your car. They won’t just stop there. Ants will also chew the electric wiring and relay components, which leads to costly repairs.

Fire ants ruin vegetable crops

Fire ants are known to feed on vegetables like red potatoes and okra, as well as corn, watermelon and cucumber seedlings.

If you’re experiencing any of these ant problems, reach out to our ant extermination team any time for advice.

Get help from an ant control expert today

or

8371 1277

Pests

Ants

Once you are aware that you have an outbreak, it’s handy to know which species of ant is causing it. Having this knowledge makes it easier to figure out an effective management plan. These are the most common species of pest ants in Australia and Adelaide:

Black House Ant

  • Shiny and black, workers are 2.5mm to 3mm long
  • Scavenges in kitchens, garbage and dog droppings

Fire Ant

  • Coppery-brown head and body, darker abdomen, 2mm to 6mm long
  • Forages on dead animals, vertebrates, insects, earthworms, as well as vegetables, sweets, protein and fat
  • Collects insect honeydew

Ghost Ant

  • Pale and translucent legs and abdomen, 16mm long
  • Feeds on sweets, grease, insects producing honeydew
  • Nest underneath objects lying on the ground, loose tree bark, in small spaces, roof cavities, flowerpots
  • Attracted to high moisture areas such as kitchen and bathroom cabinets
  • One colony can occupy multiple nesting sites

Odorous House Ant

  • Brown or black, 1.5mm to 3mm long
  • Gives off a coconut smell when crushed
  • Feeds on most household leftovers, especially sweets and melon, and pet food
  • Drawn to high moisture areas such as the kitchen, laundry and bathroom

Pharaoh’s Ant

  • Workers are yellow-brown with a brown abdomen, 1.5mm to 2mm long
  • Some have wings
  • Enjoys high protein edibles including meat, fats, dead insects and blood
  • Prefers humid conditions
  • Found in hard to reach spaces in heated buildings, including hospitals
  • Leaves well-defined trails connected with heating systems

Black House Ant

A swarm of black house ants crawling under a door

Fire Ant

Close up image of a fire ant with it's jaws open

Ghost Ant

Several Ghost ants centered around food

Odorous House Ant

a semi circle of odorous house ants

Pharaoh’s Ant

Several Pharaoh ants bringing food back to colony
black ants on red earth carrying food

INSPECTION

Ant problems in Adelaide businesses and health care facilities

Ants cause problems in even the cleanest of Adelaide businesses and facilities. Why? Ants are usually busy looking for supplies, water and shelter, so you’ll just as likely find them wandering around your sanitary areas as you are to find them in waste areas. This means that ants are spreading all the disease-causing germs they have collected into your clean environment. Once ants contaminate your meals and stock, they put your customers and employees at risk of falling sick, and risk ruining your business reputation.

You can also end up with a costly repair bill if ants damage your buildings, equipment and appliances. Their painfully sharp stings don’t just trigger allergies – they become a dangerous distraction in the workplace, especially for those operating heavy machinery.

To make matters worse, any breach of Occupational health and safety standards can lead to heavy penalties and a costly inspection bill.

Restaurants

Once ants have contaminated stock, food and supplies, these things can no longer be used. This quickly gets costly if it happens too often. The sight of ant trails along food preparation surfaces, utensils, cutlery, tables, chairs and even the bathrooms is a sign of low hygiene standards, which will deter diners from returning.

Read more about ants in restaurants .

Distribution facilities and warehouses

A colony of ants will happily feed on large quantities of stock and goods, unless they are stored appropriately. They can damage wiring in expensive equipment and machinery, so measures must be taken to deter them from entering the building in the first place.

Read more about ants in distribution facilities .

Hospitals and medical centres

Ant prevention should be an important part of your hygiene and sanitation plan.
Preventing fire ant outbreaks should be a particular focus where there are people with fragile health and immune systems.

Read more about ants in distribution facilities.

Pest Control

How to prevent an ant outbreak

If you can remove potential food sources and reduce the accessibility of your home, ants will become less interested in wandering inside. Here are some ideas to help you deter ants from your Adelaide home:
  • Fill entry points, cracks and crevices using silicone and acrylic
  • Store food properly; uncovered food attracts ants
  • Store food out of sight and reduce access, including pet food
  • Wipe away spills and wipe down surfaces; if you see an ant trail on a surface, wipe it with bleach or vinegar
  • Tightly seal containers and food packaging
  • Thoroughly rinse and put away cutlery, utensils and tableware
  • Fix leaking pipes, as moisture attracts ants
  • Waste management: ensure the rubbish bin is properly covered and seal all bin bags tightly
  • Maintain your garden: clear away tree branches that are touching your home and piles of vegetation; remove all fallen and rotten fruit and vegetables
  • Vacuum floors regularly: check underneath and behind furniture

Get help from an ant control expert today

or

8371 1277

Ant control adelaide

Ways to treat an ant problem

There are many ways to manage an ant outbreak, even if you haven’t yet found the ant nest. However, destroying the nest and the queen is the best way to prevente the issue altogether. Here are some ideas:

Pour boiling water into the nest

Be aware that the boiling water may not be able to penetrate deep enough into the ground to reach the entire nest, particularly where the queen is situated.

Baits

Baits contain insecticide chemicals, which are ingested by ants and then spread to the rest of the colony when they return to the nest.

  • Homemade baits can be made using borax and sugar or syrup, and are often just as effective as commercial baits.
  • Granular or sand commercial baits should be scattered these around the perimeter of your home, in entrances, between pavers, on lawns and around the edge of your garden. Apply with care as they are often toxic to pets and children.
  • Gel commercial baits should be applied to cracks and crevices.

Insecticide Spray

This targets other insects in addition to ants.

Water as a repellant

To deter ants you can place your pet’s food bowl in a shallow dish partially filled with water.

Strong smelling deterrents

These mixtures can be applied in a spray or left in a bowl near the ant nest:

  • Strong smelling herbs and spices: mint, cinnamon, garlic, and black pepper combined with vinegar
  • Essentials oils: peppermint, patchouli or cedarwood with water and vodka

Chalk and powdery substances

Sprinkle a line of chalk, baking powder or baby powder near entrances or along the perimeter of your home.

ants on a flower

Adelaide

Professional ant extermination in Adelaide

If you have a major ant problem needing professional treatment, make sure you use an experienced ant control technician.

We recommend finding someone who gets to the source of your problem, so that you’re protected in the longer term.

The team at Allstate are fully equipped to target all the indoor and outdoor spots where ants feed, and to remove their nesting site. We’re available for both emergency call outs, and free assessment and quotes.

This is the Allstate Adelaide professional ant removal process:

Initial assessment

An expert ant control technician will inspect your building, examine the extent of your outbreak, look for nesting and feeding sites, and then come up with a treatment plan.

Ant removal

We normally use a combination of the following solutions to ensure success. Patience is key here – it will take time for these to have an effect, especially if the nesting site is inside a wall cavity.

  • Ant control dust is sprinkled into cavity walls and voids in the building, including the roof space
  • Insecticide forms part of treated zones which are applied to the perimeters of the building
  • Chemical baits are strategically positioned near favoured feeding sites

Follow up treatment

The team will replenish your ant removal treatment at a follow up visit, as its effectiveness dwindles over time. This will ensure you stay ant-free for longer.

Why choose Allstate?

At Allstate Pest Control Adelaide, we understand that an outbreak of ants can be overwhelming. It can also be difficult to find the time to look for nesting sites and come up with a solution to control them. This is where our expert ant control technicians can help.

As Adelaide’s leading independent pest control company, we are available to help you 24/7 in any suburb of Adelaide. We can attend for urgent or emergency problems, or even just provide advice to control ants and support through our website. Contact Us today.

Our ant treatments are environmentally friendly, and safe for children and pets, while minimising disruption to you and your business.

At the same time our control services are highly effective against even severe infestations, as proven by our 100% money back guarantee.

We also provide affordable, interest-free payment plans, making your ant treatment both convenient and accessible. Speak to an experienced Adelaide ant exterminator today.

Get help from an ant control expert today

or

8371 1277

Your Guide to Cockroach control in Adelaide

Your Guide to Cockroach control in Adelaide

by | Apr 28, 2021 | Blog, Cockroach

YOUR GUIDE TO COCKROACH CONTROL IN ADELAIDE

 

Cockroaches are good scavengers that thrive in clean dwellings just as well as they do in unsanitary environments. They carry some pretty filthy germs with them that cause everything from cholera to asthma.

The other problem? They are stealthy pests who rapidly multiply before you even know they are there. So for every rogue cockroach you see, there are probably at least ten more that you can’t.

What questions will this article answer?

Why a cockroach outbreak is a problem

For centuries, cockroach outbreaks have been feared for several reasons:

They damage to packaging, belongings and furniture

Cockroaches have sharp teeth and strong jaws that are capable of chewing through a wide range of organic and inorganic materials, including plastic. Look for unusual signs of damage in unexpected places, not just on food packaging. This can include leather goods, clothing, furniture and books.

They continue to attract more cockroaches

Cockroach droppings can emit a pheromone to entice more cockroaches to the same area. To make matters worse, when droppings continually accumulate at their nesting site or aggregation point, a small issue can quickly turn into a big outbreak.

They trigger allergies

A runny nose, itchy eyes or throat, or persistent cough, can be symptoms of a cockroach allergy. These arise after being around their droppings, saliva or shed skin. Sometimes, the droppings also contain various allergy triggers, including parasitic worm eggs.

They spread disease

Due to their unhygienic feeding and nesting habits, cockroaches can accumulate a range of highly infectious bacteria, parasites and viruses, which they leave behind on food, objects and surfaces where they feed, nest and crawl, resulting in contamination. Once you come into contact with something that is contaminated, you are at risk of being infected and falling ill. Some diseases spread by cockroaches include:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Gastroenteritis or food poisoning: caused by salmonella, campylobacteria, listeria, e. coli
  • Typhoid fever
  • Cholera
  • Dysentery
  • Leprosy
  • Hepatitis A

At Allstate, our cockroach control technicians are well aware of the health risks posed by cockroaches, and the urgency of preventing a cockroach infestation. That’s why our team is available 24/7 tin every suburb of Adelaide. For competitively priced, effective treatments and advice, call 8371 1277.

Speak to an experienced cockroach technician today about cockroach removal

or

8371 1277

How cockroaches spread disease

Cockroaches are not shy about sharing your space, and the germs that they collected from scavenging in unclean places. The most common way that we get sick from cockroaches is through contaminated food and drink. Here’s how contamination typically occurs:

Coming into contact with droppings and saliva
Cockroaches will generally eat anything that is available. This means that they will happily feed on rotten food and waste laden with bacteria, parasites and viruses. These disease-causing organisms will pass through the cockroach digestive system unscathed, accumulate in droppings and saliva, and continue to remain highly infectious, even when they are left out in the open.

Mechanical transfer
Cockroaches will happily live in unhygienic and unsanitary places including rubbish bins and sewers, which are brimming with many harmful organisms. Some of these organisms will latch onto the cockroach’s body (such as the spines on their legs), and are moved to different surfaces and objects as the cockroach roams around.

Most common types of cockroach pests in Australia

Identifying the species of cockroach causing an infestation can make it easier to treat the problem by understanding their habits and behaviour. Here are the most common types found in Australian homes and businesses:

American cockroach

  • 35-40mm long and have a glossy reddish brown colour
  • Capable of running and using their wings to fly at high temperatures
  • Live in trees surrounding your property
  • Favour humid climates and also darker, less frequented areas in buildings, including roof cavities, basements, subfloors, kitchens and bathrooms

German cockroach

  • Grow to 12-15mm long, easily identified by 2 dark stripes along their head
  • Skilled at climbing
  • Live indoors, in warmer, humid climates with moisture, usually found in wet areas such as the bathroom, laundry and kitchen

Australian cockroach

  • 23-35cm long, with pale stripes on their wing and near the head
  • Prefer living in areas with mild winters
  • Hide in gardens and debris
  • Enter buildings at night

What are the signs of a cockroach infestation?

Here are some tips on what to look out for to correctly identify a cockroach outbreak in Adelaide.

Droppings

Look similar to coffee grounds – they are thin (<1mm wide), black in colour, and vary in length

Smear marks

Take note of brown irregular shaped smear marks near a water source or along pathways where they crawl, including floors, surfaces and wall-floor junctions

Unpleasant oily, musty odour

Comes from droppings, and intensifies along with the infestation

Egg capsules (ootheca)

Can look different for each species, with some being segmented and others having raised round sections

Skin shedding

As cockroaches mature and become larger, they outgrow their outer layer and are known to shed this 5-8 times in their life cycle. This will usually look thin and semi-transparent

Live cockroaches

Cockroaches are nocturnal, so you are more likely to see them actively moving around at night. If you see them during the daytime, you may have a serious problem on your hands

Speak to an experienced cockroach technician today about cockroach removal

or

8371 1277

Cockroaches in your business: restaurants, commercial buildings, distribution facilities and warehouses

Cockroaches are naturally attracted to places that provide good shelter and nesting sites, as well as an abundance of food sources. If left unchecked, an outbreak affects cleanliness and hygiene, creates an unpleasant odour, and spreads disease. This will eventually lead to staff, contractors and customers falling sick and being reluctant to return, a loss of stock and trade, and damage your reputation. To top it off, in Adelaide you can also cop heavy penalties for breaching food and industrial health and safety standards.

Restaurants
An abundance of fresh food makes restaurants vulnerable to a cockroach outbreak, and the results can be disastrous. A cockroach sighting can ruin your reputation overnight and subject you to fines for breaching food safety laws. If left unchecked, a colony can quickly spread diseases over chairs, tables, crockery and equipment, and cost you dearly in damaged stock. To prevent an outbreak, all restaurants must practice proper storage of food supplies, stock and rubbish, and implement regular pest control to meet regulatory requirements.

How to control cockroaches in restaurants

Commercial buildings
A cockroach problem for one tenant can potentially become an issue for all tenants in the building, so it’s important for everyone to follow the same strict health and safety practices. You may even experience disruptions to trade while the outbreak is being treated.

How to control cockroaches in commercial buildings and offices

Distribution facilities and warehouses
The sight of cockroaches scurrying around is not just distracting and off-putting to workers. Cockroach germs can contaminate stock and machinery,, and make you liable for not meeting WH&S obligations. Cockroaches may even be transported to other locations by latching onto products loaded for transport.

How to control cockroaches in distribution facilities and warehouses

How to prevent a cockroach outbreak

The best way to stop a cockroach outbreak in Adelaide is to prevent them from entering your home or business in the first place.. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Practice good hand hygiene
Avoid touching your face and eyes and use plenty of soap and warm water to wash your hands:

  • Before, during and after food handling and preparation
  • Before and after eating
  • After using the restroom and handling rubbish
  • After coming into contact with foreign surfaces, objects and materials which could be contaminated

Keep your space clean and sanitary

  • Remove and seal off potential food sources
  • Remove dropped/spilled food, wipe grease from stove and oven, and dispose pet droppings.
  • Clean floors, wipe benches, countertops and tables, clear sinks and drains,
  • Clean the dishwasher and oven
  • Wash cutlery, utensils, crockery before and after use
  • Ensure containers have tight fitting lids
  • Keep equipment and containers off the floor
  • Ensure that rubbish is covered
  • Regularly check and clean cupboards and shelves inside and underneath
  • Disinfect surfaces regularly

Conduct regular building maintenance

  • Regularly inspect and repair entry points of your building, damaged drains and pipes
  • Seal entry points, cracks and crevices with expanding foam or filler
  • Check pipes for leaks, as cockroaches like damp places

How to control a cockroach outbreak

There are several ways to manage a cockroach infestation, and using more than one give you the best chance of success. Here are some common methods used in Adelaide:

Cockroach bait
This is effective for use indoors, and comes in liquid, gel and solid form. Baits are strategically placed close to nesting areas and the poison is transferred from an affected cockroach to the rest of the colony.

Fumigation
This method is effective for more serious infestations in a confined space, and best used alongside other methods. A gas containing insecticide chemicals is introduced to a building that has been sealed off.

Heat treatment
This method is the most environmentally friendly and chemical free, and can prevente cockroaches at any stage of their life cycle. A mobile system delivers dry heat of 50-60 degrees to an area for a monitored period.

Speak to an experienced cockroach technician today about cockroach removal

or

8371 1277

Professional cockroach control

If you live in a cockroach-prone area, have a serious outbreak, or run a business, it’s best to steer clear of DIY methods and use professional cockroach extermination.

Instead of battling with the same problem for weeks on end, professional control is a cost-effective way to manage cockroaches and remove the source of the outbreak, so you won’t have to worry about a re-infestation.

Here is Allstate’s process for helping you to gain the upper hand against a cockroach infestation:

Initial assessment
Our cockroach removal technicians will thoroughly inspect your home or business, and devise the best solution to address the outbreak.

Removing the cockroach outbreak
Our solution usually involves applying one or more of the following non-hazardous methods, which are all child- friendly, pet-friendly, and safe for the environment:

  • Cockroach control dust: sprinkled into voids, weep-holes, cracks and crevices located in the area of the outbreak. You may notice an initial increase in the amount of cockroaches immediately after
  • Cockroach insecticide: carefully applied to specific treated zones at the perimeters of the building
  • Gel baits: positioned at popular feeding sites
  • Insecticide aerosol spray: applied to nesting areas

We’ll keep you informed
After we’re finished, we’ll send a report to you explaining the steps we took to control the outbreak, and, if necessary, leave you instructions about how to make sure the treatment works at full effectiveness. We’ll also outline some recommendations that can prevent future issues, making it simple for you to refer back to later.

Why choose Allstate pest control?

A cockroach infestation can be just as frustrating as it is unhealthy – causing stress and interruptions at home, and some serious headaches at a commercial premises.

At Allstate Pest Control Adelaide, we understand this and make sure you won’t have to put up with it for long.

24/7 emergency cockroach control
Allstate’s team of experienced cockroach exterminators are available 24/7 to all suburbs of Adelaide, to quickly deal with any cockroach outbreaks and problems.

Guaranteed to work
Our highly effective treatments focus on the areas that they live and breed to make sure your protection lasts, with a 100% money back guarantee.

Safe and affordable
On a tight budget? We offer affordable, interest-free payment plans to help you to implement cockroach control solutions when you need them. You also don’t need to worry about hazardous chemicals – our treatments are safe for children, pets and the environment.

Routine programs for businesses
Our Routine Pest Prevention Programs gives businesses a cost-effective method to meet their health and safety requirements. We work around your operating hours to cause the least disruption possible. You will also get your own online reporting portal, which enables you to access your records, reports and trends at any time.

Manage cockroaches fast. Our Adelaide team is ready to help you now

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8371 1277