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Solutions For Rats In The Roof
October 3, 2021
Rats have been a problem since the start of civilization. They cause a lot of damage to property. They can…
Rats have been a problem since the start of civilization. They cause a lot of damage to property. They can cause severe damage to your electrical wires, essential papers, furniture and food.
One of the most common complaints from home owners relates to rat infestations in the roof. They can cause devastating damage to people’s houses, offices and other properties. They even infest the roof of garages or sheds. Here’s what you need to know about methods of controlling rats in roof.
Importance Of Rat Control
Pest control is essential because pests like rats are harmful to property and documents. They are equally dangerous to human health. Some of the roof rats leave their faeces in food. If a human being eats this contaminated food, they may get severe intestinal problems.
Rats travel a considerable distance, so they gather germs from different places. They are carriers of various viruses, including the Hantavirus and certain medically notorious bacteria like Salmonella. To protect yourself and your family from these pests, you should start rat control immediately.
Problems Due To Rats
Rats and mice can cause considerable damage to your building, food, clothing, wires, electrical gadgets and documents when they gnaw, urinate, defecate, and infest certain areas of the home. The gnawing can lead to problems like electrical breakdown or even fire.
Rats bite people, especially young children, causing diseases. Estimates show that they bite more than 4000 people a year. Sometimes their bite can be fatal. Their urine, droppings, saliva, and even dead skin cells are problematic for people with lung disease. The hair and dead skin cells of rats can trigger asthma attacks and worsen the situation. Therefore, it is essential to get rid of roof rats as soon as possible.
Roof Rats And Their Infestation
Roof rats are quite clever. They can easily climb up walls. Most prefer enclosed and elevated spaces in walls, false ceilings, and the attics. One thing most people don’t know is that rats are social animals. They live in packs, which means that if you see one of them on your roof or home, chances are there are many others. So, it is best to start preventive or control measures.
Rats reproduce quite fast. If you fail to find them in time, they can multiply, and rodent infestation will increase to an unimaginable size.
Rats and mice are more active at night. If you get to see one during the daytime, it means that you have some severe infestation in your house, and this is the surest sign of an infestation. Mice reproduce about 10 to 20 times faster than rats, particularly indoors.
Methods Of Controlling Rats
Ancient Methods of Rodent Control
Ancient Egyptians used pest-destroying animals to protect themselves from the ill effects of rats. Cats were used for this purpose. Cats can keep the rodents out a radius of 50 yards. Today, people still rely on cats to control mice and rats. It is an excellent alternative, much cheaper than most other rodent control methods. But this method might not work where you have severe rat infestation.
Modern Methods of Rodent Control
There are various modern methods you can use to keep rats and mice away from your home. They include biological, mechanical, physical, and IPM strategies. The most common rodent control method is poisoned bait.
Poisoned Bait
Exterminators introduce unique bait stations to get rid of insects and rodents, including roof rats and Norway rats. The bait stations use poisoned bait to kill and control the rat infestation. This method is very effective, but it has some dangerous side effects as well.
Exterminators kill the rats by giving them poisoned food. Poisoned meat is the most common item used. This method guarantees that you will get rid of the unwanted rats and mice. The problem with this method is that a larger animal, most likely your pet, might eat the poisoned meat, and die.
There are many examples of people who died by eating animals that previously had poisoned meat. Some of them were even killed by coming in contact with the poisoned meat. This is the main reason why pest managers mostly avoid this method despite its efficiency.
IPM Strategies
IPM stands for integrated pest management, and it involves use of information relating to the life cycle and spread of harmful pests. The IPM strategies are practical and environment friendly. It is almost impossible to get rid of rats without applying some IPM strategies.
Keeping Rats And Mice Out
The first step is to try your best to keep the rats and mice away from your house and roof. Rats and mice can enter the building through tiny holes in walls, cracks in pipes, sewer outlets and under the door.
You should use some blocking materials to keep them away from your home. Use metal flashing, copper, wool or clothe to block any holes or drains that can be an entry point for the rats. You can use door sweeps under the main doors. Make sure that there are no cracks and openings in your walls.
Manage your Garbage Properly
Garbage is the most favourite place for the rats to reside. Remove and discard any food waste in your house. Discard food items in tightly covered bags or cans. Find and remove all indoor garbage and clean your space properly. Outdoor garbage should also not be placed near your house. Place it on hard concrete surfaces that are far away from your property.
Monitor
Monitoring your home for signs of rodents is an essential step in rodent control. Ensure that you check for rodent droppings, burrows in the ground, nests around cluttered areas, and signs of gnawing on fruits, vegetables, or other food items. Ensure there is no rotten food in the pantry.
Identify the Type of Rat
There are different types of rats which are classified as pests. They include Norway rats that are best at burrowing, roof rats that are best at climbing up walls and false ceilings and lastly, house mice. You can differentiate them based on their footprints and physical appearance.
Use Different Traps
Once you are sure about the type of rats in your home, the next step is to use different traps to get rid of rats. You can use electrocution traps with bait stations. Make sure that you keep your children away from these traps and wear gloves while dealing with them.
Pest Control Professionals Can Help
If you are uncertain if there are still more rats and mice in your roof, you should call a professional pest control expert. This step will ensure that you never have to face rodent control problems ever again in your home.
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Bull Ants Bites And How To Prevent Them
October 3, 2021
Ants are some of the most common insects you can find around. It is estimated that they can make up…
Ants are some of the most common insects you can find around. It is estimated that they can make up about half of the insects’ population in a particular location. You will find ants at home, in your garden, yard, or even pool. Ants like living in warm areas, which is why you tend to find them at your house. Moreover, they infest homes looking for something to feed on.
Ants also live in structured nest communities that you can find in trees, in-ground level mounds, and underground. There are many species of ants around the world. One of the species is the bull ant. This article will delve into bull ant bites and stings, but before getting deep into that, let’s look at some critical aspects of this species.
How Can You Identify Bull Ants?
You can quickly identify bull ants by their large bodies. They are large and can grow to about 40 millimetres. They are characterised by big eyes, long slender mandibles, and venomous bites or stings. Unlike most other ant species, bull ants have superior vision and can track their enemies or even other intruders from a distance of at least one metre.
Most species of bull ants have orange or bright red colours on their abdomens and heads. They have different life cycles and behaviour. Some of the small species are referred to as jack jumper ants. Their name is based on their aggressive jumping behaviour towards intruders.
Where Can You Find Bull Ants?
Bull ants mainly inhabit woodlands, urban areas, and heathlands. They are the biggest ants in Australia, with only a few species that rival them in size in other parts of the globe. They have a fertile queen whose sole responsibility is to lay eggs. The infertile workers perform all the work needed to help keep the colony alive. Fertile bull ants usually have wings and get out of the nesting place to start new colonies.
Diet And Feeding
Bull ants usually collect nectar and other plant liquids as part of their diet. They also prey on other animals that they carry to their nesting places. They like eating protein-based foods that primarily include other insects. In addition, they like fruits and seeds.
Adaptation And Behaviour Of Bull Ants
Bull ants usually live underground and have small hidden entrances. Their nests extend a few metres underground. They usually attack all intruders regardless of their size because they do not like finding strangers near their nests. Their well-developed vision means they can follow strangers and even chase them several metres from their nesting place. In most cases, the sight of these giant aggressive ants coming out of the nest can cause a hasty retreat to any intruder.
Bull ants have painful bites. To sting, a bull ant grips its enemy with its strong mandibles, curls its abdomen to reveal its sting, and injects its venom. Their colonies tend to be small, but the queen usually invades other colonies, taking them captive and killing their queen.
Bull ants are active during the day and night. The workers usually forage for long distances alone instead of moving in trails, like other ants. They gather insects by overpowering and stinging them.
Danger Posed By Bull Ants Stings To People
Bull ants are aggressive and tend to give a painful bite. When bitten by a bull ant, you can apply an ice pack or any other approved spray to relieve the pain caused by the bite. In case you develop an allergic reaction from its bite, you should seek immediate medical attention.
The Developmental Stages Of Bull Ants
The queen of a particular bull ant colony starts to mate and digs a hole in the nesting place to lay eggs. The eggs go through the various phases from an egg to larvae, then pupae, and finally adult. From the egg to the adult stage, it usually takes three to four months. Bull ant babies are referred to as larvae. They are small white grubs that are hidden deep in the nest. They are cared for by the workers as they grow.
For food, paralysed and dead insects are brought to the larvae to eat until they grow up to the pupa stage. Bull ants usually pupate in a brown-like cocoon or case. When they emerge, they are fully grown but lighter in colour than the already mature bull ants.
Now that you know some of the essential facts about bull ants, it is time to focus on their bites and stings.
The Sting And Bite Of A Bull Ant
The queens and workers of a bull ant colony usually deliver painful bites. The pain can last for about five minutes. The bite from the ants is not like those of most other types of ants in terms of severity and venom delivered. Bull ants can bite you several times because, unlike bees, the sting is not left on your body. This also means that the ants do not injure themselves after they bite you.
The sting of a bull ant is usually located in its abdomen and is attached to one venom gland connected to the venom sac. The sac contains the venom delivered to its victims. Workers of larger species of bull ants have very potent and long stingers.
When Do Bull Ants Bite Or Sting?
Generally, bull ants tend to display highly defensive characters near their nesting places. However, they are also more timid while looking for food or feeding. They tend to be aggressive when intruders approach their nest. The workers usually go back to the nest instead of attacking the intruder. If the nest gets disturbed, an army of workers gets out of the nest to attack the intruder.
Jumper ants can jump many inches when they get agitated after their nest is disturbed. They usually propel their jumps by instant extension of their hind and middle legs.
How Does The Sting And Bite Of A Bull Ant Affect Humans And Pets?
The sting of a bull ant can cause several health issues to you, including death due to the venom. The most common problem resulting from the ant sting and the bite is allergic reactions. The intensity or type of allergic reactions depends on your body’s sensitivity to the bull ant stings and bites.
Each species of bull ants has distinct venom components. You are advised to stay away from bull ants if you have an existing allergic condition to their sting. The toxicity of their venom has evolved due to intense predation by birds and animals during the day. It is not only humans who are affected by their bites and stings. Dogs and other pets also develop allergic reactions from these bites.
How To Prevent Stings From Bull Ants
It may be hard to avoid encountering bull ants, making it easy for you to get stung or bitten. A high risk of getting bitten is when you are gardening and you are unaware of the presence of bull ants in your garden. However, you can prevent their bites and stings by:
- Wearing protective clothing such as closed shoes or boots whenever you go to a place they frequent as they forage. You should note that bull ants can bite and sting through the fabric of your clothes. Therefore, remove any nests around your home or garden since bull ants bite when you get closer to their nesting place.
- Being vigilant on the ground. Moreover, avoid squatting, sitting down, or standing near their nests or places you are unsure if the bull ants may be present.
How To Identify The Bite Or Sting Of A Bull Ant
It is easy to recognise a bite or sting from bull ants. Unlike other ants, the bite is painful, which means that you can recognise it immediately. It is also worth noting that bull ants are large, so you can easily see them. A bite from a single ant can cause you immense pain. Bull ants also inflict several bites or stings without running away as they do this trying to defend their nests.
What To Do After A Bull Ant Bites You
The severity of a bull ant’s bite determines the action to take. If you experience severe allergic reactions, you should seek medical treatment immediately. Some of the signs you may experience that require immediate medical attention include:
- Increased heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
- A sharp drop in blood pressure
If the effects are not severe, you can treat them using the following steps:
- Wash the affected part with water and soap.
- Apply something cold on the stung part and take an analgesic if needed to relieve swelling and pain.
- If you get severe or persistent itching and swelling, you can take an antihistamine for one to three days. Antihistamines are readily available in pharmacies without prescriptions. Your pharmacist can recommend the most suitable for you.
- If the bite fails to clear within three days or looks as if it is infected, you should seek medical attention. This is necessary because bull ants’ bites and stings are venomous and can lead to more complications.
How To Eliminate Bull Ants From Your Home
The best way to ensure that you do not get bitten or stung by a bull ant is to eliminate the insects from your home. Here are some of the steps to follow to get rid of the bull ants:
- Locate their Nest
Bull nests are located underground. However, you can also get them under rocks and rotten wood. Their nests are usually simple at first but become prominent as they increase in population. So, at first, it can be hard to notice them. However, you can quickly notice large mounds of dirt with a small opening on its top after the colony expands.
- Check For their Nests From a Distance
If bull ants feel threatened, they attack and bite or sting. To avoid being bitten or stung, it is always wise to check for their nests from a distance. Be sure to choose the best extermination method.
- Pick the Most Appropriate Bull Ant Elimination Method
You can use sprays and baits as a DIY control. This is an effective method because the ants eat the baits and take them to their queen. This method also ensures that you do not get too close to the bull nest, enabling you to avoid bites and stings.
Pest Control For Bull Ant Prevention
You should try as much as possible to avoid being stung or bitten by a bull ant. You do not want to go through pain or experience an allergic reaction after being bitten. Make sure your home or garden is free of these ants by ensuring that they do not build nests around your home. For long-term solutions to bull ants, hire a trustworthy ant control company to keep your home free of these insects.
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The Danger Of Possum Poop
October 3, 2021
Possums are a group of 70 tree-dwelling marsupial species you can find in some countries. The average person can use the…
Possums are a group of 70 tree-dwelling marsupial species you can find in some countries. The average person can use the terms “opossum” and “possum” interchangeably. The term “opossum” derives its name from its counterpart in the Powhatan language spoken by the Virginia Algonquian tribe. It means “beast” or “white dog” in Powhatan.
However, an opossum is a white, grey marsupial mainly found in North America. A possum is, by contrast, the name employed in describing the marsupial that appears similar to an opossum. For instance, one of these marsupials is the Brushtailed possum found in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. Possums are commonly found in and around human settlements living among invasive pests.
It may not seem crucial to remove possums. This may be because they appear to be seemingly sweet and furry cat-like animals. However, it may become a problem as soon as they settle down in your attic or basement. These furry animals are known to excrete a great deal of waste. If left unattended, your doorstep or basement can be converted into the toilet in a matter of days.
To make things worse, their mouth stinks and can also contain many pathogens that can cause disease. Possums may enter your garden or house and leave their excrement – which is similar to that of cats or small dogs. Humans are at risk while cleaning possum poop; therefore, it is essential to segregate animal excrement. In no case should the opossum feces be touched. This is to prevent contact that may cause several infections once infected.
Where Do Possums Breed?
The possum doesn’t easily choose its nesting ground like other invasive pests. Possums prefer to nest and breed in attics because it’s the most secure place, and it is also dark. Before making it their nesting ground, they will become a familiar presence in your garden, backyard, shed, or basement. Their invasion usually begins at night, being nocturnal animals.
During the day, possums don’t come out, so you can’t be sure if they are in your home or not. However, to confirm if you have a possum invasion, you can rely on other clues. You can look, for example, for paw marks, sounds in your attic, and much more. However, the best way to identify them is by their poop. When it comes to possum invasions, they drop a lot of poop.
Possum Droppings
If you find possum droppings in your house instead of outside, then immediate action should be taken because possums have probably taken up residence in your home. When you have pets like a dog or a cat, or if you think that the droppings might come from a wild animal, take the time to make sure the droppings are cleaned up and out of reach.
If you know that possums are in your home, you should take precautionary measures, starting with removing the droppings. You should then take steps to avoid more possums and be sure to clean out any areas that the possums may have affected thoroughly. Aside from the possibility of carrying diseases, there is generally a rotten smell associated with their droppings.
Therefore, you will want to clean up the problem as fast as possible. When droppings are outside the house, try to find areas in the shed or the garage or beneath the house’s deck where the possums can nest. If a possum has settled in a town, it’s probably looking for a refuge. In this regard, it is best to look for places that protect them from the elements.
Identification Of Possum Droppings
Possum poop looks extremely similar to dog poop and is almost the same. Because of these factors, detecting possum feces is a difficult job, particularly if you have pet dogs in your home. Possums are also opportunistic hunters or scavengers. They consume almost everything they can get their hands on since they are omnivorous creatures.
This implies that, unlike raccoons, we cannot use a stick to examine feces to identify the species based on what they have eaten. The first indication of possum feces would be an awful rotting odour. Possums usually defecate and urinate at the same time. The ammonia in the pee would make the feces moist and emit an unpleasant smell.
Secondly, possum droppings are often big and cylindrical, with smooth sides and a brown or blackish hue. Possum droppings are often seen in heaps, with droppings piled on one another and combined with urine. If you look closely at possum feces, you will see that it is not continuous but is broken in the centre.
Health Risks Associated With Possum Poop Exposure
Possums may transmit illnesses to people. Most of these illnesses, if not treated promptly, may become life-threatening. It is crucial to remember that people only acquire these illnesses from possums via direct contact or through possum feces. Possums are docile creatures; thus, the likelihood of them attacking people is low.
This means that the only method to encounter possum infections directly is contacting, eating or drinking anything contaminated by possum feces. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection in humans caused by the Leptospira bacterium. Possum feces and urine have a high concentration of these bacteria. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic illness that infects people when they come into contact with possum excrement or urine via a cut or open wound.
Leptospirosis is an uncommon illness that may cause kidney damage, meningitis, liver failure, and respiratory problems if left untreated. The Buruli ulcer is another significant illness caused mainly by bacteria in possum feces. The bacteria Mycobacterium ulcerans, which is abundant in possum feces, causes the Buruli ulcer. The Buruli ulcer, like Leptospirosis, is acquired via direct contact with possum feces.
Mycobacterium ulcerans is a skin-eating bacterium that causes painless lumps on the arms and legs in the initial stages. These lumps will eventually become big sores. The Buruli ulcer, if not discovered and treated early enough, may result in lifelong deformity. Many of these illnesses are linked to possum feces. Animals, like people, are susceptible to these illnesses. If you have pets at home, you must exercise caution while letting them out, especially if you live in possum-infested regions.
How Do You Get Possum Poop Out Of Your Yard Or Attic?
There are many possible health risks connected to exposure to droppings. As such, you want to dispose of your waste as soon as possible. If you see possum feces or the poop of any other invasive pet, it is best to remove it as fast as possible, especially if you’ve got children or other pets.
Now that you know how dangerous possum poop can be, let’s look at safely removing it from your yard or attic. The method of cleaning is determined by where the droppings are located and the quantity of droppings present. Let us first look at how to remove droppings from their nesting places in your attic, cellar, or any other location where there is a mound of droppings.
Steps:
- Put on disposable gloves, rubber boots covered in a disposable cover, and a surgical mask to avoid inhaling the suspended particles from the dried-up feces. Take into account that you may require a protective suit for your entire body.
- If the poop pile has dried up, spray it with water to keep the dried-up particles from flying off or remaining suspended in the air.
- Using a shovel, transfer the feces into a pail in a safe manner. Next, collect and remove droppings in plastic bags. It is not recommended to dig a hole and dispose of feces in it. The safest method is to light the feces on fire with gasoline. Setting it ablaze guarantees that no soil or water sources are polluted.
- Using boiling water and a disinfectant solution, clean and disinfect the area exposed to a possible droppings site and strongly disinfect it once the droppings have been removed. You may have to replace it entirely if you have carpet, insulation, furniture, or anything else that cannot be adequately cleaned.
- As an additional measure, use a fogger in the area in question, as it is possible to achieve and disinfect any corner and hidden space surface, even if it is not feasible for you to achieve it yourself.
- Properly clean the shovel and rubber boots, as well as dispose of the gloves. If you come across possum excrement in your garden or backyard, put on gloves, a mask, and light it on fire with gasoline. After extinguishing the fire, spray some disinfectant in the affected area. Similarly, if there is poop in your swimming pool, drain the water entirely and disinfect the pool.
Hazardous pathogens like Leptospirosis or Salmonella may also be present in possum droppings. Explicitly speaking, they usually have a very contagious illness called EPM (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis), which may rapidly kill horses by assaulting their nervous systems.
Effective Pest Control For Your Garden
Opossums are a common garden pest, particularly when they munch on or trample plants. And they may steal pet food or dig through the trash. Opossum removal is difficult, but with persistence, the backyard possum may be persuaded to relocate. The most straightforward approach to deal with opossums is to learn their routines.
Most often seen in forested regions or open fields near streams, they can live in abandoned burrows, tree crevices, brush piles, and places under stairs or decks. These animals are nocturnal, meaning that they are active at night and sleep during the day. These intruders assaulting your yard may be tough to “see.” They typically leave droppings, trails, upturned pet food bowls or trash cans, and plant damage as evidence of their presence.
Fruits, nuts, insects, eggs, and tiny animals like frogs and mice are all eaten by backyard possums. Possum control involves using repellents and traps. Another is fencing to obscure entry into your property. There are several products present on the market to deter wild animals. These, however, provide little alleviation.
Other possum management techniques include using motion-activated sprinkler systems to scare them away. Possum control often involves trapping opossums.
Catching Possums Through Traps In Your Garden
How to catch an opossum isn’t as challenging as what to do with it. In most cases, a certified wildlife specialist must relocate the animal. Killing these creatures should be the last option, and most states prohibit it. Nonetheless, catching them in a box or cage is simple.
Traps should be 10x12x32 inches (25x31x81 cm). Arrange the fruit traps along paths and established travel routes. Possums may be controlled by using woven wire or an electric fence.
Garden Fencing As Effective Border Measures For Possums
Garden fencing should be at least 4 feet (1 m) high, with the top foot (31 cm) pointing away from the garden to deter climbers. Adding 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) of electric fence on top may also assist.
The most effective defence is to make the place unattractive to possums. You can do this by simply:
- Pruning overgrown trees and bushes
- Removing brush heaps and related debris
- Cleaning up any fallen tree fruit
- No pet food left out overnight
- Tight-fitting garbage can lids
- Close or block any openings beneath or near the house, such as porches, decks, and sheds
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What Do Rats Look Like?
October 3, 2021
Norway Rats And Their Appearance The common rat, also known as the brown rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Swarf rat,…
Norway Rats And Their Appearance
The common rat, also known as the brown rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Swarf rat, Norwegian rat, or Norway rat, is a widespread species. It is one of the largest muroids and weighs between 140 grams and 500 grams. However, enormous brown rats can weigh between 900 grams to 1000 grams. Mostly these kinds are domestic specimens.
Norway rats have brown fur with black hairs scattered all over their coat. Underneath these hairs are lighter colours, with some rats having grey or white colours and others featuring even a yellow tone. They are very long, about 7 to 9.5 inches, and heavy-bodied with a blunt muzzle.
However, their tails are shorter than the total length of their heads, plus their body. Norway rats have small eyes and ears. When bred selectively, the brown rat has produced both fancy and laboratory domesticated rats.
Where Do Norway Rats Stay?
Norway rats prefer living in the company of humans. They thrive and multiply in big cities, burrow beneath constructions and buildings, hide in piles of wood, basements, attics, or sewers.
Signs Of Norway Rats Infestation
Norway rats are generally nocturnal, and you could barely see them during the day. The following could indicate signs of infestation:
- Burrows around your building.
- Grease stains and dark rub marks are probably from contact with grease or oils in pathways, buildings, or garages.
- Dug holes in areas like lawns.
- Droppings with blunt ends are usually capsule-shaped along their paths.
- Gnaws on furniture, wood, or chewed wires.
Damage By Norway Rats
Norway rats could cause great havoc in your homestead. Some of their effects, apart from causing diseases include:
- Gnawing through your furniture all over the house.
- Damaging your clothes.
- Not forgetting the unpleasant smell from their droppings.
Their droppings could also cause a lot of dirt besides being harmful to your health. Similarly, Norway rats reproduce so fast and could quickly increase their population under favourable conditions. This poses threats of infestation, and rat control should always be your concern.
How To Prevent Norway Rats
- Norway rats like hiding in piles of woods or piles of debris during the day. You should therefore keep these away from your house as far as possible.
- Properly seal any containers with food products.
- Seal or block any holes or burrows around your house. Their new spots are usually rough, while old ones become smoother due to frequent contact.
- Ensure proper containment of garbage and litter; always keep them in closed containers or far away from your house.
- Fix any leaks in your house and keep moisturised places such as pipes away.
What Do Roof Rats Look Like?
Roof rats are primarily known as fruit rats or house rats. Generally, these rats are usually light brown mixed with black. They have lighter colours, typically grey or black, underneath their coats. Black rats have smooth fur and a pointed muzzle. Their eyes are enormous, and they have large ears that cover over the eyes when pulled.
Their heads plus body could total up to 6 to 8 inches long while their tails are scaly and could be 7 to 10 inches long. Black rats are theoretically dangerous. Most of them weigh between 150 grams to 250 grams but could grow to 340 grams. Roof rats are slightly smaller than Norway rats.
Where Do Roof Rats Stay?
They mostly prefer living in bushes, trees, or areas with massive vegetation while outside. If they invade your house, you could find them on top of cupboards or cabinets, on the ceiling, in attics, and any high place.
Signs Of Roof Rats Infestation
- Destroyed coverings on electrical equipment and or plastics.
- Gnaw marks on household items, wood materials like furniture, and around the eaves of the roof.
- Damaged fruits.
- Unpleasant rat noises from the ceiling and or attic, mainly during the night.
- Their droppings (usually with pointed ends) along the baseboards.
- The remains of their nests in cabinets, ceiling, attics, etc.
Prevention Of Roof Rats
- Seal all holes and vents around your house with diamond mesh.
- Trim any branches of trees that hang over your home.
- Ensure that any access points on the roofs or roof lines are tightly closed.
- Caulk all the cracks and crevices on your walls.
- Store all the food products, including pet foods, in sealed containers.
- Ensure proper handling of leftovers and kitchen refuse.
- Keep the garbage in closed containers and exercise good sanitation.
- Clean your compound and dispose of fallen fruits or unused fruits.
Differences Between Norway Rats And Roof Rats
- Whereas Norway rats are heavily built, roof rats are thinner.
- Norway rats have round noses, while roof rats have pointed noses.
- The roof rat has a longer tail than their body, while a Norway rat has a shorter tail than their body.
- The roof rat has darker fur than the Norway rat, which is generally brown.
- Roof rats mostly live four feet above the ground and other higher levels, whereas Norway rats are not good at climbing and primarily reside in basements and low-level regions.
- Whereas roof rats prefer warm areas with more humidity, Norway rats prefer the exact opposite conditions.
Call A Rat Control Specialist
The chances of experiencing a rat problem could be high for anyone. Rats only look for favourable conditions such as shelter, food, and water. They have high rates of reproduction; thus, a large infestation could be a significant challenge. Rats cause a lot of mess in houses. They will gnaw through your walls, furniture, pipes, electrical wires, and so on. They will destroy your fruits, your food and even contaminate them.
Similarly, rats could cause diseases through their droppings and urine, posing a great danger to you, your family, and pets. You could always control and get rid of rat infestations by yourself, especially if it is small. However, if the infestation is a large one, it might be beyond you, and as such, you are better off if you seek professional help.
Always be on the lookout!
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How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs
October 3, 2021
What Are Bed Bugs? Have you heard of bed bugs? What are they? What do they look like? Bed bugs are…
What Are Bed Bugs?
Have you heard of bed bugs? What are they? What do they look like? Bed bugs are small insects that depend on both humans and animals for blood. They are oval and primarily brownish. Adult bed bugs may seem to have flat bodies, but after feeding, their bodies swell and become red in colour due to the blood.
These pests do not have wings. However, their movements are very fast, making it a great challenge to deal with them. Similarly, the female bed bugs lay many eggs under favourable conditions, producing almost three generations annually. This faster rate of multiplication may encourage bed bug control.
Where Do They Stay?
These insects may easily enter your home or house without your knowledge. Since their bodies are flat, they are capable of getting through the tiniest of spaces into your house. They most likely occupy mattresses, cushions, couches, bed frames, clothes, box springs, and cupboards.
Explicitly speaking, bed bugs will inhabit anywhere that would give them easy access to you or your family members at night. Yes, at night! They are rarely seen during the day. Remember, they quickly multiply, and with time, they may be everywhere, in your ceiling, on the walls, on the floors, in your kitchen, and even in neighbouring houses.
Are they harmful? Yes. These insects bite humans since they solely feed on blood. They have elongated beaks, which enable them to suck your blood. Research shows they feed 3-7 days a week and for approximately ten to fifteen minutes before hiding again. Bed bug bites may seem painless initially; however, they become very painful and itchy with time.
Features Of A Bed Bug Bite
Their bites are curved and about 2 to 4 millimeters. These bites have tiny blisters on top of them and are often found on open skin.
Bed Bug Bite Treatment
Bed bug bites can appear as mosquito or flea bites, but they are treatable. You should always consult with your physician if you are unsure whether it is a bed bug bite. The major remedies are oral antihistamine or topical steroids. You could get other treatments from your physician.
Signs Of Bed Bugs
The primary sign of a bed bug’s bite, which shows their presence, is the itchiness of the skin. Therefore, if you wake up in the morning with itchy open skin, it could probably be a bed bug bite. Other signs of bed bug infestation include:
- Spots of bed bug excretion on your clothes, on the walls, or your bed.
- Stains of blood on clothes or bedsheets and bed covers.
- Their eggshells are in their hiding spots.
- An unpleasant smell from their glands.
Getting Rid Of Bed Bugs
Yes, it is possible to get rid of bed bugs. Is it easy to get rid of bed bugs? No, it is not very easy to get rid of these insects. Even with professional help, eliminating all bed bugs may not be possible in one visit or treatment. So what makes it so challenging to get rid of bed bugs?
- High Rates of Multiplication
Female bed bugs lay hundreds of eggs, and almost all of them hatch. This makes it possible for them to birth nearly three generations yearly. Similarly, the nymphs take a short period to mature. They shed their skins five times before developing into adult bed bugs. After maturity, they are ripe for reproduction.
A high population is a significant challenge in pest control, and bed bugs are no exception. Once they find a good place to hide in your house, with favourable conditions and blood availability, they will multiply so fast, almost doubling their population in a fortnight, making it very difficult to kill them, primarily if you rely on “Do It Yourself” means.
- Secretive Lifestyle
Their behaviour is another factor that deters the ability to get rid of them. These insects hide in small groups in cracks or dark places during the day and attack severely at night. They do not have a constant area of hiding like most insects such as ants or termites. On the other hand, bed bugs like moving from place to place while keeping close to their hosts for easy accessibility.
Similarly, they have flat bodies that enable them to enter tiny places like crevices and cracks. It is not very easy to notice them from such places. This kind of lifestyle makes it challenging to get rid of bed bugs.
- Resistance to Most Pesticides
Most pesticides used in pest control are harmless to humans and other animals. However, these pesticides act so fast and can eradicate most insects by using small quantities. However, entomologists have revealed that most bed bugs have developed resistant features that make them immune to most pesticides. Such resistance to pyrethroid makes it very difficult to get rid of bed bugs altogether.
Bed bugs can cause a lot of havoc in your home, especially at night. They can also embarrass you with your visitors when they find good hiding places in your coaches. While it is possible to get rid of them, it requires a lot of patience. Similarly, you may find it necessary to combine various methods and approaches to eradicate these insects.
Identifying the Areas of Infestation
Initially, the first step in getting rid of bed bugs is to identify all the infested areas in your home. It would be best to find the bed bugs before they multiply into a large population. However, it may not be easy to identify even the smallest bed bug population. Therefore, whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a professional, much work needs to be done to detect these small insects.
Remember, they have flat bodies that enable them to squeeze into cracks and crevices or other smaller spaces. Therefore, it would be best if you begin by inspecting such places. Further, you need to check for any signs of infestation mentioned above, including clothes, bed frames, cushions, box springs, etc. You could use a flashlight to find them in their dark hiding places.
Containing the Infestation
You need to first trap the bed bugs before containing them for extermination. You could use a vacuum or a net to trap them. However, the fastest and easiest way to trap bed bugs is by using a vacuum. You will have to position your vacuum over all the possible hiding places of bed bugs.
When satisfied that you have gone through all the possible hideouts and trapped the present bed bugs, you need to contain your items properly. You could pack your items in plastic bags and put them together with other items in areas with higher temperatures. Bed bugs cannot survive under high temperatures. Therefore, if there is any bed bug you did not manage to trap, the high temperatures would probably kill them.
Preparing for Extermination
Once you have contained the trapped bed bugs, you need to prepare your house for treatment. Therefore, you might consider cleaning all your items and the hiding places for bed bugs. If possible, remove all the other items such as old books, extra clothes, carpets, etc., out of the house.
However, you should avoid moving your items from infested areas into non-infested areas at all costs. Remember, even a single pregnant bed bug could be disastrous. Additionally, it would be best to close any open areas, move your furniture a few inches from the wall, sweep the walls and the ceiling and seal any open electrical equipment.
Extermination of the Bed Bugs
Here’s how to kill bed bugs dead:
Do It Yourself Method
Other people prefer getting rid of the bed bugs by themselves. Well, it is possible to exterminate them by yourself. You could use high temperatures above the room temperature, for instance, 50 degrees Celsius, or extremely low temperatures, like zero degrees Celsius, to kill bed bugs. Similarly, you could use a vacuum after scrubbing all their hideouts and dislodging bed bug eggs.
However, make sure you clean the vacuum outside the house after vacuuming all the possible hiding places. The easiest way to kill bed bugs by yourself is by using a powerful heat steamer. By passing your heat steamer over their hiding places, you could manage to kill most of them. However, always keep the heat steamer away from the wall outlets.
Heat Treatment
This treatment has proven to be the quickest and most effective way of killing bed bugs. Most professional bed bugs exterminators prefer this to other methods. The process involves subjecting the room to temperatures between 57.2 degrees Celsius to 62.7 degrees Celsius.
At slightly above 50 degrees Celsius, all the bed bugs would have died. The high temperatures attract the bed bugs from their hiding places. Professionals exercise great caution, ensuring that the temperatures are high enough to kill the bed bugs but not damage any of your items.
The process takes six or more hours of careful inspection, guidance, and cooperation from the homeowner. However, heat treatment does not have any residual effect. Therefore, it would be best to apply a residual pesticide alongside heat treatment to prevent further infestation should any bed bug survive the treatment.
Non-Chemical and Chemical Treatment
Even though it is a traditional method of killing bed bugs, chemical treatment may still be effective. Besides, it is more budget-effective than heat treatment. This method kills bed bugs quickly, especially those that come into direct contact with the insecticides. Similarly, those that get into contact indirectly with the insecticides will die as well.
Consequently, some insecticides do not kill all the bed bugs. Some bed bugs develop resistant features making them immune to these insecticides. Therefore, you should consider a pesticide application after insecticide treatment to exterminate the nymphs before they mature into adult bed bugs.
Here are some examples of possible insecticides to use:
- Pyrroles – Disrupt the cells of the bed bugs, thus killing them.
- Pyrethroids – The primary insecticide used in terminating bed bugs. However, most bed bugs have shown signs of resistance to it.
- Neonicotinoids – The perfect insecticide for bed bugs that are resistant to other pesticides. They destroy the nervous system of the bed bugs, thus killing them.
- Desiccants – These solutions destroy the outer coating of the bed bugs exposing them to heat. They thus dry up and die. Even though the effect of desiccants is gradual, the bed bugs cannot become resistant to them.
- Diatomaceous Earth – This is dust that sticks to the bed bugs and dries them up from the inside, hence killing them. However, it would be best to be more cautious when using this since some types of DE are toxic to humans and pets. One effective type for killing bed bugs is an animal food additive.
What about alcohol rubbing? This method is inefficient in killing bed bugs and could also be harmful to you or your family.
An Expert In Bed Bug Control Could Be The Answer
In conclusion, the presence of bed bugs in your house does not mean that you are dirty. It simply means that bed bugs are hitchhikers and can get into contact with you from anywhere. However, they are not very pleasant, and the sooner you get rid of them, the better. You could always kill them by yourself. However, if you do it improperly, you will cause more problems and suffer more expenses. Why not hire a pro to help you once and for all?
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Solutions For Scratching Noises Coming From Your Walls In Australia
October 3, 2021
You are dead asleep at 3:00 AM, and some scratching noise wakes you up. What could it be? A bird?…
You are dead asleep at 3:00 AM, and some scratching noise wakes you up. What could it be? A bird? A rodent? Apart from it being not very pleasant, it can be very nerve-wracking. It would help if you were comforted that this scratching noise is experienced by people worldwide. The most common areas where such noises come from in Australia are the wall and roof during the night.
Why Are The Noises Heard At Night And Not During The Day?
During the day, you are probably moving up and down and cleaning and moving furniture around. Or probably in the kitchen banging pots and pans, and you might not hear noises reasonably quickly. The second reason might be that these crooks operate at night or have courage when everything is dusky and silent.
Nonetheless, these weird sounds coming from the roof spaces or walls should not make you get scared. However, you should not disregard it either. Remember that pests not only transmit diseases but also bite your electrical wires and lagging, and they are not a pretty sight!
The Difference Between Animal Noises And Household Noises
Not all scratching noises heard are from animals. Some noises come from the house: a loose pipe, a displaced ceiling panel, or something connected to the property. Or it could simply be a piece of electrical machinery that is faulty. The first step is to identify what is causing the noise before solving the issue.
The most significant clue if you want to tell if the noise is household-related or not is listening to consistency. Animals move around, and so the noise they make will be random and irregular. On the other hand, household noise will be consistent. Go and examine the place and see if anything is out of place causing the noise, like wind blowing a loose pipe.
It is essential to make a visual confirmation before jumping to conclusions. If the noise is coming from the inner part of the property, try operating different valves in your house. If it is a plumbing problem, you will tell and pinpoint precisely where the problem is.
Check if it is one of the primary household appliances, such as the air conditioner or the furnace. Try switching them on and off so that you can conclude if it is a mechanical problem. Once you have established if the noise you hear is mechanical or wildlife-related, you can take appropriate measures to sort out the problem.
What Is Behind The Scratching Noises In The Roof And Walls?
There could be some bugs or possums that are behind the scratching noise in your walls. Other insects, such as carpenter ants, are not noisy, so you might not notice they are there unless you do inspections. So if you hear noises inside the roof, you might have a mice problem or wild animals such as racoons. Below are some of the culprits that could be causing the irritating noise:
Beavers
One of the things that could be causing noise in your roof is a beaver. Beavers move around during the daylight, and you might not hear them as the household is a hive of activities during the day. The noise might not be constant because beavers move erratically once they are trapped in your house. One thing that will tell you if you have a beaver in your home is faeces. If you look closely at the faeces, you will notice that they are lighter than rats’.
Rats
As rats move around your house, they will shape a path that they will be following. A rat makes noises that take a definite design. Another sign that can indicate mice or rats have invaded your roof and walls is the existence of rat droppings and urine in your house. The smell of their urine is usually very pungent. If you notice cardboard boxes, food packaging that has been chewed up, or sounds heard habitually at night (because rats are night creatures), then you have rats or mice in your home.
Bats
These nocturnal creatures are active at night and sleep during the day. The fact that they fly makes them even scarier. They are usually found in the attic or other parts of the home. They don’t come alone but carry a mass of terrible viruses with them. It might be hard for you to tell you to have bats in your home because they don’t make much noise. By the time you hear their noises, know that there are several of them already there.
Possums
Possums might be too big to fit in roof spaces or walls of your house. However, tiny or younger possums can make their way through holes and get stuck in your cellar or other inner areas of the home. If you have a possum infestation, you will likely hear possum sounds.
Reasons To Check The Scratching Noise In The Wall
Do not ignore scratching noises in your roof spaces or walls, mainly if they occur during the night. It could be a result of rodent infestation, which could lead to severe damage to your property. Some of the reasons you need to check the scratching noises in your walls are listed below.
- Pests wreak havoc: Many rodents will chew up wires, wood, and pipes, wreaking a lot of havoc on your roof spaces or inside your walls. This could severely damage your property, and it will cost you an arm and a leg in terms of repairs and replacement. In the worst-case scenario, once the electrical wires have been exposed, they could cause a fire burning your house to the ground.
- Disease spreaders: Animals like birds usually have fleas. So if you have birds in your roof space and it is not taken care of, they will likely spread the fleas and possibly viruses. Rodents transmit all forms of germs, bacteria, and viruses. Faeces and urine from pests can draw severe bug invasions bringing in other forms of distress.
- Odour: Apart from the awful smell of rodents droppings, the decomposing carcasses of rodents are worse. So if you suspect that you have an invasion, especially if you hear scratching noises, it is time to get in touch with pest control companies and try to get a solution before it is too late.
Solutions And Prevention Of Rodents In Walls
Once you can pinpoint where the scratching noises are coming from, be it your walls or roof spaces, you need to decide what to do next. Several options are available when you want to deal with the creatures that have made your home their home:
Do-It-Yourself Methods
Many products are available on the market that assert to fast and painlessly solve pest-associated problems. There are different repellents, pepper-based products, hook and booby traps in other forms and dimensions. However, if you aim to get rid of these creatures for good, this might not work out well.
Otherwise, companies that specialise in pest-controlled services would be non-existent. These methods should only be used as a temporary solution as a more permanent solution is being sorted. No solution will 100% permanently resolve this problem. The most significant way to tackle this problem is to prevent the creatures from invading your home.
Prevention of Rodents
Listed down below are some easy ways that can be followed that will reduce the chance of stray animals from getting into your house:
- Drain all stagnant water around your house. When these animals see a pool of water, they will most likely come to have a drink. Also, this is an ideal breeding place for bugs. So to prevent this, avoid leaving a pool of water anywhere around your compound.
- You probably are aware that animals move around looking for food and water. Since you have been warned about the dangers of stagnant water, you must keep food out of the way. Once these animals get a source of food, they are bound to come back and look for a way to live in your home. Appropriately dispose of garbage.
- Check around your property and compound and find gaps that could quickly act as doors for these pests. It is essential to securely block these entry points before these animals get into your ceiling and start crawling around. It is better to prevent them from getting in than calling a professional to eradicate them.
- You can also install a wire mesh to shelter your chimney, which will keep squirrels from getting into the house.
These are just a few of ways to keep pests away from your home. However, these creatures are usually agile and sneaky if they want to get to your cellar; deterring them, to begin with, is not easy.
What Do You Do If the Pests Are Already In the House?
The only solution available if these rodents have already made themselves at home in your house is to call in the experts. These professionals will remove this problem in a secure, humane, and well-organised way.
The experts will know how to deal with the wildlife living in your house. This process is crucial and intricate. The experts will:
- Ensure the creatures are removed securely and gently.
- Do a thorough inspection and check all areas that could be exposed.
- Your house is made safe from upcoming infestation. This is through well-known animal prevention procedures.
You might hear some noise in the roof a couple of times even after the issue has been sorted. Do not fret! Listen to the noise for a few days and see if it is persistent. Your resident animal elimination and prevention team in Australia will decide the perfect procedure to follow to securely and gently remove the wildlife.
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Top 5 Signs I Have Termites
September 1, 2021
Termites have a reputation for causing a lot of damage to homes. With a reputation to uphold, termite damage is…
Termites have a reputation for causing a lot of damage to homes. With a reputation to uphold, termite damage is one of the leading causes of home damage in Australia today. Termites can cause damage by eating through wood, which can lead to structural damage and significant repair bills for homeowners.
Termites are destructive pests that can cause considerable damage to homes and other structures. Termite identification is difficult because they can be found in various locations and unidentified termite species often look similar. You should also watch out for swarmers coming out from around your house because this is a distinct sign that there may be a termite infestation nearby.
What Are Drywood Termites?
Drywood termites are termites that live in grass and other organic matter. The termites make tunnels in the wood that contain food. Drywood termites usually feed on wood that is in the form of cellulose. Drywood termites eat different types of wood, with softwoods (like maple and oak) being favored by drywood termites.
Termites will make their nests in the soil and leave the tunnels to go get food before returning to the rooms or galleries built adjoining the tunnels. Drywood termites favor hardwoods (like cypress). Termites make their nests in the wood and navigate the tunnels to get to food sources or rooms known as galleries on the other end of the wood tunnels. The drywood termite eats roots. So a hardwood tree planted near a softwood tree is likely to be eaten.
Drywood Termite Signs
When you think you may have a termite infestation, you need to act fast to get rid of them. There may be nothing to be concerned with; however, it could be time to call in a trusted professional if you see any of these signs.
- An infested tree, branch, or utility pole
- Minor stains on the outside of a home or yard that could be termite droppings
- You have small cracks in your doors and walls
- Broken ceilings, siding, or any other major woodwork surfaces in your home that looks like it has been burned in a fire
How Can I Check If Termites Are Present?
Termites in walls can be hard to detect and can happen to any kind of building, but there are some tell-tale signs on how to spot termites to make things a bit easier. So, how do you check for termites in walls and other areas of your home? Firstly, termite droppings near your home are one indication that you might have termites. So, when looking for termites signs, you should check out these common indicators of a termite infestation.
- The most noticeable sign is the presence of mud tubes. These are dark-colored tunnels that termites construct on the ground to reach their food sources. When a person is inspecting a home or other building, they will first search for these tunnels and be on the lookout for piles of wood chips so they can check them as well.
- Piles of wood chips are also an indication of termite activity. These piles will be located close to a structure. The most common areas are near a porch railing or just outside the foundation alongside the house’s exterior walls. Other indications include swarming insects, such as ants and wasps that hover around drywood and/or moist areas near it.
- So, how do you know if you have termites? To see if you have termites, you should look for wood that has been chewed away, live termites, or wings left behind from flying termites.
- You may also be able to find out if you have drywood termites signs by looking at the size of the holes they make in walls or floors.
How To Know If You Have Too Many Termites
Termites are a common household pest. They can be found in most areas throughout Australia, with the most common termite being the subterranean termite. The most prevalent sign of a termite invasion is small piles of sawdust or mud called frass.
Close examination may reveal either small holes or larger ones in drywall, wood beams, furniture, and other surfaces where termites have been eating away at the wood. Termites are terrible, and they destroy your home, which can cause you to have to move out. They can also be dangerous to your home because they can start fires caused by chewing on wires that are unprotected.
Signs Of A Termite Infestation In Houses
The most common symptoms of a wood termite infestation include:
- Wood chips on wood beams on the top floor of the house.
- Soft spots in wood furniture, such as drawers and knobs.
- Sawdust piles on the corners and baseboards of a home, which have spread out in odd directions.
- Thick dirt-covered piles of wood and debris near the base of a wooden fence.
- The smell of mildew, ammonia, or sawdust on freshly cut wood. Or the smell of a new floor.
Signs Of Termites In Trees
Most insects inside trees eat the cambium layer of the actively dividing cells between the wood (xylem) and the bast (tissues). While most feed on bark, others, such as leaf-cutter termites, bore into the wood. The symptoms are very similar. You will likely see evidence of a Termite infestation in your trees. If you have any of the common signs below:
- Red patches on the trunk
- Giant holes
- Black spots on the bark
- Fruit drop
- Suspended grub larvae
- Pile-like masses of sawdust or dust
How To Get Rid Of Termites
Termites are a hassle to get rid of. They are built to last. So, the longer they remain, the harder it is to eradicate. All you can do is prevent the infestation from becoming more serious.
Termites are stubborn pests. They can infest your home for several years at a time. Even though you might have noticed small piles of frass, it might take a professional termite exterminator a week or two to detect the infestation and get rid of them. Fortunately, you can get rid of termites with some low-cost methods.
However, there is no approved cure for termites and no method of treatment that can guarantee they won’t come back, but there are many practical measures you can take to stop the spread of termites in your home.
- Using a termiticide on your termites will cause them to die and prevent them from breeding. Use a safe, nontoxic product to kill all the termites.
- Inspect the area to see if you can see any of the mounds, then spray the perimeter. This will discourage them from making more mounds.
- Termite-proof your home by removing clutter that can attract termites.
- Clean and inspect chimneys, roof beams, attic spaces, and holes.
- Protect exposed wooden structures from termites.
- Make sure your home has adequate drainage. Periodically inspect your sump pump and drain pipes, which are often the source of problems in a home, and get any additional drain pipes (which might be underground) covered.
As a homeowner, you are responsible for preventing the spread, so what do you do if you have termites? You can make a huge difference by doing a little bit of each of the suggestions listed above.
There are a few treatments that you can use at home, but you need to work with a professional, in most cases, to prevent the infestation by termites from spreading any further. If you do find out that your home has termites, your first step should be to get a complete termite inspection.
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Reliable Tips On How To Exterminate Wasps In Walls
September 1, 2021
Wasps can take up residence in random places such as the inside of a wall to build their colony. In…
Wasps can take up residence in random places such as the inside of a wall to build their colony. In many cases, this creates problems because it is difficult to reach. It is essential to remove the nest as soon as you discover them. Read on and find out how to exterminate wasps from your wall.
What Does A Wasp Scenario Look Like To A Homeowner?
As a homeowner, the first thing you are likely to notice is wasps entering and exiting from a hole in the wall of your home. Your first action will be to go to a store and buy a hornet killer or liquid wasp killer. You will then probably spray inside the hole at night. After a few days, you may notice a decrease in activity and decide to plug the hole. Worst mistake ever!
What Normally Happens
The above picture may sound like the best solution, and you will feel proud as a homeowner to have a solution in hand. You may even see some dead wasps on the floor. However, this is just temporary. The wasps will go off to work, and when they settle- your problem begins.
What Actually Happens
A liquid wasp killer cannot kill a wasp nest as it cannot penetrate inside to destroy the whole colony. When you plug the hole, you force the remaining wasps in your wall to move via an alternative point. Often, they find an exit on the inside. If they do so, rest assured that your troubles have just begun!
Professional Wasp Extermination
As a homeowner, you may know the location and size of the wasp nest in the wall. However, there are some things that only a professional eye can notice. These things include:
- Has the nest softened the inside of the wall? When a colony fully settles in your wall, its secretions will soak your wall to a point where the nest goes through the wall.
- Are the wasps honeybees or yellow jackets?
After determining the above, what will a professional wasp exterminator do? They will use dust formulation and never liquid spray to spray in the hole. Dust formulation goes deeper into your walls and kills all wasps instantly.
Secondly, a professional will not plug the hole until they are sure they have eliminated the nest. A professional exterminator already knows the harm it can cause their clients if they do not eliminate the wasps to completion. Lastly, they are aware that the best way to solve this problem is by drilling the walls from the inside to eliminate the wasps.
Wasp Extermination Procedure
- The first step is to locate the nest and determine the wasps’ entry point from outside. Be patient and pay attention to their flight patterns and where they settle in the wall.
- Seal the entry and exit points where the wasp nest is located in your wall. Use a sealant to prevent them from escaping, only to return after treatment has been applied.
- Get a lure trap and hang it near the wasp nest. The trap attracts the wasps and reduces the number of wasps in the wall when applying the pesticide.
- Drill a big hole in your wall where you will apply your pesticide.
- Insert your applicator and spray your insecticidal dust.
- Repeat as many times as needed until you have exterminated all the wasps in your wall.
- Seal off the entry points on your wall to prevent other colonies from moving in.
How Not To Remove A Wasp Nest
There are many DIY methods that you can follow to remove a wasp nest. However, it would be best to be cautious as wasps are aggressive and require minimal provocation to attack. Therefore trying to use DIY methods can cost you money and health.
1. Using Water
Some people may use water to get rid of wasps. The truth, however, is that this method is ineffective. When you flood the hive, the wasps will attack you as a defense, and you may sustain injuries or, worse, go into shock if you are allergic to a wasp sting. You can also damage your property. For instance, if the wasp nest is in the attic, you will damage both the attic beams and the ceiling boards.
2. Using Fire
Trying to burn your wasp nest is dangerous. Wasp nests are made of papery pulp that is highly flammable. Because of this, you could end up getting painful burns or, worse still, burning down your property. Moreover, it would be best never to burn a wasp nest as fire does not eliminate all the wasps in the colony. Attempting to burn the nest can cause the remaining wasps in the colony to attack you and other bystanders.
3. Using A Baseball Bat
Honestly, you should reserve this idea for fighting intruders. Trying to destroy wasps using a baseball or racket puts you at risk of being stung. This method is hazardous, especially if you are allergic to stings.
How Do You Prevent Wasp Nests?
As you may have noticed, wasp nest removal is difficult and dangerous if done incorrectly. Wasps are dangerous and tenacious when provoked, and you are advised not to use your DIY methods to remove the wasp nest.
As a result, preventing wasp nests is vital! Here are some ways you can prevent wasps from building nests in your walls:
- Do not keep food or fruits around your porch.
- Use caulk to shut cracks and crevices on the doors and windows.
- Place wasp repellants around your property.
- Always check for nests and treat them in the early stage.
- Seal your garbage cans.
- Do not leave any trash lying around your home.
- Fill up all holes in grass or cement.
- Always keep your trees and shrubs pruned.
- Remove all standing water from gutters and birdbaths
- When having barbecues, keep all the food covered if not being served.
There are many myths on exterminating wasps in walls, and they can be unsafe and misleading. You may think that online DIY methods will get rid of the wasps completely. However, there is a high chance of the queen surviving. If the queen survives, it moves on to start another colony in another place on your property. You are advised to engage an expert to help you exterminate wasps from your walls to avoid the difficulties of this trial and error method.
Additionally, choose to engage exterminators that use eco-friendly products. They will use aerosols and insecticidal dust to neutralise hives and make them uninhabitable.
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A Comparison Between Mouse Droppings And Bat Droppings
September 1, 2021
Of course, no one likes the pathetic smell of either mouse poop or bat poop. But do most people even know…
Of course, no one likes the pathetic smell of either mouse poop or bat poop. But do most people even know the difference between the two? Most people only know that the droppings are small and have a dark colouration, but it is not easy to differentiate bat droppings from mouse droppings.
How about the effects as well as advantages that they may have? We encounter mice and bats throughout our daily lives. They are known to reside in ceilings, roofs, holes in walls, caves, and so on. They mostly survive due to their small sizes and other adaptive features, making their extermination as tricky to deal with as their poop.
What You Should Know About Mouse Droppings
It could be challenging to distinguish between mouse droppings and bat droppings. Therefore, the size of the poop is essential in differentiating mouse poop from bat poop. Generally, the length of mouse poop ranges from an eighth to a quarter of an inch. Due to the tapering at the ends, mouse poop also looks like dark rice grains.
Additionally, determining the age of the mouse droppings could also pose various challenges since the colour of mouse droppings depends on the food source. Therefore, the best way to determine how old mouse droppings are would be to remove the droppings every 24 hours. The existence of new droppings after every removal could thus indicate a present ongoing infestation.
Whereas it is difficult to spot the mice themselves, one could use the number of the mouse droppings to determine the level of mice infestation. Mice could excrete about fifty to seventy-five droppings in a day, so one could always check the infested areas or hire a professional to do the checking and finally remove the mouse droppings. However, removing the mouse poop could be difficult and dangerous, especially when one decides to apply the do it yourself method.
It is thus advisable that one seeks the help of professionals to remove the mouse droppings. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that one should always air the infested area for about 30 minutes before removing the poop. You should also cover any abrasions or cuts, wear the appropriate (latex or rubber are mostly preferred) gloves, and use disinfectant while cleaning the mouse poop. It is further advisable to wash your hands thoroughly with sufficient water and soap after finishing the clean-up.
Moreover, the Ministry of Health in Australia suggests that tank inlets and overflows should always be fitted with screens to prohibit the entry of mice. This is a preventative method as mouse droppings could easily infect rainwater. Careless handling of mouse droppings and rodents could lead to dangerous infections.
For instance, Leptospirosis is an infection caused by bacteria in mouse urine entering the human body through the mouth lining, nose, eyes, or open wounds. Another infection caused by exposure to mouse feces or urine is Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection. Although there are scenarios where LCMV infections during pregnancy have led to fatal results, such cases have not been recorded in Australia before. Mouse droppings do not only cause infections; they are also responsible for other losses, as has been witnessed in Australia for the past three years. After the attack of mice, farmers suffered significant losses caused by the rejection of their harvests, contaminated by mouse droppings.
What You Need To Know About Bat Droppings
Bat poop, which is also known as guano, is almost indistinguishable from mouse poop. They all look similar in size, shape, and colour, except that the consistency of the bat droppings is drier. One could also identify a bat dropping by putting on gloves and rolling a single bat poop between a finger and the thumb. A mouse dropping will always squash while a bat dropping crumbles. Just like mice, careless handling of bat droppings could also cause infections.
For instance, Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by fungi in the soil, especially in large quantities of bat droppings. The condition could be mild or severe. It could also be misdiagnosed since its symptoms are the same compared to other illnesses. Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) was first recognized in 1996 and has subsequently been identified in four distinct kinds of fruit bats and one kind of insect-eating microbat. Therefore, an assumption is made that any bat in Australia could cause this infection.
Consequently, bat droppings could also be very useful, especially in agricultural sectors. Accumulated bat droppings are used as manure and have a high nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate content. However, it is essential to note that only bat droppings from fruit-eating and insect-eating bats are used as manure. The fruit-eating bat poop is richer in content than the insect-eating bat poop. In Australia, bat droppings are extracted from deep inside caves since they are the best dwelling places for bats.
The bat feces from caves are preferred since they have been shielded from sunlight, water, and wind, thus making them more effective than bat droppings from tree-dwelling bats. Accumulated bat poop has also been used to produce gunpowder and other explosives, especially in the United States.
Summary
It is important not to ignore mouse or bat droppings. Even though they have a terrible smell and could cause infections, effective cleaning and subsequent sanitation could be more beneficial. Further, the best way to prevent the dangers of mouse and bat poop is to keep all areas free from mice and bats.
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A Detailed Guide On Roach Droppings And What They Look Like
September 1, 2021
Nobody wants to look for cockroach droppings in their home, but this not-so-easy task can help you prevent diseases and…
Nobody wants to look for cockroach droppings in their home, but this not-so-easy task can help you prevent diseases and infestation. Where there are roach droppings, you are almost always guaranteed to find their habitat. That simple discovery will give you an upper hand in controlling them.
If you can hold your nose till the end of this article, you’ll understand how and why you have roach droppings in your home. You will also learn how to get rid of the roaches and their droppings. Read on!
What Is Inside Roach Droppings?
Cockroach droppings consist of everything they consume: dead insects, rotting food from the garbage, food from your countertops, drawers, and cupboards. Their droppings vary in appearance depending on the size, species, and age of the roach. Did you know that cockroaches do not pee? It might not be a fun fact, but it’s a valuable tip to learn.
The Physical Appearance Of Roach Droppings
Roach droppings are black or dark-brown pellets. They are oval-shaped or roundish. However, if the infestation in your home is minimal, you will only notice stains and smears left on the surface when they crawl. If the infestation is full-blown, you can never miss the droppings, dead cockroach body parts, egg cases, and shells. What are the tell-tale signs that roaches leave behind?
1. Large Cockroach Droppings
Large cockroaches excrete large droppings, usually an inch long. The droppings are cylindrical and solid. If you take the time to look at the droppings closely, you will notice ridges running from one end to the other, making it look like fennel seed. However, do not confuse these droppings with mice’s which have a smooth surface.
2. Small Cockroach Droppings
Droppings from small roaches are different in both shape and size. Droppings from small species tend to be in the form of stains or black specks. They may resemble a grain of black pepper or ground coffee. The stains they leave behind are raised, smeared, and inky.
3. Baby Cockroach Droppings
Baby cockroaches are also known as nymphs. They excrete similar droppings to adults but are smaller in size. Large cockroach nymphs excrete small, round droppings with ridges, while small nymphs excrete small black or brown specks.
Mice Droppings Vs Roach Droppings
Do you have mice in your house as well? If yes, then you are probably wondering how you can tell whether the droppings you found on your terrace last week belong to a mouse or a roach? If you have mice and cockroach poop pictures, here is what you will notice at first glance. Other than cockroach droppings being smaller than mice droppings, they are also rough with ridges because mice faeces are mostly smooth.
The other difference to look out for is that mouse droppings are pointed at both ends while roach droppings are blunt. Sometimes mice droppings have fur from their body stuck, which obviously lacks in roach droppings.
Do Roach Droppings Have A Smell?
Roach droppings, just like most other types of poop stink. It has an acrid odour that serves a purpose for other roaches. The odour gives other roaches a trail to follow to find each other. The smell may be bad for you but attractive to other roaches.
Where To Look For Roach Droppings
Roaches defecate anywhere anytime. They do not have specific places like humans, but there are some predictable places that they are more likely to defecate. Roaches always defecate in congested areas, their nests and near their source of food.
Sadly, they can also defecate in your food since it is their food source as well. This will contaminate your food and aid in the spread of diseases. You can find cockroach droppings almost everywhere they scurry to. Here are the common places you can see their droppings:
- Cabinets, shelves, doors, and other high areas that provide hidden passage
- In corners and baseboards in a room
- Children’s toy chests and playpens
- Most of the cracks on walls and floors
- Storage areas such as boxes and drawers
- Behind and underneath stoves, dryers, sinks, washers and refrigerator
Is It Possible To Find Roach Droppings But No Roaches?
The answer is yes. You can find droppings from cockroaches who once lived in your house but are now dead or in a new location. Unless you clean the droppings or another cockroach eats it, it will just decay slowly for a long time.
One way to determine if you have a cockroach infestation is to clean all droppings you find and monitor if more appear. If your house remains droppings-free, then you probably do not have an infestation. However, if you notice more droppings, it means you have roaches to exterminate.
Why You Should Look For Roach Droppings
Cockroach droppings, body parts, cast-off skins, and saliva have been acknowledged as asthma triggers and increase the severity of asthma. However, if that is not reason enough to look for roach droppings, you should know that they are also a catalyst for roach infestation by attracting other roaches with the odour.
Pest management experts use the above knowledge to poison the roaches. They place baits at different places near roach droppings to attract the cockroaches to the poison. The more they respond to the pheromone, the more they die. Aside from that, do you want your pets and children to come into contact with roach droppings?
How Do You Get Rid Of Roach Droppings?
Cleaning cockroach droppings is no one’s idea of having a good time, but for your family’s safety and health, you’ll be glad you did it. Cleaning all the stains and smears with hot water and soap only removes the droppings and the acrid smell. Keep in mind that there are several places that you cannot reach or clean, such as the inside of your walls. Below are some valuable tips on how to get rid of roach droppings.
1. Wear Protective Clothing
You don’t have to break your bank buying protective clothing to get to work as old clothes are perfect for the job. Moreover, don’t forget a pair of gloves. To reduce exposure to allergens, put on a respirator or a face mask.
2. Vacuum All Surfaces In Your House
Vacuum all surfaces to remove the accumulated dry roach droppings. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter so as not to stir up allergens. If you do not have one, soak the droppings in disinfectant and use a towel to wipe it up.
3. Cleaning Methods
Different places with roach droppings will require different methods of cleaning. Here is the breakdown:
- Wall, Flooring, Cabinets, and Tiles – Choose a disinfectant that is safe for the area you are washing. Spray the surface and scrub the droppings.
- Carpet – For a carpet, you first have to perform the first vacuum to remove any droppings. Next, use a carpet detergent or cleaning solution made up of vinegar, soap, and water. Scrub the solution in the carpet and allow it to dry. Once it is dry, vacuum your carpet one last time.
- Clothes – If you find any droppings on your clothes, you should first scrape them off, treat the stain, and then wash the cloth with warm water and soap.
- Mattress – Just as you did with your clothes, the first step is to scrape off the droppings, spray the stained area with a mix of soap, warm water, and disinfectant and scrub with a rough sponge. Spray with clean water and rinse the foam out. Finally, air-dry your mattress.
Disposal Of Roach Droppings
Since roach droppings are unhealthy, you will want to get rid of anything in contact with it. When you have finished the cleaning, throw away the work clothes, gloves, rags, and vacuum bags in a sealed trash bag.
What Should You Do To Prevent A Roach Infestation?
Even if you do not have a full-blown infestation, roach droppings are not a good thing to have around. Can you get sick from roach droppings? Yes, you can. Moreover, roaches are good breeders and can therefore be found in almost all homes.
To prevent a roach infestation, you should contact pest control specialists for effective treatment to rid your home of these pests and stop multiplication. We have dedicated Adelaide pest control and Gold Coast pest control offices ready to help right now.