APC Taree

Amalgamated Pest Control Branch

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Spiders Widespread throughout Taree & Forster

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Spiders are on the move in Taree and Forster

Summer is almost here and hot strong winds are helping spiders on the move invade homes throughout Taree and Forster.

Homeowners inland and on the coast are finding more and more spider activity.

Unsightly webs are covering  their houses, fences and sheds.

spider treatments taree forsterRedback spiders are being found underneath kids play equipment and around swimming pools.

Redback spiders can inflict a very painful bite and often build their webs anywhere out of the direct effects of the weather.

They are not aggressive, because their web can be out of sight, our children unknowingly come in to contact them.

You can find their webs occur include under steps, in corners, grass, window sills, sand pit toys and sand pits, trampolines and storage sheds.

redback spider control taree

Redback Spiders – On the rise this summer

Most other webbing spiders are not dangerous, however they can present themselves as a major nuisance building unsightly webs on your home.

Amalgamated Pest Control – Spider Treatment

Amalgamated Pest Control is an industry leaders in spider control for 80 years.

We use specified equipment and treatment methods ensuring the safety of you, your family and pets.

You can help control spiders by reducing stored items, clutter and thick foliage around your property.

Our local technicians understand local conditions.

They will eradicate spiders from your property but also offer effective advice in helping you with all your pest problems

Spider control treatments come with a full 12 month service warranty, and we stand by our warranty.  If the spiders come, back so do we!

Summer Special – Pest Control for your home

For $215.00 Amalgamated Pest control will treat your home and provide you with a full 12 month service warranty for Ants, Cockroaches and Spiders.

Call Amalgamated Pest Control Taree Today!
1300 884 526

 

Ants Infest Taree and the Manning Valley

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Ants Infest The Manning Valley

ant control tareeOn the back of a wet and warmer winter, ant activity in and around residential homes is really ramping as summer approaches.  Ant control will be one of the many challenges

In the Manning Valley we are surrounded by national parks and beautiful beaches that can also provide the perfect habitat for many pest species of ants.

This week we visited a home in Taree that ants nesting throughout the kitchen cupboards and drawers.

The ants were very active when we arrived and were in their thousands!

Ants live in colonies from a few dozen to many thousands. They can create their nests almost anywhere, from soil rocks, shrubs, garden edges, retaining walls, paths, pavers and also find areas inside your home favourable to nest.

pest control tareeAnts are often more active in the summer months, they have many different food preferences and also looking for moisture sources.

Are ants invading your home?

Call Amalgamated Pest Control – We can help with ant control!

Spraying the ants yourself using aerosols from the supermarket will kill ants tracking around your home, however it will have zero effect on the nest and the ants will return to the same area and/or invade more areas of your home.

One way to guarantee they’re gone is call Amalgamated Pest Control.

How Amalgamated Pest Control can help with Ant Control

taree ant pest controlOur technicians have the tools and the know how to get the right treatment to the areas where ants are nesting and foraging undetected.

We will also place preventative treatments around the home to stop ants re-infesting.

Amalgamated Pest Control will give you a full 12month service warranty on ants.

If they come back so do we!

Summer Special

For $215.00 Amalgamated Pest control will treat your home and provide you with a full 12 month service warranty for Ants, Cockroaches and Spiders.

Call Amalgamated Pest Control Taree Today!
1300 884 526

Household Pest Control – German Cockroaches

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During these colder months, there is a belief out there that there’s no need to have a pest control treatment done on your home at all, as it’s winter and there are no bugs around.  In reality, there are some pests that aren’t too concerned with the weather outside, because it’s inside that they make their homes.  Inside, where humans like to use heaters to keep warm.  Inside, around your kitchen where there are warm electrical appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and the like.  Inside, where there is plenty of food and water at their disposal.

One pest that will infest your home this winter are German Cockroaches.  The vast majority of German Cockroach infestations occur in kitchens or indoors where humans live. They seek out cracks and crevices to hide, normally close to a food and water source, preferably in areas providing warmth where they will hide themselves during the day.

This means the early stages of an infestation usually goes un-noticed. If you are seeing them in the day time, it usually means the infestation is well established. This cockroach can live up to its full breeding potential through the winter months, making it a significant winter pest. Infestations usually start in an area such as a kitchen, where food and water is abundant, and move out from there.

German Cockroaches under the sink

German Cockroaches under the sink

This photo shows a common place that German Cockroaches love to hide – below the kitchen sink. In cupboards such as this, there are almost always cracks and crevices for them to hide, and very often the household bin may even be in these cupboards.

The only way to prevent cockroaches from living here is to effectively treat all of these cracks and crevices using the techniques that we here at Amalgamated Pest Control use, which is what allows us to provide a 12 month service warranty for this pest. If they come back, so will we.

Once populations become too large for the kitchen, they spread out, and if not managed will infest the whole home, taking up hiding places in living areas and bedrooms. This photo below was taken from the bedroom of a home that had a large infestation. You can see that they have made the gap between the blinds and the timber their home.

For German cockroaches to spread into areas other than the kitchen, bathroom and laundry, the infestation needs to be very well established. If you are seeing them in bedrooms, living rooms and the like, you will need professional help to bring the already well established population under control.

German Cockroaches above the blinds

German Cockroaches above the blinds

The ability of cockroaches to affect the health of humans is well known, and is the foremost reason why we do not want them in our homes. Something that is not as well-known is their ability to damage and break electrical appliances. Electrical appliances provide a dark, warm and protected place for cockroaches to live and breed, which is why they often seek out items such as televisions, fridges, toasters, alarm clocks and other similar products.

This television pictured here was ruined by German Cockroaches, as they damaged the electronics and the television had to be replaced.

German Cockroaches infesting the television

German Cockroaches infesting the television

German Cockroach Prevention Tips

  • Seal any cracks and crevices in your cupboards and other areas that German Cockroaches may want to hide, take out their hiding places.
  • Ensure your rubbish is in tightly sealed garbage bins. Empty the inside garbage regularly.
  • Clean regularly, wipe down surfaces to clean crumbs straight away. Deny them as much food as possible. Pay attention to ovens, stoves, benchtops, tables and chairs, sinks etc.
  • Sweep and Mop the floor regularly. Remove sticky residues from the floor. Ensure that when you do mop the floor you do not leave any excess water. You need to deny them any water, as they can live for a long time without food but only several days without water.
  • Store food in sealed containers.

When all else fails, call Amalgamated Pest Control for your Guaranteed Gone Solution to German Cockroaches. Our 12 month Service Warranty on cockroaches means if the pests come back, so will we.

Rodent Season

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With the colder months upon us, there is one unwelcome house guest in particular that is waiting to get into a nice warm home to raise their families.  Rats and Mice will attempt to enter homes from now and continue throughout winter.  This time of year is what the Pest Control industry refers to as ‘Rodent Season’.  The fact is, rodents are breeding all year around – they breed just as much in summer as they do in winter.  The difference in the colder months is that now our homes provide a fantastic warm place for rodents to continue to live during winter.

External conditions are starting to become less attractive for Rats and Mice.  This image shows a Norway Rat (often simply called a brown rat) about to enter a home.  These rats prefer to burrow, but have actually started to nest within the home due to the weather getting colder.  These are warm blooded mammals, and the warmth of an insulated roof space or cavity is much more appealing than a hole in the ground outside in the cold.

Norway Rat Entering Home

Norway rat entering home

Just like humans, rodents like to live in warm environments.  Rats and mice find their way into a structure through small holes, make their way through the wall cavities and exploit almost any area inside your home.  The roof void, wall cavities and other confined voids in and around your home make excellent nesting areas.  Apart from being a nice warm place to nest this time of year, once in your home food and water is more easily accessed, often directly from your very own kitchen.

Apart from the obvious threat of disease, rats will also cause a lot of damage.  Rodent’s teeth continue to grow throughout their lifetime, and if they do not continuously gnaw to keep them in check, their teeth will become too large and essentially useless to them.  Interestingly, the name Rodent comes from a Latin word which basically means to gnaw.

Wall Damage from Rats

Wall damage from rats

Some of the damage caused by these pests will be noticeable and repairable, like this hole made in a wall by rats, giving them further access to wall cavities and other areas of your home.

Some damage, however, is a lot harder to spot, like these internal electrical wires that have been chewed back to bare copper.

In cases like these, you will most likely not notice anything at all until there are problems with your power, or even worse, a potential fire. Remember, rats and mice will always be gnawing on something, and it’s well documented that they have been the cause of many fires.

Electrical wiring damaged by rodents

Electrical wiring damaged by rodents

There are things that you can do around your home that will help make your property less attractive for rodents to live.

  1. Ensure all of your household garbage is in tightly sealed bins which rats and mice cannot access. This helps to restrict their access to food as much as possible. Rodents are opportunistic feeders – while they have their preferred food sources, they will still eat almost anything.
  2. Alter your building so that Rodents cannot gain entry. Look for access holes that rats can use, such as where pipes enter buildings, gaps under external doors, etc. Sealing these and other similar points will make it harder for rodents to enter. Using a gutter guard can also be helpful to stop them entering the roof via the gutters.
  3. Trim excess trees and shrubs from around the perimeter of structure especially trees that overhang the roof. This will both take away harbourage areas and make accessing the roof a little bit harder for them.

When all else fails, other control measures will need to be implemented. Here at Amalgamated Pest Control, we are the experts at assessing all of your options and presenting the available solutions to you.

What will you do for me?

If we are called to your home because you suspect or know you have a rodent problem, the first thing we will do is conduct a full rodent inspection. We look at all areas of known activity, internally and externally, including the roof void and the sub-floor. This inspection allows us to identify the rodent species, any nesting areas, travel routes, and where they are getting food and water from.

With this crucial information, we can than implement a control strategy best suited to the problem and the property. We will also provide you with important recommendations on things you can alter or fix to manage the environment and make it less appealing to rodents. Once management has been implemented, we will keep coming back to check the bait/trap placement until the problem is controlled. We will also point out all the proofing measures that can be undertaken to keep rodents out in the future.

Remember – if the rodents come back, so will we.

If you even think you may have a rodent problem, call us here at your local Amalgamated Pest Control today.

HOW TO STOP SPRING PESTS

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Spring is well and truly here in Taree and that means it’s time for many of those nasty pests that we all hate to come out and invade our homes.

Spring Pests

Birds and Bird Mites will pose an immediate threat from here on. Ensure that birds cannot gain entry to your roof spaces and other areas of your home. Keeping birds out must be a priority. Birds carry Bird Mites which are tiny and can be in there thousands in a bird nest. The problem with these pests is that once the baby bird have grown up have left the nest these Bird Mites will disperse through your home in search of a new blood meal, the occupants of the house.

Bees and Wasps are another pest of spring that will invade homes. Paper Wasps build a nest in areas such as under eaves and other similar places. They will usually construct their nests on northern and western facing areas, as this is the direction the sun moves. Sometimes they can be concealed in foliage. If you see paper wasps, it’s recommended that you leave their removal to a professional as their sting can be very painful and each wasp can sting multiple times.

Bees will start to swarm.  Swarming is a natural part of the reproductive lifecycle of bees. The warmer weather and increases of nectar and pollen in the environment cause the colony to increase in population, leading to overcrowding of the hive. This over-population is what prompts the bees to begin to swarm and reproduce. The swarm will usually come to rest in a cluster on reasonably nearby objects such as trees, shrubs and manmade objects such as signs, fences and buildings. The swarm will usually stay clustered it the desired area from anywhere between a few hours up to two days. After this time they will move on to a new site to and permanent nesting site. When bees are in this swarming state, stay away from them and do not interfere with them. Contact a professional to assess the situation and take the appropriate measures that may be required. Do not attempt to remove the resting swarm yourself.

During spring, certain pests will start to pose an increased threat to our homes. These pests can include cockroaches, ants, spiders, ticks, mosquitos and many more.

Spring Pest Checklist

Some of these pests there is not too much you can do to prevent them coming to your property. But for pests like cockroaches, ants, spiders and mosquitos, there are some measures you can take to make your home less susceptible to them

  • Prevent their Entry: Ensure that your fly screens are properly fitted and have no holes in them. This will stop insects that fly in to your home.
  • Reduce Clutter: Have a spring clean.Many pests love cluttered stored items as it provides very good hiding places for them. The big the problems is that if insects like to harbor within clutter, that’s where spiders such as Redbacks will hide. That’s were there food will be
  • External Walls an Eaves: Check these areas for wasp’s nests and spiders. If you find a wasp nest – don’t attempt to remove it yourself, their stings are painful. Spiders commonly found on external walls are black house spiders. While these spiders aren’t the most harmful, they do attract other spiders that love to eat them such as the toxic White Tail Spider. Spiders can be easily controlled by Amalgamated Pest Control with a 12 month service warranty.
  • Trees and Foliage: Keep trees and foliage trimmed well back from the external walls of your home. This is commonly how ants and other pests will access your home. If you have had a pest control treatment at your home this is especially important as ants will bypass the barriers will place and access you home
  • Clean Out Gutters: Guttering that is full of leaves and other matter can mean that water is built up within and not flowing away as it should. This will be a good source of water for ants, mosquitos and other pests.
  • Garbage Bins: Keep your bins sealed. Inside and out. If pests are able to access your outside bins, they will. There is plenty of food for them in there. Pest like flies, cockroaches and ants will take advantage of bins.
  • These are just some of things that you can do to make your home less susceptible to invasion of spring pests.

We will treat your home for pests such as cockroaches, ants and spiders and provide you with a 12 month service warranty which means you can be assured that through spring and into summer, you and your property are protected against pests. If the pests come back within the service warranty period, so will Amalgamated Pest Control.

Still concerned?

If you believe or suspect that you have a spring pest problem, contact Amalgamated Pest Control Taree for further advice.

1300 884 526

WINTER PEST CONTROL TAREE

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Well winter is finally upon us and while things may slow down for some pests in ‘pest world’ not so with many other.

Winter Pests

During winter we get increased threats from rodents, but our favourite ‘general pests’ are still active. Termites keep munching, cockroaches keep on creeping and ants keep on crawling.

This year there a new mosquito on the loose that is a spreader of chronic disease – and this mosquito doesn’t mind the colder weather. You might even discover that some of the favourite winter woollies that you pull out of storage may have been damaged by some ‘pest’ as well, nothing much you can do about that now – but there are things to do before you store the winter clothes away before next spring.

Winter Pest Checklist

Here’s a checklist of things to do this winter to keep you pest problems to a minimum:

Tidy the Clutter:

  • Discover all the ‘hidden stuff’ you forgot you had – and re-stow it or throw it! If you have a lot of stuff – then its important to re-inspect/move it on a regular basis to discourage rats and mice from setting up an undetected camp.
  • Remove Cardboard and Fabric. If you need a box – think of things other than cardboard. Plastic or metal containers are much better, this can discourage rodents and cockroaches.

General Storage:

  • If you’re storing something a rodent would like – then put it in a sealed box or container that they can’t get in to.

Remove any food sources:

  • Don’t encourage rodents to stay by giving them an easy meal. (for example, don’t leave uneaten pet food lying around). Ants are also attracted to left over food.
  • Seal of entry points into the building. Especially for rodents you need to seal up any holes with small gauge mesh or similar material that a rodent cannot gnaw through, and seal the bottoms of doors with automatic weather seals or weather strips. A rat can gain entry through a hole as small as 12 mm in diameter and a mouse only needs a hole no larger than 6 mm in diameter. Don’t just look down – Look up. Often rodents get in via the roof, eaves or other less obvious entry points.

Rodent Traps:

You can use snap traps to catch the odd rogue rat or mouse, but don’t use cheese as the bait – its really doesn’t work that well – things like peanut butter or cotton wool are far more effective.

Inspect your home for any containers that hold water:

  • This is really for mosquitoes. Make sure that water containers are emptied. This includes pot plant reservoirs. Make sure that water tanks are screened. Any container that holds water (where levels rise and fall) will encourage mosquitoes to breed. Keep an eye out for drains that hold puddles, car tyres and old buckets that everyone forgets about. Clean up the garden and make sure there is nothing around the house that holds permanent water that will rise and fall.

Screen your home:

  • Make sure that all your windows and doors are properly screened so that you have a safe retreat from these mosquitoes and cockroaches.

Eaves and Walls:

Check your eaves and brickwork for wasp nests and spiders. Wasps can be prevalent even during winter.

Bins:

  • Keep bins away from the immediate vicinity of the home. Keep them as clean as possible and wash them out regularly. Keep bins well sealed. They are a great breeding environment for flies and can encourage rodents.

Trees and Foliage:

  • Foliage against the house can create a highway for ants, rodents, spiders and termites. Make sure that bushes and shrubs are kept well away from the walls. Trim off any tree branches that overhang the roof and gutters, yet another highway for ants and rodents.

Still concerned?

If you believe or suspect that you have a winter pest problem, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Taree for further advice.

1300 884 526

AUTUMN PEST CONTROL TAREE

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Many Taree locals ask us, during this time of year if pests will start to disappear now that summers over. Pests will start to reduce in numbers as the weather cools down and the optimal temperatures for maximum breeding and activity have reduced. This however doesn’t mean that your property will be pest free from now until next spring.

Generally temperatures inside homes are much warmer in the cooler months than outside and there is food and water available in and around the home. This being the case what usually tends to happen is many pests will seek out homes for these reasons. Nice warm shelter in which to live and breed, very good accessibility to food sources and access to water is also available.

Common Autumn Pests

The most common pests that will look to move inside are rodents such as rats and mice. The home is an ideal place for these pests. Roof voids can be full of insulation which is an ideal warm nesting material which they can burrow into to make their nests. Many believe that cooler months such as late autumn – winter is rat season. Rats actually breed heavily all year round, the cooler months however they much prefer, as we would, to get inside and out of the cold. Obviously once they are in the roof they can have easy access to your food and garbage. Once inside your property rats and mice can cause a lot of damage. They consistently gnaw; they have too to keep their teeth from growing too long. They’ll gnaw on anything. Many fires are started by rats gnawing on wires. Diseases are another big problem and its not just rats. Mice carry as many diseases as rats and potentially spread very easily.

What other pests are active in autumn

Cockroaches will still remain a problem especially German Cockroaches. Their environment is your kitchen therefore they will continue to breed just as fast as in summer and due to their rapid lifecycle can become a big problem very quickly. They rely on humans for survival; we provide them with the shelter, food and water that they need. Amalgamated pest control offers 12 months Service Warranty on all species of cockroach including German Cockroaches meaning you never have to deal with these pests again.

How can I reduce autumn pests?

Some of the things that any home owner can do which will help reduce the chance of these and other pests getting into your home this autumn and winter are quite simple:

.    Reduce access to food. All pests need food. Keep food sealed, clean up spills straight away, clean up food crumbs get rid of food scraps into tightly sealed garbage bins and ensure bins, especially outside, don’t let your bin become so full that you can’t close it. Rats have an especially keen sense of smell and will smell garbage from a long way away.

.    Reduce excess water. If you have any leaking plumbing or pooling water around the home have them repaired. Water accumulating in sinks, showers and baths don’t’ help either ensure you wipe them dry. Pests actively seek water for survival.

.    Keep them out. Keeping out some pests can be done. To keep rodents out keep trees close to the home trimmed away from the roof. Make sure your roofing is in good condition, broken tiles and the like can allow rodents to slip in cracks and gain access. Gutters can be protected with a rodent resistant mesh covering. Any gaps/holes in the external wall such as where pipes enter or weep holes are present should be protected also with a rodent resistant material.

Some pests can’t be kept out with physical materials. Cockroaches, ants and spiders will always find a way into just about any home. A professional pest treatment will stop these insects living and breeding in the areas such as roof voids, sub-floors, wall cavities many internal areas of the home and Amalgamated Pest Control will give you a 12 month service warranty on these three pests which allows you too live all year around with no worries.

Still concerned?

Contact Amalgamated Pest Control Taree for a pest management solution for your property. We are professionals at what we do and can give you the best advice on how to keep the autumn pests and winter pests out of your home and away from your family.

1300 884 526

PEST CONTROL EXPLAINED

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We occasionally speak with customers who have a pest issue at their homes, but are hesitant in booking a professional service based on what products they think will be used to get rid of the pests.

Many are concerned with the use of chemicals around their home, particularly those who have small children, pets or are concerned with their effect on the environment.

Recently, a customer who had used another pest control company to treat for pests contacted us. She was deeply concerned when she found a number of pest control items lying around the property and was worried her infant child could have found these and ingested them. Fortunately, we were able to advise her on what to do and correct the problem for her.

What will happen?

Upon arrival at your home, our technician will meet with you to advise what to expect. The first step will include a thorough inspection of your property, inside and out, to establish what the pest issue is and where they are coming from.

Your technician will then report what was found and the option available to treat the pest issue – this does not always have to involve the use of chemicals. Depending on the pest and your circumstances, we can use methods that include physical changes to the environment and trapping.

How do you get rid of pests?

The products we use are selected, depending what has been found at your home and what application method will be required. Once we have established where the pests live, breed or hide, we can apply the correct product to remove them.

We focus our treatments on the places that pests live, breed and hide. In the majority of cases, internal treatments are kept well away from contact with you. This removes the need to spray needless amounts of product around the home, in the hope the pests ‘run’ over that area.

Treatments that specifically target the areas where pests like to breed or hide with a minimized focus on ‘running areas’ allow us to gain extremely effective control for a longer periods of time. This style of treatment also means that the products used are not placed in areas that your family and pets will come into contact with.

What else can be used instead of sprays?

Other products that can be used include, gels, gel boards, locked rodent stations, (boxes). These attract the pest to these products and immediately react to eliminate the pest.

Are Pesticides safe?

When we do use pesticides we select formulations and baits with the lowest toxicity available and apply these products where pests breed and live. This avoids unnecessary application of these products and minimises any impact to you, your family and your pets.

These products are used in hospitals, nursing homes, child care facilities and food preparation businesses.

If you have do any concerns, speak with your pest control technician before we commence work at your property. Your technician will address any concerns and modify the treatment for your situation and peace of mind.

Still concerned?

Contact Amalgamated Pest Control Taree for a pest management solution for your property.

1300 884 526