It’s Flea Control Time Again

It’s heading into that time of the year again when fleas become a nuisance to you and your family and just as important a nuisance to your pets.

If you have a dog or a cat you are risk of getting fleas in your home this summer.

Understanding how the flea life cycle works will help to keep your property free of fleas. Many people do not realise that most of the life cycle of the flea occurs off the pet. If you find around 5 fleas on your cat or dog there may be 95 fleas on your carpet.

Now this sounds absolutely crazy that there would be that many fleas on your carpet but it’s true.  You can learn more about the flea life-cycle later in in this post.

A recent flea control problem solved!

Recently we had a technician attend a property in Hamilton where a family were at their wits end trying to understand why they had such an issue with fleas inside and outside their home.

Every summer they would have the same issues with fleas and could never completely get rid of the fleas.

The family had been using a flea treatment from their vet but had not been getting the entire property treated and to break the breeding cycle of the fleas.

To help combat the issues at this property the technician had a discussion with the customer and let them know that the best way to control fleas is through a 2 step approach of habitat modification and chemical control.

The treatment to pets alone was not enough to keep the fleas away from the property.

The first step is Habitat Modification.

That involved altering the environment to make conditions less conducive for flea survival. This basically means the removal of leaf litter and keep you lawns cut short. You should also wash your pets bedding on a regular basis and vacuum your carpets regularly.

The second step is a chemical treatment to the areas both internally and externally of the property to the areas where the fleas are breeding.

Our technicians use a fine mist treatment to the entire floor surface inside the property and also a spray is done to all external areas also.

Why does this flea control method work?

Now that the chemical spray is done all the adult fleas will have died.  With all the adults dead that does not mean that your property is flea free.

Over the next 14-21 days you will see the odd flea as they hatch out of their cocoons. The flea will then move though the carpet and come in contact with the chemical that was applied and then die.

To help speed up the hatching out of the cocoons it is recommend that you stomp around on the floor for a few days after the treatment as the vibrations will help this process.

After the family in Hamilton followed our process and modified the environment and had Amalgamated Pest Control complete the chemical treatment they have all but eradicated fleas from their property.

Fleas can be controlled – Just ask Amalgamated Pest Control

Controlling fleas is a team effort and if followed correctly you can ensure that your property no longer has flea issues and you will have happier pets.

If you need help controlling fleas on you property call the professionals.

Call Amalgamated Pest Control – Newcastle TODAY on
4488 4019

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More about Flea Control and the Flea Life-Cycle

The life cycle of a flea is in four stages and the flea will undergo a complete metamorphosis through the stages.

It goes from Egg to Larva to Pupa and then finally to Adult.

The entire cycle can happen in as quickly as 18 days or could also take as long as a year depending on the season.

If you find 5 fleas on your pet there could possibly be 95 on your carpet this is because the eggs are laid on the host animal and they usually drop off in areas where the pet frequents like carpeted areas in the house or in animal bedding.

Those eggs will then hatch in your carpet within 2 days or longer depending on temperature and humidity.

Fleas prefer the warmth and that is why you see such an increase in the summer months as the eggs are hatching quicker and the flea life cycle happens quicker.

 

Bee Control – Spring time in Newcastle

Well Spring is now here and it means that bees are very active and already starting to become a problem for some Newcastle residents.

You will see plenty of bees around your property especially if you have plenty of flowering trees or plants.

Bees need 2 different kinds of foods to make honey. The first is the nectar, the sugary juice from the middle of flowers and the other is from the anthers of flowers which contain numerous small grains called pollen.

With spring just started we have already started to receive requests for bee control. The swarming season for bees is usually between September and December but on rare occasions colonies may swarm at other times.

In Spring, bees reproduce and the hive can quickly become overcrowded. It then causes the bees to swarm and around half the bees in the hive will leave to try and establish a new hive.

The queen bee will also leave the hive and new queens that will hatch to replace her.

It’s during this swarming time that the scout bees will be searching for a new site for a hive. Once a new location is found the bees will move and establish a new colony.

Why do bees choose wall cavities?

The scout bees will search out a cavity for a new hive.  If you have plenty of holes or gaps in your wall then your home could be a target for a new beehive.

Bees like the protection of wall cavities, especially in older homes that lack insulation between the wall studs.

Recently a technician attended a property in Warabrook where the resident was concerned about bees entering into holes in one of the walls. The small gaps where the brickwork meets the window frame were providing a suitable home into a larger cavity. The bees were starting to make a hive within the wall.  See the pictures below…

Do you have holes like this around your windows?

Can you prevent bees from occupying a wall in your home?

Yes, if you seal all holes in your wall that lead to a large cavity.

Take a walk around your home and look at small holes especially in the brickwork or around windows where quite often there are small holes left where the window sits up against the brickwork like the picture above.

If you identify any holes seal them up as soon as you can.  For weep-holes in brickwork there are special plugs that you can by that still allow moisture to pass through.

What to do if you have bees in your wall?

If you discover that you have bees in your wall the best thing to do is call Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle and we will send out a technician to assess the site and determine the best way to control the bee problem.

Do not attempt to plug the entry hole as you might trap the bees inside the wall and they will look for another exit point and that could be through your ceiling or wall cavities and you don’t want the bees inside you home.

 

What about safety concerns?

You should only be concerned if someone living in the home is allergic to bee stings.

Only a small percentage of people are allergic to bees; but for these people venom can be very deadly and even life threatening.

Bees only sting to defend their colony. Do not attempt to control them yourself! Call professionals.

Concerned about bees in or around your home?

Call Amalgamated Pest Control – Newcastle TODAY on
4488 4019

Termite Treatments in Newcastle using Reticulation System

Termites can have a damaging effect on your property and often result in costly repairs as one recent customer has discovered.

Our office was recently contacted by a concerned home owner about a termite problem in their home. The home owner knew they had termites and had a family friend treat the termites for a few cases of beer.

The friend was not a trained Timber Pest Technician and used an unknown chemical to treat the termites.

The treatment did not work and the termites remained.

When dealing with a termite problem at your home, it is so important to contact a trained professional for their management.

Amalgamated Pest Control’s approach to termite treatment

We conducted a full Timber Pest Inspection to this property.

After a thorough visual inspection and using the latest termite detection technology, our technician found termites were in indeed very active within the home.

Activity was in 3 separate places, the hallway, master bedroom behind a bedside cabinet and in the bathroom.

Now the active termites in the hallway and the bedroom were quite obvious and you could directly see the damage and the mudding.

The bathroom damage was not visible and was only detected by using a Termatrac T3i which is a termite detection device. The termites in the bathroom were detected moving through the walls by the Termatrac.

How Amalgamated Pest Control solved the termite problem.

We discussed with the client all the options that were suitable for their property.

A Property Management Plan was formulated to rid the house of termites so that repairs could begin on the property.

The hallway and the bedroom were treated with a termiticide foam application to the walls.

The wall in the bathroom was also given a termiticide foam treatment.

30 days after treatment our technician returned to check on the treatment that was performed.  The activity in the hallway and bedroom had ceased but there were still slight activity in the bathroom.

The technician recommended to the homeowner that further intrusive investigation under the bathtub was required. The vents on the side of the bath were removed and it became evident that the termites were entering the house through an unsealed plumbing access point. Now that the entry point had been found the access point was sealed with Termseal termiticide and termites would no longer have a way to enter the house.

Now that the home was free of any termite activity it was time to think about an ongoing termite management program for the property.

This would enable the property to be protected against further termite attack and ensure that the money spent on repairs was not wasted.  You don’t want the termites to simply return and start all over again.

There were various options available for this property. We recommend to the homeowner that a reticulation system be installed at the property to provide the best possible protection.

The homeowner took our advice and we installed a reticulation system to the property.

What is a reticulation system?

Amalgamated Pest Control use the best reticulation system on the market, ReTerM.

A ReTerM system is installed to manage potential subterranean termite ingress into structures in both pre and post construction phases.

The system is primarily a re-treatment system and is designed in a simplistic manner. It consists of a UPVC pipe to carry termiticide around the structure which is then covered by a specialised perforated sleeve to evenly distribute the termiticide to the soil.

The system is covered over with new soil. An access filler point is installed to the wall to allow the system to be easily topped up at the required intervals.

Now with the system installed, all the property owners needs to do is have an annual Timber Pest Inspection and top up the ReTerM system every 5 years.

Amalgamated Pest Control – Experts in Termite Treatments

Termite control needs to be left to a professional and you should never attempt to treat yourself or get someone that is not qualified to treat them for you. Doing so usually leads to a greater problem which will, in the end, cost you more.

If you’re concerned about termites or suspect your property may have a termite problem now then you should call Amalgamated Pest Control. We build Property Management Plans specifically to meet the needs of your home with all of the possible options for control and ongoing protection.

Call Amalgamated Pest Control – Newcastle TODAY on
4488 4019

 

Ant Control in Charlestown – Newcastle

Do you have a problem with ants inside your home?

If you do then you are not the only one. Lately Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle has been receiving lots of calls for internal ant’s problems.

Recently we attended a home in Charlestown where ants were moving all over a wall and even entering a power point.

If left untreated the ants would continue to increase in numbers – something was drawing them to the area.

The technician did an inspection of the area to determine where the ants were coming from. The source was located and treated along with the problem area in and around the power point.

 

Why do you need to have ant control?

• Ants can ruin food and appliances
  Ant trails not only can be unsightly but also the ants can spoil food and even cause damage to your appliances.  Have you ever had them invade your kitchen cupboards and have to throw out food?
• Potential Damage
  Ants can nest inside your wall cavities or even in electrical equipment.  The photos above show that ants were nesting in the wall and coming out through the PowerPoint. The power point had to be replaced by an electrician.

Ant Control Tips

• Remove food
  Clean up all food waste and spillages.  Keep food in tightly sealed containers.  Seal any bins if possible.  The biggest attraction for ants is uneaten pet food that is in the food bowl.
• Trim Vegetation
  Keep vegetation around your home under control and trim back any trees or bushes so they are not touching the building or the gutters.

Are you worried about ants or other pests?

There are plenty of ant control strategies that you can use to limit the amount of ants in your home.

If you continue to experience ant problems inside your home, then call Amalgamated Pest Control – we can help.

Ask about bundle pricing with other pests like cockroaches and spiders for great savings and remember that is the pest come back then so do we, with our 12 month service warranty.

Call Amalgamated Pest Control – Newcastle TODAY on
4488 4019

 

Commercial Rodent Control in Newcastle

Rodent issues in a commercial businesses can have a devastating effect on your business reputation and the safety of your customer’s health

There are 3 major concerns for your business when it comes to rodent control.

1. HEALTH PROBLEMS – Your customers and staff could end up with Salmonella poisoning or any number of other illness that is transmitted by rodents.

2. DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS – When a rodent problem exist it could cost your business its public image.
   This is extremely important right now as we are in a social media age and it only takes minutes for a dissatisfied customer to crucify your business on social media. Your customers expect to be served in a safe, hygienic surround and to be supplied with uncontaminated products.

3. HEALTH AUTHORITY -The final concern for your business is the health authority as they have the powers to temporarily shut down your business. This could be a reality if you are not addressing the issues your business is having with rodents.

Recent rodent control incident

Recently we attended a commercial food business in Newcastle to quote for cockroach control at their business.

The technician performed a site inspection and assessment for cockroaches as per the quote request.

While the technician was performing the inspection he noticed some evidence in the form of fresh rodent droppings in a cupboard that housed a hot water system. This particular cupboard was not opened on a regular basis and the staff were totally unaware of what was living around the hot water system.

The rodent problem was not originally their primary concern but we gave some recommendations and included a baiting program in the quote along with the cockroaches.

The business happily accepted the quote and we started the baiting program with the installation of some lockable secure rodent stations strategically placed around the problem areas.

We returned to check on the rodent stations after 2 weeks and were surprised by the amount of feeding on the baits from the rodents.

In the 2 week period the rodents had consumed all the bait. The tasty bait inside was appealing enough for the rodents to eat their way into the station to get to the bait. Rodents need to gnaw and can chew through hard plastics and even some metals.

The station was replaced and re-baited and the frequency modified due to the high activity.

After a month of intensive baiting it appears that the rodent issue had all but disappeared.

The frequency was then changed back to the original schedule regular servicing will continue.

Amalgamated Pest Control – Experts in Rodent Control

At Amalgamated Pest Control our technicians are trained to assist you in solving your pest control problems and a service frequency can be modified at any time to suit the pest issues that you might be experiencing.

The Newcastle Amalgamated Branch is HACCP accredited and if that is a requirement of your business, we can set you up as a HACCP site.

Our technicians take pride in our service and they have the ability to solve your problems

You, as the business owner/manager, can also play your part to help reduce the risk of rodent infestation at your business.

There are some things you can do to assist in rodent control.

1. Regular building maintenance can help keep rodents out — Do regular maintenance checks of your building and repair any possible access points where a rodent could enter the building.
   Ensure that you have no gaps under your doors if so install a weather shield to help keep the rodents out and keep all doors to storage areas completely closed.
   

   Storeroom door with easy access point for rodents to enter

2. Sanitation – Reduce the amount of food/water that is accessible and remove any possible shelter areas.
   This can be achieved by using tight fitting bin lids, fix any leaking pipes and ensure that all scrap food is cleaned up on a regular basis.

Are you worried about rodents or other pests?

If your business has any rodent concerns or would like a quote for rodent control then don’t hesitate and simply call us today.

Call Amalgamated Pest Control – Newcastle TODAY on 4488 4019

Have you got a carpet pest problem?

Have you noticed something strange with your carpet lately? Does your carpet appear to be coming away from the wall or have patches of carpet that seem to be disappearing?

Then the chances are that you might have carpet beetles or case making clothes moths in your home.

Carpet Beetle and case making clothes moths usually attack fibres of animal origin (e.g. Wool) and usually avoid synthetic fibres.

Synthetic can still be attacked if they are soiled by food or animal excrement.

Carpet beetles and case making clothes moths prefer to live in hidden areas – behind curtains or furniture were they are less likely to be disturbed.  However it is the larvae that will cause all the damage to your carpet.

Case making clothes moth at Caves Beach

We attended a property in Caves Beach recently after a call from an elderly lady and she had noticed something moving up the walls and was not sure of what was on the walls.

After a site assessment we discovered that it was case making clothes moths moving up the wall.  We then moved a piano and below is a picture of what was found under the piano.

Unfortunately there was some major damage to the carpet. A treatment was then performed to all carpeted areas to stop any further damage from happening.

Earlier on this year we also came across a very bad case of carpet beetle where there was major damaged done to the carpet.

As you can see from the pictures below it is an extreme case where the problem was not attended to. The results is that now all of the carpet would have to be replaced as the damage was too bad to repair.

Can you prevent carpets pests in your home?

Some carpets are treated during manufacture and should give protection against infestation until the chemicals are removed, either by cleaning or have lost their effect due to normal chemical breakdown.

The best possible thing to do is vacuum your carpet regularly and this will help you to discover any problem areas in your carpet before it turns into a serious problem.

Treatment is targeted at the larvae since the adults are non-destructive in themselves.

Worried about carpet and fabric pests?

Give Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle a call today! (02) 4488 4019

 

Possum Control in Newcastle

Hearing noises in your roof? Then you could possibly have a possum living in your roof.

A roof void is an attractive place for a possum to live as it provides warmth and somewhere safe and dark to sleep.

What can be done if you suspect you have a possum in the roof?

The first thing is to call Amalgamated Pest control and we can attend your home and do a site assessment and determine if it is a possum in your roof or not, as quite often our technicians attend jobs in regards to a report of noises in the roof and it quite often turns out to be rats or mice and not a possum.

If we do actually find or see evidence of a possum in your roof then we will discuss the next step with you to be ensure the best results for you home and of course the possum.

If trapping needs to occur we will organise to place a possum trap in the ceiling to trap and release the possum and we can do some minor proofing to stop the possum returning and recommendations will also be given.

Possums are protected in NSW.  There are some very strict steps that need to happen under the guidelines of the Office of Environment & Heritage (National Park & Wildlife).

Basic guidelines are:

• The possum must be captured live and released back onto the property on which is was captured unharmed.
  Possums are very territorial animals and if they are relocated to another location is increases the risk of the possum not surviving. To be released within 150M of original capture.
• The possum has to be released after sunset, preferably against a structure they can immediately climb.
• Trapping only to be perform if licensed with Office of Environment & Heritage (National Park & Wildlife)
  Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle is licensed.

The capture or otherwise harming of possums other than by a licensed person or commercial catch and release possum handler is illegal.

A recent possum rescue

Recently we attended a commercial building where the staff were hearing noises in the roof and the walls.

We attended and after a site assessment it was discovered that the possum had fallen into the wall void and had become stuck and was unable to get out.

Now this was an extreme situation where a hole had to be cut in the wall by a builder to help release the possum from where it was trapped. The builder cut a hole in the wall and the possum trap was placed over the hole and the possum was in such a hurry to get out of there he ran straight into the trap.

The possum was then taken to a local vet for assessment and was given a clean bill of health and was later returned to the area where the possum was from originally. You don’t want this to happen your home and the repair bill could be very costly.

Helpful tips to help keep Possums from entering your home:

• Trim or cut back any branches that are overhanging your roof to allow at least 3 metres clearance.
• Place possum proofing around the base of trees near your home
• Seal up any access points in the roof and replace any missing roof tiles
• Provide a suitable home for the possum in the form of a sturdy weatherproof possum box and placing it high enough from the ground so that the possum will be out of reach of dogs and cats. The box should not face towards the afternoon sun and be safely secured using a sturdy wire or chain to the tree.

If you would like to make you own possum box for you back yard you can find instructions on how to make one on the Office of Environment & Heritage website.

Worried about Possums or other pests?

If you are hearing noises in your roof, don’t wait!

Give Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle a call today! (02) 4488 4019

Rodents in Newcastle – Time to take action!

Rodents have once again become a nuisance. As the weather has started to cool with the change of the season Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle has been busy taking care of the controlling rodents in Newcastle. The rats and mice are still around during the warmer months but there is less need to find warmth and shelter during the warmer months.

These animals are well adapted to living in very close association with humans, sharing food and shelter … but that doesn’t mean they can live in your home without consequences!

Why should you worry about rodent control?

There a few main reasons why we should not share our homes with rodents:

• Disease transmission
  Rats and mice are known to transmit up to 35 different diseases and some can be fatal to humans.
• Physical damage to your property
  Rats and mice need to gnaw continually to prevent their teeth from growing too long. Rodents can gnaw electrical cables causing short circuits or even possible electrical fires.
• Food contamination
  Rodents can contaminate your food through consumption or contamination with urine, faeces and hair.
• Phobia
  Fear of rats and mice is quite common. Whether it is just the sight of a rat or a mouse that freaks people out and also the fear of the unknown with the noises coming from the roof area.

A recent case of rodents…

Recently we had a technician attend a property in Elermore Vale and the owners had been hearing noises in the roof.

Upon inspection our technician sighted evidence that rats had made a comfy home in the roof area. The site was a double storey house and the rodents were using the air conditioning ducts to help them move from one floor to another.

The rodents had created a super highway between the floors.

The rats had also started to gnaw at the ducts and were causing considerable damage and as a results this would reduce the efficiency of the heating and cooling of the air conditioning unit and could possibly result in an expensive repair or excessive electricity bills.

The rodents had also stated to gnaw on both the coaxial aerial cable for the TV and the electrical wiring of a down light that could potentially start an electrical fire.

How Amalgamated Pest Control solved the rodent problem

We started a rodent baiting program at the property to get rid of their rodent problems and we reported the damage caused to the owner so they could contact the appropriate trades people to fix the electrical issues.

Upon reflection the home owner was glad they called Amalgamated Pest control to get their rodents under control and started a rodent baiting program before anything serious happened in the roof area.

Our basic procedure for rodent control:

• We did a thorough inspection of the premises. The rodent evidence was mainly in the roof area and also some rodent droppings found in the garage.
• 

  Tamper Resistant Rodent Stations

  Our technician placed tamper proof lockable rodent stations in and around  strategic areas of the property to ensure activity within the stations in maximised.
  (We use Tamper Resistant rodent stations which are designed so that a bait can be placed inside and the rodent is unable to remove the bait. The rodent will consume the bait within the stations).

• There were also some conditions at the property encouraging the rodent activity which we fixed with help of the customer.
• Environmental issues such as access to garbage, food, organic waste and the like, not only attracts rodents but in the case of rats can make control take longer and be more expensive. These factors always need to be assessed and rectified.
• We returned to the property  to conduct a follow up inspection to the property and the stations.

The results or our rodent control program…

The majority of the bait within the stations had been consumed. During the follow up inspection we’re looking for the signs that the rodents are still active.

If the rodents are still active we’ll take the nessesary actions to for further control. During this inspection we confirmed that the activity had been controlled and there was no longer a problem at this property.

We gave some recommendations on proofing, how to keep them out in the future and provided them with a three month Service Warranty.

Key indicators that you may have rodent problems…

A few key tips to look for signs of rodents:

• Scratching noises in the roof
• Droppings found in and around the building
• Tracks – Run tracks or rub marks along walls or plumbing pipes
• Gnawing – Damage to food packets in the pantry or cupboards
• Excitement of the family pet- If your dog or cat is acting strangely for example excessive barking in a particular area, they might be trying to tell you something
• Sensors/Alarms -Alarms being triggered in particular areas

Are you worried about rodents or other pests?

If you have any concerns or suspect you might have a rodent problem then don’t hesitate to contact us.

Call Amalgamated Pest Control – Newcastle TODAY on 4488 4019