Treating Pests on the Northern Beaches

Ants, termites, cockroaches, ticks, spiders, rats, mice, bees, and wasps. With over 25 years in pest control, specifically on the Northern Beaches and North Shore, I’ve seen my fair share of creepy crawlies. What I’ve also witnessed is plenty of botched attempts to handle them with DIY treatments. While this may suffice when dealing with a few ants, household spiders, some cockroaches or even a rogue rodent or two, you’ll need a more robust solution once the numbers begin to rise. And unless completely exterminated, they will rise.

So, instead of making that trip to Bunnings to get your army surplus size container of all-purpose creepy crawly killer, enlist a trusted professional to handle the problem completely and effectively. But you need to ensure you arm them with all the information available. Because different pests require different treatment types, your pest control expert will be able to provide the most proficient and cost-effective service if they know exactly what they’re dealing with.

Here is an outline of the different pests you will likely encounter across Sydney’s North Shore and Northern Beaches, and the common forms of professional treatment for each.
 
Ants

Ants are a common problem for a lot of households, and they can be tricky to get rid of properly. There are two main types of ants present on the Northern Beaches, sugar ants and grease ants. Sugar ants are attracted to sweet things – fruit, juice and soft drinks, lollies and muesli bars. While grease ants are attracted to, you guessed it, grease (and fat) – snacking on meat, nuts, cheese peanut butter and also some sweets.

As they’re attracted to food and water sources, the most effective way to control ants is to eliminate access to their favourite menu items. Keeping your kitchen clean, wiping down spills, and storing food in airtight containers are still the best preventative methods for avoiding ants. However, if you have an infestation that appears to be somewhat out of control, you may need to step it up a little bit.

There are some over-the-counter products available for treating your ant problem, but the results are hit or miss. In any instance, you risk using the wrong product for the wrong type of ant or not taking out the entire colony and heading right back to square one within the week.
The most appropriate way to eradicate ants is by using a combination of baits and sprays. Ant baits contain a slow-acting poison which the ants will inadvertently take back to their nest, helping eliminate the queen and the entire colony.

At Eradicator Pest Control, we use gel and granular baits and a non-repellent insecticide. This ensures we exterminate all colonies and don’t just scare them away temporarily, only to have them return with reinforcements.
 
Termites

Termites are one of the more destructive pests that can invade your home. Feeding on structural and exposed timber, they have a significant impact on the integrity of your home. The estimated annual cost of termite damage in Australia is around $1.5 billion, with over 130,000 homes left in disrepair due to termites.
 
There are over 350 different species of termites currently residing in Australia, with roughly 40 of them considered invasive and destructive. So, while the termites in your home might not be there to feast on it, that’s not necessarily a bet you want to take.

Very few over-the-counter termite treatments exist, and for good reason. This is one pest you should never DIY. Spraying termites or disturbing their colonies may seem like a quick fix, but it actually makes the situation worse. Disturbing termites will often cause them to emit a defence pheromone, signalling others to leave the area and making it more difficult to locate and treat the infestation effectively.

The best course of action is to utilise a Northern Beaches termite specialist. They will be able to identify the type of termite and determine an appropriate treatment plan. Termite removal can include baiting, liquid treatments, and fumigation. It can also be a good idea to install monitoring systems to catch any new timber-eating tenants before they wreak havoc.

At Eradicator, we are termite specialists. With over 30 years’ experience in baiting and monitoring termites and eco-friendly solutions, we can sort out any termite problem.
 
Cockroaches

Cockroaches are one of the most resilient pests and can be difficult to control. There are several different breeds of cockroach, each with their own unique habits and behaviours. The more common varietals of cockroaches found on the Northern Beaches are the German, American, and Australia. Each requiring a unique treatment plan.

German cockroaches are the most common breed found on the Beaches. Typically living in kitchens and bathrooms, they can be controlled with baits and insecticides. American cockroaches are larger and prefer damp areas like basements and crawl spaces. They’re often a bit trickier to treat and are best controlled with baits and dusts. Australian cockroaches, on the other hand, prefer to live outdoors and are often treated with barrier sprays.

Baits work by luring the cockroaches out of their hiding places and into the open, where they will consume the poison and bring it back to their colony. Residual sprays create a barrier that the cockroaches cannot cross, effectively killing them on contact.

To ensure you get the most value from your next cockroach treatment and aren’t still left with unwanted pests, remember to give your pest controller as much information as possible about the cockroaches in your home. Even take a photo on your phone and text it through to them. The more detail the better.
 
Ticks

Ticks are nasty little parasites that can cause a variety of illnesses, including Lyme disease, and are becoming somewhat omnipresent on the Northern Beaches. Where pets are concerned, tick bites can be fatal if left undetected. The key to tick control is to prevent them from attaching in the first place. This means keeping your yard free of tall grass and weeds and having your home and yard treated for tick infestations.

As with other pests, there are retail products available to manage the treatment of ticks yourself. But why risk it? Having a professional come and treat your tick problem will more often lead to a better result and minimise your and your family’s chance of an encounter.
 
Spiders

Is there a worse feeling than walking through an unsuspecting spider web? If there is, I don’t want to know about it. I’ve watched the toughest men crumble when confronted with the possibility of a spider roaming loose somewhere on their person. And I don’t blame them. While a majority of our garden variety spiders are relatively harmless (Huntsman, Trapdoor, Orb-Weaving, Wolf and St. Andrew’s Cross), the Northern Beaches is home to some highly venomous varietals, including the infamous Funnel Web, Redbacks, Whitetails, Mouse and Black House Spiders.

A few spiders in the garden is a pretty normal occurrence and no need for alarm. In fact, they can even help keep flies and mozzies away. However, if you find some of these nastier breeds that pack a toxic bite, it could be worth investing in a spider treatment. Spiders will often take up residency where there is an abundant food supply, i.e. other bugs. So, keeping the overall pest population to a minimum can help mitigate your risk of spiders, especially some of the big ugly ones.

Most pest control experts will perform a routine inspection to ascertain the number and types of spiders living in your home and yard area before administering any form of treatment. Like other insects, different types will require their own specific poison to get the job done right. So please, if you believe you have a family of potentially dangerous spiders anywhere around your house, leave it to the professionals. No one needs a trip to the ER with a Funnel Web or Redback bite.
 
Rats and Mice

High density living and an abundance of native wildlife make the Northern Beaches an ideal home for rodents. Causing damage and carrying disease, they can present a serious health risk to your family. As with most pests, the key to eliminating rats and mice from your home is to restrict their food and water sources, and adequately seal up any possible entry points. Traps and baits can also be used to control rodent populations.

It's not recommended that you attempt to remedy your own rodent problem. Allowing a professional to conduct a thorough examination with ensure that the entire population is accounted for and removed, as well as minimising the risk of any harmful disease or parasites being spread.

To treat a rat or mouse infestation, a pest control expert will typically use a combination of bait and trapping. Baits work by luring the rodents out of their hiding places and into the open, where they will consume the poison and eventually die. Traps can also be used to capture and kill rodents that are living in your home or yard.
 
Bees and Wasps

Bees and wasps can be beneficial to the environment, but they can also be serious hazard if their nests become dangerously close to kids and pets. They tend to be most prevalent during the warmer months (Nov-Feb) but with unseasonably warm weather lingering well into April, we are seeing higher numbers of these little stingers.

Bees fulfill an extremely important role within the ecosystem, so we will rarely ever exterminate. Our main objective is to relocate them to a safe location, where they can continue to pollenate and make delicious honey. Wasps, on the other hand, are nasty little buggers and we always aim to destroy the entire hive and all its inhabitants with it.

Either of these processes should only be carried out by an experienced professional, as these stinging insects can be aggressive if they feel threatened. And even if you’re not allergic, receiving multiple stings can trigger a fairly hectic reaction. A qualified pest control expert will have all necessary equipment and products to help them deal with any situation that arises.
 
As you can see, when it comes to managing pest infestations on the Northern Beaches, it really is horses for courses. With different breeds of the same pest having completely unique treatment types. Understanding the problem in its entirety will better arm your pest control expert with the right information, to deliver an outstanding result. Be specific about the pests you’re encountering and, where possible, take photos.

If you’re tired of emptying cans of Mortein only to find more crawlies, stingers and webs the next day, it might be time to hand over the reins to a professional. Call Eradicator Pest Services for a FREE QUOTE today! 0414 808 997