PEST FACTS
-
STINGERS
FAMILY: Various ORDER: Hymenoptera
IDENTIFICATION
They are a large species of bee, that can grow in length from ½ an inch to 1½ inches in length. They are often mistaken for bumble bees, but do not have a hairy abdomen. Their belly is black and shiny. Females do have a stinger, while males do not. The wasp have colours ranging from black to combinations of black with yellow, white or brown markings.
The slim, winged body measures 10 to 19 mm (l/2″ to 3/4″). All wasp species have chewing mouth parts and the females possess a stinger.PEST
Because they can sting there is a possibility that a person could have a mild or severe allergic reaction from their venom. Medical attention may be necessary if stung by a carpenter bee. The problem with carpenter bees is that they will often come back to the same place year after year to nest and can create enough holes and tunnels to weaken the structure of your home.
wasp sting, aside from being very painful can prove serious and sometimes fatal and proves to be a nuisance as they are attracted to sweet substances such as fresh fruit and juice.PREVENTION
Because stingers have the potential to sting and cause an allergic reaction they should only be handled by pest control professionals. Experienced pest control technicians will also be able to find and treat every hole they have created, preventing a re-infestation from occurring.
Also building your structure out of hard wood instead of softwood is a good way to deter them from using your property as a nesting spot.TREATMENT
STRICKALL PEST CONTROL employs a number of ways to help treat this problem. At strickall we treat stingers as a special case, we constantly monitor and treat stingers specially.
Some ways of treating Stingers
1. Application of insect granular baits
2. Application of insect dust.
3. Application of insect residuals.
4. Removal of nest from the habitats. -
BED BUG
FAMILY: Cimicidae ORDER: Hemiptera These pests feed primarily on the blood of sleeping humans. Bed bug infestations have traumatic emotional impacts on their victims and their families.
IDENTIFICATION
Bed bugs are gray to reddish-brown in colour, are oval and flat, and are approximately 1 to 5 mm (1/16″ to 3/16″) in size. Bed bugs will be closely associated with the bed and surrounding objects such as headboards and end tables. Upon hatching, the nymph is a translucent flesh color which makes it difficult to see until it acquires its first blood meal – at which time is easily visible because of the red blood.HABITAT
Bed bug hide in cracks and crevices during the day. Their main harbourage areas are the box springs, mattress and bed frame. At night it feeds on its host which is usually humans but can include birds and pets. They are found wherever food and warmth are present.PREVENTION
A visual inspection of the bed mattress, headboard and linens need to be performed inspecting typical focal areas of infestation. Immediate action should be taken when bloodspots or actual bedbugs are present.TREATMENT
Steaming affected areas with a steambug machine. -
ROACHES
FAMILY: Blaberidae ORDER: Blattaria Roaches are insects of the order blattaria or blattodea, of which about 30 species out of 4,500 total are associated with human habitats. About four species are well known as pest. All cockroaches increase the risk of cross-contamination yet they are still a very common pest, especially around kitchen areas. There are over 50 diseases causing organisms that have been isolated from cockroach bodies.
IDENTIFICATION
There are five species of cockroach that common in homes, German, Brown-banded, Oriental, American and common Wood cockroaches that are unwelcome pest. They most common being german cockroach which has a flat oval body with long spiny legs and measures 15mm when fully grown. both male and female are winged.HABITAT
Roaches are found in almost every part of homes from kitchen to rooms, cabinets to toilets crack and crevices. The main attraction for a cockroach is food, water and shelter. To them, almost anything is food most prefer some kind of damp environment and they are most active at night.PEST
Roaches emit unpleasant odors and may also produce sounds. They wreck havoc on homes feeding and spreading diseases on human and pets food. They passively transport microbes on their body surfaces including those that are potentially dangerous to humans.PREVENTION
General preventive measures against household roaches includes keeping all food stored away in sealed containers, using garbage cans with tight lids, frequent cleaning in the kitchen, and regular vacuuming. All water leaks such a s dripping taps should also be repaired. It is also helpful to seal all entry points such as holes around baseboards, between kitchen cabinets, pipes, doors and windows.TREATMENT
1.Application of Insect gel baits for roaches
2. Spot spraying of interior baseboards for the prevention of these insect.
3. thermal fogging of the interior building. -
RATS/MICE
FAMILY: Muridae ORDER: Rodentia Rats are typically distinguished from mice by their size; rats are generally large muroid rodents, while mice are generally small muroid rodents. Rats have long been considered deadly pest. The best known species are the black rat and the brown rat. They are generally known as the old world rats or true rats and originated in Asia. Rats attack food of man in the farm fields, orchards and livestock facilities, during its processing, storage and transport, and they are also found in supermarkets, restaurants and homes. They contaminate what ever they don’t eat with their urine, feces or fur.
IDENTIFICATION
Rats has a stocky body weighing about 200 to 500grams. They are covered in coarse body hair and are reddish to grayish brown with buff whites under parts. Some have pointed nose while others have a blunt nose.
The house mouse is dusty grey in colour and measures from 110 to 150 mm in length with large ears and small eyes. The tail is usually the same length as the mouse. The house mouse is sometimes confused with the deer mouse which is pale grey to reddish brown in colour and has a bi-coloured tail, with a white underside.PEST
Rats contaminates foods when they come in contact with them, spreading deadly diseases such as the Plague and Murine Typhus. Rats contaminate food and cause extensive damage to buildings and equipment in houses, granaries, restaurants and other areas they inhabit. Rats are able to gnaw through wood, electrical wires, and even unfinished concrete and they are also nuisance to humans wrecking homes, offices, e.t.c.
The house mouse is considered one of the major structural pests, causing serious economic loss, health hazards and an unsanitary environment. Mice contaminate food with their droppings and urine. They spread such diseases as salmonella bacteria (food poisoning), lepospirae (jaundice) and typhus. As well, they carry parasites such as fleas, round worms and mites. House mice are known to transmit Hantavirus, a virus that affects the respiratory system of humans.PREVENTION
Removal of food sources for rats/mice is an important element of their control. As well, elimination to potential rat entry points and removal of rubbish and other potential nesting areas are essential.TREATMENT
1. Application of rodent baits for the control of rodents.
2. Application of tracking powder for control of rodents.
3. Application of liquatox in cases where they lack water
4. The use of bait stations to trap them. -
BATS
FAMILY: Various ORDER: Chiroptera Bats are nocturnal, flying mammals which inhabit dark, secluded places. They are common wildlife problem that occurs throughout homes; they carry disease including rabies and therefore should be dealt with by bat control professionals. They look to homes to find a safe roosting place during the day, and then leave during the night to forage for food.
IDENTIFICATION
Bats can grow to be big or small. The largest ones have a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres; others are only 15 cm wide. The mouth of a bat is similar to the one of a rat or fox. They have large, pointed ears and grey or brown fur.
Bats have long arms and hands with especially long fingers. These are connected to the legs with membranes, which form their wings. The muscles in them make it easy for a bat to fly. When taking a rest a bat usually hangs upside down with its claws connected to a hard surface.PEST
Bats do have the potential to bite humans if they are cornered or feel threatened, because of this and their potential to have rabies they should not be handled. They are nuisance and can produce really bad odour from dropings and furs.They pose serious threat to humans as they carry many pathogens and parasites that can be passed on. They are most known for being a carrier of rabies and their feces can introduce a fungus called histoplasmosis that can lead to lung disease. They will also introduce fleas, mites and bats bugs into your home.PREVENTION
1. Sealing any openings around the roof line and fix any loose roof tiles
2. Making sure all windows and doors are completely sealed and that screens are intact
3. Trimming back any over grown trees or bushesTREATMENT
- Application of bat-away repellents
- Application of bat residuals
- Installation of bat nettings an also sound waves products to repell bats.
-
ANTS
Ants form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organized colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals. Larger colonies consist mostly of sterile wingless females forming castes of “workers”, “soldiers”, or other specialized groups
IDENTIFICATION
Carpenter ants are among the largest ants. Adults vary in length from about 1/4 inch for a minor worker, to winged reproductive. Each colony has one functional, wingless queen, and queens are 9/16 inch long. The most common color is black, but some species are red and black,solid red, or brown. carpenter ants have circles of tiny hairs on the tip of the abdomen and one node in the petole.
Pharaoh Ants have two nodes between the abdomen and thorax and have a 12-segmented antenna ending in a 3-segmented club.The Pharaoh Ant is often confused with the Thief Ant, which is also small and yellow, however the Thief Ant has only a 10-segment antenna ending in a 2-segment club.
Pavement ants are small; about 1/8th inch in length and they are dark brown to black in color. Pavement ants have a body with two nodes (like a waist) and have a 12-segmented antenna with a 3-segment club.PEST
Carpenter ants can damage wood used in the construction of buildings. They can leave behind a sawdust like material called frass that provide clues to their nesting location.
Pharaoh ants get into foodstuffs spreading diseases on them, Pharaoh Ants have been known to gnaw holes in rayon, silk, and rubber items. Pharaoh Ants are also capable of transmitting diseases and contaminating sterile materials.
Pavement ants spread diseases on foods and can become a nuisance when a large group infests your homesTREATMENT
1. Application of Insect gel baits on the infested areas to prevent and make the place not conducive for these ants.
2. Application of Insect dust which are injected directly in voids where the carpenter ants resides.
3. Application of Insect granules to affected areas and lawns/gardens -
TERMITES
FAMILY: Various ORDER: Isoptera The eastern subterranean termite is the most common termite. They are small wood destroying insects that feed on cellulose materials, especially wood and paper.
IDENTIFICATION
Worker termites are white and do not have wings. They are about 1/8 of an inch long and are very soft bodied. Winged termites, or swarmers, belong to the reproductive caste. They are almost 1/2 inch long and are all black. They have two pairs of equal sized wings.PEST
The danger from termites comes from their ability to damage structuresPREVENTION
Termites are extremely difficult to prevent. The best thing you can do is schedule regular services and monitoring with your local pest management company.TREATMENT
At strickall we treat termites as a special case, we constantly monitor and treat termites specially. -
SILVERFISH
FAMILY: Lepismatidae ORDER: Thysanura Silverfish have a torpedo shaped body which is covered with metallic, silvery scales. They are nocturnal, and prefer out of the way, humid, dark areas. They may be brought into homes in cardboard cartons, books or papers that have come from infested areas.
IDENTIFICATION
Silverfish and firebrats have a torpedo shaped body which is covered with metallic, silvery scales.HABITAT
They are nocturnal and prefer out of the way humid, dark areas. They are brought into homes through books, papers, cardboard, cartons, etc. They feed on starchy substances such as glue, paper, textiles and they will eat crumbs of bread or biscuits. They also may be seen when objects they are under move.PREVENTION
The homeowner can control moisture levels to help eliminate/limit their presence. By fixing leaks, insulate sweating water pipes and dehumidify.TREATMENT
1. Application of insect granular baits
2. Application of insect dust.
3. Application of insect residuals. -
TERMITES
FAMILY: Aves ORDER: Animalia
IDENTIFICATION
Birds are feathered, winged, two-legged, warm blooded, egg laying vertebrates. Birds, Bat and Rats are quite similar in terms of diseases and damages. The pose serious health risks through their feces, including histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, e.t.c. Bird droppings may also cause damage to property and equipments and also frequently steal from crops and fruit orchards.
Bird control is the generic name for methods to eliminate or deter pest birds from landing, roosting and nesting.PEST
Several bird species have successfully adapted to our urban environment. Birds are a perfect mechanism for spreading disease because they travel great distances, harbor over forty types of parasites and can host internally over sixty types of infectious diseases.
Disease to humans can be transmitted by: food & water contaminated with feces, inhalation of fecal dust, direct contact with feces, parasites.
In addition to transmitting diseases and causing structural damages, their droppings can cause slips and falls. They may also play host to insect pests such as fleas, lice and ticks.TREATMENT
STRICKALL PEST CONTROL have a number of ways to control and deter pest birds from all facilities. We also partner with Bird X to help clients deter pest birds. Some of our methods includes bird netting’s, ultra sonic sounds, bird spikes, bird repellents, e.t.c. -
FLIES
FAMILY: Calliphoridae ORDER: Diptera There are many types of fly species. The house fly is the common fly in homes, the house fly is approximately 1/8-1/4 inch long with the female being larger than its male counterpart. The house fly has a single pair of wings and are gray in color. Fruit flies are tiny gnats that we sometimes see hovering around our fruit bowls. For the most part, they leave just as fast as they arrived, but for some, fruit flies can become a nuisance and the epitome of a pest in the home. They can be found in homes as well as restaurants and other commercial establishments worldwide. The main concern with flies is the transmission of diseases.
IDENTIFICATION
Adult house flies are typically 5 to 8mm long with grey bodies, have four lines down their back, often with yellow undersides. Their bodies arte covered with hair and they have red eyes. Female flies are usually larger than males.
Fruit flies have brick red eyes, are yellow-brown in color, and have transverse black rings across their abdomen. They exhibit sexual dimorphism: females are about 2.5mm long, males are slightly smaller and the back of their bodies is darker. Males are easily distinguished from females based on color differences, with distinct black patch at the abdomen, less noticeable in recently emerged flies.PEST
House flies poses serious risk to humans, they contaminate food and spread diseases when they regurgitate liquefied food onto counters and work surfaces.
The larvae infest soils high in organic matter and injure seeds and seedlings, particularly during cool, wet spring growing conditions.
Fruit flies contaminate fruits and turn wines and beer into vinegar. They are primarily nuisance pest.TREATMENT
1. Application of fly granular baits
2. Application of larvae growth inhibitors
3. Application of bio gel to break down fruit particles in infested areas.
4. Installation of fly light traps and zappers. -
EARWIG
FAMILY: Forficulidae ORDER:Dermaptera Earwigs are nocturnal, they often hide in small, moist crevices during the day, and are active at night, feeding on a wide variety of insects and plants. Damage to foliage, flowers and various crops is commonly blamed on earwigs, especially the common earwig forficula auricularia. The European earwig is one of the most common pest in homes and gardens. If present in large numbers, the earwigs may damage flowers, fruits and vegetables.
IDENTIFICATION
There are a total of 3 earwigs species, the European, Maritime and Ring-legged earwigs. They are characterized by having smooth elongated bodies that have pairs of horny, forcep-like abdominal appendages called cercia. There are winged and wingless species of earwigs, the winged species having front and hind set of wings that are leathery and membranous, yet earwigs hardly ever fly. The bodies are reddish or dark brown, lengths mostly in the quarter to half inch range.HABITAT
During the hot and dry months, earwigs will often attempt to migrate indoors. Earwig prefer warm, temprate climates and dark and damp areas. They hide in basements, bathrooms and kitchens
In their search for food and shelter, earwigs crawl over the ground, readily entering houses. They forage at night and hide in dark secluded places during the day. They eat both plant and animal food.PEST
If you already have a pest infestation, chances are, there would soon be increase in earwigs. Earwigs are considered nuisance pest. They may use their cerci to pinch people.
Earwigs are mostly known for their destructive abilities in households plants and gardens. They can damage delicate blossoms and will feed on decaying organic material.PREVENTION
Earwigs are attracted to lights and moisture so it is important to reduce lightings around windows and doors and other possible site of entry into your homes. Sodium vapor yellow lights are less attractive to insects and therefore better choice for your porch or outdoor lighting than white, neon or mercury vapor lighting. Sealing all possible entry ways in your homes is beneficial in keeping earwigs out of your homes.TREATMENT
1. Application of Insect dust
2. Application of insect granules.
3. Spot spraying of interior baseboards for the prevention of these insect. -
FLIES
FAMILY: Trachelipus ORDER: Isopoda They have oval bodies, convex above and a flat or hollow beneath. They are dark to slate in colour and have 7 pairs of legs. Sowbugs can be separated from Pillbugs by the fact that they can not roll up a tight ball like a Pillbug.
IDENTIFICATION
Pillbugs and Sowbugs are the only crustaceans that have completely adapted to spending their whole life on land. They have oval bodies, convex above and flat or hollow beneath. They feed on decaying vegetative matter and leaf litterHABITAT
The common pillbug and the dooryard sowbug are worldwide in distribution. They like moist locations and are found under objects on damp ground and under leaf litter. They are mostly active at night.PREVENTION
Homeowners can control moisture levels to help eliminate/limit their presence; by fixing leaks, insulate sweating water pipes and dehumidify.TREATMENT
1. Application of insect granular baits
2. Application of insect dust.
3. Application of insect residuals.