Rodents are normally considered a winter pest;  however this year due to wet weather conditions and cooler than normal temperatures, I have noticed a spike in rodent activity and calls.

rodents eat practically anything humans eat, they get plenty of food from home gardens, fruit or nut trees and even parts of some ornamental shrubs and flowers. Garbage disposals also attract rats into household and street sewer lines. Rats and mice have long been a problem in domestic environments where food is plentiful and convenient nesting sites are both numerous and hard to eliminate.

There are some major problems caused by rats and mice:

1. They eat food and contaminate it with urine and excrement.
2. They gnaw into materials such as paper, books, wood or upholstery which they use as nest material. They also gnaw plastic, soft metals such as lead and aluminum, and wiring which may cause a fire hazard.  Rodents will continually gnaw for food and Harborage.
3. Rodents, or the parasites they carry, (such as fleas, mites and worms) spread many diseases.
4. Asthma is one of the most common diseases in the home caused by Rodent droppings.
5. Rats can damage ornamental plants by burrowing among the roots, or feeding on new growth. They also eat some garden vegetables.
6. Rats and mice are socially unacceptable.
7. A female Rodent can have between 84  to 120 young in her life span

On Saturday, 7^th January 2012. I undertook a night inspection at residential premises in Burpengary that backs on to a council reserve. The home owner invited me to the property to witness the rodents roaming and foraging in the back yard and the rear pergola. Sure enough the property owner was correct and I sighted at least 25 rodents in the half hour visit.

I believe these rodents have been at the property for a period of time as they seem quite familiar with their surrounding and there was a large population sighted of different sizes and species, most commonly sighted at the inspection were the House mouse and Norway rat.

Action taken by Amalgamated Pest Control

On Monday I returned to the property to develop an integrated  rodent management plan, to do this Iundertook the following steps:-

1. A day light inspection;

I inspected the property with the customer and found the following rodent conducive conditions:-

• Rodent burrows were found in  the gaps of the rear timber retaining wall;
• Rub marks were found along the timber retaining wall and on the rail of the rear timber fence;
• A chook pen was in the back yard with feed (seed mix) on the ground;
• A dog dish was found on the rear pergola with biscuits on the ground;
• A compost bin was in the back yard with fruit and table scraps
• Over grown gardens;
• The rear garden shed stored open bags of poultry feed;
• Neighboring properties also had poultry;
• The property backs on to a council drainage reserve.

The key to any treatment plan is customer education and involvement, the customer was requested to undertake the following actions to reduce the rodent’s conducive conditions:-

• Cease feeding the chooks on the ground. It’s recommended to feed the chooks in an approved feed station, these stations retail for around $25.00 at any produce. These stations keep the feed of the ground and any seed that does fall is usually cleaned up quickly by the forging chocks
• Rear shed, store open feed bags (chook food) in sealed air tight containers;
• Dog dish, It was recommended that dog is fed at set times and any leftover food is removed after the dog finishes eating.
• Compost Bin, cease filling with fruit and table scraps until the rodent activity is controlled
• Rodent proof the rear shed and home by undertaking the following:-
  • Close up all holes in the exterior walls
  • Install self closing devices on frequently used doors
  • Permit no openings over 6mm particularly near doors and windows.
  • Maintain the back yard gardens by undertaking the following:-
    • Keep overhanging trees and shrubs cut back, these areas provided dark shadowy areas where rodents feel safe and protected.
    • Keep grass and vegetation cut short.

As the customer agreed to the above terms we set about managing the rodent population and the following integrated rodent treatment plan was implemented.

1. External yard areas
   1. Plastic lockable bait stations were placed 6 lineal meters apart along the boundary fence line, timber retaining walls and around the structures perimeter;
   2. Plastic lockable bait stations were placed selectively in the rear garden shed and in the gardens that were suspected to harbor rodent activity;
   3. Baits chosen were a combination between Ditrac blocks and pellets (these product were chosen for a quick knockdown effect and the products durability in damp conditions)
   4. Snap traps were installed in plastic lockable stations along the fence rails were rodents rub marks were found.
2. Internal
   1. As no rodent activity was sighted, glue boards and snap traps were placed in selected areas of the home.

Summary of the treatment program to date

Two weeks later and after a number of visits by Amalgamated Pest Control, rodent numbers have been reduced dramatically, bait consumption is reducing and  the home owner is not visually seeing rodents of a night time. Due to the program in place and the home owner’s involvement it is believed in the coming weeks the sight will be rodent free.

Rodent identification

Common Names	House Mouse	Norway Rat	Roof Rat
Scientific Names	Mus musculus	Rattus norvegicus	Rattus rattus
Weight	20  grams	450 grams	260 grams
Body Shape	Slender	Heavy set	Slender
Nose	Pointed	blunt	Pointed
Fur	Fine, coloured brown to grey	Coarse, red/brown in colour	Fine, coloured grey, black or brown, can be white underneath
Ears	Reasonably large, hairy	Small close set, finely haired	Large, prominent, almost hairless
Tail	About as long as body and head, partly naked	Shorter than body and head, pale underneath	Longer than body and head – uniform colour
Droppings	Pointed 3-4 mm long	Blunt 18mm long	Pointed 12mm long
Gestation period	19 – 20 days	21 – 23 days	21 – 22 days
Sexual maturity	4 weeks	2 – 3 months	2-3 months
Number of litters per year	6  – 10	5 – 6	5 – 6
Average number of offspring per litter	4 – 6	7 – 12	10
Average life span	15-18 months	18 months	18 months
Foraging Range	40 – 50 Meters	40 – 50 Meters	40 – 50 Meters
In good conditions	As little as 2 meters	can be more	same

If you believe you have rodents, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control for a tailored solution to meet your needs and prevent these pests from becoming a problem in your home or work place.

Statistics show that at least one (1) out of every four (4) homes will experience termite problems.

A thorough timber pest inspection and report is the first step towards finding the right solution for your property and budget. Amalgamated Pest Control technicians are trained and experienced in detecting visual symptoms revealing subterranean termite infestation.

The inspection covers the readily accessible areas of your property including:

• Interiors, ( walls, cupboards etc).
• Roof void including roofing.
• Subfloor.
• Exterior of house, timbers, trees, gardens, external structures.
• Outbuildings, fences, garages.

Inspections are preformed using the following tools that complement the experience of our highly trained technicians:

• Sounding areas with an inspection probe.
• Moisture meter.
• TermaTrac.
• Thermal Image Cameras.
• Borescope.
• Torch, Ladder, Compass.

The inspection typically takes 1 to 2 hours depending on the size and nature of the property.

The timber pest inspection and written report will give you an accurate snapshot of your properties termite exposure and or damage status.

Your report will contain detailed information on the following:

• Any visual evidence and extent of any timber pest activity located.
• A summary of any timber pest identified and a brief description of their potential to cause damage to your property.
• How susceptible your property is to timber pest invasion.
• Recommendation for a management plan to attack any current infestation and aid in reducing any risk of future infestation.
• Recommendations for improving the environment  around the property, making it lest suitable for subterranean termites and other timber pests.
• Report on any pre existing property management plan and make recommendations to ensure its effectiveness, whilst educating you on its maintenance requirements.

At Amalgamated Pest Control, we have a great range of products and services that take the pain out of termite management, don’t take the chance of  termite damage and costly repairs, book in a timber inspection today.

Winning the Termite Technician of the Year Clay Perel, from Amalgamated Pest Control Caboolture, shares his insights that tipped this prestigious award in his favour.

In 2009 Clay Perel was awarded Termite Technician of the Year for the Amalgamated Central Zone. With over 13 years pest management and a strong history in mosquito vector, termites and general pest control, Clay had his sights firmly fixed on setting a standard with the company.

“We service an area from Deception Bay and Bribie Island through to Beerburrum, and as far out as Woodford, and Dayboro,” said Clay Perel, Termite Technician for Amalgamated Pest Control Caboolture.

The Termite Technician of the Year for the Amalgamated Central Zone incorporates many criterion for judging including customer satisfaction, consistent and positive customer feedback, exceptional high work standards, punctuality, business and community awareness as well as sales performance.

“Clay achieved the highest turnover for the financial year with over one hundred Termidor barrier treatments successfully completed. “Winning this award is no mean feat – you also have to have a genuine understanding of the customers’ needs, as well as a clear vision of the Amalgamated brand”.

“The reason I was so successful is that I was confidently able to sell for the best pest control company in Australia to manage my customers’ problems and match it with quality termite management products such as Termidor^® 100SC and Termidor^® Dust.”

“The key to customer satisfaction, when active termites are discovered, is getting results,”.  “The strategy is simple – my first choice of products to use is Termidor Dust as it is quick, effective and neat (customers want effective and timely outcomes).  Then I use Termidor 100SC as a complete and continuous chemical barrier to prevent reinfestation.  I only install bait and monitoring stations as a third choice to take pressure off the barrier and to give the home owner the ability to monitor the yard area.  I use baiting and monitoring as a secondary tool,”.

“A significant contributing factor to my success has been the active involvement of Stewart Paterson and Scott Kleinschmidt from BASF”. “The combination of quality products – backed by research and development, technical support, training assistance, and consumer focused campaigns, makes BASF an ideal partner for our business,”

“I have been using Termidor for over 2 years now and I have found it to be the best product available”.  “Termidor is the only product with the Transfer Effect which means that the product not only provides an undetectable treated zone, but is also transferred to other termites to eliminate the colony.”

“We have been committed to using Termidor for our termite treatments, so to hear the news now that it can be used at the same tank and mix rate to treat for ants is fantastic”. “Giving ant jobs a warranty will be a lot easier with the new registration.”

“Winning this award involved a lot of hard work, focus, and belief in what I am doing is helping my customers.  Having reliable products and the support of BASF has helped me achieve this prestigious award,” concluded Clay.

This article describes the methods used by Amalgamated Pest Control (APC), during the installation of a post-construction termite perimeter treatment around a residential property in Caboolture, Brisbane.

Currently, APC only approve termiticide formulations based on four types of active ingredient. These actives being  Bifenthrin, Imidacloprid, Fipronil, and Chlorantranilioprole.

The Termiticide Formulation.

For this treatment, the product of choice was the minimal odour  EnviroMax® Bifenthrin 100EC Termiticide & Insecticide formulation – sourced from Australasian Wholesale Chemical Technologies® Pty Ltd.

The treated property is described as a single story brick veneer home on a concrete slab, with a colour bond roof. The home is situated in a rural setting with landscaped gardens

Termite Treatment Method

Step 1:

A thorough timber pest inspection and report was undertaken 2 weeks prior to the EnviroMax® barrier installation. During inspection, no termite activity or associated damage was found, and we recommended that the client undertake the following actions prior to the EnviroMax® perimeter barrier being installed:

1.1 Gardens: We required the gardens to be trimmed back from the house, and some shrubs removed as they were planted too close to the perimeter of the building. This action is required to ensure the chemical barrier is not bridged or breached.

Removal of mulch and foliage from the house’s perimeter.

1.2 Mulch & Rocks: All mulch and rocks were required to be kept 300mm from the perimeter of the structure to ensure the chemical barrier is not bridged or breached.

1.3 Floor & Plumbing plans: The APC technician requested a copy of the floor plan of the structure being treated, to determine that the concrete slab had no joins, and to ensure all external plumbing penetrations could be located prior to treatment.

Step 2: Trenching

2. All air-conditioning units were moved.

2.1The soil areas were excavated as per Australian standards and Amalgamated Policy and Procedure requirements.

2.2 All external plumbing penetrations were located and exposed.

2.3 The plumbing penetrations were cleared, then coated and resealed with Term-seal primer and Term-seal multi purpose.

3.1 The trenches were rodded and flooded with termiticide.

3.2 Imported soil was then added to the trenches and further termiticide was applied and mixed with the soil to create a slurry.

4.0 Treatment to concrete areas

In order to form a termiticide chemical barrier beneath the concrete slabs and paths, we needed to undertake concrete drilling. The recommended drill hole spacing is between 150 and 200 mm.

4.1 To enhance chemical-soil distribution we used a lateral dispersion tip on the injector and up to 10L of emulsion per linear meter. To ensure formation of a continuous barrier, holes were drilled no more than 150 mm from walls or expansion joints.

4.3 The concrete drill holes were then capped with mortar

Long-lived protection of vulnerable structures from subterranean termite attack is facilitated by:

EnviroMax® Bifenthrin 100EC Termitcide & Insecticide treatments. Perimeter treatment of the soil or fill surrounding properties, isolates the structure from termite galleries, through formation of a chemical barrier which acts as a contact poison, killing and repelling termites that come into contact with the treated area. When the colony realises that workers (the food gatherers) are being destroyed it ceases to send them to that location.

At Amalgamated Pest Control we believe that the key to any treatment program is continued monitoring.
Termite inspections should be carried out every 12 monthly intervals at an absolute minimum

The Benefit?

Following inspection, we extend our service warranty for a further period on the proviso that our recommendations are adopted.

Mosquito control is an important issue as apart from being generally annoying, mosquitoes can carry debilitating illnesses such as Ross River Fever, Barmah Forest Virus, Murray Valley Encephalitis and Malaria.

There are numerous species of mosquito in Australia and each has its own characteristics in terms of:

• salt or fresh water,
• geographic distribution,
• the diseases they can carry

Mosquito control in Queensland is the legislative responsibility of Local Government.

Local Government staff that undertake Mosquito management are well trained and do a fantastic job as they treat numerous locations in pristine salt and fresh water environments with specialised equipment and treatment methods.

The focus of this story is about the home owner and what the home owner needs to be aware of to help reduce the threat of mosquitoes around their property.

Home owners’ can reduce the number of mosquitoes around their property by:

• screening windows, doors and water tanks.
• empty all containers around the house that might collect water – pot plant saucers, guttering, tins, tires etc.
• use a repellent outside especially at dusk.

Amalgamated Pest Control can help in a number of ways by offering the home owner the following services:

Larval Control

This is a  environmentally friendly treatments targeted at larvae in still water areas (e.g. ponds). This treatment affects the growth hormones  of the mosquito larvae . This treatment method is target specific, and will only affect the mosquito larvae.

Or,

Residual Barrier Treatment

Those looking for an additional, more-targeted solution to mosquito problems should consider specialised “residual barrier” treatments, which significantly reduces the adult mosquito population and prevents them from lingering around the home for  several weeks.

Despite being predominantly airborne vector pests, mosquitoes die after coming into contact with “residual barriers” treated on the ground and around the home. The specialised residual barrier treatment is applied to areas where mosquitoes land and rest such as amongst leaf litter under trees.

The situation is ideally suited to establish garden areas with significant plant foliage and other exterior structures such as shade cloth, which provide landing and resting areas for adult mosquitoes. Residents notice relief immediately.

The treatment is effective for a number of weeks and relief can be noticed immediately many customers that previously could only enjoy their views from inside, now spend their days and evenings out in their pergolas and gardens where they want to be.

If you are unable to enjoy the great outdoors because you are the target of mosquito or midge bites, give us a call at Amalgamated Pest Control on 1300 858 834.

It’s that time of year again when residents should be on the look out over the next few weeks for the annual termite swarms which are both visually spectacular and a possible indication of an infestation.

Mid-November to mid-December is the peak time for the normally subterranean termites to take flight in order to mate and start new colonies. The swarms can be an impressive event with some resembling a plume of smoke rising from the nest.

The swarms of colonising termites generally take place at dusk when the weather is hot, calm and very humid which can often be before or after summer storm activity.

If you do see a lot of flying insects under these climatic conditions have a good look around the building and yard to see if you can find out where they are coming from as it might mean you have a nest of termites nearby.

If residents do see a swarm of termites coming out of a specific site, we recommend marking the spot and contacting Amalgamated Pest Control.

However, property owners are generally more likely to become aware a swarm has taken place when they find dead winged termites in the windowsills and on the floors which is often a cause for concern

People should not be afraid of the swarming, particularly if you have a regular termite inspection program already in place for your property. If you do not have your property regularly inspected for termites then you should collect several of the dead swarmers in a jar, with a little methylated spirits to preserve them, and call your pest controller to identify them and inspect the property.

Of the millions of winged termites that set out only an occasional pair succeeds in finding a mate and suitable nest site however once established and mature, the Queen termite can produce up to 2000 eggs a day.

These winged termites are all members of the alate caste with each one a potential king or queen of a new colony. The alates generally do not travel far, snapping their wings off once they land before searching out a mate and looking for a nest site.

Alates do not fly strongly, and unless assisted by winds, their dispersal is limited so if you do find a large number of winged termites in and around your property over the next few weeks and you don’t have a termite management program in place,

Worried about Termites?

Call your qualified Amalgamated Pest Control technician to be on the safe side.