Winter is a wonderful season for a variety of reasons. Of course, the weather is the most powerful, and while you’re busy planning your favourite winter foods, warming beverages, donning your favourite boots, and anticipating snuggling up under your blanket, don’t forget that winter may offer its own set of unanticipated problems….
Winter pests are one of those problems! Aside from the shorter days and harsher temperatures, a cooler environment will be sure to bring one thing closer to every Australian household: bugs and pests bugs. Every year, as insects and animals seek shelter from the cold, they find ways of entering your home and causing havoc.
For the outdoors areas, several pests and insects may quietly overtake your garden throughout the winter; some are useful, while others are harmful. Fortunately, there are easy ways to get rid of them.
That said, here is a list of common pests in Australia, along with instructions on how to get rid of them:
Rodents
Don’t be misled by their benign appearance; these annoying little rodents represent a major threat to your house and will grow more numerous throughout the winter months. Rats and mice reproduce at an astonishing rate, with a single female capable of generating hundreds of offspring in a single year.
Even though both rats and mice are classified as rodents, there is a distinction between them. Rats are bigger and have a more pointed face. They chew in circular, larger, and tougher circles as well.
Problems Caused By Rodents
Throughout the winter, rats will infiltrate your house in a quest for warmth, spreading illnesses, carrying fleas, and wreaking havoc on your property.
Aside from inflicting structural damage by scratching, gnawing, and chewing their way through wood beams, rodents may also peel the covering off electrical wires, destroying fittings, electrical equipment and posing a fire threat.
Roof rats are especially bothersome because they may go unnoticed while damaging your rafters. Rodents are also a serious health risk since they may contaminate food supplies, transmit germs, and carry fatal illnesses such as rat-bite fever if contact is made.
Spotting Signs Of Rodents
Rodents are quite elusive, so don’t expect to see them in your house. Look for activity indications including animal tracks, gnaw marks, and droppings. Tracks are easier to find in dusty locations, so if your house is quite clean, but you suspect rodents are present you can try laying down talcum powder in and around areas of concern to help detect footprints.
Their five-toed footprints are more visible in an attic or crawl area beneath the home. Rodent droppings resemble black tiny pellets. Gnaw marks will emerge on wooden doors and joists at ground level, reaching out an inch or more.
How To Get Rid Of Rodents
Preventative methods are the most effective approach to getting rid of rats and mice. Begin by looking for a suitable nesting location and evidence of rodent infestation. It’s also possible that they’ll do significant damage by chewing through walls, insulation, and electrical wires. Getting rid of rants quickly and permanently is the only way to get rid of them once and for all
Trim the plants around your house. Clean yards deny mice the food and shelter they require for mating, and also limit the ability of a young mouse to move in. Remove any potential food and water sources for them (e.g., pet food bowls, food waste, etc.), and rats will seek another home.
Termites
We are all aware of the devastation that a termite infestation can do, but for some reason, most people believe it is a summer phenomenon. It might be because this is partially true in far colder regions when termites burrow deep into the ground when it is extremely cold.
Or that flying termites are more visible during the summer. Termites in Australia, on the other hand, are much happier to be fully active all year round, especially since all of our homes have a beautiful, fairly pleasant, constant temperature even throughout winter.
Problems Caused By Termites
These little insects may inflict tens of thousands of dollars in damage to your house if left unchecked. Termites are Australia’s most expensive pest, inflicting approximately $700 million in damage to Australian houses each year.
They are active all year but tend to congregate indoors in greater numbers as the temperature begins to drop.
Spotting Signs Of Termites
Because termites are too tiny to see and don’t smell or make any noise, you’ll have to look for signs of an infestation. At entrance sites, look for fractures in the walls, drooping floors or ceilings, broken decks or garden posts, and missing roof tiles.
In addition to your regular inspections, a yearly examination by a pest control company will discover hollowed-out wood, identify frass (termite droppings), and detect foundation deterioration before it becomes a tragedy.
How To Get Rid Of Termites
Chemical termiticide baits, liquid pesticides, and wood treatments can all kill termites. However, they can be hazardous and difficult to administer correctly, so it is advisable to consult with a specialist who will be able to discuss the best course of action for your specific termite situation.
Cockroaches
Unfortunately, cockroaches are prevalent pests that may be difficult to eradicate. If you have roaches in your house or apartment, you must get rid of them as soon as possible, especially in places such as kitchen cabinets, the attic, or the bathroom.
Cockroaches are nocturnal by nature, therefore they will be concealed and difficult to find during the day. When you switch on the lights at night, if they are present, you may spot them scurrying beneath the fridge. Cockroach secretions also have a disagreeable odour, making them easier to detect if not visible.
Problems Caused By Cockroaches
These disease-carrying bugs are an unwanted guest in nearly every Australian home. Several distinct species may be present in your home at any given moment, with German, American and Australian cockroach species being the most common.
It is commonly stated that in the event of a nuclear apocalypse, the only organisms left on Earth would be cockroaches. While this isn’t quite correct, you get the idea – they’re tough as nails!
Although cold-blooded, cockroaches dislike the cold, which simply means they will cluster together to stay warm. When you turn up the heat on your heater this winter, keep in mind that the cockroaches will be relieved as well!
Spotting Signs Of Cockroaches
Cockroaches are most active at night and prefer to hide in cracks and crevices during the day. They are drawn to food on your property and will eat almost anything, from food crumbs to animal droppings/excrement.
During the winter, cockroaches cluster indoors and grow at breakneck speed. Meanwhile, they transmit diseases such as salmonella and Hepatitis A, so it’s critical to address the issue before it gets out of hand.
If you suspect a cockroach infestation, you must act quickly to guarantee a quick resolution and to reduce the health concerns connected with this insect.
How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches
Good housekeeping is the most effective cockroach control method. Clean your kitchen regularly, and dishes as soon as possible, and avoid leaving food leftovers that may attract them. Dispose of your rubbish properly and regularly.
Keep an eye out for cracks and holes around your home and repair them as soon as they appear. Finally, keep a can of bug spray available for when you do see them scurrying around.
Ants
Ants, on the other hand, are another nuisance you might not connect with in winter, owing to their proclivity to scamper all over the place during the hot summer months. But consider this: ants and summer are typically linked with the outdoors… which means that as it gets cooler, they’ll come inside to dwell and reproduce in your walls, window frames, and other concealed places.
Problems Caused By Ants
Ants may contaminate food, transmit bacteria, and deliver a painful bite if the species are found to be bull ants. And dealing with tens of thousands-strong colonies might make it difficult to keep an infestation under control.
Spotting Signs Of Ants
Ants are the most unsophisticated of Australia’s primary domestic pests. Once they’ve established themselves, you’ll see them everywhere—which is half the problem.
How To Get Rid Of Ants
It is advisable to construct a chemical barrier around your property to get rid of ant infestations. To avoid further complications, it’s advised to do what’s necessary to keep them out of the wall cavities as well.
Practising good food hygiene and having a clean and sanitary home are preventative measures to keep ants out of your house. Insecticides may provide protection, but they may also endanger your family’s safety, therefore you may require the aid of a professional ant controller.
Key Takeaways
Now is the moment to winter-proof your house against draughts, leaks, and… winter pests! If you’re storing firewood for those winter evenings, keep the pile at least a few meters away from your house, and clean up any additional junk that may serve as a pest launching pad to your home!
Given Melbourne’s winter circumstances, don’t count out the potential of a few of these pests and insects invading your house. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, right?
Take precautions so you may enjoy the pleasures of Melbourne’s winter, and if the problem persists, have a professional company undertake a pest check.
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