Top 5 Australian Pests To Watch Out For This Summer

Summer months bring sun, fun… and, unfortunately, lots of pests. Yes, summer is the time of year when pests are most active. Pests that were in hibernation come out at this time, and the warm temperatures make it ideal for them to reproduce rapidly. Because of this influx in population, summertime pest infestations are very prevalent.

During this time of year, vigilance and extra precautions are necessary to ensure that your home is not invaded by any annoying critters. Here are some of the pests you should keep an eye out for in the coming months.

1. Flies

They might not bite or sting, but flies are dirty creatures. It is their unhygienic mannerisms that make them dangerous to your health. Flies feed indiscriminately and will jump from one food source (usually something dead and decaying) to another, potentially spreading germs wherever they land to feed.

In addition to being a health hazard, flies are annoying to have around and will make everyone uncomfortable as they fly about.

To keep these pests out of your way this summer, you’ll need to do the following:

a. Avoid leaving food lying around in the open. Cover all food that is not being consumed immediately. Drinks for outdoor consumption should also be served in covered drinking-ware – with a lid and straw – to avoid attracting flies.

b. Clean up food messes and beverage spills immediately as they’ll attract flies.

c. Do your dishes, don’t leave them in the sink for long.

d. Cover your bins.

e. Keep unscreened doors and windows shut.

2. Mosquitoes

Unlike flies, mosquitoes don’t just buzz around annoyingly, they bite too: painfully. Their bite could also be lethal as mosquitoes are known to carry a plethora of diseases including dengue fever, malaria, filariasis and the Zika virus – the world’s latest health concern.

The sharp noise that mosquitoes produce as they fly around could also keep you awake at night especially if you are a light sleeper.

To prevent these blood suckers from infesting your home, ensure:

a. You drain all stagnant water around your property as mosquitoes require water to breed.

b. Keep your grass mowed, and clear bushes around your home as these will provide food and shelter for mosquitoes.

c. Close unscreened doors and windows at night.

3. Ants

These pests are generally harmless to humans – apart from a few species that bite – but their presence can be very troublesome. Ants will render food inedible once they invade it and could also contaminate surfaces and items as they travel on them which could spread diseases.

The sensation of ants crawling on your skin is also irritating and could make you very uncomfortable. Take the following measures to avoid ants this summer:

a. Clean your house regularly to remove food particles that could attract ants.

b. Store your food in airtight containers.

c. Repair leaky faucets and pipes as the water can attract ants.

d. Put your food in a food tent when outdoors to prevent ants from feeding on it.

4. Fleas

You and your furry friend will most probably be spending a lot of time outdoors this summer. This might expose your pet to fleas that they could bring into your home. Fleas will feed on any animal blood so both you and your pet will suffer when your house is infested by them.

These pests are also known to spread diseases to hosts as they feed on their blood which makes them a dangerous health hazard. To prevent a flea infestation ensure you:

a. Wash your pet with flea soap on a regular basis.

b. Mow your lawn and clear the bushes around your home as these provide the ideal spot for fleas to jump onto hosts – Fleas don’t fly but can jump really high.

c. Keep feral animals and wildlife out of your property as these could introduce fleas to your home.

5. Rodents

Rat and mice populations will increase significantly because of the warmer temperatures increasing the chances of getting a rodent infestation. Rodents will cause a lot of damage to your property by gnawing on things and burrowing into the properties foundation.

In addition to the costly damage they cause, mice can also bring smaller pests like fleas into your home. Because they breed quickly, a rodent infestation can grow to alarming levels in just a few weeks. To keep rodents off your property, make sure:

a. You inspect your house and cover all potential entry points that could be used by these pests.

b. Keep your stored food in secure containers preferably ones made with metal or glass.

c. Cover your waste bins.

d. And clean your house often to remove food crumbs that have been dropped on the floor.

The above prevention strategies will help reduce the chances of a pest infestation this summer. For complete protection from these intruders, combine these precautions with professional pest control products.

[box title=”About Pestrol Pest Control” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#000000″ border_style=”solid” align=”center”]Pestrol Pest Control supplies high-quality pest control solutions to help keep your home pest free this summer and throughout the year. Get all your pest problems solved at www.pestrol.com.au.[/box]

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Ashley Bryan

Owner at Webstrategies Pty Ltd

Ashley is owner and GM of Webstrategies Pty Ltd, a website optimisation company based in Queensland Australia. As well as providing optimisation services for clients throughout Australia and New Zealand, Ashley writes business related articles and blog posts.