It sounds strange to think of cockroaches as having a nationality, but…
We have noticed a larger than usual number of pest control clients requesting help to eradicate “German” cockroaches recently.
German Cockroaches are properly called Blattella germanica, and to the naked eye they are simply a smaller version of the “Australian” cockroach.
If you ever have to ID a German cockroach, you should know that they are typically about 1.3 cm to 1.6 cm in length and tan to light brown in colour.
They may also have two dark parallel streaks running from the head to the base of the wings. Although it has wings, it is unable to sustain flight.
According to Wikipedia,
The German cockroach is originally from Asia and very common in Russia, not in Germany, and it is also very closely related to the Asian cockroach, to the extent that to the casual observer they appear nearly identical and may be mistaken for the other.
So it appears that this is a case of mistaken (national) identity.
Seriously though, owing to their compact size, ability to breed quickly and their speed and agility, German cockroaches can sometimes prove difficult to eradicate.
If regular cockroach baits don’t work, you can contact Pink Pest Services for assistance with professional cockroach control in Sydney.
We are only too happy to assist.
Published on February 27, 2008
in Termites.
This is weird…
Will termites replace fossil fuels as a power source?
From Wikipedia:
One of the US Department of Energy’s most enduring goals is to replace fossil fuels with renewable sources of cleaner energy, such as hydrogen produced from plant biomass fermentation. Termites may help reach this goal through metagenomics.
Termites are capable of producing up to two liters of hydrogen from fermenting a single sheet of paper, making them one of the planet’s most efficient bioreactors.
Termites achieve this high degree of efficiency by exploiting the metabolic capabilities of about 200 different species of microbes that inhabit their hindguts.
…
The microbial community in the termite gut efficiently manufactures large quantities of clean hydrogen. By sequencing the termite’s microbial community, it may be possible to get a better understanding of these biochemical pathways.
Termites eat wood, but cannot extract energy from the complex lignocellulose polymers within it. These polymers are broken down into simple sugars by fermenting bacteria in the termite’s gut, using enzymes that produce hydrogen as a byproduct. A second wave of bacteria uses the simple sugars and hydrogen to make the acetate the termite requires for energy. If it can be figured out which enzymes are used to create hydrogen, and which genes produce them, this process could be scaled up with bioreactors to generate hydrogen from woody biomass, such as poplar, in commercial quantities.
Sceptics regard this as unlikely to be a carbon-neutral commercial process due to the energy inputs. For decades, researchers have sought to house termites on a commercial scale (like worm farms) to break down woody debris and paper but funding has been scarce and the problems of developing a continuous process that does not disrupt the termites’ homeostasis have not been overcome.
So it looks doubtful that termites will become the source of a fossil fuel revolution, but they could be one piece of the puzzle toward finding alternative energy sources in future.
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So you have bedbugs…
We know they are one of the most annoying little pests that not only cause a lot of itching and discomfort but can destroy a good night’s sleep.
Let’s assume that you have completed the Bedbug pre-treatment checklist and have booked an appointment with a Sydney bedbug eradication specialist.
The next step is the treatment itself. Here is a summary of what will happen if the treatment is compliant with the Bed Bug Code Of Practice.
During the treatment your pest control technician will:
- Conduct a detailed inspection of the infested areas.
- Vacuum to remove bed bugs and their eggs.
- Conduct a treatment using a steam cleaner.
- Apply an approved pesticide as necessary, to cracks, crevices and other harbourage points.
- Conduct a gas treatment (where applicable). After the gas treatment, the property will need to be vacated for at least 4 hours.
After the treatment, we recommend that you:
- Open all doors and windows and allow the property to ventilate.
- In the case of Pink Pest Services, we conduct a follow up inspection in approximately 14-21 days. Where further activity is located, an additional treatment will be carried out as required. It is not uncommon to locate further activity during this follow up visit.
In some cases, it can take up to a month to achieve full control of an infestation, as the bed bugs come into contact with the treatment agents applied.
Where a Free Service Period has been offered, we return and retreat, as required, any area covered by the initial treatment, at no expense to the client, for the period as indicated on the initial quotation.
Before engaging any pest controller, we recommend that you check to see that a Free Service Period has been specified because bedbug treatment most often requires multiple visits.
For more information or to arrange a treatment contact Pink Pest Services on (02) 9529 5222 or contact us online.
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Bedbug infestations have increased by more than 5000% in the Sydney area since 1999. They have now become very common in all areas of Sydney.
Many people assume that getting rid of bedbugs is as easy as a quick pest treatment. Actually, the process is rather more involved and successful eradication of bed bugs depends on significant preparation on the part of you, the bedbug “victim”.
The following “pre-treatment checklist” will help you ensure that the bedbugs are eradicated as quickly as possible and you can enjoy an uninterrupted night’s sleep once again.
Bedbug Pre-treatment checklist
Prior to the treatment you will need to:
- Remove all bedding from beds and ensemble bases. This should be washed at temperatures of more than 60 degrees C and dried in a clothes drier on the hot setting for a minimum of 30 minutes. Place clean bedding in a NEW plastic bag for storage. Return bedding to infested room/s only AFTER treatment.
- Remove clothes from cupboards/wardrobe and wash, dry and store in the same manner as described above.
- Items that can not be washed and dried may be placed in the freezer overnight or be professionally dry cleaned.
- Carry out any specific recommendations that your Pink Pest Services technician makes during the quotation.
- Remove all pets from the property during the treatment and for 4 hours after. (Fish tanks inside the house will need to be covered with cling wrap and the filter turned off during the treatment).
- Children under 4 will need to be removed from the property during the treatment and for 4 hours after.
- We recommend that pregnant women and people with asthma and/or allergies stay away from the property overnight.
- IT IS IMPORTANT NOT TO MOVE ITEMS BETWEEN ROOMS OR TREAT AREAS WITH FLY SPRAY OR THE LIKE. THIS WILL MAKE THE TREATMENT MORE DIFFICULT, SPREAD THE INFESTATION AND REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SUCCESSFUL CONTROL.
Where all of the above measures have been completed, Pink Pest Services provides a Free Service Period guarantee in writing.
By combining your efforts with professional bedbug control, your chances of eradicating any bedbug problem increase dramatically.
For more information on bed bugs and their control we recommend that you look at a copy of the Bed Bug Code of Practice at www.bedbug.org.au
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