Worldwide, over 2500 species of termites have been identified. They are sightless insects with soft bodies and are usually white or tan in colour. Some termites develop wings, although winged termites are not strong flyers. Termites are social creatures, inhabiting large colonies and they mostly feed on organic materials that contain cellulose, such as grass, wood, soil and crops.

While most termites contribute to the ecosystem of their habitat, about 300 species of termites are considered pests, because they cause economic damage to humans by destroying forests, crops and buildings. There are about 350 termite species in Australia but only a few of them feed on wood. These few wood-eating termites cause an immense amount of damage to our homes, commercial buildings and other wooden structures, such as power poles and fences. The two types of destructive wood-eating termite that thrive in Sydney’s warm, moist climate and attack buildings are a dry-wood species and a subterranean species.

Dry-wood termites live above ground and usually form their colonies in dead wood in the trees and buildings they have infested. As these termites don’t have a high need for moisture, they don’t need contact with soil. Subterranean termites, which are a much greater threat to Sydneysiders, need to maintain contact with the soil that is their main source of moisture. They build their nests below ground level and form underground tunnels to travel between the nests and the buildings they have targeted.

What both dry-wood and subterranean termites have in common is their ability to destroy from within, eating away the timber components of a home, including furniture, wooden cladding and structural members. A recent study by Archicentre, the national architecture advisory service, estimated that repairing termite damage to wood in Australian buildings costs $1 billion a year.

Building new homes using timber that has been treated (with pest control) or is naturally resistant to termites can be one way of helping to avoid termite attack. Being vigilant for signs of termites and having regular termite inspections can help you to take action before significant damage is caused. A termite expert first identifies the species that has infested the building and decides on the most appropriate control strategy. Ridding your home of termites may involve a combination of strategies such as destroying the nest, chemical treatment or baiting to eliminate the colony, and installing physical or chemical barriers to deter further invasions.

Nothing is sacred to these six-legged bottom feeders. On the list of uninvited guests that are impossible to get rid of, cockroaches are on the top. However, do not lose hope of getting rid of these pests. There is always a way. This greedy house guest does not know the meaning of the word “keep out.” They will eat and drink everything in the house, and what they do not eat or drink, they will walk through, making it unsuitable for ingestion by humans.

Not even the refrigerator is safe. Creeping about the house, getting into the things that you do not want them getting into, they will take over your home in days. The worst house-guest known to man, the cockroach is one flying, fast multiplying, nearly indestructible, insect.

These troublesome home invaders will not hesitate to invite all of the friends and family over to party, without even asking your permission. After crawling through the decaying flesh and matter, as well as sewage, they do not think twice about crawling through your home and on your furniture, table, counters, and even in your cabinets, without wiping their tiny, nasty feet. If you get rid of one, hundreds take their place.

Hiding is one of the many things that affords these disgusting little pests such long life spans. Often times, when a home owner thinks that they have gotten rid of their new tenants, they have simply moved to a less obvious living area to regroup and multiply. They can compress their bodies to fit in between walls, under bathtubs, and even in roof tiles. They also can thrive in attics, basements, sewers, and in overflow drains. Cockroaches love any place that has moisture.

Sprays, bombs, and roach motels are not even the least bit effective on ridding your home of these unwanted visitors. They will not leave, and they do not take hints. There are natural enemies, besides humans, that can get rid of these disgusting house-guests. For instance, geckos, spiders, mice, birds, and praying mantis are natural predators to the cockroach, however, having some of these creatures in your home can be just as bad as having the cockroaches, themselves.

Cockroaches can be a pest for any homeowner. They are difficult to eliminate from the home and can number in the millions within days. There are many different ways to help dwindle the numbers, but destroying them completely can be very difficult. When you think that you are rid of them completely, they will come back in greater numbers.

Falling back to a professional is the best way to ensure that you will get rid of these unwanted house-guests. Professional pest control and cockroach specialists in Sydney will be sure to rid your home of these disgusting pests, quickly and efficiently. After all, your main goal is to kick out those uninvited home invaders, as soon as possible. Catching them before they have a chance to multiply is best.

If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

Termites are white ants that feed on wood. They feed on trees in the forest and wooden structures. Some of the damage they cause is quite visible to all. However at times the damage they cause is not visible. In such cases, you can only ascertain the extent of damage through invasive inspection, which involves pulling down part of the house.

A young family, who experienced a terrible loss a few years back through the death of their father and husband, suffered an additional setback in their home. They discovered that termites were destroying their home. Termites had eaten into the wooden frames and structure of their home. However, they were fortunate enough to have an extreme makeover of their home courtesy of a local television show.

The damage caused by termites has not been limited to private homes. Social buildings have also fallen victim to termites. A church in Athens, in the state of Tennessee recently suffered such a setback. Termites had eaten up the church’s floor joints, wall infrastructure and ceiling. The church members attempted to make few repairs to remedy the situation. Unfortunately, their efforts created a worse problem for them. Their wooden church building developed structural problems. The walls caved in and the city officials condemned the building.

Subsequently the insurance company cancelled their policy citing “material changes in risk.” The church now has an USD 80,000 hole in its budget to fix the church. Had they taken precautionary measures to stall the damage caused by termites, the catastrophe may never have happened.

A similar fate befell a congregation in the Philippines. A church in the city of Cebu had to rebuild a building on its former site because termites had damaged the old one. It took a period of three years to rebuild it with massive resources sought from donors to complete the job. These are just but a few testimonies to show how destructive termites can be. It is therefore in your best interests to seek to protect your home from these pests. The cost of preventing and controlling these pests is indeed a drop in the ocean compared to the resources that may be required to rebuild the entire structure.

There are three types of inspections done to determine extent of damage by termites.  The first type of inspection is the visual inspection. They may just inspect your wooden frames and doorposts. Alternatively, they may have to conduct an invasive inspection to check termite damage in places that are not readily visible. A third method has recently come up where the inspectors use thermal imaging cameras to detect termite activity. This method is in use to avoid having to pull down part of your building to facilitate inspection.

To protect your home from these pests contact a pest or cockroach control company in Sydney. They will give you a free quotation of how much it will cost to do the job. They will also inspect your house for termite activity.

If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

There are ways to prevent some of the more common household pests that you can implement yourself before you decide that the problem is too big for you to handle alone.

Cockroaches: Keep all food stored in sealed containers. Clean the kitchen frequently and repair water leaks promptly. A drop of water is enough for one bug for a week. Seal off entry points like holes in the baseboards, in the kitchen cabinets, pipes, doors, and windows.

The health risks of these pests are the diseases that they carry. These include the likes of dysentery and Typhus. Another disgusting fact of cockroaches is that a single female can produce approximately 20,000 offspring in her short life span.

Rodents: Traps are not all that effective and pose a danger to young children and pets. Rodents are responsible for destroying billions of dollars each year in food and their chewing has caused fires. Depending on the breed, a pair can produce up to 15,000 babies in their lifespan. And this is on top of the fact that rat bites can transmit deadly diseases like rabies. Rodents are repelled by the smell of mint, camphor, and pint tar. Also having a cat or Terrier may help.

Ants: These become a big problem in the home when nests are disturbed. What starts the infestation indoors is poor housekeeping habits and your pet’s food bowl. Depending on the species, ants are capable of inflicting painful bites.

Ways to prevent home invasion include keeping the home as clean as possible, and monitoring the household plants. A way to protect the pet’s food bowl is to place the bowl in a tray of water. There are chemical ways to control ants but be warned, most of the time these contain poisonous chemicals.

Spiders: Depending on the species, have different ways of trapping their prey. Not all spiders are pests to the household but remember that all spiders are venomous to various degrees.

Finally Termites: These pests eat wood and cause extreme damage to your home. They eat 24 hours a day 7 days a week and are so slow about the damage that often times it goes unnoticed until it is really bad. To prevent this problem there are a few simple remedies to try; eliminate standing water, keep branches trimmed back, make sure the cracks in the bottom of your home are fixed and make sure your firewood and building material are away from your home.

In Sydney alone termites infest one in five homes resulting in costly repairs; and these rates are just increasing. So if you are considering selling your home you should have it inspected for these pests before putting it up on the market.

Often homeowners are able to deal with small to medium pest infestations on their own. However nothing beats the work of a professional. If you are serious about removing some of the threats posed by pests in your house, a simple phone call to an expert is all that is needed to help make your home a safer place to live.

f you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

Eliminating termites once they have moved in can be costly and stressful. It is far better to prevent termites from setting up camp in the first place. The truth is that there are plenty of ways you can keep your housing termite free. Take a proactive stance when it comes to termites, and take care of a small problem before it becomes a big one!

The first thing that you need to do is to stay vigilant. Most experts recommend that you check your home for termites every year. While this might seem to be fairly often, remember that it doesn’t take all that long for termites to get in, make themselves at home and to do some damage.

The signs you are looking for will occur in places that termites love, including subterranean locations and areas that have a lot of dry wood. Look for piles of termite dirt in wooden ceilings, and make sure that you keep track of any mud tunnels that show that the little pests are digging around.

If you are building a home or adding to your existing home, take the time to choose materials that are resistant to termite invasion. Redwoods, juniper and cedar for instance are highly attractive woods with wonderful aromas. The natural oils in these woods makes them less susceptible to incursion by termites and other insects. Also strive to keep things as dry as possible. Make sure that you don’t allow water to accumulate in or around your home, and that if you have a basement area, that it is kept dry.

When looking to ensure that your home is not termite friendly, remember to consider your landscaping as well. Make sure to keep the plants in your garden back from your home as this will prevent moisture from having time to do its worst. This will also help keep mold from flourishing.

Similarly, make sure that your sprinklers don’t spray directly onto your house and that any piles of wood or debris are kept away from your walls. Any areas of wood outside your home should be sealed against the weather and pay special attention to the bottom of your walls.

If you are looking to build, buy or sell a home in Sydney, take some time and think about what you can do in order keep termites away. It may save you a lot of time, money and stress in the long run.

If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

Did you know that cockroaches have been around for much longer than the dinosaurs? It’s true – the earliest fossil we have of a cockroach is over two hundred and eighty million years old. That’s eighty million years before the first dinosaur fossils. Earlier insects that eventually developed into cockroaches have been found, too. They date back as far as three hundred and fifty million years ago.

There are also lots of different kinds of cockroaches, from the tiny kind that infest houses to the largest species – six inches in length and with a wingspan of over a foot. About five thousand species of cockroaches exist in the world, and most of them don’t have much to do with people. Instead, they’re tropical creatures that spend their lives far from humans.

In some cultures, large roaches and their relatives are considered a delicacy. Like other insects, they may be battered, fried, and served with spicy coatings and condiments. To European descended people, this might seem gross, but it’s perfectly normal in many places. Roaches are an exotic food in Japan, are eaten fried in Thailand, and are consumed in many other countries, too.

Roaches are nimble, too – as anyone who’s ever tried to catch one can attest. A cockroach can change direction up to twenty-five times a second and run at three miles and hour. However, they spend about three quarters of their time resting.

These animals can also survive for incredible lengths of time without food or water – a month in the case of German cockroaches. If ordinary food and water aren’t available, they can live on the glue in cardboard boxes and magazines, and drink condensation on walls and pipes. Cockroaches have incredible recovery abilities, too. If they break a limb, they may regrow it.

These insects can even make decisions in groups. In one study where fifty roaches were placed in a dish with three shelters, each of which could hold forty insects, they split up two of the shelters evenly and left the third empty. When the shelter capacity was increased, they all sheltered together. This kind of cooperation may help them survive. There are even cockroaches that are kept as pets. The most famous is the Madagascar hissing cockroach.

So, do these interesting cockroach facts mean we’d love to have these insects in our homes? Not unless they’re safely in a glass aquarium! For most of us, a roach infestation still means calling a professional Sydney exterminator. After all, for a pest that can live through anything means you need to hire a pro.

If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

Drywood and subterranean termites are the most serious threats to your home. Drywood termites live above ground, particularly in warm coastal areas. Found largely in higher elevations, subterranean termites are more prevalent and pose a more serious threat to homes in the Sydney area.

These are 5 signs that your home may have termites:

1. Hollow wood. Poke some wood close to the frame of your home with a sharp object – if the wood is being corroded from the inside, it is very likely a sign if an infestation.

2. Grime in wood. Termites are especially fond of damp wood and termite damage is often mistaken for water damage (and vice versa). Damp areas are typically the first place which termites will choose to invade. Check any damp areas regularly – for instance, near sprinklers, leaky pipes and so on.

3. Flying termites.  A large number of flying termites pouring from wood or the dirt is often the most prominent indication of an infestation. Termites commonly ‘cloud’ in early springtime. You may also detect flying termites streaming about windowsills.

4. Muck appearing between crevices.  If your home is infested with termites, you may see muck coming up from crevices between planks and boards.

5. Termite wings in bright places. Since flying termites are attracted to bright light, check around window sills and other bright locations for cast off wings. If you see a lot of them, contact a pest control company at once, as this is a sign of an infestation.

What You Should Do If You Come Across Signs of a Termite Infestation?

First of all, do not panic. As luck would have it, termites enjoy tasting what they consume and are sluggish feeders.  Experts say it takes five years for a colony to be absolutely destructive.  Contact a professional pest control company for advice pertinent to your individual circumstances.

How to Keep Termites Out

Here are 5 ways to keep termites out of your house.

1. Avoid heaping wood of any kind up against your house, such as timber, limbs, or branches.

2. Don’t let water build up near your home’s foundation – this attracts termites.

3. Do not store wood under your deck or patio.

4. Make sure that the soil around your home does not come in contact with your sidings, especially if you have wooden sidings. This is like putting out a welcome mat for termites. Wood siding should be at least a foot above ground level.

5. Do any necessary repairs and maintenance to keep water from getting into the substructure of your home – this will deter termites.

Termites are responsible for billions of dollars in damage to homes all over the world.

If you suspect that your home may be infested with termites, get in contact with a certified pest control company immediately. Early detection of termites is the best way to protect your home.

If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

The Archicentre Pest inspection service was started in 2005 in Melbourne, and in Sydney in 2006, which will gain a better understanding of the aspects of timber pest attacks every where in Australia.

After examining 80,000 inspection reports, it has been determined that there is a definite increase in termite attacks in Australian homes. It was also found that warmer regions are more likely to have termites than the colder regions, and would therefore need more termite protection.

In Australia, Queensland was found to have the biggest infestation. The reports and subsequent analysis showed that termite attacks had increased by 11%. South Australia, New South Wales, and ACT have the second biggest infestation by showing an increase of 9%, which is still very high. Victoria has experienced an increase of 8%, while Western Australia saw a termite increase of 5%.

When it comes to pest treatment, in the year 2006, the average costs to treat a home infected by termites stood at around $2,500. This is a huge savings over the average price of $4,500 to repair an infestation. Of course, this amount will be affected by the area in which the home is located.

Do you have termites? There are some things that you can be looking for. The first thing you want to do is check your stumps and concrete barriers, do you see any mud? You also want to look at the sub floor of your home, is there any damage? Now you want to actually check the inside and outside of your home. Look around a foot from the floor or ground, check to see if there are any termite signs.

Termites seem to be the most active if a home is surrounded by lots of trees. Homes that were built 30 year ago or older are often more likely to have termite infestation.  Many home owners however create virtual termite attractions. For instance the way a home owner landscapes their home, making untreated wood and the like a very enticing meal for some prospective and hungry termites. Things such as old logs around the lawn, or non treated wood fence posts are likely termite attractors. Putting mulch around the home all the way against the wall of the home may also cause a termite attack.

If you have firewood that you like to store in your shed to keep dry when not in use, the termites are not going to be hungry for very long. However, using treated wood or concrete slabs is not your only defense as well. Termites are smart, they can smell or spot wood in even the tiniest places, after all, they are not that big.

The best defense you have is to make sure that you are having regular checks of your home for termites and other pests. Keeping control over them is the only way to prevent and eliminate them.

One last idea, this is especially for prospective home buyers, always make sure that you bring out a pest control company to do an inspection before you buy. This could actually save you thousands in unwanted and unnecessary repairs.

If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

Just like you, termites need food and water to live. The favoured food source of the termite happens to be wood. Now since your home is constructed of their favourite food, it makes sense that they would choose your home as their meal. Termites are attracted to the cellulose in wood, from which they derive sugar. For water, termites rely on rain, leaky faucets and standing water outdoors.

One of five homes in the Sydney area is affected by these destructive pests. There are ways you can keep these menaces away from your home. You need to find and repair any faulty ventilation which allows for the build-up of moisture. A damp environment will draw termites that are on the lookout for a source of water, which is like putting out a welcome mat for them. Check for cracks in your foundation, these allow termites an easy way into your home.

Termites build their colonies and live their lives mostly underground. They build a labyrinth of tunnels which may go as deep as three feet underground. These tunnels often lead right into your home! When termites invade, they can undermine your home with their tunnels. To prevent termite incursions, you must be vigilant. Remember, these creatures can destroy your biggest and most important investment – your home.

One of the biggest problems with termites is that you may not even see them. They won’t knock on your door politely asking to come in. There may be no signs of their presence at all, but the damage is being done. To be safe from this danger, you need to get rid of them before they seriously damage your home. An investment in termite protection now is far better than paying for the destruction which they can cause.

Annual termite inspections protect your home and its value. When selling your property prospective buyers will expect proof of the house being termite free. If there are any indications of a previous termite infiltration, even if termites no longer exist, it can cost you losing valuable equity, just the fact that termites were once present. In high-risk areas, experts recommend timely termite inspections at least twice a year. This damage control stops termites dead in their tracks before you have to say”there goes the neighborhood.”  Termite infestation is a serious threat in Sydney. We cannot just sit back and hope the problem will disappear.

You’re going to need professional help to eradicate the threat of termites. A complete inspection can help prevent and detect termite infestation. A professional can help you be prepared for this threat which can destroy your home without warning. Develop a plan for exterminating these pests and you’ll protect yourself and your home.

If you’re concerned about any of these common pests and need some help exterminating them, you can contact Pink Pest Services for professional pest control in Sydney or call 02 9529 5222 for immediate assistance.

One of the first things cockroaches are looking for when you find them in your home is food and water. With this said it is important to do what you can to make your home less inviting for them so they will want to go somewhere else. It is very important to find out where the infestation is so you know what parts of the home to attack. You should check your house thoroughly to see if you have any leaks as this is a sure fire way to attract cockroaches. If you find any leaks you should do what is necessary to repair them. You do not want to give the little critters an open invitation.

Not every home will see cockroaches but you need to know what to do in the event you do have these uninvited guests. They are common in suburban and inner city homes but can appear just about anywhere. Predators of cockroaches are centipedes and wasps but these are not the sort of insects you want hanging around your home either. The best thing to do is take precautions to keep cockroaches out of the picture.

You need to keep all food stored in its proper place. You should get into the habit of putting away leftovers as quickly as possible and be sure to rinse sinks well so that there is no food left behind.

Check the garbage can and make sure that its lid is on securely, this makes sure there is no scent for the creatures to follow to their very own buffet dinner. Don’t ever leave dishes that are dirty in the sink or on the counters as this will also attract cockroaches. In the event that you can’t clean the dishes immediately, you need to be sure, that you have rinsed them off well so that there is no food on them.

Have a regular routine of cleaning your kitchen. The floor should be swept and mopped, and the cabinets should be wiped down. Pickup the smaller appliances and wipe underneath them. Crumbs and food can easily slide under these things and you need to keep an eye on this. Its little things like this that can attract these critters.

Home remedies and store bought concoctions are available to solve your cockroach problem. You will probably have to try some to see which ones are right for you. Baits are available which kill cockroaches that eat it. Often they will carry this bait back to the nest and kill several more adults. This not only kills the adult but also the eggs inside the adult, seriously reducing the rate at which cockroaches are able to multiply.

So if you happen to be infested with these nasty critters, it’s probably worth your while hiring a professional exterminator. These companies specialise in pest control and can help to ensure that you are not also being invaded by other pests such as rodents or termites. These pests can also pose serious problems to your home and your health. Companies that specialise in pest control know the best way to get rid of your pests and are often the simplest and most effective option available.