As the seasons change, it is time for Queensland to experience the annual rainy period. Big storms, plenty of rain, and high humidity means that right now an insect boom is going on both inside and outside your home. Rather than let your house be destroyed by these pests, you need to recognise the signs of an infestation so that you can call in professional help. There are three pests that may have taken up residence at your place, and these are the tell-tale signs to look out for.
Termites
Termites love the humid conditions that this weather brings, but they also like dark places to hide out. There are four big clues that termites are turning the wood within your walls and ceilings into their dinner:
- Cracked paint on a wooden surface. Cracks in the paint gives termites an easy way into your wood. They love to eat the cellulose fibres found within wood, and they do not need large gaps to make themselves at home.
- Mud tunnels on the outside of the house. While a termite is off searching your house for their tucker, they leave little tunnels made of mud on the outside of the house to provide them with moisture.
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped. If termites are within the wood and eating away the insides, the wood will give a hollow sound when you knock on it.
- Small, discarded insect wings. When the termites are leaving for another colony, the winged swarmers go first to reproduce. These leave discarded wings as they depart, so piles of small wings are a sign termites have been in your home.
Termites will do a lot of damage to any wood within your home, so they need to go before causing thousands of dollars of damage.
Ants
While ants aren't as destructive as termites, they will quickly pile onto any food left uncovered. This makes them a nuisance to have around, so watch for these signs that they are hiding out at your place:
- Ants live in colonies like termites, so if you see one you can guarantee there are more close by.
- Ants are organised workers, so you will often see them walking in a line. This is because they all have a job to do, and they do so with a production line mentality. Follow the line of ants, and you may be able to determine where they are nesting.
- Be careful of small piles of dirt discovered in wall cavities. This is not dirt, but an ant nest.
Ants bite humans and pets, and they also do damage to your house plants, so you don't really want them in the house for long.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are creepy, and just like termites, they like to hide out in places that are dark and moist. You will not normally spot them during the day, but if you flip on the light switch at night you will see them scurrying off across the floor. Other signs that cockroaches are near include:
- A musty odour. Cockroaches leave behind a musty scent as they move from room to room.
- As a cockroach grows, they will shed their skin. Coming across these discarded skins is another sign they are hiding in the recesses of your home.
- Cockroaches also leave behind faeces that looks like spots of pepper on your floors.
Cockroaches spread bacteria through the house which can make your family members ill, so they definitely need to go as well!
Now that you know what to look out for, you can take early action against termites, ants, and cockroaches if they decide your home is a great place to be during this wet season. Call for more info the services of a pest control company as soon as you see any of the indicators listed above. The sooner they treat your home to eradicate these pests, the less damage will be done to both your house and the people who live inside.
