Ants Control

Although ants are an irritant when they come in to the home the most common species, the Garden Ant, is not thought to carry disease. However, as it is impossible to know where the ants were last foraging for food, it is sensible to take steps to prevent them entering your home and food cupboards.

Types of Ant Problems:

There are thousands of different species of ant but the most common ones in this country are:
Garden Ants – worker ants 4-5mm but the Queen can be as big as 15mm. Queens lay their eggs in the spring in nests that are typically in soil but can be in brickwork or under bark. Garden Ants are attracted to sweet foods and leave a pheromone trail back to their nests for other ants to follow to the food source.

Pharaoh’s Ants – worker ants are 1.5 -2mm long and the Queen is 4 – 6mm long. Both workers and the Queen are a yellow-brown color. Pharaoh’s Ants originate from the tropics and require artificial heat in order to survive and reproduce and tend to live in large heated buildings such as hospitals, hotels and blocks of flats. This ant’s diet is largely of decomposing foodstuffs and it carries harmful germs picked up from when it has been feeding.

Red Fire Ants – workers 3mm long and the Queen up to 6mm long. These ants are a reddish brown color and live in colonies of up to 100,000 or more ants! Each colony is led by a Queen who lays between 150 and 200 eggs per day. Fire ants build mounds of up to 2 feet high to live in and these are usually built in open, sunny spaces. Fire ants sting both animals and humans and their sting is extremely painful.

How to keep Ants away

The majority of black or garden ants will only come in to your home to forage for food and are attracted by sweet and sticky substances.

Ensure that there is no readily available food source in your home by:

Always covering food – we do not know where the ant has been before it crawls across your food !
Clear away food and liquid spillages immediately.
Clean food debris from under kitchen appliances.
Make sure all rubbish bins have tightly sealed lids Keep compost enclosed and covered.
Clear away your Pet’s food immediately it has finished eating.
You can help prevent Ants entering your home by sealing access points such as cracks and crevices in door and window frames.

How to get rid of Ants

Whilst a wide range of insecticidal products are available to kill Garden Ants an established problem with Pharaoh’s Ants, Crazy Caribbean Ants or Fire Ants may require professional pest control to ensure that it will not reoccur.

Using Insecticides for Ant Control

Use Ant Killer Spray directly where you see signs of ant activity and also spray any surfaces, cracks and crevices where ants have been.

Alternatively Ant and Insect Powder can be an extremely effective and easy-to-use ant killer. Simply apply the powder round the nest and puff it in to the cracks and crevices where ants are gaining entry.

Pouring boiling or soapy water on to what appears to be an ant’s nest will probably only provide a temporary solution as the main nest is usually too deep for such remedies to penetrate.

Professional ant control

While products purchased in general stores can deal with smaller ant problems or problems with garden ants, a professional pest control service will be required for larger or multiple infestations and certainly when the ants are Crazy Caribbean Ants or Pharaoh’s Ants. Pestoman technicians understand the habits of each species and also have a range of powerful insecticides to deal with ants and provide the reassurance that the problem has been fully dealt with.

Pestoman offers a call-out service to deal with ant and other pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a pestoman technician, call us on 1800 572 1508 / 97050 41508.

Cockroaches Control

Cockroaches are a high risk pest to have in the home. They carry a range of serious illnesses including salmonella, dysentery, gastroenteritis and typhoid.
The risk is particularly high in homes with children, the elderly or those fighting illnesses. Cockroach droppings also cause eczema and asthma.

Beyond the health risks, cockroaches are a distasteful pest to have in the home. Not only are they disturbing by sight, but cockroaches produce an obnoxious odor that taints food and objects they come into contact with.
Cockroaches can breed rapidly and are highly resilient. A quick response is essential to ensure a cockroach infestation does not become established or spread to neighboring properties.

Signs of a Cockroach Problem:

There are two common species found in the home:-
German Cockroach – 12-15mm.Brown in color with 2 dark stripes on thorax. The wings are as long as the body or slightly overlapping in both sexes, despite this they prefer to run or climb.
Oriental Cockroach – 20-30mm.Dark brown to black in color. The wings are undeveloped in female but cover ¾ length of the abdomen in the male; both sexes prefer to run or climb.
American Cockroach – 28-44mm. Shining red-brown in color. Runs but may fly at very high temperatures. These species will tend to be found in greatest numbers in the kitchen or where food is stored.

The typical signs of a cockroach problem are:

Seeing live insects – Cockroaches are nocturnal and hide during the day. You will most likely see them when turning on the light in the kitchen at night
Egg cases and cast skins – Cockroaches shed their skin 5-8 times as they mature
Droppings – Cockroaches leave a dust of black droppings less than 1mm wide and of varying lengths
Odor – Established cockroach infestations produce an unpleasant, musty smell
Damage – Cockroaches will attack organic goods including leather and books

How to Keep Cockroaches Away

Sealing entry points can help prevent a cockroach from entering the home. Key risks are gaps under doors or around pipes to the exterior or neighboring properties.

Also seal gaps where cockroaches can harbor – cockroaches are nocturnal and hide during the day in cracks and crevices in the walls, around skirting boards or behind electrical sockets.

The most effective way of controlling cockroaches is to deny them food and water:

Store food in containers or in sealed plastic bags
Clean all waste food and spillages immediately
Clean food debris from under fridges or cookers
Clear used crockery and cutlery immediately
Remove pet food, water and litter trays overnight
Keep refuse or compost in sealed bins
Take care with soiled nappies or dirty clothing
Do not leave liquids in sinks or buckets overnight
In our view, electromagnetic or ultrasonic repellers do not work with cockroaches and are not recommended to prevent or control cockroach infestations.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

If untreated, cockroaches quickly establish themselves in high numbers and will spread to adjoining properties. Insecticides that kill insects including cockroaches are available in a variety of stores but an established cockroach problem will often require professional pest control to ensure that it will not reoccur. It is also extremely difficult to reach all cockroach hiding places with amateur products. Infestations are likely to reoccur especially when surviving cockroach eggs hatch after one or two months.

Professional Cockroach Control

Cockroaches are very resilient and while insecticides available in general stores can deal with the immediate problem, treatment by a qualified pest control technician is often necessary to deal with cockroaches over the long-term.

Pestoman technicians have a range of powerful insecticides to deal with cockroaches. We also minimize the risk of insecticides in the home with proprietary products such as non-toxic Insecticide Dusts and sprays as well as special formulations which are highly targeted at the crevices where cockroaches hide.

Pestoman offers a call-out service to deal with cockroach and other pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets. If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a pestoman technician, call us on 1800 572 1508 / 97050 41508.

Flies and Mosquitoes Control

Flies and mosquitoes can be a nuisance when buzzing around the home particularly if in large numbers. However, some species of fly and mosquito also pose a health risk.

In particular, house flies transmit a wide range of diseases including salmonella, dysentery, tuberculosis, cholera and parasitic worms.

Mosquitoes are attributed with the spread of Dengue Fever in this country but are unlikely to spread Malaria, as in the tropics. Even if there was no risk of disease the irritation caused by the bites can still be distressing particularly for children.

Types of Fly and Mosquito Problem:

here are thousands of different species of fly but the most common fly and mosquito problems are caused by :
House Flies – Adults 6-7mm. Female houseflies lay 400-600 eggs in decaying matter or fasces which develop into maggot larvae. Attracted to any uncovered food or organic waste.
Blow Flies or Bottle Flies – Adults 6-12mm, usually metallic blue or green but can be black or grey. Significant numbers in a house will often indicate a dead animal (such as a mouse) in the property.
Cluster Flies – Adults 6-10mm. Cluster flies often take shelter over the winter inside homes (such as in attics) and can occur in very large numbers in the home as they emerge in the spring.
Mosquitoes – Adults 5mm. Tend to be found near still water where their larvae develop. Our guide to insect bites advises on treatment for bites.

How to keep mosquitoes and flies away

For many species of fly including house flies and bottle flies, it is important not to attract flies with food sources or places for fly larvae to grow :
Always cover food – flies spread diseases by landing on food before we eat it
Clear away food and liquid spillages immediately
Clean food debris from under kitchen appliances
Make sure all rubbish bins have tightly sealed lids
Keep compost enclosed and covered
Clean up after pets – not only are fasces the perfect breeding place for flies but also somewhere a fly may land before landing on your food

Prevent flies and mosquitoes being able to develop in standing water:

Ensure drains are kept clear and running
Treat drains that seem to have flies with bleach
Ensure gutters and water gullies are not blocked
Cover water butts with a lid
Do not leave standing water (eg: in watering cans)
Introduce goldfish into garden ponds to eat mosquito and fly larvae

Finally, you can help prevent mosquitoes and flies entering your home:

After dark, keep windows and doors closed or block out the light with curtains.
Fit fly screens to windows especially around kitchen and waste areas.

How to get rid of mosquitoes and flies

A wide range of DIY products to kill flies is available in stores but an established fly problem may require professional pest control to ensure that it will not reoccur.

Professional Fly and Mosquito Control

While insecticides can deal with smaller mosquito and fly problems, a professional pest control service will be required for larger or multiple infestations. Pestoman technicians understand the habits of each species and also have a range of powerful insecticides to deal with mosquitoes and flies and provide the reassurance that the problem has been fully dealt with. Pestoman offers a call-out service to deal with fly and other pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a Pestoman technician, call us on 1800 572 1508 / 97050 41508.

Creepy Crawlies Control

Sharing your home with any one of the thousands of insect species found in this country is never fun. Not only can the spread of diseases be attributed to some ‘Creepy Crawlies’ and ‘Casual Intruders’ but they can also damage to your home possessions, not to mention the real distress they can cause to the many Herpetophobics – a fear of Creepy Crawlies! – in this country.

Types of Creepy Crawlie Problems:

There are thousands of different species of ‘Creepy Crawlies’ or ‘Casual Intruder’ but a few of the more common ones are :

Centipedes – There are more than 100 species of centipede and their shared traits are that they have long bodies with anything from 15 to 173 segments. Each segment has one pair of legs. A centipede’s head has a pair of antennae and other mouthparts.

The thorax of the centipede has two venous claws. These are used for defending themselves as well as for capturing and paralyzing their food source.

Centipedes generally move very quickly and feed on other insects

In temperate climates a centipede bite will feel somewhat similar to a Bee or Wasp sting whereas a bite from a larger species of centipede, particularly a species from the tropics, is not only extremely painful but leaves two puncture wounds at the bite site.

Carpet Beetle – This species comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and color but generally they resemble a ladybird in shape with their color ranging from black to brown and even white and yellow. Adults generally 2-3mm long. Adults are not a pest in your home as they tend to live outside and eat nectar and pollen. However, towards late summer they are extremely likely to enter your home and lay up to 40 eggs at a time in any natural fibers, such as curtains and carpets, in to your home.

The eggs hatch as larvae within 2 to 3 weeks and it is these larvae – sometimes called Woolly Bears – that do so much damage because their diet consists of any natural fiber such as carpets, soft furnishings and clothes.

Silverfish – Adults are 10-12mm long, silver grey in color and torpedo shaped with three bristles on the end of the Abdomen. Silverfish need moist, warm conditions and are often founding bathrooms and kitchens. They feed on food debris and, although prefer a starchy diet, have evolved to be able to digest cellulose and can cause real damage if allowed to get in to your paintings or book collections.

Earwig – Adults are 14-23mm long, dark brown in color and have forceps at the hind end. The forceps, which are curved in the male and straight in the female, are not poisonous and will simply give you a small nip. The female lays about 40 eggs a year and then rears the young herself – which is unusual in the insect world. Earwigs feed on green vegetation and other plants so are more of a nuisance in the garden than in the home.

How to keep Centipedes and Creepy Crawlies away

Sealing entry points can help casual intruders from entering the home. Key risks are gaps under doors or around pipes to the exterior or neighboring properties. Also seal gaps where these insects can harbor – many of these insects, such as Earwigs and Carpet Beetles, are nocturnal and hide during the day in cracks and crevices in the walls, around skirting boards or behind electrical sockets.

Regularly Hoover carpets and rugs to eradicate any eggs that Carpet Beetles may have laid and use insecticidal carpet shampoos at regular intervals.

Store food in containers or in sealed plastic bags
Clean all waste food and spillages immediately
Clean food debris from under fridges or cookers
Clear used crockery and cutlery immediately
Remove pet food, water and litter trays overnight
Keep refuse or compost in sealed bins
Take care with soiled nappies or dirty clothing
Do not leave liquids in sinks or buckets overnight

Silverfish require a moist but warm atmosphere to live in so ensure that rooms are dry and well ventilated.

How to get rid of Creepy Crawlies

If untreated, some casual intruders will quickly establish themselves in high numbers and will spread to adjoining properties.

In the case of an infestation of Carpet Beetle we would recommend thorough vacuuming of all carpets and shampooing with an insecticidal carpet cleaner. Any clothes, curtains or soft furnishings showing signs of infestation or damage from the larvae of the Carpet Beetle should be dry cleaned.

Controlling Centipedes and ‘Creepy Crawlies’ Yourself

A wide range of products are available on the market that can be used effectively against a variety of insects and casual intruders. Please follow the instructions to ensure safe and effective use.

However, it may be difficult for you to reach all the corners, cracks and crevices that some of these insects will use to hide, especially with amateur products. An established pest problem will often require professional pest control to ensure that it will not reoccur.

Professional Pest Control

Most Creepy Crawlies or Casual Intruders are more of a pest in the garden than in the home. However, this is not always the case and some of these pests will prove extremely difficult to control. DIY products can deal with the immediate problem, treatment by a qualified pest control technician is often necessary to deal with some Creepy Crawlies over the long-term.

Pestoman technicians have a range of powerful insecticides to deal with Creepy Crawlies and Casual Intruders. We also minimize the risk of insecticides in the home with proprietary products such as non-toxic Insecticide Dust, gels & sprays. Pestoman offers a call-out service to deal with pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a Pestoman technician, call us on 1800 572 1508 / 97050 41508.

Rodents Control

Rats pose a significant health risk to humans and our pets. Common diseases carried by rats include Salmonella, Weil’s disease, and TB. Rats also carry fleas, mites and ticks and can cause acute allergic reactions.

Rats in the home or garden:

It is extremely serious if rats are getting into your home even if they are not entering a direct living area. Any rat problem inside the home must be treated urgently
Rats in the garden and other external areas can also be high risk, particularly in areas used by children or pets. It is important to get rid of rats in the garden to reduce the risk of them trying to enter the home. Special care is needed for properties with integral garages or with dog or cat flaps as rats can use these to get into the home.

Signs of a Rat Problem

Rats are nocturnal and usually hide from humans, so the typical signs of a rat problem in the home are :
Scratching noises in walls or under the floor as rats scurry around
Droppings – Rats leave dark, tapered droppings about 10-14mm long
Distinctive smell – Rats leave an ammonia-like smell that will be particularly strong in enclosed areas such as under cupboards
Damage – Rats have teeth that grow continuously and gnaw on wood and plastic to keep them trim. Rats can even cause fires by chewing through cables. Ripped food packaging – Rats will tear open food which may leave teeth marks
Nests – Rats build nests in warm, hidden places using shredded material such as newspaper and fabrics. Nests will often contain young rats
Burrows – In gardens, rats will dig burrows especially in compost heaps or under sheds. They will also build nests under garden decking.

How to keep Rats away

The first defense against a rat infestation is to proof your home. Young rats can get through holes of less than 1cm, so it is important to seal any holes and fit bristle strip around doors.

Ultrasonic repellers emit sound that is uncomfortable for rats but cannot be heard by humans. These may help deter rats from entering a home in the first place, but we do not recommend them for existing infestations as rats can quickly acclimatize to the ultrasound. It is important not to attract rats with food – store food in plastic or metal containers and regularly clean under cookers and fridges. Outdoors, ensure household refuse is kept in closed bins, do not put meat into compost heaps and use squirrel-proof bird feeders. Rats can come up from sewers through broken pipes – it is important to ensure that all pipe-work is in good order.

How to get rid of Rats

If not treated, a rat infestation can quickly take hold. A wide range of rodenticides and other products, such as traps and glue boards, are available in stores for dealing with rats in low risk areas, but we recommend treatment by one of our service technicians for rat activity in living areas or if the problem persists.

Controlling rats in your home and garden

A wide range of rat control products for amateur use including rat traps and rat killer (“rat poison”) are available from general stores, garden centers and grocery stores. It is essential to follow the instructions carefully for safe and effective use and to ensure humane control of rats. Rat traps are very powerful and should only be used in areas that children, pets and wildlife cannot reach.

Professional Rat Control

While amateur products are a cost effective way to control rat problems in low risk areas, professional pest control is required for high risk areas, more established rat colonies or where there is a repeated infestation. Pestoman service technicians provide highly targeted treatment to deal with any rat problem and will advise on how to keep your home free of rats in the future. Pestoman offers a call-out service to deal with rats and other pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a Pestoman technician, call us on 1800 572 1508 / 97050 41508.

Termites Control

Rats pose a significant health risk to humans and our pets. Common diseases carried by rats include Salmonella, Weil’s disease, and TB. Rats also carry fleas, mites and ticks and can cause acute allergic reactions.

Rats in the home or garden:

Pestoman – Protecting Your Home from Termite Problems
Termite describes a species of wood-boring insects that attack wood.
The threat from termites is extremely serious in this part of the world and most severe when they attack wood in buildings. The termite eats away at any wood – be it ceilings, walls and floors – and, over time, the termite damage weakens the timber and can eventually lead to the collapse of the building.

Termites are social insects and are most closely related to the cockroaches with which they share a close common ancestor.

They are among the most important groups of animals on land because they play a vital role in breaking down dead plant material. They have symbiotic flagellates or bacteria in their hindguts that are able to break down plant cellulose to a digestible form and in the subfamily, Macrotermitinae, the termite’s culture and eat fungi in their nests using dead plant material.

Ants (order: Hymenoptera, family: Formicated) are often confused with termites because they are also social, and Termites are sometimes called ‘white ants’ (a confusing term). Ants, like wasps (from which they evolved), have a constriction half way down their body whereas in termites the body is uniformly broad.
The prominent mounds you see in the trees, or sometimes on a telephone or electricity pole, are made by termites.

Whereas ant workers are all females, in termites, workers can be both male and female. In ants, mating occurs before the nest is founded and the male dies after mating – he does not become a king and live and mate with the queen in the new colony, as in termites.

Treating Termite

For the purposes of treatment, Termites can be divided into two groups i.e. Subterranean Termites and Dry wood Termites. The Subterranean Termites replace any wood taken with soil from the excavation of their nest, thus they have to constantly return to their nest. In the case of Dry wood Termites, the entire life cycle takes place within the timber and no soil is used.

Termites in the home should be treated by professional technicians as failing to deal with the problem could lead to structural damage. Many Termite infestations go undetected for years by which time the damage can be widespread and severe. It is important to act swiftly if you are concerned that you may have a problem with Termites.

The images in this section show a termite nest in a Jamaican mangrove swamp and damage to a wooden beam from termites.

Indications of a possible Termite infestation may be the scratching sound heard coming from within a door frame for example. This sound is usually only heard late at night when the house is very quiet, and is the sound of the workers foraging for food. Workers of Subterranean species are able to chew timber right to the limits and leave only a thin veneer or coat of paint. On rare occasions workers will make a mistake and chew through the veneer or paint. In this case, they will plug the hole with mud brought up from the nest. Dry wood Termites on the other hand will dispose of their fasces and bits of undigested timber, (these resemble poppy seeds), by ejecting them through ‘kick holes’, thus indicating their presence.

Termite Survey

Before any treatment is undertaken, a Pestoman Surveyor will determine the type and extent of the infestation i.e. Subterranean or Dry wood Termite treatment by Pestoman

Treatment for Termites involves spraying with TERMIDOR, a registered Termiticide. Termidor is unique in that not only does it kill Termites when they ingest it but it also kills on contact. An additional benefit of the Termidor system is that is said to be between 2 and 6 times faster than a bait system at managing termite colonies.

It is not unusual for treatment against Termites to involve digging holes or drilling into timber. In every instance Pestoman will make good paintwork and other areas disturbed as a result of treatment against Termites in your home.

Why Pestoman

Pestoman are acknowledged experts in the field of Termite control, and no other company has the experience and craftsmanship to deal with any Termite problem.
However, it is not just about our leading technical skills. We also know how sensitive it is having people working in your home, so we work hard to minimize disruption in your home and keep things tidy. It is part of our service promise to you.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a Pestoman technician, call us on 1800 572 1508 / 97050 41508.

Spider Control

Spiders rarely bite people and only two groups – the black widow and brown recluse – are considered dangerous. The bite of most spiders has little to no effect on people, while a few others are of minor medical importance. Many people have an inherent fear of spiders.

Spiders can be a particular nuisance in the home. They are attracted to warm, dark small spaces, like wall cracks, corners, air vents, and in the eaves of your home. Other species prefer to stay closer to the outdoors, weaving their webs in your barn, garden or near your outside lighting. Most spiders are a nuisance primarily because of their webbing.

Spiders

There are more than 35,000 species of spiders worldwide. Spiders exist in a wide range of colors and sizes, yet they are all easily recognizable by their 8 legs. Spiders are often beneficial because they eat many types of insects, including those that are pests.
Some common species of spiders that can be found entering your home are :
Common House Spider – Spider most often encountered inside.
Cellar Spider – Very long, thin legs; will rapidly shake its body on the web when disturbed.
Wolf Spiders – Large, “hairy”, and often mistaken for tarantulas; leg span as much as 3 inches.
Sac Spiders – Often pale yellow, grey, or green color; likely responsible for most indoor spider bites.

How to Keep Spiders Away

Spiders are most likely to enter the home in the fall due to their search for a warm place to spend the winter.
There are several ways that you can help to prevent and control spider problems in your home : Vacuum regularly.
Remove noticeable webs.
Fill in gaps in walls and under doors to deter entry.
Remove sheltering sites like firewood piles and compost piles from near your home.
Use lighting in a way that is less attractive to the insects that spiders feed on.

How to Get Rid of Spiders

Although many homeowners struggle with do it yourself spider control remedies the results are often less than satisfactory. Small problems can develop into large ones and this is when many people seek out the services of a pest control professional.

Pestoman l technicians are skilled, experienced professionals – they are state certified licensed applicators and are required to participate in regular training programs to maintain their expertise. They understand the habits of each species and use that knowledge when developing a control program for your home. They also have respect for you, your home, your family and your time.

At Pestoman Pest Control, we pride ourselves on fast, responsive service every day. We are always available 24 hours a day for any emergency pest concerns that may develop and all appointments are scheduled at times that are convenient for you our customer.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a Pestoman technician, call us on 1800 572 1508 / 97050 41508.