Top 10 Common Pests in Australia

A Guide to Household Pests in Australia

Pests are something all of us are familiar with. None of them are welcome visitors in our homes.

Whether it be a cockroach scuttling across the floor, an ant trail marching through your house, or a mouse scampering away when you turn on the light.

This article will discuss what is a house pest, common kinds of Australian household pests and quickest ways to get rid of them if they do appear inside your home.

Lastly we will answer some frequently asked questions on the topic and why hiring a professional pest control expert is beneficial.

So grab a cuppa, sit back and let’s dive into the world of a wide range of unwanted insects.

What is a household pest?

When it comes to animals, the term actually encompasses a wide array of creatures and insects. Many of which are dreaded by homeowners all over the world. From rats and mice to spiders, flies, and bedbugs. Any type of animals can be a nuisance for homeowners as they wreak havoc in your space often seeking warmth outside of their natural habitats. Though you’ll see them mostly outdoors, these annoying animals will nest inside your home if given access. This is why it’s important to secure entry points like windows, doors and even wall cavities or foundations to stop these critters from entering. Moreover an influx in outdoor humidity levels particularly on rainy days may attract some types of textile insects into our living space further complicating matters.

Top 10 Common Pests in Australia

Australia is home to a wide variety of Australian pests from small ants to big lizards. Though not all are equal when it comes to how threatening they can be, many of them should definitely be watched out for. Their presence inside your home can make living quite uncomfortable. To help you understand these common pests in Australia and where they might crop up in households.

Cockroaches

Known to give people a scare, these feral critters are one of the most iconic animals in Australia. With an uncanny ability to scurry away – and their penchant for sneaking into dark, wet and warm spaces. Cockroach infestation can often be spotted soon after they enter your home. Though usually harmless. Aside from being a bit alarming to some, it’s best not to let them linger as you don’t want your home becoming their permanent abode. some common species are American cockroach, German cockroach and Australian cockroach.

Spiders

Spiders are one of the least liked visitors to burgle our homes. Commonly cropping up around balconies or living areas, spiders can vary from being positively harmless to mildly venomous deadly spider. Yet regardless of their venom content, no one really wants them in their space and everyone has fear of spider. Though some may surprise you with how small they are, even little fellow spiders have an eerie presence. This is why it’s important to properly seal doorways and gaps to prevent spider infestation. Some known spider species are funnel web spider, redback spider, white-tailed spider, black house spider, and huntsman spider.

Fleas

Fleas, such as cat fleas are something else. Little jumps of joy for any homeowner to come upon in their space. As tiny parasites which feed off the blood of their host, usually animals, fleas usually enter your house through our pet friends. But can also be transmitted from contact with other people who may have brought them inside their homes unknowingly. A flea infestation can quickly travel and as they reproduce rapidly based on their life cycle, it’s important to treat them sooner than later. Check carpets or furniture for any tiny black spots, which might indicate flea activity in the house.

Moths

Moths are one of the most common insects found in homes and gardens in Australia, mostly due to moth’s liking for warm weather. They can be an unsightly problem both aesthetically and structurally, as they chew through fabrics, carpets, and woodwork. Thankfully, there are a number of treatments available for moths in Australia. For those that prefer more natural remedies, there are also pheromone traps available that attract male moths while trapping them effectively in place so they cannot mate with females anymore. These traps work best when placed near areas where moths frequent such as kitchens and wardrobes or anywhere else you see signs of damage from moths as they also cause diseases.

Wasps and bees

Wasps and bees usually give many of us the heebie-jeebies. Making a wasp nest in warm, sunny spots is their territory, as they are generally harmless if left to do their own thing. However, once disturbed these critters can become quite aggressive. Often swarming around unsuspecting victims. So if you spot any wasps and bees near your home’s entry points. Take caution as even bee or wasp stings might not be welcome visitors at the local hospital. European wasps, paper wasps and mud wasps do the most damage.

Rodents

Rodents are a form of critter we all know and hate. These house mice, while cute from afar, are not welcome guests in our homes as they can carry potentially harmful illnesses if they enter the living area. Rats and mice usually scurry around when least expected and do their best to find warm places to nest. So it’s important to block any access points you find such as gaps or holes. Make sure all your bathrooms, laundry rooms and other areas around the house are well sealed and monitored frequently for any rodent activity.

Mosquitoes

These little critters are a nightmare come true. They just love human blood. Disease or no disease. Many of us are well aware of how irritating and dangerous these common house insects can be, as they not only cause health risks including the dreaded dengue fever but also offer up an annoying itch on your skin after painful bites. They’re often most active around standing water sources. So it is best to avoid these key locations if you want to keep the mosquito population within your home to a minimum.

Ants

Once they find access to food sources like food spills or food crumbs, these critters will march up and down their ant trail all day and night. They steal bits here and there from your kitchen, they can also destroy your electrical wiring, clothes, and even plastic. Like many other animals, ants have an amazing knack for finding ways to get inside your home, from tiny gaps in doors to the tiniest of cracks in kitchens and bathrooms. Even if you maintain good hygiene by wiping away any spills, and cleaning dirty dishes or crumbs promptly, you can still stumble upon these intruders making their way into your home. Some of the most common species of ants are blackhouse ants, jumper ant, carpenter ants, and coastal brown ants.

Bed bugs

These nasty critters are enough to make anyone’s skin crawl just by thinking about them and cause dreaded diseases. Usually entering our homes while we are away through bed frames, bags, baggage or furniture. Bed bug infestation isn’t something one is eager to find within their house. Not nice at all. They spread literally everywhere and have an odious appetite for our soft sheets and fluffy mattresses which could lead us into trouble when sleeping in those areas afterwards. It’s therefore important to constantly monitor any items brought back from far away places as you don’t want uninvited guests back at home with you.

Termites

If cockroaches and bedbugs weren’t enough, there are also the never-welcome termites. Usually found in wood and paper objects around the house. Subterranean termites, dampwood termite, and dry wood termite can quickly wreak havoc in your living space as their constant munching on these materials is hard to ignore. If left unnoticed, termite infestation can quite easily cause chaos within our home with their relentless appetite. So it’s best to keep an eye out for any suspicious signs such as discolouration or hollowing in wooden items around your house.

FAQs

How can I prevent pests from entering my home?

One of the best ways to prevent house insects from getting inside your home is to keep entry points such as windows, doors and even small cracks or gaps in walls sealed up tight. Furthermore, it’s also important to clear away any food sources like food scraps or items along the perimeter of your house such as debris which could be attractive to pests as a food source or water source.

Are there any quick-fix solutions for getting rid of these critters?

Generally, insect and animal control companies are able to quickly and effectively eliminate common household pests like cockroaches, mosquitoes or fleas through methods like insecticidal sprays, and traps. That said, it’s always wise to contact experts for chemical treatments of choice when dealing with more serious infestations such as termites, which require professional attention due to their damage potential in homes over time.

Should we take DIY solutions for preventative measures against household insect?

Certainly taking simple measures such as regularly vacuuming around the home, washing bedding and carpets often, and keeping your kitchen free of water source and food sources like scraps will certainly help to reduce the chances of harboring any kind of insects in the living area. Though for more serious infestations, seeking professional pest control services is always the best option due to their specialized things such as access to advanced technology and traps which users may not necessarily have at hand. You must also be aware of the hazards of doing DIY pest control at home.

Conclusion

We bet by now you’re more than prepared to face the reality of household insects in Australia.

You know exactly what question to ask and which strategy works best for each type of critter around your home.

All in all, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to these household uninvited guests.

So make sure you take action against any potential problems or entry points asap.