While Victoria, and Melbourne in particular, is known for its unpredictable weather, you can certainly expect some very warm days come the summer months, and that’s where the need for pest control becomes apparent.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Controlling pests before the heat hits is integral because not only does this optimise the effectiveness of the treatment, but it also ensures you can make the most of your home and outdoor areas during the holidays, with no pesky visitors to ruin your enjoyment and that of your guests.
The positive aspect is that there are expert-level solutions available to tackle the different kinds of pests that can become an issue during Victoria's summer.
Holistic Pest Control Approaches
If you don’t like the idea of relying solely on lots of potentially harmful chemical sprays (or you are unsure what method works best for the type of pest that is rearing its ugly head in your home), there are holistic strategies. Pestline pest control in Melbourne can help you to cover all bases.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an innovative approach that can help you deal with all types of vermin in one hit.
Not only that, these types of comprehensive processes involve taking the time to assess your existing situation in order to develop a long-lasting pest solution.
A holistic solution in pest control is able to use a variety of techniques, emphasising environmental risk reduction and long-term prevention, and for this reason it is often the expert choice.
The edge in using this type of service is that you can expect to be kept informed about every action your pest controllers have taken and be given guidance on making your home less hospitable for pests over the long term.
The key principle behind IPM is to avoid relying on a single control method, especially chemicals, and instead use the most effective but least toxic method tailored to the specific pest and the particular environment.
This works for a variety of pests with different methodologies for each, all incorporated into a universal solution.
Common Summer Pests in Victoria
Mosquitos & Flies
Unfortunately, nothing spells summer in Australia like the attack of the nasty little mozzie, and Victoria is not immune to infestations of mosquitoes.
IPM is very effective at controlling flying insects, including mosquitoes, because this method is able to target the pest at its most vulnerable life stage.
It’s all about eliminating breeding grounds and controlling the early (larval) life stages of mosquitoes.
This is actually a much safer and more successful approach than targeting adults.
You can see that calling in pest control before the warmer months is important here to access mosquitoes at the right point in their life cycle for the best overall results.
For flies especially, sanitation and exclusion are key, and you can expect IPM professionals to create a pest treatment plan that is based on these core principles.
This is required because common household flies, including house flies, drain flies and fruit flies, almost always breed in decaying matter.
Therefore, a break in their life cycle is required to halt their proliferation, as is keeping them away from your home.
Similar to the case with mosquitoes, eradicating breeding sites is the goal here.
Even though your treatment will always be customised to your particular pest issue, it usually entails keeping trash tightly covered (including by rinsing bins to get rid of eggs), cleaning food storage, getting rid of pet waste, and controlling any moisture — all of which are prime fly habitats and attractants.
Crawling Insects
Ants, as part of the crawling insect family, can become especially active in the hotter months, and you may well see them foraging for food in a Victorian summer, even invading your home in their hordes.
Fire ants, in particular, are a national pest and biosecurity hazard, evincing just how much of a problem the seemingly humble ant species can become.
When it comes to household ants, in accordance with focusing on long-term prevention with minimal environmental impact, a holistic pest controller will use principles of prevention and sanitation and typically employ non-toxic barriers and deterrents.
Although it may sound overly simple, removing food sources for ants is often the most critical step here.
A science-backed, eco-centric approach to ant control requires identifying the particular ant species, where they are entering the home, and why, i.e., what food (and water source) is being made available.
In this way a qualified habitat assessment by an IPM technician makes a whole lot of sense, as does sealing home entry points professionally and targeted low-toxic treatment overall.
Anyone who has encountered cockroaches in their home would understand how resilient these insects can be and just how annoying that becomes for your quality of life.
Because they are so sturdy and propagate so rapidly, a comprehensive pest control plan is often called for.
A technician will strategise the removal of their hiding places (this is called harbourage) as well as go on the attack in disrupting their life cycle. In particular, they will often use insect growth regulators (IGRs) for this express purpose, furthering eradication without the need for less effective, scattering broadcast sprays, also known as bug bombs.
Fleas & Ticks
Because warm temperatures and high humidity speed up their life cycles and boost their activity, reproduction, and host-seeking behaviour, fleas and ticks tend to be more prevalent in the summer months.
Those who have children and pets in particular will want to get rid of fleas and ticks from their homes as soon as possible.
This is because they carry and spread disease on their human and animal hosts and can even cause fatalities.
However, fleas and ticks are infamously difficult to eradicate, as both pests are able to develop biological pesticide resistance.
Fleas are able to jump, and ticks have a very protective exoskeleton that even withstands crushing.
Therefore, elimination of fleas and ticks often requires a multi-step approach.
Targeting all life stages both indoors and out, as well as tackling a necessary pet treatment, is the methodology often undertaken.
This should be combined with meticulous sanitation and overall cleaning.
Strict hygienic practices, such as vacuuming, steam cleaning, and hot water washing all bedding, are always recommended.
One important component of these pests' habitat is the outdoor space, which should not be overlooked.
Technicians may suggest cutting the grass short and picking up debris (this also helps to prepare for fire season ).
They will often apply scientifically advanced solutions to treat the environment.
DIY and Common-Sense Pest Prevention
In Victoria, like the rest of Australia, many pests are most active during the hotter months.
Prevention and reducing the aspects of your home living that vermin find especially attractive are cornerstones of commonsense, practical DIY pest control.
It is advisable to handle pest management professionally and even better, holistically.
The important factor here is that you have to support the technicians' approaches with your own regular at-home routines.
- Seal gaps around pipes and wires and holes and cracks in the foundation and external walls of your house with caulk or sealant.
- Install rubber strips to seal gaps beneath doors and ensure that all screening is completely intact.
- Store food safely. Store unsealed pantry items, including pet food, in glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Clean up food scraps and liquid spills completely and immediately, and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink.
- Take out rubbish on a regular schedule and use bins with lids that close securely.
- To prevent mosquitoes from breeding, empty buckets, plant pot saucers, and anything else that could hold stagnant water at least once a week.
- As moisture draws pests, promptly fix any leaking pipes and taps and consider dehumidifiers, moisture absorbers, and desiccants.
- Remove garden waste from the outside of the house where a variety of pests might hide.
Ensuring a Pest-Free Summer in Victoria
In order to effectively combat any threat of a pest infestation for your summer in Victoria, you require a complete and solidified defence.
Professional holistic pest control in IPM provides the skilled evaluation, customised treatments, and long-term strategy required for total pest removal.
Professional intervention combined with your regular at-home measures is the key to achieving a permanently pest-free property.
This overall integrated strategy is the best way to ensure a stress-free, comfortable, and genuinely restful summer unbothered by those creepy crawly interlopers.