Principles of Australian Integrated Pest Management System

The Australian Integrated Pest Management system revolves around six basic components. 

Control and not eradication

According to Integrated Pest Management, wiping out the entire pest population is not possible. The attempt can rather be unsafe and expensive. The IPM program thus gives emphasis to control and not on eradication. They first work to set up acceptable pest levels known as action thresholds and then use means of control when those levels of thresholds are crossed.

Prevention

Choosing things that are best for local growing conditions as well as maintaining the healthy crops is the first thing that’s done. Cultural techniques and plant quarantine like crop sanitation is the next thing. Beneficial bacteria and fungi are added to potting media of the horticulture crops that are vulnerable to the root diseases, reducing the requirement for fungicides greatly. 

Monitoring

Regular observation is very important. It may be in the form of inspection as well as identification. Visual inspection is used for monitoring pest levels and identification is essential for treating them. IMP also gives importance to record-keeping.
 

Mechanical controls

When pest infestation reaches an unacceptable level, mechanical methods are used as the first option. These methods include traps, barriers, hand-picking, vacuuming as well as tillage. All these methods disrupt their breeding. 

Biological controls

Natural biological methods and materials generally offer control with acceptable environmental impact. The primary approach is to promote the beneficial insects which parasitize or eat target pests.

Responsible use of synthetic pesticides 

Synthetic pesticides are only used when needed and only a certain times. There are many pesticides which are obtained from naturally occurring substances or plants. The active component in those pesticides is altered to offer increased stability or biological activity. Matching the technique of application to the pest, crop and pesticide is important. Low volume of spray minimizes the overall use of pesticide.
 

Historically, the main emphasis of IMP was on the agricultural insect pests but nowadays the program of Integrated Pest Management in North Shore are extensively being used for encompassing weeds, diseases as well as the other pests, which interfere with the management objectives for the sites like commercial and residential structures, turf and lawn areas, community gardens, home etc.

Some Tips to Control and Eliminate Cockroaches

Previously cockroaches used to be found in older homes and apartments. But this unhealthy creature has spread their wings into luxury hotel kitchens, new homes and almost everywhere. There are modern methods as well as traditional ones to control and get rid of them.

Keep your home as clean as possible. Cleanliness is detrimental for the growth of the cockroaches.
 

If you see cockroaches don’t panic. As a first step of defense you need to cut the water and food supply for those creepy creatures.
 

Dining table is the place where we eat. If you do not clean the table then it will attract the cockroaches. Clean the dining table top neat and clean. Same formula applies for the pantry in the office. The staffs of offices are also advised to keep their desks clean without keeping any food particles.

Before going to the bed check make sure there are no soiled dishes left on the sink or on the dining table. Cover the foods if not in use. If you do not have the time for washing the plates, put soapy water in the sink and keep the plate in that.
 

Boric powder is poisonous for cockroaches. This has been the successful method for getting rid of cockroaches. Mix boric powder with flour pellets, spread them over the floor.

Cockroach repellents come in pump or spray. The solution in the repellent can kill the cockroaches instantly. This spray is toxic in nature and can cause hazards to children.
 

However, I would always advise you to hire a company that offers professional pest control in Northern Beaches. Look for someone offering Integrated Pest Management services. These services generally don’t kill the pests but applies techniques that will control cockroach infestation in home ultimately helping you get rid of them.

Signs of a House Mouse Infestation

House mice usually have short hair which is gray, black or brown in color. Weighing about 12-30 grams, their length is about 20 cm from nose to tail’s tip. Normally, they make their home in the grassy or wooden areas and in the farm fields and prefer staying in dark places close to the food source. Quite inquisitive in character, they spend their entire day roaming in their territory, looking around things that are unique or new. When temperature outside starts dropping house they start living in warmer places. They use openings like pipe openings, gaps under the doors and utility lines to enter a home.
 

If you ever find a house mouse into your living space, make sure to get rid of it. It can reproduce very fast and eats anything that is available. So, it can destroy a lot of things in your home. 

1. There are a few indications, which will help you to understand that there is an infestation of mouse in your house.
    
2. If you ever see these kinds of species scurrying along the walls or running from an undisturbed hiding place, you should know that there is an infestation. You may probably seem them in the evening as they become more active during those hours but you can also see them roaming in the home at the time of the day.
   
   
3. You may find droppings, which are small pallets. This is usually found in places where these creatures have traveled or visited. About 3-6 mm in length, the droppings are rod shaped and may have pointed ends. Normally, people confuse mouse droppings with the droppings of cockroach. Although the appearance and general size of both the droppings are same, the droppings of cockroach are also not pointed.
   
   
4. When a mouse explores its territory, it often leaves behind its footprint on the surfaces. The unique pattern of the footprint is an indication that the creature has passed through. You can even find gnaw and teeth marks along edges of their traveled routes on corners of the objects.
   
   
5. During evening hours when it’s quiet and dark, you may often hear these creatures scratching within walls and gnawing, running across ceiling and sometimes even squeaking. 

So, if you have found out that there are mice in your Sydney house, take proper actions as soon as possible. Get in touch with a pest exterminator in Northern Beaches to control their infestation and get rid of them. 

How to Get Rid of Ants Naturally Without Using Toxic Sprays?

There are about 12,000 species of ants found all over the world. Most commonly found in and around homes, they are one of the most annoying pests. Usually these species are wingless. However, the winged forms exist at the time of colony reproduction or swarming. They are natural predators of several insect pests like fly larvae and flea, termites and caterpillars. But there are times when it becomes necessary to get rid of them especially when they enter homes in look out for food.

Here are some suggestions, which you should follow to get rid of ants naturally without using toxic sprays.

Like all other pests, ants too need water and food to survive. So, the first thing you should do to get rid of them is eliminate their basic necessities. If you do this, you will find that the number of ants to your home has reduced to a great number. To do this, you need to store the organic wastes and your food in sealed containers. Wipe down the countertops and tables regularly with a vinegar solution or mild bleach. You must also ensure to keep your kitchen neat and clean always. Don’t also forget to empty the dust bin every day.

Spot the cracks that are around the foundation of the home and use caulk to seal those points. This will prevent their entrance from outside. Places where electrical wires and pipes enter the house, spread boric acid to keep them out. The best way of keeping the ants from entering indoors is to locate their mound and destroy their colony.

Apply substances and scents which ants don’t prefer. How about using cinnamon, peppermint oil, vinegar, black pepper, whole cloves or bay leaves? They are being used largely by homeowners and companies that offer integrated pest management in North Shore. 

3 Effective Cockroach Trapping Methods

If you hate the sight of the roaches and want to get rid of them from your house-all you need to do is set a trap. It is a great alternative to bug spray. You can even save a lot of your money by doing this.

We are a company providing residential pest control in North Shore. We always suggest our customers to opt for trapping methods. Here we have discussed about these methods, which you can use to get rid of the cockroaches from your home.


Sticky tape and onion trap
Do you have some sticky tapes? Use them as a trapping tool. You will also need onion for it. Chop off a small piece of onion and put it right in the middle of the sticky tape. Make sure to place the tape in some dark place of your room and keep it overnight. In the morning, you will surely find many cockroaches being trapped. They will be stuck on that sticky tape.

Jar trap
If you don’t have any sticky tape in your house, you can use a glass jar for trapping roaches. But remember the jar must be like a spaghetti or mayonnaise sauce jar-a quartz size one with a slight shoulder. Duct tape all over it the outside portion except the underside portion and coat at least four inches down from top in the inside portion of the glass jar with petroleum jelly. Put a fruit that’s smelly like banana peel or anything other in the jar’s bottom and then place it outdoors or indoors wherever you have cockroach problem. The roaches will surely climb up and fall in without being able to get out from the jar. At this moment, you can pour some boiling water to kill those insects.

Once they are killed, flush them down the toilet and recharge the jar with more petroleum jelly and a new fragrant fruit or banana peel or anything other.

Red wine trap
This might be a bit costlier option than the other two methods that have been mentioned above but it is surely a better alternative than bug spraying. To put this method into effect, all you need to have is some red wine and a glass or container which is cylindrical in shape. The glass must at least be filled half with wine. You can even water and wine if you think it to be a bit costlier. Make sure to place the glass in a strategic position all over the night. 

Cockroaches will generally get attracted by the smell of wine and may fall inside not being able to come up instantly. They won’t be able to come up because of the shape of the glass and they will die probably because of the effects of alcohol. 

The Best Way to Control Cockroach Infestation at Homes in North Shore

Cockroaches are species, which are two inches long and are largely found in homes in North Shore. They carry various diseases and are regarded as pests. Those, which are found in tropical areas, are larger than the ones that are found in other kinds of climates. The cockroaches have six legs and two antennae. Some have wings even but most of these winged ones are unable to fly.

The various types of cockroaches that are found in Sydney’s North Shore include Smoky Brown cockroach, American cockroach, Brown Banded cockroach, Australian cockroach, Oriental cockroach and German cockroach. These species crawl around the house and gives an unpleasant look. They eat everything when hungry-pastes, glues, foods, paint, solid soaps and many more things and are a menace to the property.

To exterminate these unpleasant looking species, get in touch with a company that offers services of integrated pest management in North Shore. They will either advice you on how to eradicate them or may even come to your house for pest extermination. The specialty about these integrated pest management services is that they do not use chemicals or non-environment friendly products to control the infestation of cockroaches. They use methods like setting up a trap or obstructing the entry points from where the cockroaches enter the house and so on as their methods.

R.I.P. Pest Management, one of the popular integrated pest management services in Northern Beaches, always advises to set up a trap to control cockroach infestation. They use many trap methods like sticky tape and onion trap, red wine trap, jar trap, wine bottle cockroach trap and many others for controlling the invasion of these species in house. They also use many products to do away with these species but all are environment-friendly.

In our next blog, we will come up with the cockroach trapping methods in detail. Till then stay tuned to our blog!