Warm weather, humidity and summer rain can increase the activity of some pests around Newcastle homes. Mosquitoes may breed in containers holding stagnant water, while ants and cockroaches may become more noticeable as they search for food, water and shelter. Some wasps are also more active during warmer weather.
However, not every pest problem is caused by summer. Rodents, termites, spiders and indoor cockroaches can remain active throughout the year, depending on the species and conditions around the property.
The following five steps can reduce the food, water, shelter and entry points that support pest activity. They cannot guarantee a completely pest-free home, but they can make your property less attractive and help you identify developing problems earlier.
How To Prevent Summer Pests in Newcastle
Tip #1: Remove Food and Water Sources
Good sanitation can help reduce cockroach, ant, fly and rodent activity, although even a clean home can develop a pest problem.
Wipe up food and drink spills, clean beneath appliances and avoid leaving dirty dishes or pet food out overnight. Store susceptible food in sealed containers, empty indoor rubbish bins regularly and keep external bin lids closed.
Water is just as important as food. Repair leaking taps and pipes, check beneath sinks and appliances for moisture and avoid allowing water to remain in trays or containers. Cockroaches and rodents can survive on small amounts of accessible food and water, so overlooked areas may continue to support activity.
Tip #2: Check Pest Entry Points
Inspect door seals, flyscreens, window frames and gaps around pipes, cables and other service penetrations. Replace damaged screens, install suitable door seals and close non-essential gaps with a material appropriate for the surface and pest involved.
Do not seal brick-veneer weep holes, subfloor vents, drainage openings or other parts of the building that are designed to provide ventilation or drainage. These openings may require purpose-designed pest-resistant screens rather than caulk or expanding foam.
Larger gaps, roof defects or openings around electrical and plumbing services may require attention from an appropriately qualified tradesperson.
Tip #3: Reduce Outdoor Breeding and Harbourage Areas
You do not need to eliminate every insect from your garden. Instead, concentrate on conditions that allow pests to breed close to the house or gain concealed access.
At least once a week during mosquito season:
- empty and wipe out water collected in buckets, pot saucers, toys and other containers;
- replace water in bird baths and pet bowls;
- clear blocked roof gutters and drains;
- keep rainwater-tank openings appropriately screened; and
- store water-holding containers undercover.
Keep firewood, cardboard, timber offcuts and other cellulose materials away from the building and, where practical, raised above the ground. Remove unnecessary clutter from directly against external walls and trim vegetation that blocks inspection access.
Check eaves and sheltered outdoor areas for developing wasp nests, but do not disturb or spray an occupied nest from close range. Arrange professional identification if the nest is active or located near doors, paths, children or pets.
Tip #4: Monitor High-Risk Areas
Check kitchens, laundries, garages, roof spaces and outdoor entertaining areas for droppings, shed skins, egg cases, gnaw marks, mud tubes, webbing or repeated pest sightings. Sticky insect monitors may assist with detecting crawling insects in suitable indoor locations, but they should be kept away from children and pets.
Regular professional servicing may benefit properties with recurring pest activity or particular risk factors. However, treatment frequency should be based on the pest, previous activity, building construction and conditions around the property. Not every home automatically requires the same treatment schedule.
If pesticides are recommended, ask what product will be used, which pest it targets, where it will be applied and what preparation or re-entry instructions must be followed. In NSW, professional pesticide work must be performed by an appropriately licensed technician using registered products according to their approved labels.
Tip #5: Arrange Identification Before the Problem Spreads
One insect does not always mean that an infestation is present, but repeated sightings or other evidence should be investigated. Early identification is particularly important for German cockroaches, termites, rodents, bed bugs and wasps nesting close to occupied areas.
Contact a professional if you:
- repeatedly see the same pest indoors;
- find droppings, egg cases, mud tubes or damaged materials;
- hear movement in wall or roof spaces;
- see cockroaches during daylight;
- find an active wasp nest near frequently used areas; or
- suspect termites in timber or around the building.
Avoid disturbing suspected termite activity or using unplanned pesticide sprays before the inspection. Disturbing the area may make it more difficult for the technician to assess the activity accurately.
Professional treatment can manage an existing infestation and reduce the conditions that support it, but no service can guarantee that pests will never return. Follow-up treatment, repairs or monitoring may be required depending on the species and extent of the problem.
Summer Pest Control in Newcastle
Summer conditions can increase mosquito, ant, cockroach and wasp activity around Newcastle properties, but each pest requires a different prevention and treatment approach. Removing accessible food and water, maintaining screens, reducing outdoor harbourage and checking high-risk areas can lower the likelihood of a problem developing.
If you continue to find pests or signs of an infestation, contact Newcastle Pest Exterminators to arrange an inspection. A technician can identify the pest, assess the contributing conditions and recommend treatment or monitoring appropriate for your property.
