They are usually medium to large in size, flattened and mostly oval in shape. Cockroaches have long and slender thread like antennae, legs well suited to running, well developed compound eyes and chewing mouthparts. Wings may be well developed, reduced or absent.

Only six of over 4000 species of Cockroaches are serious pests to homeowners in Australia. Cockroaches are organisms that due to their activities may carry diseases and may transmit diseases to people. They usually reside in dark, humid places and are mostly nocturnal, resting during the daytime in cracks, crevices or warm motors of appliances. Some species are capable of flight.

Many environments provide exploitation for food and shelter. Some places provide year round warmth, food and shelter which may provide homes for thousands of cockroaches. Cockroaches eat stored foods and other materials. They are capable of contaminating foods and food handling areas with droppings, cast skins, egg sacs, regurgitation marks and odours.

The most common species encountered are the American (Periplaneta Americana spp.), Australian (Periplaneta Australasiae spp.), German (Blattella Germanica spp.), Oriental (Blatta Orientalis spp.), Smoky Brown (Periplaneta Fuliginosa spp.) and the Brown Banded (Supella Longipalpa spp.).

German Cockroaches can be a major problem in kitchens and bathrooms, they are prolific breeders and during warmer months population growth explodes. They can live in refrigerators and in ovens as well as the smallest crack and crevice. They are a relatively small cockroach with nymphs (young insects) the size of a pin head to adult up to 25mm.

Australian, American and to a lesser degree the Smoky Brown cockroaches can be found throughout a building. They are much larger than the German roach up to 55mm and they fly at night.

Oriental roaches can be found in gardens and also in bird nest material in roof voids.

Treatment varies according to the particular species but generally Cockroaches are controlled by a range of methods including application of liquid residual sprays, dusts and gels. The treatment is usually applied to cracks and crevices particularly to actual or potential harbourage areas.

There are up to 28 species of Silverfish in Australia and 370 in the world. In their natural habitat they live under bark, in soil, amongst leaf litter and debris on the ground. They have silvery-grey flattened bodies and most species are covered in loose scales. Their loose scales detach easily and probably serve as a means of escaping from predators. Silverfish are fast running. They hide during the day and reappear at night to feed.

In Australia there are about five species that have successfully claimed themselves the title of pests. They exploit built environments by feeding on and often damaging books, paper and clothing. In particular they damage the starchy glues and sizings on these items. No disease transmission is known.

Silverfish are extremely difficult to control, particularly if thay have become well established. In more recent years bulk storage of building materials prior to construction, particularly plasterboard, which has a paper covering glued to the plaster core, provides a ready home for silverfish. They are built into the structure and multiply and become a nuisance.

Liquid spray is supplemented by dust to the interior living space to the skirtings and to the cupboards. Dusting of ceilings is very important. A number of treatments may need to be carried out.

In Australia there are over 3000 species of ants. Ants are social insects that live in a permanent nests and are considered as one of the most successful of insects. Their colony sizes vary and they mostly reside in soil, wood or among rocks. But they are more commonly found around foundations and in walls, kitchens, roof voids, lawns and gardens, wood of decaying trees and rockeries.

They have clearly defined body parts being the head, thorax and abdomen. The head carries compound eyes.

Ants are becoming a major problem. They can cause damage to furnishings, curtains and carpets from the debris from their workings and nests causing staining.

They can also spoil foodstuffs by entering packaging or feeding off uncovered foods.

Externally they can cause problems by undermining concreted paved and grass areas causing sections to collapse and some species cause distress from their bites.

Liquid sprays, dusts, granular baits and gels are all useful in treating problems. Monitoring and continual treatment may be an option where a major problem exists.

Rodents that appear to be pests to humans and great concern to our lifestyles are one of three species. The three major species are the Norway Rat, Roof Rat and House Mouse.

With changes in climatic conditions, rodents, which are well adapted to living closely to humans, move indoors to search for food and shelter. Colder weather is the most likely time when rodents move indoors. They also make their nests in roof voids where possums have established their homes.

Because they are nocturnal they are rarely seen but evidence of their presence is from droppings, urine stains and oily marking from their pelts, when they squeeze through tight spaces. Of course other evidence is from damage that they have caused to food stuffs, damage where they have gnawed through or into walls or timbers.

Rats are responsible for the transmission of diseases including 'The Bubonic Plague' which killed 25 million people.

Identification of the species inhabiting the premises is important so that precise control methods are undertaken. Methods involve a complete site inspection and sanitation and hygiene matters being attended to. Prevention of entry and baiting are then carried out. A regular program is developed.

The life cycle of the flea is similar to that of a moth - egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (cocoon) and adult. A newly hatched adult flea is unfed, small, black and aggressive: the larger adult fleas have had a blood meal and may be laying eggs on your pet. For every flea on your pet there may be hundreds waiting to emerge.

In summer, a flea may be ready to hatch from the pupa about 7-14 days after it is formed. This hatching is triggered by movement. In a vacant house, a flea can remain dormant in its pupa for more than 18 months. Fleas will continue to hatch from their pupae after the pest control treatment, unfortunately insecticides cannot penetrate the flea pupal case. The adult flea will die after a few hours contact with the residual treatment - both on your pet and in the environment.

Householders sometimes believe flea treatments are ineffective because the pupae are quite resistant to chemical treatment and fleas continue to emerge from pupal cases even after being treated. Ten fleas can potentially reproduce to 250, 000 in only 30 days.

Latest research shows that adult fleas do not leave the pet to lay eggs. The white eggs are laid on the pet and fall onto the ground, carpet etc. The eggs hatch and small, blind larvae emerge. These larvae move away from the light, burrowing down into the carpet, cracks in the floor or soil. Here they feed on protein, such as flea droppings of partly digested blood, and moult three times before pupating. The larva changes into the adult in the pupa.

When this metamorphosis is complete, the flea is ready to emerge. Fleas can remain dormant in the pupal stage for over 18 months. Hatching of the flea from the pupa is triggered by movement nearby predominantly during warm, moist weather conditions. The newly hatched unfed flea is small and black (it is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a ground flea). After feeding on its host for two days, now bigger and lighter in colour, it is ready to mate and lay eggs. The female flea is capable of laying up to 500 eggs over a lifetime which may span several weeks.

Call us before the numbers build up, there is no need to go through the discomfort of flea bites.

The solution for successful flea control is the treatment of the pet and the environment.

Floors and any furnishings in close contact or used by the pet should be vacuumed before being treated. This is to stimulate the pupae to emerge as adult fleas. After vacuuming the areas, the vacuum cleaner bag must be disposed of immediately to reduce spreading.

Application of low toxicity, to mammals, liquid spray to the flea harbourages, particularly the areas where pets rest or sleep, will eliminate resident flea populations.

To reduce any risk of flea reinfestation, the pets bedding needs to be washed and the pet treated with appropriate flea treatments.

Spiders are considerably different to insects as they consist of 8 legs instead of 6 and they have two body segments instead of 3, as the head and thorax are combined into one which contains the eyes, mouthparts and legs.

The most common species relevant to us are the Huntsman, Jumping, St Andrews Cross, Redback, White Tailed, Wolf and Funnel-web.

Most spiders are nocturnal and only appear during the day if they have been disturbed in some way. Different species share different characteristics, habitat and prey techniques. Those which depend solely on webbing to snare their prey seldom move very far and mostly hide in a crevice, curled leaves or camouflaged as twigs. Hunting spiders are a lot less dependent on webs and mostly travel for food. Males seek out the females at mating time and drop their sperm on the ground, bark or in webs specially made for this purpose. The male picks up his sperm with his long palps alongside his jaws (specifically used for this purpose) and places it into the female spiders genitalia. After mating the male is usually caught and consumed by the female.

The venom is not necessarily poisoness to warm - blooded mammals but some are able to cause death by injecting an extremely toxic substance into the bloodstream of warm blooded animals. Most spider bites result in no more than localised swelling or irritation.

Most spiders form nests on the exterior of structures by spinning webs. Treatment of external surfaces of buildings to cracks and small openings, rough surfaces by application of a liquid spray to harbourage areas will provide a respite for 3 months or so. In areas where there are numerous trees. Two treatments should be considered during the summer months.

There are two species of possums that are commonly encountered as a pest to the householder. That is the Ringtailed possum and the Brushtailed possum. Both of these have different appearances and characteristics.

The Ringtailed possum is short headed with a pointed muzzle, short round ears and a tapered tail, the terminal three-quarters of which are pale. This possum resides along coastal Australia from Queensland to South Australia. On the other hand the Brushtailed possum is often found where there are many trees. It feeds naturally on buds, fruits of trees, shrubs and also bread, cake and fruits. It lives commonly in areas from northern Queensland to South Australia and is the species most commonly found.

Possums naturally live in the cavities of trees but when their natural nesting sites are removed they venture into roof voids through broken tiles, damaged eaves and displaced ridge capping. It is whilst they are in the roof areas that they are a concern for homeowners. They make noises at night, urinate and defecate on ceiling plaster, causing stains and odours. Chimneys also appear to be favoured sheltering places.

When they make their home in the roof space the only way to remove them is to humanely trap them, seal up the openings they were getting through and then release them in the same locality that they were caught. A license for trapping must be held.

Birds become a problem to humans when they set up home in our structures - our houses, buildings and monuments. They can also cause problems in rural situations but we will only deal with the urban areas.

No inhumane methods are allowed. Shooting is definitely not permitted and some methods of baiting and trapping are also not humane.

Bird droppings are unsightly, the noises birds make are unwelcome and of greater importance - the liklihood of disease is much higher when there are large bird populations. Some 60 transmittable diseases have been found to have been associated with birds. The diseases range from Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcosis and Aspergillosis and can cause respiratory symptoms. Salmonellosis can be carried by bird droppings.

There are a range of systems available which deter birds from entering a property, however prior to commencement of any work to exclude birds from a particular site it is critical that the pest manager carries out a detailed survey of the property.

That survey will provide valuable information which will enable the pest manager, in co-operation with the owner or tenant, to tackle some of the root causes of the bird problem. Matters such as readily available food and water, overhanging trees, loose roofing sheets, shaded areas and method of construction are among those issues which would be assessed.

Each site is different but by using a range of specially manufactured materials most problems can be overcome.

Where there are large areas Netting systems, anchored to Stainless Steel Cables and then tensioned are ideal.

In other locations spikes, either Fibre Glass or Stainless Steel, can be used. The spikes are used for Pigeons and Gulls and the length of the spike is slightly longer than the birds legs when they attempt to land the spike digging into their sides makes them uncomfortable and they fly off.

Spring wire erected near landing areas makes the birds unsure of their footing and they fly off.

Timber, Nails, Screws and Wire Netting all have their uses in building out birds.

With the right application of materials and types of systems Birds can be excluded from properties permanently.