The good news is that there are still a few companies who believe in good old-fashioned service and will guarantee you competitive pricing without compromising on safety or quality. To find them, you need to know what to look for, and what to ask for when you call. Why Choose Soft Touch Pest Control? 1. We only use environmentally friendly products: To protect your family and pets, our pest professionals only use environmentally friendly treatments, and proven safe application techniques. Your safety is our top priority.
2. Friendly, knowledgeable and helpful on the phone: Our expert customer service team will listen to your situation over the phone, and recommend a treatment plan for your home. They'll take the time to answer all your questions, and you'll know exactly what to expect when you schedule your treatment 3. You'll be 100% delighted. Guaranteed! We're only satisfied when you are. We'll even call you after the job is done to make sure you're happy. If we've done anything to make you unhappy, we'll listen, apologise, and put it right. It's only happened 3 times in 20 years, if we can't make it up to you we're happy to give you your money back. We are the only pest control company in Australia to offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee. We have over 20,000 happy customers, and we'd like you to be one too. 4. We arrive on time. Unlike most companies, we'll give you an exact arrival time. We will telephone you if we are not running to schedule. It's common courtesy to you, our valued customer. 5. Our prices are competitive: Call 3 companies, then call us. You'll find our prices are very competitive, lower than the major competitors. You'll get the best environmentally friendly treatments, no more pests, and on-time professional service without paying too much. 6. We are fully licensed and insured to protect your home: Our inspections are thorough (no-one's ever found termites in a house that we've passed in an inspection), and we are fully insured so you're home is 100% protected. 7. Uniformed, professional and tidy technicians: No creeps, roughies or weirdos, your service person will arrive in a neatly pressed uniform and a sparkling clean truck. Among the highest trained in the industry, they'll take a few minutes to explain the treatment plan, and then get to work. When they finish, there'll be no mess. In fact, the only thing you'll notice is that all the bugs are gone. 8. The bugs will stay gone, Guaranteed! We guarantee that for at least 6 months, you won't find a single cockroach. If some clever bug manages to find his way back into your house, we'll happily come over and do a top-up to make sure they stay gone. Now you know what to look for (and what to look out for) when choosing a pest control company. If you have spiders, cockroaches, termites or other pests right now, call 1300 669 130 or email us for a FREE Pest-Free Home Plan, 5 minutes of unbiased advice on the best treatment for your situation, and a fixed price quote.
General Pests
Ants Ants belong to a family of insects, which also contain the bees and wasps. Ants are, in fact, a group of small and highly specialised wasps, which have one of the most advanced forms of social life amongst the insects. They live in colonies that range in size from a few to hundreds of thousands of individuals and due to their ability to organise and administer a society leave humans far behind. A large colony of ants presents thousands of mouths to feed. Foraging is an important job, which is the duty of the workers. Although some ants favour certain foods, most are omnivorous, meaning they will eat a wide variety of substances including insects, honeydew, sweets, grease, oils, vegetables etc. Most ants carry food to the nest where they feed each other, the Queen and larva (the young). Of The many species of ants in Australia, only a small number have become pests of homes and offices.
Black Ant
Black Ant (Ochetellus glaber)
Structure, Appearance and Characteristics
Adult:
- 2.5-3.0mm long.
- Black in colour.
- Single flattened node on pedicel, distinct and erect.
- Chewing mouthparts.
Larvae (The young):
- Whitish grub, narrower toward the head.
Life Cycle
Complete metamorphosis (egg larva pupa adult). Eggs are small and ovoid in shape. Larvae are fed by the adults. After several moults the larvae pupate. There are 3 different castes of adults:
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Male: Winged. Function is to mate with female.
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Female: Winged until after mating. Largest in body size. This caste become the reproductive queen of the colony. Can live many years.
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Worker: Wingless, sterile. Act as nest-builders, foragers for food, feeding larvae, looking after eggs and defence of nest.
Soldiers come from this caste. Normally live about 1 year.
Habitat
Can nest outside against paths, in rockeries and other cracks and crevices. Will readily nest indoors. Nests have been found in between walls, ceilings, doors, fences and many more unusual places, but rarely do they nest in the soil. Adults will usually run in distinct trails which can assist in finding nests. Another sign for locating nests is the fall out of black droppings on floors, window sills and benches which indicate nests above or near the droppings.
Food
Preference is for sweet foods but will eat seeds, plants, fats and grease. Their need for moisture is the most common reason for invading kitchens, bathrooms or other sources of water in a premises. Adults cannot ingest solid food particles but ingest liquids which are pressed out of food material. Larvae depend entirely on workers for food. Young larvae are fed in liquids, the older larvae are fed on small food particles which they can ingest. Adults will also feed on excretions from larvae.
Economic Impact / Nuisance
Trailing of ants can also be considered unsightly. Swarming can occur within a premises which can cause distress to the occupants. Invasion of kitchen areas and wet areas can also be a nuisance to occupants. Can be vectors of disease organisms such as dysentery, smallpox and bacteria such as Salmonella. The adult stage is considered the pest.
Control
Being a social insect, concern for individuals is reduced. This is a major strength making control difficult. They are also small and extremely adaptable at establishing smaller colonies within a house or building. However the entire colony lives to serve the queen reproductive. Should the queen die the colony will die also. This is a weakness which must be exploited. Control measures can involve barrier treatments to try to keep ants away from their food and water source. Since the individual is not important, these barriers can be breached at the sacrifice of many colony members should the need arise. Another form of treatment is to exploit their foraging activities for food. Using baits, the food is taken back to the ant colony where it can target many more members including the queen. Our licensed technicians can assist you with a flexible, tailored solution to meet your needs and prevent these pests from becoming a problem in your home or workplace. Please contact us to see how we can help you maintain an environment free of these and other pests.
Coastal Brown Ant
Coastal Brown Ant (Pheidole megacephala)
Structure, Appearance and Characteristics
Adult:
- 1.5-2.5mm long.
- Colour varies from light yellowish brown to brown.
- Large head in comparison to body size (soldier).
- Thorax has one pair of spines.
- Abdominal pedicel has 2 raised nodes.
- Soldier has enlarged darkened head.
- Chewing mouthparts.
Larvae (The young):
- Whitish grub, narrower toward the head
Life Cycle
Complete metamorphosis (egg larva pupa adult). Eggs are small and ovoid in shape. Larvae are fed by the adults. After several moults the larvae pupate.
There are 3 different castes of adults:
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Male: Winged. Function is to mate with female.
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Female: Winged until after mating. Largest in body size. This caste becomes the reproductive queen of the colony. Can live many years.
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Worker: Wingless, sterile. Act as nest-builders, foragers for food, feeding larvae, looking after eggs and defence of nest. Soldiers come from this caste. Normally live about 1 year.
Habitat
Nests mainly in soil and builds along pathways, in gardens, against walls, under houses and if in large enough numbers can cause damage to lawns. They prefer sunny, dry areas to nest but will nest above ground if soil is available. Can be found nesting in termite tracks. Have been known to invade external electrical appliances such as hot water systems.
Food
Preference is for fatty foods but will attack seeds, meats, insects, fruit, honeydew from aphids, sweet foods, fats and grease. Adults cannot ingest solid food particles but ingest liquids which are pressed out of food material. Larvae depend entirely on workers for food. Young larvae are fed in liquids, the older larvae are fed on small food particles which they can ingest. Adults will also feed on excretions from larvae.
Economic Impact / Nuisance
Small mounds from excavations near paths etc. can be considered unsightly. Trailing of ants can also be considered unsightly. Swarming can occur within a premises which can cause distress to the occupants. Invasion of kitchen areas and wet areas can also be a nuisance to occupants. Plants and seedlings can be damaged if infestation is bad. External electrical appliances such as hot water systems can be damaged and present a fire hazard because of short-circuits from high moisture levels. Can be vectors of disease organisms such as dysentery, smallpox and bacteria such as Salmonella.
Control
Being a social insect, concern for individuals is reduced. This is a major strength making control difficult. They are also small and extremely adaptable at establishing large colonies outside. Being a social insect is also a weakness since direct treatment of a nest will destroy the colony. Control measures can involve barrier treatments to try to keep ants away from their food and water source. The most successful form of treatment is to locate the nest itself and treat with an appropriate insecticide. A liquid insecticide which could flood tunnels and galleries and has a long residual life in soil would be preferable for both a barrier and nest treatment. Because they favour outdoor nesting sites, a perimeter treatment of the premises is often all that is needed. Another form of treatment is to exploit their foraging activities for food. Using baits, the food is taken back to the ant colony where it can target many more members including the queen.
Cockroaches are one of the most common insects found in homes, restaurants, food handling areas, and they are perhaps the most despised and widespread pests known to man. There are approximately 3500 species of cockroaches of which only five or six species are pests of homes.
Most species feed only on vegetables, however, cockroaches which live in houses are scavengers and will eat a wide variety of food such as cheese, beer, leather, bakery products, starch in book binding, glue, hair, some sweet substances and meat products.
The pest species of cockroaches are commonly nocturnal and hide during the day in warm, dark undisturbed places such as cracks and crevices in homes and shops, behind heating equipment, in sewers, storm water drains, outside buildings, in retaining walls and similar locations.
These insects have the ability to carry disease producing organisms, which include salmonella, dysentery, diarrhoea and others. The organisms causing these diseases are carried on the legs and bodies of cockroaches, and are deposited on food and utensils as cockroaches feed and move about.
German Cockroach
German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)
Structure, Appearance and Characteristics
Adults:
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Approx. 12-16mm in length.
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Pale brown with two longitudinal streaks on the pronotum.
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Have wings but rarely fly.
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Chewing mouthparts.
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Nocturnal but may be seen during daytime if population is large.
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High reproductive potential because of speed of life cycle and number of young in comparison to other species.
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This presents an increased tendency for this species to become resistant to chemical through 'selection'.
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Very active.
Nymph (The young):
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Look similar to adult but wingless.
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Darker brown, nearly black in colour.
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A single light strip down the middle of the back is normally prominent.
Life Cycle
Gradual / Incomplete metamorphosis (egg ‘V nymph ‘V adult). Eggs are encased in an egg capsule (Ootheca). Female carries egg capsule (Ootheca) until eggs are ready to hatch. Eggs per capsule: 30-48. Incubation period (24aC): 28 days (avg). Nymphal period (24 C): 40-125 days. Nymphs normally moult 7 times to reach adulthood. Females may produce 4-8 egg capsules in a lifetime. Adult lifespan: up to 1 year.
Habitat
Found in homes, apartments, supermarkets, food processing plants, restaurants, ships. Favours warm, humid environments. Seeks cracks and dark crevices for harbourages, avoids light. Favours areas close to food and water such as kitchens and other food handling areas, however can be found in other areas which will indicate heavy infestation. Often moved to new habitats by food packages, cardboard boxes etc.
Food
Omnivorous. Scavengers. Prefers fermented foods. Adults can live for approx. 1 month without food (assuming water is available), or less than 2 weeks without food or water. Nymphs will die within 10 days without food. Have been known to feed on glue and soiled clothing.
Economic Impact / Nuisance
Presence can cause anxiety or stress. Secretions can affect some humans (e.g. allergic reactions such as asthma). Dense populations can leave a distinct odour. Food and utensils can be contaminated with droppings, cast skins, empty egg cases and vomit marks. A number of pathogenic organisms have been associated with cockroaches. Their ability to act as vectors of pathogens is still a matter of controversy. This is mainly because that transmission can only occur indirectly via contamination of food and utensils. Pest status applies equally to nymphs and adults.
Control
Cockroaches have aggregation characteristics which builds a more suitable environment to inhabit. They favour cracks and crevices for harbourages where they can contact the top and bottom surfaces with their body. They do not leave their harbourages except for food, water and mating. Their aggregation characteristic can be used against them, since finding a harbourage will yield more than one individual. Pheromones are not volatile, so contact with other individuals in the population is necessary, which can help spread insecticide to some degree.
Control should be targetted at their harbourages since they stay in these areas for large amounts of time. Physical exclusion (e.g. caulking up cracks) is useful since the cockroach population is proportional to the number of harbourages available. Chemical treatments into cracks and crevices is also valuable since prolonged contact with treated surfaces will yield a high mortality rate. Applying proper hygiene measures can also be useful, forcing the cockroaches to travel further to find food and water, which increases the chances of contacting treated surfaces outside harbourage areas.
Australian Cockroach
Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)
Structure, Appearance and Characteristics
Adults:
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Approx. 30-35mm in length.
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Yellow border on pronotum (area behind the head) is very distinct.
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Dark Reddish brown in colour.
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Light markings on thorax.
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Yellow streaks on the sides at the base of the wing covers (elytra).
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Wings completely cover abdomen.
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Chewing mouthparts.
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Nocturnal.
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Will fly in warm weather.
Nymph (The Young):
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Look similar to adult but wingless.
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Brown in colour until later instars (moults) which become more like the adult colouring.
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Later instars posses distinct bright yellow spots along the margins of their abdomen.
Life Cycle
Gradual / Incomplete metamorphosis (egg nymph adult). Eggs are encased in an egg capsule (Ootheca). Female drops the egg capsule (Ootheca) shortly after it is formed near a food source, in crevices, on walls, or under workable material such as moist wood, so as to camouflage it. Eggs per capsule: 16-24. Incubation period: 30-40 days. Nymphal period: 6-12 months Nymphs normally moult 10-12 times to reach adulthood. Females may produce 12-30 egg capsules in a lifetime. Egg capsules are completed and dropped at about 10 day intervals. Adult lifespan: up to 8 months.
Habitat
Found mostly outdoors. Often found under bark of trees, woodpiles and locations with moist and decaying vegetable matter. Can be found inside homes in cupboards, behind drawers, in all food areas and industrial areas, subfloor areas, wall and roof voids. Favours warm, humid environments. Is not found as readily in cooler climates compared to the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).
Food
Omnivorous. Scavenger. Prefers decaying organic vegetable matter. Will feed on starch materials such as book bindings.
Economic Impact / Nuisance
Presence can cause anxiety or stress. Secretions can affect some humans (e.g. allergic reactions such as asthma). Dense populations can leave a distinct odour. Food and utensils can be contaminated with droppings, cast skins, empty egg cases and vomit marks. A number of pathogenic organisms have been associated with cockroaches. Their ability to act as vectors of pathogens is still a matter of controversy. This is mainly because that transmission can only occur indirectly via contamination of food and utensils. Pest status applies equally to nymphs and adults.
Control
Cockroaches have aggregation characteristics which builds a more suitable environment to inhabit. They favour cracks and crevices for harbourages where they can contact the top and bottom surfaces with their body. They do not leave their harbourages except for food, water and mating. Their aggregation characteristic can be used against them, since finding a harbourage will yield more than one individual. Pheromones are not volatile, so contact with other individuals in the population is necessary, which can help spread insecticide to some degree.
Control should be targetted at their harbourages since they stay in these areas for large amounts of time. Physical exclusion (e.g. caulking up cracks) is useful since the cockroach population is proportional to the number of harbourages available. Chemical treatments into cracks and crevices is also valuable since prolonged contact with treated surfaces will yield a high mortality rate. Applying proper hygiene measures can also be useful, forcing the cockroaches to travel further to find food and water, which increases the chances of contacting treated surfaces outside harbourage areas.
American Cockroach
American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Structure, Appearance and Characteristics
Adults:
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One of the largest of our pest species.
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Approx. 35-40mm in length.
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Reddish brown in colour.
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Light markings on thorax.
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Pale yellow border on pronotum.
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Wings completely cover abdomen.
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Chewing mouthparts.
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Nocturnal.
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Will fly on occasions.
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Good gliders.
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Will travel a long way from their breeding areas to feed.
Nymph (The Young):
Life Cycle
Gradual / Incomplete metamorphosis (egg nymph adult). Eggs are encased in an egg capsule (Ootheca). Female carries egg capsule (Ootheca) up to 4 days then deposits the capsule near a food source, in crevices, on walls, or under workable material such as moist wood, so as to camouflage it. Eggs per capsule: 12-16 (in two rows). Incubation period: 38-55 days. Nymphal period: 160-971 days, 400 days (avg). ymphs normally moult 7-13 times to reach adulthood. Females may produce 6-90 egg capsules in a lifetime. Adult lifespan: up to 2 years.
Habitat
Found in homes, apartments, supermarkets, food processing plants, restaurants, hospitals and commonly found on ships, subfloor areas, sewers, grease traps, wall and roof voids. Favours warm, humid environments. Avoids light where possible. Thrives in temperatures greater than 20 C. Tends to live outdoors in warmer climates and indoors in colder regions. Dispersal of the population is often facilitated by egg cases glued to packaging or boxes which are then transported to a different region.
Food
Omnivorous. Scavenger. Prefers decaying organic matter. Adults can live for approx. 2-3 months without food (assuming water is available), or less than 1 month without food or water. Will feed on book bindings, manuscripts, clothing, sweet foods.
Pest Status
Presence can cause anxiety or stress. Secretions can affect some humans (e.g. allergic reactions such as asthma). Dense populations can leave a distinct odour. Food and utensils can be contaminated with droppings, cast skins, empty egg cases and vomit marks. A number of pathogenic organisms have been associated with cockroaches. Their ability to act as vectors of pathogens is still a matter of controversy. This is mainly because that transmission can only occur indirectly via contamination of food and utensils. Pest status applies equally to nymphs and adults.
Control
Cockroaches have aggregation characteristics which builds a more suitable environment to inhabit. They favour cracks and crevices for harbourages where they can contact the top and bottom surfaces with their body. They do not leave their harbourages except for food, water and mating. Their aggregation characteristic can be used against them, since finding a harbourage will yield more than one individual. Pheromones are not volatile, so contact with other individuals in the population is necessary, which can help spread insecticide to some degree.
Control should be targetted at their harbourages since they stay in these areas for large amounts of time. Physical exclusion (e.g. caulking up cracks) is useful since the cockroach population is proportional to the number of harbourages available. Chemical treatments into cracks and crevices is also valuable since prolonged contact with treated surfaces will yield a high mortality rate. Applying proper hygiene measures can also be useful, forcing the cockroaches to travel further to find food and water, which increases the chances of contacting treated surfaces outside harbourage areas.
 Spiders are possibly one of the most feared and disliked creatures in Australia, and contrary to the common opinion, they are not all dangerous nor are they all unattractive. Spiders can be divided into two main groups:
Crawling or Hunting Spiders
 This group of spiders are not fond on webs but commonly make their home under leaf litter or bark, in hollows or purpose built burrows and in general garden areas. Unlike the webbing spiders they hunt down their prey down or lie in wait to ambush their prey. Control of crawling / hunting spiders is often limited to removal or elimination of each individual spider. Unless the species is considered dangerous, the best method of dealing with these spiders is to move them back into their habitat. Removal from premises can be achieved without harming the spider by the glass or bowl & paper/cardboard method.
Chemical barrier style treatments to stop crawling spiders from entering a premises are ineffectual. If chemical control measures were employed, these would need to be by direct application onto the spider.
Webbing Spiders
 Webbing spiders depend upon silk for their movements. When young spiderlings disperse from the parent web, they produce a strand of silk which is carried by the wind. The spiderling sits or hangs on to the silk and then builds its web wherever it lands. This process is known as ballooning. Mature spiders, when moving in search of food, produce a strand of silk which is carried by the wind until it comes into contact with a building or other stationary object. The spider then travels across this strand of silk and proceeds to build a new web. This is known as bridging. Most common household spiders spin their webs over lamps, in curtains, railings, around windows and gutters, thus creating an unsightly appearance. Under some conditions, spiders are considered beneficial because they feed on insects. However the unsightly webs used to catch the insects usually outweigh the beneficial aspect.
Management of webbing spiders can take several forms. Management can include physical measures like trying to eliminate or reduce the food supply (insects) in the infested area e.g. moving or turning off external lights at night. Temporary measures can include the physical removal of webs, however this will not eliminate the spider population.
Most effective chemical management involves sprays that target the spider directly. Chemical on the webs is not always effective since most webbing spiders hang on using claw-like structures which do not readily absorb chemical residues.
Fleas
 Fleas in the home can be an irritating and annoying problem. The major pests are the cat flea and the dog flea. The small black flea, often called a ground or sand flea is in fact a newly emerged, unfed cat or dog flea.
Many people do not realise that most of the life cycle of the flea occurs off the pet.
For every five (5) fleas found on your cat or dog, there may be ninety-five (95) in the carpet!
This sounds hard to believe, but for most of its life the flea does not look like the small dark insect that people recognise.
Fleas can remain dormant in their cocoons for several months waiting for vibrations to stir them into action.
Adults emerging from their cocoons are small and black until they feed. They can remain alive for up to three months without food.
Unlike other common household pests, rats and mice are mammals, belonging to the group known as rodents. This name refers to their gnawing habit which is necessary to control the size of their front incisor teeth. These animals are well adapted to living in very close association with humans, sharing food and shelter. Why are they a major pest?
Eating and contamination of stored food:
Rats and mice cause major losses in stored food through either consumption or contamination with urine, faeces and hair.
Physical Damage:
The gnawing habits of rodents can cause considerable damage. Buildings, furniture, books, equipment and machinery are not immune to this sort of damage. Rodents can even gnaw electrical cables causing short-circuits and even electrical fires.
Disease Transmission:
Rats and mice play a role in disease transmission. Diseases include the Black Death (bubonic plague), Salmonella food poisoning, Murine typhus fever, Weils disease and Trichinosis. Diseases are transmitted in a number of ways including urine and faeces, scratching and biting, other parasites (e.g. fleas), via pets or other indirect means.
What can be done?
Control for rodents comprises four main approaches:
- Sanitation reducing the food and shelter available for rodent activity
- Rodent-proofing alter the building structurally so that rodents cannot gain entry.
- Trapping using traps to physically capture rodents
- Chemical Control covers a wide variety of techniques including baiting, use of tracking powders and gels and in some cases, fumigants.
Structure, Appearance and Characteristics
- Body flat, long and slender, tapering toward rear.
- Covered with scales.
- Series of bristle combs on back
- Antennae long and slender.
- Wingless.
- Chewing mouth parts.
- Three long appendages, i.e. a pair of cerci and an appendix dorsalis
- Often silver in colour.
- Size varies from 15-25mm for mature adults.
- Young are similar to adults but smaller.
- Fast moving.
- Nocturnal - prefer dark undisturbed places
- Cannot climb smooth surfaces.
Life Cycle
Primitive metamorphosis. (Egg nymph adult (continual moult). Eggs laid singly or in small batches (2-20). Eggs are light-yellowish and about the size of a pinhead. Eggs hatch in 2-8 weeks. 1st Instar - no scales, stylets. 4th Instar - scales appear, one pair of stylets. 9/11th Instar - other pair of stylets. 13th Instar - sexually mature. Sexual maturity in 24-36 months. Adult life span up to 4 years. Adults continue to moult through entire life. Favoured breeding temperature 24 C.
Habitat
Natural - Under bark, leaf litter, rotting logs. Prefer warm temperatures. Activity ceases below 13 C. Death occurs above 40 C. Indoors - Found in roof cavities, wall voids, subfloor areas and within dwellings. Found around heat / water sources.
Food
Foods containing proteins and carbohydrates (e.g. rolled oats, flour, starch, sugar, glue, linen and some synthetic fibres.) Can live for long periods of time without food. Often do not feed during last third of each instar. Omnivorous. Feeding marks are irregular and may not even penetrate paper.
Pest Status
Consume small amounts of human foods.Contamination with scales and droppings. Considerable damage to natural/synthetic fibres, books and other paper products while trying to feed on glues or other starchy substances (e.g. wallpaper). Can leave yellow stains, especially on linens. Adults and nymphs are both considered pests.
Control
Strengths are agility and speed, variety of food sources and habitats especially in the human environment, can survive in cooler temperatures. Weaknesses include lack of ability to climb smooth surfaces resulting in being trapped in open places such as baths. Because of a preference for darker, secluded areas, susceptible commodities such as books etc should be checked and if necessary storage of such items changed to environments less suited to silverfish. Chemical treatments involve dusting or surface sprays where they might dwell or run, space/aerosol sprays to eradicate an existing population if it is more confined. The best form of control is to remove the food source if possible.
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