The Red Back spider's distinctive red mark sets it apart from most other species.  In fact, it is only the mature female who displays the red stripe on her abdomen. The immature females have white markings on a brown body. The male of the species are small brown spiders with red and white markings. Red back spiders are more common around drier regions and enjoy webbing around buildings and  on children's play equipment and other garden structures. They have been known to feed on mice and other ground dwelling animals and insects. Red back spider bites are poisonous and can be fatal to small children and the elderly.

The funnel web spider can grow up to 5cm long. They feature a shiny head on a brown body. They live in burrows, inside stumps and logs which they line with a silky lining. Funnel Web spiders are highly toxic and are dangerous. Seek medical advice immediately should you be bitten. Female Funnel Webs can live up to 20 years and feed on lizards and frogs, and other insects who pass by their burrow. The males wander away from the burrow and may enter houses, tents and other dwellings.

Ants

Ants are extremely common in every region and  state of Australia. they are found in and around the home and prefer to build their nests in existing structural flaws such as rotting woods, broken brickwork and plaster cracks. They search for food and water, with particular favourites being sweets, meats, fats, oils and garden seeds. Ants locate food sources then larger groups are recruited to transport the food back to the nest.                     

Rodents are one of the most successful species on earth. Their ability to survive natural disasters, adverse weather conditions and harsh environmental conditions makes them a formidable adversary. Rodents are responsible for destroying millions of dollars worth of crops, stored grains and prepared foods every year. Rodents remarkable ability to develop a resistance to poisons and baits, makes it necessary to enlist the services of a professional pest control practitioner in order to successfully eradicate your rodent problem. Rats can produce up to 80 offspring per year with one male and female producing over 15,000 offspring during their lifetimes.  The black rat is the most common rat in built up areas of Australia, and was responsible for the spread of the bubonic Plague of 1665. Its extraordinary climbing abilities, easy adaptability to harsh environments and its ability to breed as young as 10 weeks old make the rat a serious threat.

Mice can crawl through a hole less than 3cm in diameter, giving them superior access to most areas. Mice can reach an average population density of up to 750 mice per hectare in Australia and past plagues have been devastating to both social and environmental concerns as well as economical systems with monetary damages reaching up to AU$100 Million. Mice destroy electrical equipment, spread disease and damage food, personal belongings and have been known to cause house fires.

Fleas inhabit the bodies of animals, including domestic pets, humans and live in carpets, lounges, and other soft furnishings. Essentially, fleas feed on the blood of animals and can jump from one animal to another, spreading disease in the process. Fleas transmit tapeworm and less commonly Marine Typhus. Fleas bite and can cause reactions in some people, with the urge to scratch difficult to resist, secondary infections are common.  The tiny nature of fleas make it difficult to eradicate them completely from the home. Professional pest control is necessary in most cases as eggs can hatch after self fumigation has occurred enabling another infestation.

Mites & Ticks

Mites are microscopic species of parasitic invertebrates that live on plants and animals or in soil or water. The most well known mites are dust mites, that live almost exclusively in the home. Ticks attach themselves to a host animal (including Humans) and feed on their blood. Mites are known as arachnids, closely related to spiders with over 3000 species known in Australia. Mites damage plants by piercing the leaves and sucking out the sap. Humans and animals can have adverse reactions to these parasites as they have been known to spread skin conditions such as mange and scabies and be responsible for allergies and asthma in humans. Mites have also been known to live in stored food.

It is illegal for you to treat your own termites and the services of a professional pest controller is necessary in order to eradicate these pests. Termites are attracted to wood and water as well as humid conditions. Termites are often confused with ants, however termites have both a queen and a king and some species have more than one egg-laying queen. Termites live in colonies that can be inhabited by millions of individuals all working together to exploit food sources available to them. The 'hive mentality' means that termites are able to share foraging, food storage, hive maintenance and other duties in order to exist more efficiently.

At certain times of the year, winged termites fly away from the nest to locate alternative food sources. One way to know if there is a termite nest nearby is when  large numbers of winged termites fly about near your home. Termites are usually sensitive to light and rarely emerge from the nest w which are usually located under the house. termites can cause incredible damage to your home and can destroy structural timbers within 6 months depending on colony size. A licensed pest controller is essential to eradicate termite infestations in your home.