​Winter is coming … that means that not only are we rugged up inside our warm and dry homes but Adelaide’s pests and insects are too. So what are they and how do we control winter pests in Adelaide?

Rats and mice like warmth and comfort in the colder months. They make nests in ceiling and wall cavities and any other warm, dry places they can find. You may see activity or you may find that your pets are strangely looking at the walls or roof. We explain why in depth into our blog on mice and rodent control.

While rodents are known to carry pests and disease, the big issue in winter is the damage they do with their teeth. In gaining access to your home or foraging for food, rodents will chew through almost anything, including electrical wires and fitting. While it may kill the rodent and cause a black out, it can also cause a house fire.
Don’t risk rodents this winter, book a rodent baiting now. 

White ants (termites) don't hibernate in winter. They remain active and can do serious damage to your home.
Sometimes they make "shelter tubes" or "mudding" to protect them from the weather and predators. You might see them on exterior walls, especially near piles of wood. You can see them inside your home near skirting boards or cornices.
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Don’t leave your termite inspection or station rebaiting until your outside again in spring. Book your termite service in now and rest assured when summer comes. 

There’s nothing worse than pulling out your Winter blankets, jumpers, or coats to find that someone or something has been munching on it. If you shake your clothes and moths fly around, then that’s a serious problem. But these critters also enjoy living in carpet.

So how do you control moths after they’ve been feasting in your wardrobe?

• The first job is to empty your entire wardrobe, or linen cupboard.
• The next step is to wash all of the fabric items, before you mend them. Pop any dryer safe items through the dryer and the remainder should go out in the sunshine.
• Next step is to vacuum up any adult insects, eggs, or larvae. Make sure to vacuum the corners and skirting boards.
• (Almost there, but if it’s getting too much please give us a call)
• Then we suggest wiping over the cupboard surfaces with a weak disinfectant solution.
• Once the cupboard is clean and dry you can safely return your items to the cupboard. Though we do suggest storing seasonal items in sealed bags or containers as extra protection. 

The Silverfish name comes from their silver color and the way that their bodies move back and forth, side-to-side, like fish when they move. 

Silverfish are especially attracted to damp clothing and paper. Warm and moist spaces are their favourite. That’s why leaving dirty dishes is a bad idea as they attract silverfish bugs.

They feed on sugars and starches (carbohydrates) mainly. Their diet includes protein-rich foods like grains, fibres, vegetables and even some fabrics. One of the most common ways you’ll bring in silverfish bugs in your home is in infested pet food.

When you combine all these things, it’s no real surprise that you may see silverfish where you see cockroaches. They have the same tastes.

Either which way, both are unpleasant and if you’re sick of having either pest in your Adelaide home over winter then the best form of control is to contact MD Pest Control for an internal and external spray. 

Chomp! Chomp! Chomp! There go the slugs and snails eating your new seedlings. Time for the snail bait.

It seems to be the way that just as the seasons turn and we swap from one crop to the next or new shoots appear in our gardens – so do the slugs and snails.
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It’s Autumn as we write this and we’ve had a nice amount of rain and the usual sunny days. That means that we are out in the garden enjoying the last of the sunshine but also noticing the pests. Did you know that this is actually the best time for slug and snail baiting?

​Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) recommend slug and snail baiting after Autumn rain. This is before crops or seedlings grow too big and before slugs and snail egg laying season. 

​Most commercial snail baits are toxic to earthworms. The snail bait we stock is certified Organic and won’t kill earthworms, pets or native animals.

There are a few reasons why the snail bait may not seem to be working:

1. It takes a few days for the bait to take effect after being eaten
2. Some species of snails and slugs are resistant to common toxic poisons
3. Mice and other animals may be eating the snail bait
4. You have used a copper spray (Bordeaux mix) and it’s repelling the snails

At MD Pest Control, we recommend our organic snail and slug pellet to control the pests now so you cut their breeding cycle and save your young Autumn and Spring seedlings. The benefit of our pellets is that they are safe for the good earthworms in your garden and any native birds who might eat the baited snails.

Autumn is also a good time to bait for rats and mice who are known to eat the biological slug and snail controls you put down to protect your plants.

Contact our team on 0407 614 220 for pricing and orders of 1kg and 5kg bags or 20kg buckets of slug and snail bait pellets.