A pest is defined as any animal that could potentially contaminate food, whether directly or indirectly. This category includes a variety of creatures, such as birds, rodents, insects, and arachnids (such as spiders), among others.
Pest control
Pest control, on the other hand, refers to the practice of managing, minimizing, or eliminating unwanted insects and other pests from areas that are inhabited by people. To ensure the most effective and safe results, it is important that pest control is handled by a licensed and experienced professional who possesses a deep understanding of the pests they are treating. This expert knowledge is essential for implementing the most appropriate pest control measures and ensuring that the area is free from pests.
General treatment
For an effective way to eliminate common pest problems and keep them at bay for an extended period, a general pest control treatment is recommended. Often referred to as a "pest spray," this type of treatment encompasses much more than that. It involves eradicating a range of pests, including ants, cockroaches (excluding German cockroaches), spiders, silverfish, bed bugs, fleas, rodents, wasps, carpet beetles, termites, mosquitoes, and others.

During a general pest control treatment, several areas of your property will be treated, including the outside of your building, including doors, windows, other entry points, and eaves. Other outdoor areas, such as garages, verandas, sheds, outdoor furniture, play equipment, fence lines, and letterboxes, will also be treated. Additionally, the roof void, wall voids, and sub-floor (if present) will be treated. Every room inside the building, including skirtings, architraves, cornices, and under kitchen appliances, will also receive treatment.

To ensure a comprehensive and effective treatment, a range of products will be used, including sprays to the inside and outside areas (using Temprid 75), powders in the roof void and wall voids (applied through weepholes), and spot treatments to cracks and crevices using spray, dust, and gel baits as required. With this thorough and effective approach, you can enjoy a pest-free environment for many months.

To avoid contamination of food by pests, it is crucial to prevent their entry into your premises as far as reasonably practical and to remove any that do get in. Pests can transmit harmful microorganisms, damage food and packaging, and contaminate it with their hair, urine, feces, and bodies. Rats and mice can also gnaw and cause damage to cables and pipes, while making their nests in roof spaces. Different types of pest-proofing measures may be necessary for various locations in Queensland, but several standard methods can be used to restrict pests' access, such as installing flyscreens or self-closing doors to pest-proof entrances and windows, ensuring drains, grease traps, and ventilation pipes are sealed, blocking openings where pipes pass through external walls, and installing appropriate flashing at the bottom of wooden doors if there is a problem with mice entering through doorways. Premises don't have to be pest-proofed if there's no possibility of pests gaining access. In some cases, it might be more appropriate to apply exclusion measures throughout the complex, such as a shopping mall with a food hall.

It is also necessary to eliminate places in the premises that provide harborage for pests. Enclosed areas that are difficult to seal completely should be opened up or provided with access for inspection and cleaning, if possible. Because most pests are active at night, contamination of food may go unnoticed for some time until the infestation is large enough for pests to be visible. Additionally, it is challenging to remove a significant infestation.

Recommended treatment frequency
To prevent pest infestation and contamination of food, it is recommended to have a licensed pest control expert provide regular treatments. The frequency of these treatments will depend on the specific needs of the premises and the products used by the pest control operator, and there is no set schedule. Professional pest control operators are skilled in safely applying pesticides to food premises.

Photos above: Comprehensive treatment around the external perimeter

Photos above: treatments inside the home

If you are dealing with a specific ant or German cockroach problem, a specialist treatment may be necessary in addition to a general pest treatment. At A1 Termite and Pest Management, safety is our top priority. We will assess your property for potential risks and only use products with the best safety profiles, applying them only where necessary. While our treatments are safe, it is important to keep children and pets away from treated areas during application and until the treatment is dry. In cases of severe infestation, a specialized pest treatment may be the best option to effectively eliminate the problem.