• Termite Control Singapore

In Singapore, termite control is an often overlooked service. This is not surprising given that termite occurrences are not as common as sightings of ants or cockroaches. Yet termites (also known as white ants) are often regarded as one of the most notorious house pests. Termite infestations are more common than most people think too, given that Singapore’s humid environment provides the best conditions for these white ants to flourish. And because white ants prefer to establish their colonies in wooden furniture and are attracted to timbre, households are especially prone to their attacks. Pest Control Singapore offers the best termite control service in Singapore, bringing you effective termite control at an affordable price.

How to Check for Termites?

Termites are usually difficult to spot as they often thrive in household furniture undetected. These white ants may attack wooden furniture, shelves and even books. Homeowners may conduct their own termite inspections by looking out for the following signs of termite infestations:

• Winged termites or shed wings near window sills
• A hollow sound produced by tapping on wooden furniture
• Mud tunnels
• Blistered paint

While conducting the inspection, homeowners should be careful of mistaking the harmless ants for termites. Termites usually have longer bodies and have an unprotected white abdomen, unlike ants which are fully covered in exoskeleton.  If a termite infestation is suspected, homeowners should seek professional assistance in analysing the potential breeding grounds for these pests in order to ensure their complete extermination.

Protecting Your Home against Termites

As a preventive termite control measure, homeowners should always ensure that:

• Water supply is switched off when not in use
• Wooden furniture should not be in contact with soil
• Gutters are kept clean
• Vents are not obstructed
• Stationary water on roofs are always removed

While these measures may help in protecting your home from termite infestations, they are not full proof. Termites may still enter your home and invade your furniture by other means. Hence, it is important to conduct regular checks on your home environment to ensure that you are not providing the perfect conditions for termites to breed.

Exterminating Termites

Termites can cause significant damage to your furniture by eating away at wooden structures, causing expensive furniture to become unstable. These pests are attracted to the scent of timbre wood and prefer moist environments when choosing their habitats. While many pests such as cockroaches and ants may be repelled by using over-the-counter solutions, termites are difficult to control and cannot be easily exterminated.

Why Seek Professional Termites Control Help?

While there may be Do-It-Yourself (DIY) products for termite control available online, these are mostly ineffective in treating termite problems. It is important to ensure that the Queen Termite is killed to destroy the whole colony. These DIY solutions are usually not able to do that; in some instances, they may even cause the termites to relocate their nest, making it difficult to fully eradicate them. When dealing with termite issues, it is wise to contact a professional pest control company specialising in Termites Control  so as to effectively destroy the colony before the termites do significant damage to your home.

• Bed Bugs Singapore

Bed Bug bites can be very irritating to the skin and unpleasant to the eye. However, these bites are often mistaken for mosquito bites by Singaporeans. Without correctly identifying the bed bug bites, victims of these bites continue to be prey for Bed Bugs while they attempt to eradicate the wrong insects in their household. As such, it is crucial to be able to identify bug bites to successfully eliminate the problem.

Bed Bug Bites vs Mosquito Bites

Like mosquito bites, Bed Bug bites do not wake the victim. Thus it may be difficult to ascertain whether bite marks are caused by Bed Bugs or mosquitoes. To determine whether you have been bitten by a Bed Bug or mosquito, check if the bites are clustered and aligned in a line, or isolated; Bed Bugs usually produce clustered bites that aligned linearly while mosquito bite patterns are more random and further apart.

Another way of finding out whether the bites you recently receive originate from mosquitoes or bed bugs is to observe the period of time when you received the bites. Bed bugs are generally only active at night so if you notice bite marks appearing only after waking up, it is highly likely that these marks are bed bug bites. Conversely, mosquitoes can be active any time in the day or at night, allowing them to feed on human blood at any time. Thus, if you notice freshly-formed bites on your skin in the day, it is more likely that they are from mosquitoes rather than bed bugs.

Treating Bed Bug Bites

In order to effectively treat Bed Bug bites, you will want to get rid of Bed Bug infestation problem first. Your best bet is therefore to hire a reliable pest control company and get them to do the job.

After the Bed Bugs have been eradicated from your home, you may choose to purchase over-the-counter solutions to reduce swelling and inflammation on your skin due to the bites. Anti-itch creams help to relieve the skin from the itching and burning sensations that come from the Bed Bug bites. You may also ice your wounds to reduce your desire to scratch them. If your wounds are infected, you may use an antiseptic solution to clean the wound, applying an antiseptic cream or lotion afterwards. However, if the infection is serious, you will want to visit a doctor for a more thorough examination.

ere at Pest Control Singapore, we believe in providing the best services for our clients in their pest exterminating needs. Our services range from termites extermination to fumigation, providing our clients with the most effective and efficient pest control assistance. Below are links to the services that we provide.

• Fumigation Services

In Singapore, many companies and businesses make use of fumigation as an effective means to eradicate pests. Homeowners who suspect a pest infestation but are unable to locate the pest in the home, or suspect multiple pests in their home, would also employ the use of fumigation to rid the home of all possible pests, all in one fell swoop. In Singapore, fumigation is closely monitored by bodies such as the National Environment Agency (NEA), the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Benefits of Fumigation

Fumigation is one of the most common methods use for fast and effective pest extermination. It is conducted by expelling a gas called a ‘fumigant’ at high concentrations in an enclosed area in hopes of suffocating the pests. While fumigants are also harmful to humans, careful use of the fumigants during the fumigation process should be ensured to prevent risking the health of humans as well. Fumigation allows the user to destroy all life stages of a pest and to eliminate many pests at one time, such as:

• mosquitoes
• fleas
• cockroaches
• termites
• bed bugs; and even
• rodents.

Fumigation may be conducted on ships, vessels, cargo and containers to ensure that the contents are free of pests and harmful bacteria that might be transmitted from one area to another during transportation. Ships and vessels are fumigated to get rid of pests that may be infested in them. The areas are vacated before the fumigant is dispatched and all areas, including crevices and cracks, are sealed to prevent the fumigant from escaping. Re-entry is then allowed after proper ventilation and it is declared safe for entrance. Cargo and containers may be fumigated and stored for a sufficient period of time before it is ventilated. They are then sealed and allowed to be dispatched.

Fumigation may also be conducted in homes to rid them of pests. This is especially useful when the location of the pest’s breeding ground cannot be easily determined. Releasing the fumigant throughout the home would ensure that all corners of the home are covered by the fumigant so that all pests in all stages of their life-cycle can be thoroughly destroyed. The home has to be evacuated first to ensure that humans and pets do not get into contact with the highly toxic fumigant. Then, the windows, doors and crevices are sealed and locked before the fumigant is released. The house is left to ‘soak’ in the fumigant for a substantial amount of time before it is declared safe and the occupants are allowed to return to their home to resume their activities.

Why Use Fumigation Services?

Fumigation is one of the most effective methods for pest control in Singapore, allowing business owners and homeowners to effectively get rid of pests in one fell swoop. However, it is important to note that not all pest control companies are qualified to provide fumigation services. It requires experience and training to operate the fumigation equipment; if handled incorrectly, the fumigation procedure may not be as effective and may even risk human health. Thus, it is wisest to contact a reliable fumigation service to ensure that your businesses and homes are protected from pest infestations and your health is not at risk.

• Rodent Control Singapore

Rodent Control in Singapore has alway been a challenge. Rodents, like rats and mice, can be found breeding in housing estates and become especially problematic when they threaten food hygiene in hawker centres and even in homes. Rodents may contaminate uncovered food and introduce deadly viruses and bacteria to the environment, making them exceedingly threatening to humans. As they are extremely wary of changes made to their habitats, they are often able to outsmart humans, making bait and traps less effective in eradicating the problem. At Pest Control Singapore, we offer simple and effective rodent control services at prices you can well afford.

Signs of Rodent Colonies

Spotting rat or mouse droppings on the floor is usually a huge sign of a rodent infestation. Rodent droppings should not be handled without proper equipment as their excretions are known to contain many harmful bacteria that may cause serious disease in humans. Virus particles may also be dispersed by the rodent excretions, which may result in deadly viruses such as Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) if the virus becomes airborne. Thus, if rat droppings are spotted, homeowners should contact a rodent control service immediately to ensure that the environment is properly sterilised before human activities may be resumed.

Detecting a strange odour in your house may be a hint that a dead rodent is present in your surroundings. Dead rats usually produce an odour when their bodies start to decompose. It is important that the body is discovered upon detecting the odour as it may take weeks for the body to completely decompose and the pungent smell to completely disappear. Dead rodents may also cause airborne diseases to be spread more quickly, making the people more susceptible to these deadly viruses.

Why Engage a Rodent Control Specialist?

Rodents have small body structures, which allow them to squeeze through small pipes, attics, burrows and even under concrete and wall voids. The fact that they often colonise in hard-to-reach areas, are able to outsmart our attempts to bait and trap them, coupled with their ability to reproduce rapidly, they are extremely difficult to eradicate entirely. Without the proper equipment, home and business owners alike are advised not to endanger themselves by coming into contact with rodents as they are capable of spreading airborne diseases that may prove to be fatal to humans. If a rodent infestation is suspected, it would be most wise to contact a rodent control service to assist in eradicating the problem so that the risk of disease spreading would be kept to a minimum.

• Cockroach Singapore

The cockroach in Singapore is known to be one of the most resilient creatures, spawning the Mandarin phrase ‘the unbeatable cockroach’ to illustrate its high resilience in nature. Most cockroaches prefer dark and moist environments, making them difficult to spot in the day. However, if a cockroach is spotted in the day, it may be a sign of a serious cockroach control problem. Pest Control Singapore offers affordable inspection and extermination services for homes, offices and businesses that guarantees the elimination of these pesky pests.

Why Get Rid of Cockroaches?

While cockroaches rarely bite humans and, unlike termites, do not cause any structural damage to buildings or furniture, cockroaches are still known for spreading diseases. Indeed, cockroaches themselves may not be capable of causing diseases, but their bodies act as carriers for various bacteria and viruses that we might come into contact with if we eat food that has been contaminated by cockroaches. They may also defecate on open food, leaving behind dead skin and even empty egg shells.

Cockroaches, though rare, may also enter your body’s orifices such as your ears and nose while you are sleeping. There have been several cases of small cockroaches invading the human body, making your vital organs susceptible to damage.

Cockroaches may also cause allergies as their bodies contain a wide variety of allergens that may trigger a person’s allergies easily upon contact. People with asthma should also be careful if their house is infested with cockroaches as these creepy crawlies may induce asthma or even cause non-asthmatic people to develop cockroach asthma after inhaling cockroach allergens.

Signs of a Cockroach Infestation

One of the sure signs of a cockroach infestation is spotting dead cockroaches and cockroach eggs in your environment. As cockroaches prefer lurking in dark and moist conditions, it is important to ensure that clutter in the household or office is clear before conducting an inspection. Cockroaches like to hide behind larger items such as the refrigerator, behind pots and pans, and even behind your oven. Other popular places where cockroaches are known to appear include the gutters, under carpets, behind wallpapers and behind walls.

Why Hire a Cockroach Control Service?

While there are many over-the-counter cockroach repellents and pesticides available, cockroaches are known to be difficult to eradicate given their resilience and great adaptability. Over the years, cockroaches have adapted to become more resistant to pesticides and are less likely to fall into cockroach traps. Even with new chemical formulas introduced in the market, many cockroaches are still resistant to the effects of these repellents as they outsmart humans. Furthermore, even if you manage to kill one cockroach, it is still difficult to locate its nest, making it nearly impossible to exterminate the cockroaches entirely. In this case, engaging a professional cockroach control service would be your best bet in ensuring that your cockroach infestation problem is solved as effectively as possible.

• Mosquito Singapore

Mosquitoes in Singapore thrive due to our humid climate and frequent rains. If safety precautions are not taken, these mosquitoes can breed easily in any household, school and even offices. Mosquitoes breed by laying their eggs on stagnant water in flower pots, roofs and bamboo pole holders, reproducing at a rapid rate. While mosquitoes are generally harmless, some species of mosquitoes such as the Aedes mosquito carry deadly diseases that may lead to widespread epidemics. As such, mosquitoes pose a significant threat to Singaporeans and it is for our own well being that appropriate mosquito control measures are put in place to prevent our premises from becoming a breeding ground.

Determining Mosquito Bites

Mosquito bites are often itchy and mildly swollen due to the skin’s reaction to a bite. Some mosquitoes may produce allergens that trigger allergies in the victim, including swelling, itching and hives. Most of these bites do not cause disease, but may still irritate the skin. Bites from a mosquito may sometimes be mistaken for Bed Bug bites, but there are some inherent differences that may allow you to easily distinguish the two.

If you notice flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, rashes and bruises from minor knocks and bumps along with mosquito bites, these may be signs of Dengue fever. Dengue fever is a result of a dengue infection caused by the bites of an Aedes mosquito which in turn causes the body to bleed easily. The disease may be further complicated if it worsens to a Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever or Dengue Shock Syndrome if it is left untreated. While Dengue infection is not directly contagious from person to person, it is spread by the Aedes mosquito, making the people who live in close proximity of the victim more susceptible to getting bitten by the mosquito and thus infected.

DIY Mosquito Control Measures You can Take

Mosquitoes can be deprived of a breeding ground by simply ensuring that the environment is free of areas with stagnant water. Stagnant water may be found in multiple areas such as pails, the surface of hardened soil, plant pot plates, roof gutters, bamboo pole holders, vases and even on the surface of fallen leaves. To ensure that your environment is free from mosquito infestations, you may perform the following steps:

• Ensure that all plant pot plates, pails, watering cans and trays are overturned when unused. Water may also accumulate on the underside of these trays and pails, especially between the ridges.
• Change the water in flower vases frequently to ensure that they do not become breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquito larvae may also remain on the stalks of the flowers if not cleaned properly, so it is important to ensure that the stalks are clean of mosquito eggs and larvae as well.
• Add sufficient amounts of granular insecticide into vases, roof gutters and gully traps. Mosquitoes cannot lay their eggs in insecticide-contaminated water.
• Ensure that scupper drains are not blocked so that excess water may be easily drained.
• Clear fallen leaves in the garden regularly to prevent water from being accumulated on their surfaces. These leaves may also block scupper drains, preventing excess water from draining easily.
• Empty excess water from toothbrush holders and ensure that the bathroom is clear of excess water at all times.
• Put down the toilet covers before going on a vacation so that mosquitoes cannot use them as breeding ground.

Why Engage Professional Help?

While homeowners may take precautionary measures to prevent their homes from becoming a mosquito breeding ground, mosquitoes may still breed in your home due to carelessness. Since many of these cases are due to the homeowner’s own negligence, it is difficult for these homeowners to determine the source of mosquito breeding. As such, it is important to call upon a professional pest control company to inspect and identify all potential breeding ground as well as put measures in place to control and eradicate your mosquito problem once and for all.

• Bee, Wasp and Hornet Singapore

People have always found it difficult to differentiate between bees, wasps and hornets in Singapore. While these insects may have many common traits, such as their yellow and black striped bodies, they are very different from each other and should be quickly identified so that the most effective pest control methods can be employed to eradicate the problem. This is especially important if you are allergic to a bee, hornet or wasp sting, as an allergic reaction can sometimes proof to be fatal. At Pest Control Singapore, our staff are trained to in all kinds of pest control services and can be counted upon to solve any bee related problems.

How to Tell Them Apart?

Bees generally have a hairy and sturdy body, which allows them to easily carry pollen from flower to flower. They are herbivorous and attack humans only when they feel threatened. Their stings are usually used to sting other bees, but when used on humans, the sting does not come out easily when the bees try to leave. In such cases, the bees die from trauma of having their stings removed from their bodies. Their live in bee hives which are characterised by their sturdy structure and numerous holes on their surface.

Wasps have a more streamlined body with a narrower waist than bees. They are omnivorous, capable of feeding on pollen as well as caterpillars and they swarm around humans to scavenge for food. They are very aggressive and their bodies are engineered for hunting, allowing them to sting repeatedly, unlike bees. A wasp’s nest appears as a grey structure that resembles a paper lantern, with an entrance at its bottom.

Hornets are a subspecies of wasps and are mostly larger than the standard wasp, growing up to 5.5 centimetres in size. They are highly aggressive, omnivorous insects that are likely to appear in areas with many humans to source for food. They are capable of stinging repeatedly when threatened. Like wasps, their nests are also made of a paper substance, resembling a wasp’s nest.

What to Do if I have a Bee, Wasp or Hornet Problem?

Suspect you have a bee hive or wasp nest nearby? First, you should identify which insect is flying around your home. If you are sure that your house is being invaded by bees, you may choose to leave the situation alone as bees are generally harmless unless provoked. However, if you would prefer to eradicate the problem, you should not, under any circumstances, poke at a beehive or attack the bees without professional help. This may anger the bees and cause them to attack you or innocent residents that live near you as well. Instead, the best course of action is to contact the Singapore pest management company to undertake the task of pest removal.

Similarly, if you have a wasp or hornet problem, the best course of action is still to contact a pest control service. Disturbing a hornet or wasp nest may result in devastating consequences as these insects are very aggressive and would not hesitate to sting repeatedly. Their streamlined bodies allow them to fly at faster speeds than bees, but are still easy to outrun. Unfortunately, by the time you outrun them, you would have already received a few painful stings from them.

• Fly Singapore – Effective Fly Control for Flies and Flying Insects

There are many types of flies in Singapore. Some common ones include the house fly, as well as the sewer fly and fruit fly (also know as vinegar fly). These flies may appear anywhere, from your familiar hawker centre to your favourite fast food restaurant and even in your home. If you have a fly infestation problem, we at Pest Control Singapore can help. Our staff are trained to provide all kinds of pest control services including flies control and our rates are reasonable.

Flies are known to be among the most common pests found in Singapore and some, like the house fly, have been known to carry nasty bacteria that may lead to serious illnesses. House flies feed through a tube which only allows them to consume liquefied material, which make it difficult for them to consume solid food material. To counteract that, they regurgitate their saliva and digestive juices onto solid food so that the food may be digested and decomposed for easy consumption for the flies. As such, they may regurgitate the remains of their previous meal onto your food or even pass on bacteria that attach themselves to the legs of the flies. Their bodies can carry over a hundred pathogens, including typhoid, salmonellosis and parasitic worms.

Getting Rid of Flies

When getting rid of flies, it is crucial to ensure that the main breeding site of the flies is identified. Depending on the type of flies, these creatures may prefer to lay eggs at different locations. The common house flies in Singapore usually seek places that are moist and dark, such as the trash can, animal excretions, or even rotting carcasses, to lay their eggs. Unlike house flies, fruit flies prefer laying their eggs on over-ripe or damaged fruit, dirty drains and gutters. By ensuring that your environment is clean, flies will no longer have the opportunity to breed thereby drastically reducing the fly population.

Breeding ground aside, it is also important to get rid of their food source. Different flies are attracted to different things; house flies are normally attracted to decaying organic filth such as animal excretions, rotting meat and faeces, while fruit flies prefer sweet and sugary substances such as overripe fruit and spilt beverages. Since flies face a challenge with ingesting solid food, they usually prefer liquefied food sources. However, flies are still capable of attacking uncovered solid food when necessary. To ensure that the fly infestation problem is eradicated, it is crucial to deprive flies from such ready sources of food. It is recommended that you keep your food properly covered or refrigerated if unused and to guard or protect your food from contact with flies.

Why Use a Professional Fly Control Service?

While flies in Singapore may be commonplace, they still pose a huge problem to F&B businesses and homes as a serious infestation is a sign of poor food hygiene, causing people to be susceptible to serious and even fatal diseases. Hiring a professional fly control service would ensure that your business receives regular inspections, improving your health and safety standards and generating more revenue from satisfied customers. Homeowners would also feel more at ease eating at home as well as more confident when inviting guests to their humble abode.

Despite conducting inspections themselves, many homeowners and business owners have reflected that even though they have taken many precautionary measures to get rid of the flies, the fly infestation problem is still unsolved. Normally, this happens because the flies lay their eggs in multiple locations, resulting in great difficulty in completely eradicating them.

• Ant Control Singapore

In Singapore, ants are commonly found in many public places such as parks, gardens and residential areas. While there is a variety of ants living in Singapore, the most common ants that you find are ‘Garden Ants’. These ants are dark-coloured and small, having a size of about half a centimetre, and are mostly harmless to humans. Other varieties include the ‘Pharoah’s Ants’, which thrive in hot and harsh environments and carry harmful germs from their main diet of decomposing foodstuffs. One of the most notorious species of ants is the ‘Red Fire Ant’, which are reddish brown ants that attacks animals and humans, leaving extremely painful stings.

The Queen Ant

All ants are led by a Queen of twice the size of a regular worker ant. The common ants that you see are usually worker ants in charge of bringing food to the colony. The Queen ant is usually located deep in the labyrinth of the anthill so as to prevent the Queen from coming into harm. As the Queen ant is responsible for reproducing more ants, it is meaningless to attempt to eradicate the ants merely by killing worker ants. In order to fully destroy the colony of ants, the wisest method is to make use of bait that the worker ants would bring to the Queen, mistakenly poisoning their leader. Without the Queen ant, the colony would perish and the ant infestation problem would be easily solved.

Why Hire an Ant Control Service?

While there are many over-the-counter insecticides available in the market today, a number of homeowners have reported that these products only provide temporary relief to their problem and the ants would eventually return after a few days. Most of the time, sealing the entry points of an ant hole will not solve the problem as these ants may find other routes to gain entry into your home or even make new tunnels in replacement for the closed paths. Furthermore, ant poison may not be very effective as these ants may return after the poison runs out. In these cases, hiring an ant control service may be the best bet to get rid of these ants permanently.

• Snake Control Singapore

In Singapore, snakes are a rare sight. As such, they become a significant cause for worry if spotted. Most Singaporeans do not have any knowledge on handling snakes and thus become helpless when they spot one in their homes. The flexibility of a snake also allows it to hide in pipes and gutters, obstructing water flow and perhaps even find their way to your toilets. While many snakes in Singapore are harmless, it is still important to ascertain the identity of a snake before further action takes place. Pest control professionals should also be contacted so that these experts may decide on how best to handle the snake. If you are faced with a snake problem, Pest Control Singapore has got trained staff to help you catch and get rid of the snake.

Types of Snakes in Singapore

Singapore is home to a variety of snake species; from pythons to cobras, from coral snakes to sea snakes, the urban landscape is still surprisingly full of life. One of the most common snakes is the Reticulated Python, which can grow up to 5 metres locally and more in other Southeast Asian countries. Most pythons below the size of 3 metres are generally harmless and shy of humans, so they may scurry away when approached. Nevertheless, it is still wise to leave them alone and not attack them.

Cobras in Singapore, such as the Equatorial Spitting Cobra and the King Cobra, are rarer than the pythons but are aggressive to humans. These snakes are venomous and will not hesitate to attack once they feel threatened.

What to Do if You Spot a Snake?

While it may be tempting to try to handle the snake on your own, don’t. Most Singaporean’s are not equipped with the knowledge on handling and capturing snakes and one wrong move may result in injury or even death, if the snake is poisonous. Instead, the first thing you should always do is to keep children and pets away from the snake. Do not attack the snake as it may cause it to become aggressive toward you. Close all windows and doors with the exception of those that lead the snake outdoors. Thereafter, do call the relevant authorities for help (if the snake is spotted in a public place) or a professional pest management company, if the snake is in your premises. The following is a series of numbers you could call if you spot a snake:

• Police: 999 (if the snake is a threat to public safety)
• Ambulance: 995 (if someone is bitten)
• Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA): (1800) 476 1600
• Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) Wildlife Rescue Hotline: (+65) 9783 7782
• Our Pest Control Helpline: (+65) 6589 8835

Why Use Snake Control Services?

Generally, Singaporeans are not experienced in handling wild animals that they spot in public spaces. When wild snakes are spotted, it is crucial to quickly identify the snake and make decisions under high pressure. In such stressful situations, people tend to panic and delay the snake rescue operations. As such, it would be best to contact a professional snake control service so that the best course of action may be determined in the shortest amount of time. This is to ensure that you may return to your regular activity as quickly as possible without being further delayed.

• Flea and Tick Singapore

Fleas and Ticks may not be uncommon in Singapore, but they can still be prevalent in your home, especially if you keep pets. Both fleas and ticks are capable of transmitting diseases to you and your pets, some of which may be serious, if not treated properly. One of the most significant signs of a flea infestation in your home is finding itchy bites on your skin or fur loss on pets. And if you see even a single tick crawling around in your home, there is a good chance your house is infested.

Flea Bites and Prevention

Fleas are usually brought into a home by pets or found when moving into a home that previously had pets. These insects usually feed on mammals for their blood or organic matter in carpets or mattresses and are capable of remaining dormant in an empty house while waiting for another group of people to move in.

There are two different types of fleas: human fleas and cat fleas. Human fleas are capable of living on humans and selected animals with similar skin while cat fleas generally live on pets, carpets and pet bedding. Human fleas can bite anywhere on your skin while cat fleas usually bite your hands and feet when the you come in close contact with the fleas. Flea bites, unlike bed bug bites and mosquito bites, become itchy the moment the flea feeds on you and can be easily identified by their tiny dark spots that are encircled by a red area.

To prevent flea bites, ensure that carpets and other fabric on the floor are regularly cleaned as flea eggs may be laid on them. Use a vacuum with a strong suction power to clean them or soak them in hot water to kill fleas and their eggs. To ensure that pets are free from fleas, use anti-flea products (e.g. frontline) that are readily available in the market and wash pet bedding regularly, using the methods as described above. If you or your pet are bitten by fleas, it is best to consult a doctor or a veterinarian respectively to prevent possible spreading of diseases.

Tick Bites and Prevention

Ticks in Singapore generally do not affect cats, but are found more commonly on dogs and other pets. The greatest concern over ticks usually stem from pets, not humans, as ticks can transmit serious illnesses that may prove fatal to your pets. For example, the Canine Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis are diseases spread by ticks, which deposit blood borne parasites, causing symptoms such as anaemia, lethargy, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and even nose bleeds in dogs. Other illnesses such as Lyme disease and Tick Paralysis are also serious illnesses which may result in weakness in your pets. If you notice your pets developing any of the symptoms above, please contact a veterinarian to run a thorough check on your pets for ticks and a pest control company to rid your home of the tick infestation.

Adult female ticks are capable of laying thousands of eggs, after feeding, in walls, crevices and dark corners of the room. To ensure that the ticks do not breed in your home, it is wise to clean all remote areas of your home regularly such that these ticks are unable to find any breeding ground. As tick nymphs are difficult to spot with our naked eye, it is important to ensure that your home is free from tick eggs so that it would not become a breeding ground for these pests.

Why Hire a Pest Control Professional?

Pests such as ticks and fleas are usually difficult to exterminate. These pests are small to the naked eye and remain hidden from plain sight until the damage is done. While home owners may take preventive measures such as ensuring that the house is clean and hence free of fleas and ticks, should there be an infestation, these pests are relentless when it comes to surviving in your home. They may relocate to another place to breed, making it nearly impossible to eradicate them entirely without professional help