Pesky pests

Call us!

Drop us a line!

That creepy crawly crowd!

Rats and mice

Rats and mice don’t stop to pee in one spot, most of the time, they’re piddling as they go, using urine to mark territory and leave scent trails that help them (and others) navigate. Once a rodent finds a food source, others can easily follow the urine trail straight to it, presenting a major health hazard and without proper treatment, they keep returning along the same trails.

Rat and mice pee has a strong odour and builds up quickly in hidden areas (behind walls, under floors, in ceilings). That’s why infestations have a musty, ammonia-like smell, and often you’ll smell them long before you see them.

Rodent urine is a major health risk, as they can carry nasty pathogens, like leptospirosis, salmonella, hepatitis and hantavirus. Even dried urine particles can become airborne and inhaled when disturbed (vacuuming, sweeping), which is why protective cleaning methods are also important.

Spiders

Most spiders are useful hunters, eating flies, mozzies, and even cockroaches. But they’re also among the most feared of household pests, particularly for those who have an allergy, which can cause life-threatening anaphlaxis. Their webs, egg sacs, and sudden appearances can create stress, and in Australia, some species do pose a genuine danger.

Some spiders are venomous, such as the Red Back, but fatalities are rare due to the availability of effective antivenoms and increased awareness. Most spider bites occur when a spider is trapped against the skin or feels threatened, not because the spider is actively aggressive.

Button Pest Control provides safe, effective solutions for all major pests. Whether it’s your business, industrial site, factory, warehouse or home, we’ll help you stay pest-free with treatments specifically designed for your issue.

Flies

From fermentation flies to the common housefly, flies only live for a few weeks at most, but a single female can lay up to 500 eggs which breeds more flies to contaminate your space. They “taste” food with their feet, regurgitate their digestive fluids onto it before eating, and poop constantly, all of which spreads harmful bacteria across every surface they land on.

Flies can be dangerous as they transmit pathogens, viruses, and bacteria, which can cause diseases like food poisoning, dysentery, and hepatitis through contact with waste and food. While some flies, such as house flies and blow flies, mainly pose a hygiene risk, others, like March flies, can also deliver a painful bite that may cause allergic reactions.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are among the world’s oldest and toughest pests, having survived for over 300 million years. They’re fast breeders, with a single female producing tens of thousands of offspring in just a year. Their droppings attract others to the same area, but also their poop, skin, and saliva are known triggers for asthma and allergies, particularly in children. Cockroaches carry bacteria and other pathogens that can contaminate food and surfaces, spreading diseases like salmonella and E. coli.

In commercial kitchens, cafés, and restaurants, even one cockroach brought in with supplies can contaminate food, breach health codes, and damage reputation. Commercial kitchens, any food handling premises, warehouses, businesses and homes benefit from professional treatment to eliminate infestations quickly and effectively, and guard against future invaders.

Ants

Ants invade in large numbers, especially in warmer months. They’re drawn to food and moisture in kitchens, pantries, bathrooms, and gardens.

Ants are a huge headache in the home, and dangerous due to the potential to cause severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis, especially bull ants and jack jumper ants. These ants can deliver intense, burning stings, trigger symptoms like swelling, and, in serious cases, require medical care.

Wasps

Yellow-jacket wasps are an aggressive introduced species in Victoria, building hidden nests in wall cavities, roof spaces, garden beds, and compost heaps. They’re highly protective of their colonies and can sting multiple times, which makes professional removal the safest option for homes and businesses.

While stings cause pain and swelling for most people, an allergic individual can suffer life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

Bed bugs

Bed bugs bite and cause irritation, and hide in mattresses, seams, crevices and cracks near sleeping areas. They can be carried from place to place on a bag.

Bed bug bites create itchy skin reactions, allergic reactions, secondary bacterial infections from scratching, and anxiety, sleep disruption, and sleep deprivation, causing discomfort, irritation and stress.

Moths

Some moths damage clothing, carpets, and stored fabrics. They’re usually found in wardrobes, drawers, and areas where natural fibres are kept.

Moths can be a major issue in food-handling businesses as they contaminate food items with their presence, eggs, or droppings.

Fleas

Fleas bite and cause irritation, and you may have an infestation of many if you see just one. Fleas bite mammals but live in carpets, pet bedding, and furniture.

Fleas thrive in Australia's warmer climate and can spread diseases like tapeworms and the disease murine-typhus from animals to humans, cause severe skin allergies (flea allergy dermatitis) and infections in both pets and people.

Silverfish

Silverfish feed on paper, books, and fabrics, thriving in undisturbed spots such as under bookcases, in damp bathrooms, laundry, kitchens, and basements.

They can contaminate stored food items, and damage belongings by feeding on paper, wallpaper, books, and other starchy materials. Their shed skins and droppings can also trigger an allergic reaction.

Carpet beetle

These pests damage carpets, and stored fabrics. They’re usually found in places that remain undisturbed such as under a chest of drawers or bookcase.

Carpet beetles cause significant damage to household fabrics like wool, silk, and leather by eating them. Carpet beetles are not directly dangerous, but they can cause health issues, as their larval hairs can irritate skin and airways, leading to rashes and respiratory problems, especially in sensitive people.

Other common pests

Millipedes feed on decaying organic matter, thriving in damp, dark areas and new builds. While millipedes are generally harmless, large numbers can become a nuisance and an industrial nightmare.

Crickets feed on and damage plants, fabrics, and paper.

Mosquito larvae develop in stagnant water like ponds, puddles, gutters, and their bites can cause allergic reactions, and may transmit diseases such as Ross River virus and dengue fever.

Remember, in pest control, prevention is always better than cure!

Stay Pest-Free

Expert pest management for business and home.