Schools & Universities

Common pests faced within School and University campuses

Common pests faced by Schools and Universities are as follows:

Termites

Termites mainly feed on wood, therefore, they can affect the strength and safety of an infested structure. It’s imperative that building structures and property be inspected for termites as they can render properties unliveable and make repair expensive.

Snakes

It is not unusual to find snakes on properties in Australia, however, it’s important not to approach or aggravate them if found. They can enter a property through holes or gaps. They can be found in bushes, piles of rubbish or building supplies.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are tiny wingless insects which can hide undetected in narrow cracks and crevices. They feed by sucking human blood which can result in skin rashes and allergic reactions. Bed Bugs can infest shops, offices, schools, universities, hospitals and public transport.

Mites

Mites can generally infest stored products such as cereals, cheese, nuts, eggs, fruit and flour. They can enter packaged items made of paper, cardboard, plastic, cellophane and foil. As the entrance holes may be too small for the human eye to be seen, packaging may harbour these insects inside without being detected

Moths

There are different types of moths but depending on each breed, moths can generally infest ingredients and dry food products that contain nuts, dried fruits, flour, cereal, oil seeds, cocoa beans and grain. They can make food unfit for human consumption. Moths feed on carpet, blankets, upholstered furniture, clothing and paper, to name a few.

Ants

Ant control is not always as easy as it seems. Even though ants do not eat a lot of food, it doesn’t take long for ants to infiltrate a property. Ants can contaminate large quantities of food products, therefore requiring you to discard them due to health purposes.

Birds

Birds generally cause physical damage on roofs and can also lay their nest in those areas but without being diligent, birds may appear and live inside a building. Their droppings and feathers may contaminate surfaces and ruin furniture. There is also the risk of spreading viruses, bacteria and etc. Bird nesting can also bring about infestations of mites and fleas.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches can cause hygiene and health issues by carrying disease-causing bacteria. Good sanitary and hygiene practices are required to help prevent infestations and issues. Cockroaches may enter from and hide in areas through spaces, pipe, windows and junction boxes to name a few. As cockroaches are primarily nocturnal, they are generally not visible to the human eye and therefore, difficult to detect.

Rats & Mice

Rats and mice can cause hygiene and health issues and generally breed and infest areas they come into contact with.

Rodents can enter through gaps in roofs, walls and under doors. They can also enter on pallets if your supplier has a pest problem.

Rodents can also cause inventory, product and packaging damage along with equipment and machinery damage and structural damage to your premises or even tarnish your brand name.

Spiders

Australia is home to the most dangerous species in the world as well as a few thousand others. They can be found both inside a property as well as in the garden outside. Although not all are dangerous, many people have a phobia of spiders and their webs are an unsightly presence. Spiders can be found in and around cracks and crannies, air vents and in the roof of properties.

Possums

Possums in the roof are a nuisance, their presence detected by the banging and scratching noises they make, not mentioning the odour of their urine. They can enter a roof via overhanging branches. Possums are a protected species and must be eradicated without harm by trapping them and releasing them back into their natural environment.

Flies

Flies are one of the most common carriers of diseases in Australia. Also, flies are a common pest in schools and universities. Flies carry more than 100 pathogens which can cause disease in humans, such as E. coli, parasitic worms and fungi. It’s important to identify which species are present as each has its own attractants and breeding habits. Fly species found in schools and universities include:

1. Common ‘House’ Flies
   This specie breeds on moist or decaying garbage. Coming into contact with food and equipment, flies will transmit disease-causing bacteria and thereby contaminate everything they contact.
2. Fruit Flies
   Fruit flies are attracted to food odours. You generally find fruit flies when fruit inventory supplies are either ripe, rotting or decaying. Fermenting sugary liquids are an attraction to Fruit flies which allows them to feed and breed. This liquid may accumulate in garbage bags, drains, spills and even cracks in wet floors.
3. Drain Flies
   A different specie to the common fly; these flies breed and thrive inside your drains. Drain Flies are attracted to food odours.