Antipest Blog

In the termite colony, there are many caste systems, the aptly named soldier termites being located in the middle of it. They basically function as bodyguards of their huge termite mound and are highly protective of their oversized queen with ants being their archenemies.  Possessing a large, intimidating head and dark, wicked mandibles, they can be easily identified.  Others are endowed with poisonous glands that they use to secrete deadly substances onto their enemies.

1.  Tunnel-blocking soldier

When their termite fortress is breached by enemies, soldier termites with exceptionally large, bulky heads are given the task of the blocking the points of unwanted entry.  They simply plug the holes with their oversized heads and slash at their enemies with their mandibles.

2.  Hoplite termite

If the breach is larger than the soldier’s head, they will immediately spread out into a phalanx which is a blocky battle formation very commonly used by Greek hoplites hundreds of years ago.  Positioning themselves close to one another, they gravely defend their home, the termites at the back of the group instantly replacing their fallen comrades at the front of battle to maintain their formation.  As the worker termites repair and close the breach while the battle ensues, there is no turning back for the soldier termites and they basically fight to the death.

3.  Suicide termite

These loyal, unwavering soldiers will charge among their enemies and will intensely contract their thoraxes, bursting forth dark poisonous liquid in a certain radius.  This act of pure loyalty to protect their home ruptures their internal organs and they die.

4.  Squirting termite

Nasal channels located on the foreheads of these termites spray glue-like substances that immobilize and paralyze their enemies.  This enables them to quickly kill off their enemies.  Think of their nasal channels akin to a shotgun.  Soldier termites use their antennas to trace their enemies.  This allows them to launch their poisonous projectiles accurately which is extremely remarkable considering that they are practically blind.

Centipede is one of the grossest insects to many people.  Their sole appearance is visually disturbing enough, not to mention having them crawl on your skin and evoke your hair-raising feeling and spine-tingling terror. 

Centipedes are easily spotted in gloomy, damp places such as bathrooms, drains, cellars, and the like.  Despite their distractive appearance, their presence can somehow be beneficial to your surroundings as they feed on other insects and thereby keep your house “clean” and free of other pests to a certain extent.

Anyway, if you simply can’t bear the sight of centipedes, the following are what you can do to reduce their numbers or get rid of them:

(i)  Seal off the unnecessary entry points whenever and wherever possible to prevent them from coming in.  Caulk gaps in the window or door frames via the use of, say, weather stripping, for example, and close any cracks in the walls.

(ii)  Keep the normally wet areas (such as lavatory and kitchen) as dry as possible after use.  Wipe the moist surfaces and areas (e.g. sink, drip from spigot) with a cloth in the kitchen and mop the washroom’s floor clean and dry after your business.  For better result, keep the outside boundary of your house clean and dry (make it a 1- to 2-foot perimeter).

(iii)  Getting rid of other insects (such as cockroaches, larvae from carpet beetles and silverfishes) inside your home will minimize the intrusion of centipedes because such act can greatly reduce their food source (i.e. other insects).  You can use insecticides or engage a pest control company to help you eliminate these other pests in your house.

(iv)  For a direct and immediate result, you can pour hot water (with extreme heat) on them.

References:  http://www.ehow.com/how_10022430_treat-centipedes.html

http://www.ehow.com/info_8514187_do-keep-getting-centipedes-bathroom.html

Upon noticing a snake slithering stealthily into the lawn with its forked tongue flicking in and out, many people hurriedly bar their windows and doors, keeping a strained eye on the whereabouts of the particular snake.  Others who are bolder might immediately rush into their kitchen and storm out with a honed cleaver in hand, aspiring to behead the snake by the end of the day.

Although snakebites are pretty common inMalaysia, it is extremely important to recognize which snakes are venomous or non venomous so we do not necessarily panic, thinking that we might be paralyzed in an hour or so.  The thing is, 17 out of 105 species of land snakes are venomous so we do not have to wring our hair out when we chance upon a snake.

1. Always study the head shape of the snake you have encountered.  If the head is triangular, it is most likely a venomous snake.  The head of a non-venomous snake looks pretty much the same like the rest of its body.  In short, if the head bulges out, it’s probably venomous.

2.  If you are close enough to see its eyes, most venomous snakes possess vertical eye slits while most non-venomous snakes have round pupils.  However, a small number of venomous snakes have round pupils, so just be wary if you see a snake.

 Here are a few species of venomous snakes that you can look out for :

King Cobra

They are olive green or brown and have an extremely special quality whereby their ribs can spread.  It is also known as the hood.

King Cobras are dangerous because of the amount of venom they inject into their victims which is quite substantial in a single bite.  The venom is based on neurotoxins.

Malayan Cobra

This cobra is found commonly in Peninsular Malaysia.  They usually have white marks on their throat and are bluish black, light brown or yellow.  These nasty snakes are capable of spitting venom from their fangs so beware!

Malayan Pit Viper

Also known as Ular Kapak Bodor or dumb pit viper, this snake obtained its name by remaining at the same exact spot where it bit its victim.  Thus, it is usually killed as revenge by the victim with ease.  They usually have a rusty color or are yellowish brown.

Banded Krait

They have alternate black and yellow crossbands and possess neurotoxic venom which causes muscle paralysis.  It is a passive snake if not provoked, so simply ignore if you encounter it.

5 Ways to Get Rid of Frogs in your Garden

The loud, resounding croaking of frogs that channels from one frog to another like an opera symphony alerts us immediately to the presence of the slimy creatures.  However, there are those solitary, crafty ones that crouch docilely in hidden corners waiting to give you a mini heart attack when you walk past. 

Many people are simply repulsed by the sight of their wet, protruding eyes and warty if not clammy exterior.  It makes their skin crawl with just a glance at the expanding and contracting pouches of skin or vocal sacs as the frogs croak.  I once had a neighbor whose garden was infested with frogs.  Every morning she would don her pink rubber boots and would kick every single frog out of her compound until it was frog free.  She proudly claimed that it was her morning workout but it all ended one fine morning when a clever frog decided to hole up in one of her boots as she received a nasty surprise.  Here are 5 different ways to get rid of frogs without injuring the poor animals.

1. As frogs desperately need water to live, draining any body of water in your garden would be one of your best options.  Any ponds or birdbaths should be removed as it is a constant access of water to the frogs.  Filling up large holes that collect water in your lawn should also be done.

 2.  If you have a really strong sentimental attachment to your koi pond and all the fishes inside it, simply remove any weeds or algae in your pond that might be breeding grounds and where frogs seek shelter.

3.  Another option is to remove their source of food which is basically flies and mosquitoes just to name a few.  Do not leave food lying around and close your trash cans tightly as flies are attracted to them.  Using a reliable flytrap is fine also.   As for the mosquitoes, simply get rid of any standing bodies of water.

4.  Make sure your lawn is cut and clear your yard.  This will eliminate hiding places for the frogs to hole up or rest as dark, shaded areas appeal to them.

5.  Spray salt or vinegar solution in your yard.  This will deter them from going inside your yard as the salt stings their tiny webbed feet.  Use minimal dosages of the solution as they are harmful to the plants in your garden too.

Ticks-Nasty Bloodsuckers

Ticks are external parasites.  They are disgusting insects usually no bigger than 2-3 millimeters.  

Engorged tick

However, when they are engorged during feeding, they can reach until 1 centimeter in size.  Ticks survive by feeding off the blood of other mammals and birds.  By inserting their mandibles and feeding tubes into the skin, they are able to suck blood freely from their host.

Ticks are known to usually attack our pets, namely dogs but they can also attach themselves to us if we do not take certain precautions.

Precautions have to be made to prevent this from happening

How to control ticks in your home

As it is well known, dogs and cats are easily attacked by ticks.  The ultimate tick control solution is to keep your pets indoors but if your dog is a pretty big-sized one that is capable of knocking a chair over, I’m quite certain that it has to be kept outdoors.

1. Talk to your veterinarian on a suitable and effective tick medicine or repellent for your pet.  Don’t try doing this on your own as you can cause a new health problem for your pet if the medicine is not compatible with your pet.
2. If your pet spends a lot of time in the garden, cut the grass short.  This is because ticks usually live in long overgrown grasses.  You can also spray light pesticide in the garden.

3. Give regular tick checks on your pet and comb it frequently.  There are special tick combs available in pet stores which are great for reaching deep into your pets fur coats and manually removing ticks. 
4. By washing mattresses and pillows regularly, controlling ticks will be much easier.  This will also kill fleas at the same time. 

Feral cats

What are the differences between feral and stray cats?

Feral cats are descendents of domesticated cats which have been born in the wild.  Stray cats on the otherhand are cats that have been abandoned or lost.  The term ‘feral’ basically means beastly or unfriendly.  Feral cats usually have had little or no contact at all with humans since birth which results in them developing self defense behaviors such as hissing and growling.  If a cat in the wild is approachable, friendly and tame, it is most probably a stray cat which has lost his or her owner.

Feral cats can be seen in large colonies or ‘clowders’ and fighting among themselves.  Thus the term ‘cat fight’ has emerged.

Threats of feral cats in neighborhoods

Feral cats overturn garbage cans and mess up rubbish bags, thus littering the house compound and roads while they search for food. 

This can be extremely frustrating to residents as they have to clean up after the cats.

Feral cats also urinate and excrete faeces wherever and whenever they want to, be it in the garden or at one’s doorstep.  Many complain of cats urinating on their cars.

When feral cats get involved in a fight, they give out piercing wails when they attack one another that disturb the neighbourhood. 

How to control feral and stray cats

One of the more effective ways is to eliminate the food source. 

Garbage cans should be closed properly and securely at all times and we should not feed either feral or stray cats as this will encourage them to return.  

Trying to domesticate a feral cat is not a wise idea as it is almost similar to trying to tame a squirrel or rat. 

Moreover, you would not be permitting the animal to live in a manner that suits them best. 

Another way is to set up cat traps which are simple dead-fall styled traps that captures cats without hurting them.

Most residents upon encountering a feral or stray cat in their garden would grab the garden hose and release a dose of spraying water at the cat.  This usually sends the cat scampering out the compound.

Once the cats are captured, they will be released or handed over to the proper authorities and they will be taken care of in a proper manner.

Fleas –Pesky bloodsuckers

Intro

Fleas are extremely pesky pests which are basically external parasites.  This is because fleas have mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood.  They live off the blood from mammals which include us humans, bats and also birds.  

These nasty bloodsuckers are one of the best jumpers of all known animals as it can leap 200 times their own body length which is an amazing feat, second only to the froghopper which is actually an insect despite its deceiving name. 

It is well known that fleas are tough to kill as they can jump so fast from one place to another that they seem to disappear and appear a few feet away.  Furthermore, the flea body is hard, polished and covered with many hairs and short spines.  The tough and tiny body is able to withstand great pressure, likely an adaptation to survive attempts to eliminate them by mashing or scratching.  This can be disconcerting as even hard squeezing between the fingers is normally insufficient to kill a flea unless you have long nails which can be used to crush this pest.

Eliminating Fleas

Step 1

If you have pets, this is usually the main problem that you have been attacked by fleas.  If you have a cat or a dog and are infested by fleas, well, they definitely have to be shampooed.  There should be no problem washing the dogs, but as for cats, it’s an entirely different matter as its water is like heaven and hell for them.  Anyhow, flea shampoos are readily available in any hypermarkets.

You can simply run a bathtub full of warm or cool water gently place your squirming pet in the water and use a cup to prerinse them.  Apply soap thoroughly, especially focusing on the areas where you have fleas, wherever they may be.  The biggest mistake you can make is rinsing the soap off right away.  If your dog is whining, just let it whine as it is for the better.  When you see fleas leaping out of your dog’s fur and into the water to be drowned, your dog is flea free and you can proceed to rinse the soap off your pet.

Step 2

The yard is a place where fleas roam freely.  The easiest solution in this stage is to use a flea pesticide which usually comes in a spray bottle that you can spray in your yard.  The best way is to start from the edges of your property and slowly work your way to the middle.  This will keep new fleas from coming onto your property and into your home.

Step 3

Finally, the last place is your house.  This is the biggest challenge.  Vacuuming thoroughly is a good option as this will suck up any fleas, living or dead in your house.  Other than vacuuming you could use a flea bomb which will fog your house.  The only drawback of this method is that you have to get out of your house for a few hours for the fogging mist to dissipate.