Earwigs (Dermaptera)

Earwigs prefer to hide in cool, damp spaces. During the day, they shelter under stones, logs, mulch and other debris. Earwigs become more active at night, when they search for food. Earwigs are attracted to light, so you may see them near light sources trying to make a meal out of the other insects attracted to the light.

ACT Pest Control is well-equipped to deal with any earwig problem. Although finding and treating earwigs can be challenging (especially if they’re spread across your yard), we’ll identify the source of the infestation and deal with it properly.

Millipedes (Diplopoda)

Millipedes are a common pest found throughout Australia. There are approximately 2,000 millipede species in Australia; however, the Black Portuguese Millipede is the one that causes most of the problems in Canberra. ACT Pest Control provides a range of pest control treatments in Canberra that target millipedes in both the home and workplace.

Millipedes are generally harmless to humans; however, they can be problematic when they make their way into furniture and storage areas. Millipedes are herbivorous detritivores, which means they eat healthy vegetation and seedlings, as well as dead plant matter. Unfortunately, millipedes can live up to 7 years and lay up to 300 eggs at a time. Millipede populations explode when humidity levels rise.

If you’ve ever squashed a millipede, you’ll certainly be aware of the pungent odour they emit. The odour is a natural defence mechanism that has evolved to ward off predators, particularly birds. Millipedes also secrete a yellowish liquid that can stain hands and clothes – not to mention irritate the eyes.

Pantry Moths (Plodia interpunctella)

The most common household moth found in Canberra is the pantry moth or Indian meal moth. Pantry moths are one of the most annoying pests to deal with: they ruin your food and lay eggs everywhere. Pantry moths can be identified by their whitish-grey colour, and are generally no larger than an inch or two. The moment you see a pantry moth, address the problem immediately (or you’ll see your pantry crawling with moths in no time). Once you find a pantry moth, there are sure to be others hiding nearby.

Pantry moths live for one reason – to create more pantry moths. Although pantry moths have only a two-week life span after reaching adulthood, the females are capable of laying up to 400 eggs at a time. Pantry moths typically leave behind cocoon webbing and worm-like larvae in dry food products that have been left open or exposed. In addition to dry foods, they also enjoy flours, grains and candy.