Not so long ago, the Home Channel on DStv screened a short-lived programme, Help Me, Anthea I’m Infested!, in which presenter Anthea Turner and an exterminator visited homes with pest infestations.
What must have bugged many viewers was that the residents didn’t take the simplest precautions against common household pests. They wouldn’t bother to vacuum, discard newspapers or clean kitchen counters.
More than just a nuisance, pantry pests cost homeowners hundreds of rand in ruined meals as they live, hatch eggs and die in food products in the kitchen.
Even apparently “harmless” pests leave behind by-products – dead bodies, skins, webbing, cocoons and excrement – in kitchens, which can render large amounts of dry food unfit for consumption, according to Eileen Slabber, managing director of Ecofirst Pest Prevention and Hygiene Services.
These pests often attract secondary pests such as rats and other rodents.
You can rid your home of these pests, but first you need to identify them.
This can be tricky because there are different types of cockroaches, rats, moths and weevils, which are treated differently.
Slabber says tackling infestations is best left to the professionals. Pesticides should be the last resort, and instructions must be very carefully followed, as some are highly toxic.
“If you do decide to use pesticides, make sure they are environmentally friendly and not too toxic, especially around pets and children,” Slabber warns.
She shares some simple measures you can implement to prevent pests from invading your life:
COCKROACHES
The most common of the cockroaches in the home are German and American cockroaches.
German cockroaches are very flat and small, so they fit easily through tiny gaps and are usually found in flats and duplexes where buildings are adjacent to one another. They also get into homes via incoming goods, especially second-hand electrical appliances such as microwaves and TV sets.
Often they leave egg cases inside appliances containing up to 30 baby cockroaches. When these hatch, an infestation occurs.
American cockroaches are bigger and have wings. They often enter through drains, so it is best to always make sure that your drains are plugged.
If you have an infestation, try to find their food and water source, and then use a pesticide on them. The professionals use gel baits to poison them.
FISHMOTHS/SILVER FISH
Fishmoths are attracted to papers such as books, photographs and portraits, as this is their main source of food. You can also find them in stored clothing that is not regularly cleaned, as well as carpets.
To get rid of them, unpack and clean cupboards and shelves regularly with a vacuum cleaner, keeping them dry.
Don’t line your cupboards with any paper, especially scented. Once you have vacuumed, empty the vacuum bag and make sure that it is clean and free of pests.
Don’t overdose on mothballs. “The trick is to regularly unpack cupboards, not just throw mothballs in there,” says Slabber.
TERMITES
Termites enter the house by burrowing through the concrete, in the process damaging the foundation of the house.
You will see evidence of them by little mounds of sawdust next to walls or doors where they are chewing, or you might literally hear them gnawing away inside the walls.
Termites are best handled by the experts, which they do by drilling holes into the foundations and injecting specified chemicals, as termites can be extremely difficult to get rid of.
ANTS
Ants are attracted to meats and sugary foods. They enter through tiny cracks in the walls and under doors.
When cooking, clean the kitchen surfaces regularly and do not let the food stand for very long. Also try to keep windows and doors closed while cooking.
Slabber says lining their entry spots with toxic white chalk can work well, “if it is an authentic brand and not some cheap knock-off”.
Professionals use gel bait, which the ants take into their homes as food and in turn poison the other ants.
RATS
Roof rats often enter the home via overhanging trees, so take good care of your trees and inspect them regularly for rats.
If you’re considering a garden shed, be sure to use concrete slabs for the foundation.
Slabber says you can use rat poison, but make sure that it’s not too toxic. “A multifeed poison is best, as the rat needs to feed on it more than once to die, so it won’t have a domino effect on other animals,” she says.
The Norway rats (drain rats) are known to climb up sewers. The simple remedy is to keep toilet lids down at all times.
WEEVILS
The most common weevils are rice weevils. You usually find rice weevils in dry foods such as pastas, maize, rice and wheat. Rice weevils have wings, so it is easy for them to fly into the home.
The best way to prevent an infestation is to inspect packets you buy for tears and keep dry goods in tightly sealed containers.
FLIES
Common types of flies include blow flies, which are mostly attracted to meat, and bottle flies, which are attracted to decomposed animals and animal faeces. House flies are attracted to refuse bins, so empty them frequently.
When cooking, it’s best to clean as you go, as pests are attracted to smells. Try to keep doors and windows closed and keep pet food areas clean.
Fly-lure traps work well, says Slabber, but keep them away from your house so that you don’t attract flies inside.
MOTHS
The three most common moths are the pantry moth, the Indian mill moth and the flour moth. They are attracted mostly to flour and food bits such as crumbs, even though they do not eat the food products. The moth larvae is the real problem, as they do feed on food products.
If you spot the larvae (they look like maggots with feet in the front), collect them and freeze them in the fridge to prevent the reproduction cycle continuing. Vacuum often to get rid of moths.
DUST MITES
Dust mites feed on organic detritus such as flakes of shed human skin and flourish in the stable environment of dwellings.
It is important to vacuum carpets and mattresses and wash blankets regularly. Also, allow your house to air out and make sure it gets enough sunlight.
PEST-PROOF YOUR PANTRY
* Check your grocery bags as pests are always looking for food in various places.
* Inspect all packaging for any rips before purchasing and again when opening.
* Decant your dry foods into tightly sealed plastic packets or glass/plastic containers.
* First in, first out – never mix old products with new products.
* Wash all previously used containers and make sure that they are dry before filled again.
* Clean kitchen cupboards and shelves regularly with a vacuum cleaner and not a wet cloth as the moisture attracts pests. *l Wash and disinfect garbage bins regularly. - The Star