Family BLABERIDAE

Most people are repulsed by cockroaches inside the home, and not without due cause, as they are disease carriers of the highest order.

Outside the home, gardeners also often come across cockroaches under rocks, logs and in mulch. Unfortunately these roaches are undeservedly tarred with the same brush as their indoors cousins and usually end up under a well placed boot.

Australia has in excess of 400 native roaches and very few could ever be considered pests. Most pest species are imported, the Australian Cockroach and couple of others being the exception.

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Frequently mistaken for rodents, bandicoots are small, omnivorous marsupials, found throughout Australia.

Once extremely common in suburban backyards, land clearing removed their natural habitat and refuges, and for many years there was a drastic decline in the population and distribution. In recent times there has been a small resurgence, and once again they seem to be a presence in coastal areas of NSW.

Bandicoots are able to live in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from rainforests to wet and dry woodlands and coastal heath land. They are seldom seen during the day and mainly forage at night.

The long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) is the most common and widespread throughout NSW, particularly in coastal areas and either side of the Great Dividing Range. This species is also the most common in the Sydney area. They are perhaps best known for the conical snout-shaped divots they leave in suburban lawns. These holes are sometimes blamed on rabbits.

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GRASSHOPPERS, CRICKETS, CICADAS & KATYDIDS

Order Orthoptera

Crickets, grasshoppers, katydids and locusts as a group of insects can be easily distinguished by strongly defined chewing mouthparts and enlarged hind-legs that have been designed for hopping or jumping.

There are few places throughout Australia where the noise of crickets and grasshoppers is not one of the background choruses of spring and summer nights. Many species in this order can sing by stridulation. For most species rubbing modified portions of the forewings together produces sound. The sound is a “love-‘song” produced by the male to attract a mate.

Crickets are usually nocturnal, though cicadas are more likely to be found during daylight hours. The tree cricket is a predatory insect, others like the mole cricket feed on roots and burrow in the soil.

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Order Psocoptera

Structure, Appearance and Characteristics

Psocids or Book Lice (also known as known as Paper Lice, can often be found crawling in large numbers over stored papers, books, walls, furniture, and other materials in damp, warm, undisturbed areas in buildings especially during the spring and summer months. They can be readily introduced into a new habitat on furniture, boxes, books and paper.

They feed on microscopic mould and mildew associated with high-humidity conditions. Outdoor species are also known as Barklice since they are found under tree bark or leaves.

They can be found on walls, in cupboards, in stored foodstuffs, in wall voids and behind electrical power outlets.

Psocids do not bite humans or animals, spread disease, or damage household furnishings. However, skin irritation may occur on sensitive individuals and some animals. Psocids are less than 1 mm – 10 mm in length, but Booklice are less than 5 mm in length. They most active during daylight hours. Females are wingless, whereas males have two clear membranous pair of wings. They have a large head, a flattened body with medium to long thread like antennae that is often at least half their body length and six, short stocky legs. They have chewing mouthparts and the mouthparts are held downwards when at rest.

Colouring ranges from almost colourless through grey to light brown, and the young are almost colourless.

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Order Diptera

Phorid flies, (family Phoridae) also known as humpbacked flies, are small and very much resemble fruit flies in appearance, however the Phorid fly lacks the red eye colour that is the classic trademark of the Fruit fly (Tephritidae) and Vinegar Fly (Drosophila melanigaster).

Phorid flies are up to 4mm in length, fitting into the “small” category of flies.

Color: Black through to tan brown with black eyes; small head; a severely arched (humpbacked) thorax when viewed from the side. Phorid flies are found throughout the world.

Behaviour

Viewed with the naked eye, the most recognisable and a significant characteristic is their tendency to run rapidly across surfaces instead of immediately flying when disturbed. All other species of flies will immediately take flight.
Phorid flies are commonly found in homes and commercial facilities where food is prepared and served. They are also significantly important pests in food storage areas and hospitals. Because these flies frequent unsanitary and filthy conditions, they are a potential health concern when they occur in food facilities and hospitals. The main concern is their ability to spread disease-causing bacteria onto food products.

There have been reports of Phorid fly larvae have been discovered in the open wounds of patients in nursing homes and hospitals.

Several species have the common name of the coffin fly, because they breed in human corpses, and can even continue their life cycle within buried coffins. For this reason they

are important in forensic entomology in determining time of death.

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Order Diptera

The Queensland Fruit Fly Bactrocera tryoni is wasp-like in appearance and about 7 mm in length. It is reddish brown in colour with distinct yellow oval markings.

Many people confuse fruit flies with Vinegar Flies ( Drosophila melanogaster);

those flies that hover around the fruit bowl indoors.

The Vinegar Fly is not actually a fruit fly as it does not feed on fruit directly, just the yeasts associated with rotting fruit.

The female fruit fly only lays eggs in maturing and ripe fruit. The larvae burrow inside the fruit and destroy it during the process of development. Fallen fruit will more often than not contain fruit fly larvae. When fully developed as larvae, they will burrow into the ground and emerge as adult fruit flies. The full life cycle from egg to adult can occur in as little as six weeks. There can be five or more generations of fruit fly in a single growing season.

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Order Acarina,

The Paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus, is by far the most dangerous tick where domestic pets and humans are concerned.

This tick can cause paralysis in a variety of forms but usually symptoms begin with weakness of the hindquarters that progresses to total paralysis of all four legs. Other typical early signs include an altered bark or meow and vomiting. By the time the chest muscles and muscles of the throat have become affected, the dog or cat will be in very serious trouble.

The Paralysis tick is known generally, to be only found along the eastern coast of Australia, with evidence that they are now in parts of Western Australia. It can also be found inland if suitable habitats are on offer.

Ticks need humidity and mild weather to develop and will not survive and breed in cold climates. In northern parts of Australia, paralysis ticks may be found all year round, while in southern areas the season goes from spring through to autumn.

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Control of true feral cats should not be the emotive subject that it has become.

The feral cat is found in most habitats across Australia, including the snow fall and desert regions. It is responsible for the extinction of some species on islands and is believed to have contributed to the disappearance of many ground-dwelling birds and mammals on the mainland.

It is estimated that there could be at least 400,000 true feral cats in New South Wales and 12 million Australia wide. (NSWNPWS)

Feral cats should not be confused with nuisance cats. Feral cat control is not easy, as the cats are very wary of humans. Trapping is probably the most successful method, although trap shyness is reasonably common. Although other methods of control are used, trapping is the only method we recommend or condone on this site.

Do It Yourself Pest Control – Herbal Sprays

For non-feral cats causing a nuisance on your property, pet stores and vets have a range of cat deterrent sprays. There has been some success with herbal sprays made from chilli, garlic and water or the direct application of pepper to frequented areas.

The downside is that all sprays must be reapplied on a regular basis or after the area has had contact with water.

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Order Dermaptera

There are about 1800 different recorded species of Earwig throughout the world, and over 60 species in Australia.

They have short leathery wings, although weak flyers and the abdomen extends well past the wings, usually (but not always) ending with pincer type cerci.

Most are dark brown in colour and around 12 –14mm in length

There is no evidence that they harmful to humans or animals despite also being known as “pincer bugs”

Earwigs prefer to live in moist cool situations, although they are somewhat adventurous and will wander.

Not really considered pest, and in some circles are thought of as beneficial as they feed on other insect, however they are known to eat and damage the soft tissue of developing plants, as well as ripe fruit and garbage.

Do It Yourself Pest Control – Earwigs

1. Loosely rolled up newspaper located in the area they frequent will attract them into the loose folds. Manner of disposal is up to the catcher, although into a bucket of soapy water seems popular.
2. Earwigs are attracted to fish oil and vegetable oil. A small foil pie-dish half filled with oil sunk into the soil up to the rim will trap them successfully.
3. Similar to above using soapy water has also been used with some success.
4. Elimination of rotting vegetation will also remove their favoured habitat

Subterranean Termite Swarmers

Don’t be alarmed…be informed.

BACKGROUND

From October through to late March, termite swarmers, more correctly named “Alates” will be noticed on those hot humid afternoons. Termites are normally white to almost transparent, wingless and totally blind, however Alates are specially produced reproductives with black pigment, wings and eyes, and their single task is to find a mate of the opposite sex and set up a home in a decayed log or stump where the female can lay a couple of dozen eggs, raise the babies and then allow the new brood to take over the care and maintenance of the new colony. The queen then goes about producing literally millions of eggs for the next 20 to 30 years.

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