Common Australian Pests – Top 10

Top 10 Most Common Australian Household Pests

Do you want to know which Australian pests are common? Read below to find out.

Ants

Ants are a serious nuisance. Despite their small bodies and timid personalities, some can have painful bites that cause allergic reactions.

Common Ants in Australia

• Black house ant
• Carpenter ant
• Flying ant
• Coastal brown ant
• Fire ant
• Garden ant
• Ghost ant
• Odorous house ant
• Pharaoh’s ant
• Whitefooted house ant

Habitat

Ants live in nests, which are often underground or under rocks, but they can be built in walls or under floorboards as well. The nests are made in close proximity to food sources for the colony.

Control Methods

Removing a colony of ants is the most effective way to control ants in your area. If you don’t go for the colony, they will only come back. Eliminate the food source and keep your home clean as well.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are one of the most pervasive pests on the planet. In Australia alone, there are hundreds of cockroach species, but only a few of them are pests.

Common Cockroaches in Australia

• American cockroach
• Australian cockroach
• German cockroach
• Oriental cockroach
• Brown banded cockroach
• Smoky brown cockroach

Habitat

Cockroaches are drawn to warm and dry environments with organic matter for them to eat. During the winter months, cockroaches find their way inside to get warmth. Inside the home, cockroaches hide out in dark and damp areas, such as in your garage, basement, or cabinets.

Control Methods

Once there is a cockroach infestation in your home, it can be difficult to get rid of them on your own. It’s best to contact a control specialist who will safely and efficiently eradicate the cockroaches. Once eradicated, seal any gaps in your housing and keep your home clean.

Fleas

Fleas are almost microscopic, but they will quickly destroy your peace of mind. Just one female can lay hundreds of eggs.

Common Fleas in Australia

• Bird flea
• Dog flea
• Hedgehog flea
• Human flea
• Mole flea
• Rabbit flea
• Tropical fleas

Habitat

Fleas live on warm-blooded animals so that they are kept warm and have easy access to their food source. Their favorite animals to live on include humans, dogs, cats, and rodents. In extreme cases, they will also live in your carpets, shoes, and blankets.

Control Methods

In severe cases, you will have to stay out of your house for a flea bomb. If you catch the fleas early enough, regular cleaning, pet baths, and veterinary care can tackle the problem. Prevent fleas by frequently doing your laundry, bathing your pets, and vacuuming your floors.

Ticks

Ticks are dangerous insects that feed on animal and human blood. There are 70 ticks in total in Australia, but 95% of tick bites are from the Paralysis tick.

Common Ticks in Australia

• Paralysis tick

Habitat

Paralysis ticks prefer to stick around areas with a lot of moisture. They can latch onto many creatures, including humans and pets. If you live in coastal regions of eastern Australia, you especially need to be aware of this tick.

Control Methods

Keep ticks away from your home by thoroughly landscaping your yard. Keeping tall grasses and bush away will do most of the job for you. Anytime you go into forests, thoroughly inspect yourself and your pets to avoid any stragglers.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are a serious problem everywhere. Not only are they gross, but you can wake up with bloody welts on your body.

Common Bed Bugs in Australia

• Common bed bug
• Tropical bed bug

Habitat

In bed bug infestations, bedbugs can be found in your mattress, its coils, bed frame, seams, and furniture around the bed. This gives them easy access to your dead skin and body.

Control Methods

Hiring a specialist can get rid of your bed bugs. From there, diligently clean your laundry and mattress so that bed bugs do not come back. When traveling to places, pack tea tree oil and sprinkle it over your bag so that bugs can’t hitch a ride to your house.

Moths

Moths are harmless, but they can eat away at your fabrics. There are tons of moth types in Australia, making it impossible to list them all here. In fact, there are more than 20,000 different types of Australian moths.

Common Moths in Australia

• Carpet moths
• Food moths

Habitat

Moths are most commonly found in dark areas, like attics, closets, and basements. They like to hide in the folds of fabric or in corners where they are likely to be undisturbed.

Control Methods

Use strong scents, such as cedar spray, powdered herbs, or specially made moth spray to get rid of moths. Wash clothes and items moths have been on with vinegar to kill any eggs as well. Prevent moths from coming back by keeping your items cleaned and stored in airtight containers.

Rodents

Rodents are responsible for the spread of many diseases, but they are one of the most common pests to find in an Australian home.

Common Rodents in Australia

• Rats
• Mice

Habitat

Rodents can call practically anywhere home. If they get inside your house, they most likely live in wall voids or in storage areas around food and water sources.

Control Methods

Cut off all food and water supplies and set up rodent traps. Find where the shelter is and destroy it as well. Keep your house clean and properly store your food to deter the rodents from coming back.

Silverfish

Silverfish is an insect that has a silvery or metallic appearance and a fish-like shape. They are not dangerous, but they can trigger allergies and property damage.

Common Silverfish in Australia

• Episma saccharina
• Lepisma saccharina
• Lepismatiae
• Zygentoma

Habitat

Silverfish live in moist and well-protected areas. They prefer to stay around sinks, furniture, and basements.

Control Methods

You can set up silverfish traps using glass containers and tape. For more serious problems, use silverfish poison or cedar oil. To prevent silverfish from coming back, store food properly, dust your home often, and get a good dehumidifier.

Spiders

Australia is home to thousands of spiders. Although some spiders are completely harmless, others can be deadly. It’s important to get any spider infestation under control so you do not put your family at risk.

Common Spiders in Australia

• Black house spider
• Common house spider
• Daddy long legs spider
• Funnel web spider
• Garden orb-weaving spider
• Harvestman spider
• Huntsman spider
• Mouse spider
• Redback spider
• Saint Andrew’s cross spider
• Tarantulas
• White-tailed spider
• Wolf spider

Habitat

Spiders can be found practically everywhere. You can find them outside in gardens, but you can also find them in your basement, under beds, and anywhere else you can think of. They prefer dark and uninterrupted spaces.

Control Methods

You can use spider spray, sticky traps, and web removal techniques to control their spread. For serious problems, you can contact a specialist, but this is often not needed. To prevent spiders from coming inside, make sure to seal all entry points and dust areas that spiders may like.

Termites (White Ants)

Termites, sometimes called white ants, are some of the costliest pests in the country. Every year, termites are responsible for $700 million worth of damage.

Common Termites in Australia

• Subterranean termites
• Giant northern termite
• Indian drywood termite

Habitat

Termites are typically found in dark, damp, and secured locations. They obtain their food and nutrients from plant materials and wood. As a result of these two facts, termites are often found in homes, eating away at your home’s structure and furniture.

Control Methods

Hire a professional or apply some sort of termite-killing product around your home’s exterior to control termite spread. Prevent them from coming back with the following tips:

• Eliminate wood that is directly touching the ground.
• Don’t store woodpiles around your home.
• Don’t let moisture accumulate around the foundation.
• Reduce moisture in the crawl space.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you understand the most common pests in Australia. If you are struggling with any of these pests, contact a specialist today.