How to detect Termites in my home?

termite mud tubes

The most unwanted guest you can have in your home are Subterranean Termites. They are especially problematic and can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Like any pest infestation, it takes time to grow and may not be visible from the time they settled in. 

By the time heavy infestation signs appear, your home may have suffered some drastic damage.

 It is important specifically for termites to engage with a professional pest control company as they cannot be permanently removed with a spray of insecticide.

These are some ways you can detect and get rid of termites in your home. 

Presence of Termite wings in your home

There are certain times of the year when winged termites travel in swarms.

Typically, the first signs of an infestation are flying termites also known as swarmers or alates and discarded wings.

They come into action when the males and females have left their nest to mate or build a new colony – which could potentially be within your premises. 

Some flying termites swarm at night and are commonly attracted to light sources. 

Other species swarm in daylight. Drywood termites tend to swarm after rain at specific times of the year. If you notice bunches of termite wings scattered on your floor in your home, it’s time to call a professional pest control team to inspect to situation.

termite wings in home

Wooden doors and windows don't seem to be working properly

Termites feast on the wood in your home. As they do so, it causes the overall integrity of the structure to break down and can cause serious damage to the structure of your home. 

You will gradually notice that your windows and doors don’t work the same as they used to. Doors may not close the way it used to as well as window structures. Timber will swell, become hollow and soft and plasterboard walls will bubble.

This may be a tell-tale sign of a serious infestation. 

Have you been hearing some strange clicking sounds in your walls at home?

If you’re suddenly hearing a lot of clicking or tapping noises coming from your walls, you might have termites present in your home. Certain types of male termites create tapping noises when they sense a threat or disturbing sound vibrations.

There could also always be other causes of these strange clicking or tapping noises. However, if you suspect you might have a problem, contact a pest control professional to get it sorted with an inspection asap. 

Brittle Wood, saw dust and wood tunnels in your home

Structural damage might be severe when you start noticing sawdust and wood tunnels in your home. Since termites literally chew and feed on wood, they will leave a trail of infestation signs in your home over time.

Inspect your closets, cabinets, and other dark and unused areas of your home. Some spaces might not be visible from the outside so a thorough inspection is necessary to combat these pests.

Subterranean termites start from the ground and work their way up your floorboards and skirting boards. Sometimes, it need not necessarily be in floorboards but these pests could also be nesting in your wooden furniture. 

Should there be sawdust or brittle wood around your wooden furniture, ensure to get it checked immediately to prevent the spread to other wooden furniture and structures in your home. 

termites

What should I do If I detect these Termite signs in my home?

Avoid using off the shelf insecticide and touching the pests

Off-the-shelf insecticides are a temporary method to instantly kill these pests, however, it is not a long-term method. As these pests live, nest, and multiply within your wooden structures, there could potentially be a hidden nest that is not visible on the surface. 

We would advise seeking the assistance of a professional pest control company to solve your infestation issues immediately.

Engage a Pest Control Specialist.

At Wipeout Pest Control Services P/L We eradicate these destructive pests with treatment methods such as dustingbaiting and anti-termites soil treatment. 

Initial inspection of your premises will be conducted and regular inspections and treatment are most definitely essential specifically for heavily infested areas. 

-Dusting method is injected into the tubes or tunnels of termite infestation.

-Slab injection (Post treatment) only for existing buildings

-Pre-construction Soil-treatment. 
The soil is chemically treated even before the foundation is laid ensuring built in protection

 

Precautionary measures using our Termite Detection Device in your home: TERMISCAN

Termiscan is an advanced termite detection device that is able to detect these pests buried deep within your walls and structures in your home. 

To learn more about our services with Termiscan, read here.

termites in home

Wipeout Pest Control Services provides Professional, Quality and Affordable Pest Control Services in Singapore since 1995. Our technicians are certified to carry out and assist you in eradicating pests.

6 Ways to Get Rid of Ants in your Home

how to get of ants in your home

Getting Rid Ants in your Home

In Singapore, ants are common pests found in residential and commercial premises.

Though these pests are not detrimental to health, it can pose as a nuisance and create unpleasant living conditions if you do not get rid of them properly and quickly.

Ants are typically attracted to sweet or fatty substances in kitchens, pantries and storages including outdoor areas like your garden or balcony.

These pests react quick, even the smallest food that you have accidentally dropped on the ground can attract ants almost immediately.

The warning signs of an infestation are obvious.

this includes trails of ants leading to a nest source or colony of ants or finding them in your food supplies and common areas.

If you have experienced ants swarming to your food on the table within minutes, you probably are having an infestation! 

The very first step of battling an infestation in your home is identifying the species and type of ant.

If you are noticing red ants of any kind, we suggest you contact a professional immediately as bites from red ants can produce painful bites and stings.

In Singapore, the common type of ants are: Carpenter Ants, Black House Ants, Fire (Red), Pharaoh Ants and Ghost Ants.

ants control singapore

Upon identifying the species in your household, these are 6 tips you can self-conduct to get rid of Ants.

1. Identify the Entry Points

Most Ant species prefer moist areas to nest, hide eggs and transport their food. Kitchens and bathrooms are typically the first rooms to be infested.

Visibility of a nest varies, at times the trail can lead to an open ants’ nests outdoors and other times, it could be hidden away in a wall within your house.

Use a torchlight to search for ants behind or under refrigerators, stoves, microwaves dishwashers, sinks and cabinets.

Floor drains, motor areas of microwaves and refrigerators are other common areas together with cracks and crevices in cabinets and surrounding walls.

If there is a crack or crevice within a wall, you can use a sealant or caulk to patch it up. This will eliminate an entry point for ants to enter your home.  

Should you be spotting a few ants daily, you can do a sugar / honey test to attract ants and monitor their movements.

Place a jar or lid of honey where you have noticed some ant activity, as ants tend to be more nocturnal, observations in the evening and at night might be more efficient.

ANTS NEST

Ants Nest

If you spot one of these outside your home, it is best to engage in pest control services for immediate eradication.

We do not recommend DIY ants nest removal unless you are well versed with the situation.   

2. Search for a water leak

Similar to most living things, ants require water and food to survive. Check for any leaking pipes in your home.

Common areas like sink pipes or condensation from your air conditioning systems can attract these pests.

Repair a leaky pipe immediately should this be a source of an infestation (plus it’ll save you from other unnecessary home damages).

3. Proper Housekeeping to get rid of ants

It is important in general to maintain a clean household for our well-being and living conditions, but even more so to get rid and preventing any pest infestations.

  • Store food that attract ants in airtight containers and tie up any food packages.
  • Disinfect and wipe down countertops and surfaces to remove any food stains or crumbs. 
  • Vacuum and mop your floors regularly to get rid of any remains of food especially in tight corners and under your furniture.
  • Remove trash daily to eliminate a hotspot for ants.
4. "Ants Trap" - Ants Gel

If the infestation is not too severe, you can try an off the shelf gel to get rid of ants in your home.

Golden Hammer Ant Gel is an affordable and non-toxic solution that you can find at your nearest NTUC FairPrice. 

Read the key information and preparation instructions prior to applying the ant gel.

5. Homemade Ants Killer Spray

Combining equal parts of vinegar and water into a spray bottle and applying it to an ant’s trail can assist in eliminating their travel path.

Other homemade spray cleaners you can try include essential oils like peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus and tea tree oil.

These techniques might not work if the nests are hidden within your walls and hard to reach areas.

6. Engaging a Pest Control expert to get rid of Ants in your home

If the above methods are not helping to resolve your ant’s infestation, engage a pest control expert to inspect your home and apply the correct ants control method.  

Benefits of hiring a pest control professional:

  • Thorough inspection of your premises including potential cracks and crevices that you might have missed.
  •  
  • Using the correct treatment to eradicate your problem
  • Re-inspection within 7 days should the issue persist
  • Professional advice for preventions of future pest infestations.
Contact us should you prefer to hire a pest professional to resolve your ants infestation.

Wipeout Pest Control Services provides Professional, Quality and Affordable Pest Control Services in Singapore since 1995. Our technicians are certified to carry out and assist you in eradicating pests.

How to get rid of booklice?

HOW TO GET RID OF BOOKLICE

Booklice

In Singapore, booklice are a common species of pest that are usually found in households and office spaces.

If left unchecked, they can reproduce quickly and lead to infesting and contaminating stored food and household items.

You can also spot these pests on your walls that look like tiny black dots and when accumulated, bigger black patches. 

These pests need high levels of moisture to thrive and won’t survive if the moisture levels are low.

They require the presence of mold as that is their primary source of food and also tend to feed on starch present in book bindings.

Based on the temperature and humidity of the surrounding environment, booklice can take anywhere between 1 month to 3 month to hatch and grow into adulthood.

how to indentify booklice in singapore

They are not generally any bigger than six millimetres and have soft bodies and have two pairs of membranous wings. However, in some species, there is a loss of the wings.

They tend to have eyes that are poorly developed, have long and threadlike antennae. 

They run along exposed surfaces in a jerky, halting manner, and sometimes appear to hop. 

These insects feed on microscopic moulds, fungi, dead insect fragments, pollen, and other starchy foods found in humid environments such as houses, warehouses, and even libraries.

Damp basements, crawl spaces, leaky and sweating plumbing, potted house plants, cereal, flour, bird nests, furniture stuffings of natural plant fibre, paste on book bindings, grains, wallpaper, etc. may harbour booklice.

 Booklice don’t consume book material as their name suggests, but rather eat any microscopic spores of mould present in the books.

That’s one of the reasons why you’ll always find booklice and mold in the same location.

booklice singapore

yes, i'm having a booklice infection in singapore,
how do i get rid of these pests?

Fortunately, unlike head lice and fleas, booklice aren’t a parasite and don’t pose an immediate threat to our health.

However, they can be destructive because of their consumption habits. Booklice are slow eaters, but they can damage crops, books, and the structural security of plaster and wallpaper. 

These are some solutions to your booklice problems, however if the infestation is too overwhelming, contact us for an inspection and effective treatment.

1. Remove any infested items from your premises

Throwing out any items such as your books and food that could be infested with Booklice can help soothe the situation. This prevents these pests from multiplying in numbers and causing a greater nuisance in your premises. The last thing you want in your home are uncontrollable booklice eggs!

2. Reduce moisture in your home

Booklice tend to thrive in moist and humid areas. 

By installing a dehumidifier in your premises, this destroys the environment booklice like to live in, and it can help cut down on mold and mildew.

3. Kill all mould infected areas

Use an A-Grade chemical to kill the mold and mildew growing in your home. 

Removing mould in general is good for our overall health and well-being. Practise keeping your home mould free. 

You can also engage in a professional cleaning company like EcoSense to get the job done.  

Mr. Muscle Mold & Mildew Foaming Bleach – NTUC FAIRPRICE – $4.50

Magic Clean Mold & Stain Remover 400ml – Lazada – $4.95

4. Spring clean & vacuum regularly

Clean infested areas as with your premises regularly to a clear any dead booklice and/or booklice eggs.

As booklice are often found in kitchens due to the added humidity and moisture in that area, cleaning it throughly can also help your situation. Whilst doing a thorough clean, ensure that the area is well ventilated by opening doors and windows. 

4. Contact a Pest Control Specialist

This is the quickest and effective way to control and remove all your pests, including booklice, from your house.

It is important to choose an experienced and professional pest controller to assist with your pest issue. 

Should your infestation be too overwhelming for you to attend to, contact us for an inspection and affordable, effective treatment. 

It is ideal to do a follow up inspection over 4-6 months to check if the infestation is still persists. 

Wipeout Pest Control Services provides Professional, Quality and affordable Pest Control Services and management in Singapore since 1995. Our technicians are certified to carry out and assist you in eradicating pests.

730 Upper Serangoon Road, #02-02 

Yeley Building, Singapore 534613

+65 6383 6831

Wipeout 1@singnet.com.sg

Newsletter

© 2020 WIPEOUT PEST CONTROL SERVICES, All rights reserved

4 Steps for Mosquito Prevention in Singapore

Mosquito prevention: 4 tips

repel mosquito

With the exponential increase in Dengue and Zika cases in Singapore in 2020 according to NEA, casualties from these Mosquito borne diseases continue to rise as well. Being proactive in preventive measures is compulsory. Playing our part at home will help reduce mosquito breedings and protect our family and community. To find out where the dengue clusters are in Singapore, you can refer to the NEA Website here.

These are 4 mosquito prevention tips that we can all adhere with.

1. Empty stagnant water regularly: Mosquito Larvae

mosquito singapore

 

The Aedes Mosquito thrives in stagnant water to lay their eggs, resulting in Mosquito breeding (larvae). 

 Puddles of water around your home, storage containers and potted plants can become a potential breeding source for Mosquitoes. 

 

For those living in HDB’s, always cap the bamboo pole holders when not in use to prevent rain water from collecting and forming a breeding source.

2. Use Mosquito repellent

mosquito repellent

Yes, it is true that repellents and patches can assist in (not killing) repelling these insects. 

A spray containing DEET (it’s safe, even for kids, when used as directed), picaridin, IR3535, citronella or eucalyptus is your best bet for keeping mosquitoes away. 

However, it will wear off after a certain number of hours, depending on the formula. Ensure to apply regularly. 

Tiger balm mosquito repellent spray and NeutriCare All-Natural Mosquito Repellent Patch and some of the common repellents that can be found at your nearest Watsons or Guardian.

3. Clear roof gutters

Clear mosquito breeding

If you resided in a landed property, remember to keep the gully traps, scupper drains, and roof gutters in your home clean. 

Thinning dense vegetation will help to improve air circulation and avoid potential breeding areas. 

4. Call a Pest Control expert

If you are experiencing multiple mosquito bites over days and weeks but have done the steps above, a professional pest control exterminator should be contacted immediately. 

A skilled technician can inspect hidden potential areas which can collect water and become a prime breeding spot.

Wipeout Pest Control’s effective Mosquito treatments include safe and NEA approved procedures such as Source Reduction to eliminate breeding grounds and thermal fogging. 

Wipeout Pest Control Services provides Professional, Quality and affordable Pest Control Services and management in Singapore since 1995. Our technicians are certified to carry out and assist you in eradicating pests.

730 Upper Serangoon Road, #02-02 Yeley Building, Singapore 534613

+65 6383 6831

wipeout 1@singnet.com.sg

Newsletter

7 Signs of a Termites Infestation

7 signs of a termite infestation

Termites or “white ants” are one of the common problematic pests in Singapore, signs of a Termites Infestation should be eradicated immediately.

 These pests live mainly in dry wood and dark, humid environments.

Subterranean Termites build their nests in the ground and they come out to find access into buildings and homes in search for food. When there is a need for them to come out into the open, they would build mud trails to allow safe travel from one place to another.

In most situations, tiny cracks and crevices caused by the weather will provide access for termites to penetrate into buildings and your homes.

These pests only need 1/64th of an inch to squeeze through to gain access to your properties in your buildings and homes. Once inside, termites with their excellent instinct for finding cellulose, their main food source will attack anything that is wood-based.

Your built-in kitchen cabinets, bedroom cabinet, wall to wall wooden panel structural beams, doors and furniture will be prone to damage by Termites. They can also cause short circuit to your wiring once they come into contact with some.

Although visible damages done by termites may be gradual, an infestation needs to be dealt with by a professional Pest Control Technician immediately.


These are 7 signs of a Termite Infestation:

1. MUD TUBES

Subterranean Termites build their shelter tubes made out of mud, dirt and debris to travel to and from their food source and nest. 

These tubes are pencil sized tunnels wood structures, and concrete or stone foundations. When searching a home for these tubes, there are three types to look for:

Working tube – path between termite nest in soil and wood

Exploratory tube – path extending only from soil

Drop tube – path from wood back to soil

These tubes are found on exterior and interior walls leading up to entry points of your premises.

Termite Control Singapore

2. Wood tunnels

Unlike mud tubes, wood tunnels also known as “galleries”, are difficult to spot from the outside. However, these can be spotted within broken wood or timbre infested area. 

This is one sure sign that a termite infestation has occurred.

However, technological devices have allowed pest control professionals to detect wood tunnels and termites when there is no visible exterior signs. 

These include electronic odour detectors, sounds and infrared detectors.

termites
termites control

3. "HEAD BANGING" TERMITES

You must be wondering; what sounds do termites make?

The first common sign is quiet clicking sounds coming from the walls. 

Soldier termites bang their heads against the wood or shake their bodies when the colony is disturbed to signal danger.

If you place your ear against your wall or suspected infested wood and listen closely, clicking or “eating” noises can be heard by these unwanted pests.

 If these specifiers are undetectable but you can still hear some unusual sounds, contact us for an inspection right away to give you a peace of mind!

4. FLYING TERMITES & DISCARDED WINGS

Typically, the first signs of an infestation are flying termites also known as swarmers or alates and discarded wings.

They come into action when the males and females have left their nest to mate or build a new colony – which could potentially be within your premises. 

Some flying termites swarm at night and are commonly attracted to light sources. 

Other species swarm in daylight. Drywood termites tend to swarm after rain at specific times of the year.

termites
Flying termites vs. Flying ants

While flying termites closely resemble winged ants, there are clear differences in their appearance. 

Ants have a constricted waist, while termites have a more straight-sided waist. 

Termites also have four wings of equal size. 

Ant antennae bend at 90-degree angles, while the antennae of the termite are straight. 

Either way, should you spot these pests within your premises, seek professional pest control advice immediately!

Termites
Presence of Discarded Wings

Another common indication is the remnants of discarded wings on windowsills and floors. 

Flying termites shed their wings shortly after finding a mate.

termite wings in home
5. hollow wood sounds

An infested area that has been eaten away by these pests usually produce a hollow sound once tapped or knocked on. 

They consume woods from the inside out, leaving a thin veneer of timber or paint.

6. termite droppings (frass)

Termite droppings are often referred to as frass. These are tiny pallets commonly found at the entry points for the termites. These droppings are expelled from their nest from tiny kick holes. 

These tiny 6 sided, egg shaped pellets accumulate over time, in a pile below and around the base of the infested wood.

The frass is a lot rougher and harder in texture than the frass of other wood pests like carpenter ants or beetle larvae. 

In the event you find a pile of droppings outside or inside your premises, it clearly indicates that there are termites around.

Termites Droppings
7. termite TREE NESTS

Termites Infestation on your tree??

Some termite species make nests in the hollow center of the tree root or trunks which makes it a challenge to detect them. However, a visible infestation will show a chunk of of mud on the exterior. 

This is an indication of a heavily infested tree and should be dealt with immediately!

Infested termites tree

Wipeout Pest Control : Effective Termites Treatment

We eradicate these destructive pests with treatment methods such as dusting, baiting and anti-termites soil treatment. Regular inspection and treatment are most definitely essential. 

-Dusting method is injected into the tubes or tunnels of termite infestation.

-Slab injection (Post treatment) only for existing buildings

-Pre-construction Soil-treatment. 
The soil is chemically treated even before the foundation is laid ensuring built in protection 

Spotted the above signs in your home? 

Wait no further, Contact us immediately and avoid further damage within your premises!

Need Soil Treatment for preventive measures? Read more about our Soil Treatment services.

Wipeout Pest Control Services Pte Ltd provides Professional, Quality and affordable Pest Control Services and management in Singapore since 1995. Our technicians are certified to carry out and assist you in eradicating all types ofpests.

730 Upper Serangoon Road, #02-02 

Yeley Building, Singapore 534613

+65 6383 6831

Wipeout 1@singnet.com.sg

Newsletter