Other Australian Pests
 Fleas
ref: www.sydneywater.com.au Back | Top | Control Option |
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Scorpions Scorpions are easily distinguished by their long sting-bearing tail and a pair of pincers on long arms, known as pedipalps, at the front of the body. Despite having six to twelve eyes – an obvious pair at the centre of the carapace and two to five smaller eyes on each side – scorpions do not have good eyesight. However, they can readily distinguish light from dark and appear to have excellent low light sensitivity, which helps them to both avoid harsh sunlight and to navigate by starlight or moonlight.
They sense their way around using sensory hairs and slit organs on the legs, pedipalps and body that pick up vibrations and scents (mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors). They also have special organs on the underside of the body called pectines, which pick up ground textures and scents. Scorpions breathe through four pairs of book lungs on the underside of the abdomen. Female scorpions are more heavily built than males, with shorter tails. Colour ranges from dark grey to light brown or gold, with lighter coloured legs. Scorpions also fluoresce under ultraviolet light, which is a good way for scientists to find them in the field. The fluorescence is thought to serve as an ultraviolet sensitivity mechanism, perhaps allowing the scorpion to avoid damaging light levels.
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| Centipedes and Millipede
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| Rats & Mice
Their excreta and hair contaminate food andutensils, causing food poisoning and economicloss. Rat colonies damage and foul buildings andfurnishings, and they generate a terrible smell. Rats’ gnawing will damage buildings, pipes,conduits and wiring and has been the cause ofelectrical fires. Rats and normally come out at night and usually arenot seen unless they are very hungry or present inlarge numbers. ref: © Health Department of Western Australia 1996 Back | Top | Control Option |
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| Silverfish and firebrats
Firebrats are grayish with dark spots. They like warm areas such as furnace rooms, heat pipes and radiators. Silverfish and firebrats are most active at night. They may be seen on floors or walls, among books, food or clothing or trapped in sinks or bathtubs. They sometimes get into smoke detectors and set them off. Silverfish Damage from Feeding on Paper. Back | Top | Control Option |
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Fleas are small parasitic insects whose adult stage food source is the blood from animals such as dogs and cats and sometimes humans. Fleas are considered a significant pest because of their biting and sucking habit which can cause irritation, discomfort and serve to transmit disease. There are over 70 species of fleas in Australia, but the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) and the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis) are the two that cause the most trouble for pets and their owners.
Centipedes and Millipedes are worm-like creatures with lots and lots of legs. Millipedes have more legs than Centipedes. They are commonly found in gardens and landscapes where millipedes feed on plants and decaying materials and centipedes feed on insects.
Rats and mice are a major riskto the health of the commnit y. They canassist transmission ofserious diseases, includingthe plague, dysentery, leptospirosis and typhus fever. Their fleas, lice and ticks can also adversely affect pets and humans.
Silverfish and firebrats are carrot-shaped, slender insects about 13 mm (1/2 inch) long when fully grown. They have 2 long antennae (feelers) on their heads and 3 long “tail” bristles.