Fly Traps: Are They Worth It?
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
Ever heard of fly traps? Do you want to know if they are worth having? Then it’s time to read on.
Do you know that house flies taste food with their feet? That is the reason why they keep on landing on your food while you are trying to enjoy your lunch. Flies are insects in the order Diptera which consists of various species. Examples of flies include house flies, blowflies, flesh flies, phorid flies, drain flies, and fruit flies.
One of the most common fly species that can be found around us is the house fly.
Besides being a nuisance, house flies are carriers of pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites) so they are capable of spreading diseases such as dysentery, typhoid, and cholera. For that reason, the population of flies and their activities should always be under control.
While the most important method in controlling flies lies in the identification and removal of breeding sources, other efforts are needed to reduce the number of adult flies. Another method of controlling adult flies is the chemical method. Spraying of residual chemicals on wall surfaces kills flies that land and rest on the wall. Besides spraying chemicals, granular baits have also been used to control adult flies.
Trapping
In addition to chemical control, trapping is one of the physical methods that can be used to control the population of flies. Flytraps are effective weapons against flies. The fly traps that are available conventionally can be divided into two main types, namely food-baited traps and Ultra-Violet (UV) light traps.
Food-baited traps lure flies with baits made of food and then trap the flies using containers or glue boards. On the other hand, UV light traps utilize the fact that flies are attracted to lights within the wavelength of 315 – 400nm (UV-A range). UV light traps work by attracting flies with ultraviolet radiation then trapping them inside a container, on a sticky glue board, or electrocuting them using high voltage.
There are various types of fly traps available on the market.
Some of them can be used by simply placing them at locations where flies are active, while some may require you to drill holes in the wall. Not only do they differ in terms of ease of use, they also come in different prices. That being the case, one might wonder: are they really worth it?
Before we come to the conclusion, let us discuss some of the benefits of using fly traps.
1. Fly Traps are Target Specific
Since fly traps are usually comprised of two basic elements: attractant and trap, the attractant can be chosen or formulated based on the type of flies that we are targeting. For instance, if you have problems with fruit flies, you will be able to find traps that have attractants that are specially formulated to attract fruit flies.
Besides that, UV light traps mainly target insects that are attracted to the UV light so other insects such as moth and beetles may sometimes be found in the traps. Compared to other methods such as aerosol spraying and residual spraying, fly traps do not affect other non-target organisms so this means that we can make sure that we and our pets are safe from the exposure of chemicals.
Want to find out more about fly removal in Singapore?
2. Fly Traps Help Avoid Contamination
Ungoverned exposure towards insecticides may put human health at risk. Fly traps not only can avoid contamination of food by insecticides but they also prevent the dead bodies of the flies from remaining in the environment.
Fly traps hold trapped flies in captivity, preventing them from flying around to spread diseases and other problems.
However, one should refrain from using electric fly zappers in areas where food is exposed. This is because when flies come in contact with the zapper, the high voltage may cause their body to rupture and break into small pieces. The ruptured pieces may then be dispersed by the wind and may contaminate our food as the pieces land on the food.
3. Fly Traps are more Environmentally-Friendly Compared to Other Control Methods
As mentioned earlier, fly traps have little to no effect on the environment as they do not affect other organisms and do not cause contamination. One problem that the use of insecticides causes is that their residues may linger in the surroundings. If not properly handled, the residues can be harmful to the environment and other living organisms. In contrast, fly traps do not release any harmful substances and so they are more environmentally friendly.
Pro Tip: Wait patiently for flies to visit the traps and be captured before you can remove them from the traps.
Despite having all the benefits mentioned above, there are a few shortcomings of fly traps that we should be aware of.
1. Not All Flies are Impressed by the Same Fly Traps
Fly traps are not designed or formulated to target all types of flies. For example, fruit flies are not attracted towards UV light traps and they need to be trapped using other attractant. There is no one-size-fits-all approach for the control of flies. With that in mind, we have to know what type of flies we are dealing with before we can strategize and solve the issue.
2. Treatment Using Fly Traps is Passive
Patience is a virtue. There is nothing much we can do after installing a fly trap besides waiting. If you are looking for a more proactive way to solve the problem or you just simply lack the patience, you might need to look for other alternatives.
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3. The Traps Need to be Serviced Regularly
This is not a very serious issue but one needs to make some effort for the maintenance of fly traps. Once a trap captures a certain number of flies, they need to be cleared in order to be used again. The light bulb of UV light traps also needs to be checked regularly to make sure that the trap is functioning properly.
Are fly traps worth it? Well, I will leave the verdict to you. Nonetheless, they are among the most commonly utilized methods in the control of flies. Our experts can provide you with the solutions that are tailor-made for your flies’ problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most modern fly traps do not release any harmful substances so they are not considered poisonous or toxic.
Yes, flies are visually attracted to these fly traps as they are usually bright yellow. So place the fly traps wisely.
Flies get attracted to bright-coloured, vertical surfaces. As fly traps are extremely sticky when flies land on them they can’t escape.
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Drywood Termites and Subterranean Termites
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
Drywood termites and subterranean termites are among the common termite species. An infestation of termites can be destructive. In this article, we discuss the signs and treatment methods of termite infestations.
Termites have been classified under order Blattodea of which cockroaches are the other members of the order. Ants, on the other hand, are from the order Hymenoptera which includes other insects such as bees, wasps, and hornets.
Termites are eusocial insects that practice an advanced level of social organization. Unlike many other animals, termites practice division of labor, and they live in colonies. Inside each colony, the individuals are divided into different castes, each having their unique duties to play in maintaining a properly functioning colony.
The Termite Society
In a termite colony, there are workers, soldiers, and reproductives which consist of the king, queen, and alates. Termite workers are the ones responsible to find food for the other members of the colony so they are the culprits behind the damage we suffer from a termite infestation.
Their other responsibility includes maintaining the proper functioning of the nest, looking after the young ones as well as feeding the other members of the colony. The soldiers are responsible to guard the nest and protect it from intruders. The king and queen are involved in the reproduction of new offspring while alates are termites with wings that venture out to mate and establish a new colony.
Dampwood Termites, Drywood Termites, or Subterranean Termites?
Termites can be divided into three types based on their behaviours and habitats.
Dampwood termites are termites that rely greatly on moisture to survive. They can be found in damp and decaying timber. Dampwood termites play an important role in the regulation of the nutrient cycle in the natural ecosystem.
In contrast to dampwood termites, drywood termites are less dependent on moisture. They build their colonies in wooden structures and furniture and are able to glean water from the wooden materials to meet their needs.
The third type of termites is subterranean termites. Subterranean termites are dependent on moisture so they build their colonies underground or build mounds on soil to derive water from soil.
Among all the different types of termites, subterranean termites and drywood termites have more impacts to humans compared to dampwood termites. Subterranean termites and drywood termites are important urban pests because they can cause serious damages to human properties so they are given more attention by the pest control industry.
Want to find out more about termite removal in Singapore?
What are the Signs of a Termite Infestation in Your House?
There are some tell-tale signs that indicate a termite infestation. Look out for the following signs of termite infestation to see whether your house is safe from termite infestation.
1. Wood powder near wooden structures or furniture
If you have been noticing fine, sawdust-like wood powder around your house, chances are your house might be infested by wood-boring insects such as wood-boring beetles or drywood termites. The wood powders are in fact the excretory wastes of the insects and they are also known as fecal pellets. The fecal pellets are found when drywood termites push out their feces out from the exit holes that can be found on the surface of the infested items.
2. Mud tubes
Mud tubes are tunnels constructed by subterranean termites to provide a sheltered pathway when they venture out of their nests to forage for food. They protect subterranean termites from desiccation as well as predators by isolating them from the external environment. The presence of mud tubes is an obvious sign of a subterranean termite infestation. When an active mud tube is disturbed, subterranean termite workers and soldiers can be observed.
3. Flying termites
Alates or swarmers are termites with wings. The wings enable them to fly out of their nests to mate. Subterranean termite swarms are larger and contain more individuals compared to that of drywood termites. Once an alate finds its “life partner”, they will settle down and establish a new colony. Termite swarms are one of the most obvious signs of termite infestations.
Pro Tip: Get your home inspected by a pest control professional each year.
How to Treat Termite Infestations?
What are some of the most effective treatment methods for termite infestations?
1. Baiting
As mentioned earlier, worker termites are the only ones in a termite colony that are able to forage for food. They feed and share their food with the other nest mates through a process known as trophallaxis. Baiting is used in the management of the subterranean termite infestations because it is able to eliminate the entire colony of subterranean termites. It involves feeding subterranean termites with baits that contains active ingredients that kills them. The entire colony collapses as baits are passed around the colony members, causing them to die.
2. Soil Treatment
To eliminate a subterranean termite colony, its nest, which is located underground, must be targeted. Soil treatment is usually done by injecting termiticides into the soil. Depending on the type of termiticide used, soil treatment is able to kill or repel termites that come into contact with the treated soil. Non-repellent termiticides are effective in eliminating subterranean termites while repellent termiticides create barriers that subterranean termites shun.
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3. Treating the Infested Wood
Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites cannot be treated using baiting and soil treatment as their colonies are located inside the affected wood and not underground. Drywood termite colonies are usually smaller compared to that subterranean termites and are found inside infested timbers. When treating an infested timber by soaking them in or injecting them with termiticide, you may get rid of the termite colony. The best way to prevent the spread of dry wood termite infestation is by discarding the infested items or timbers.
Termite infestations are destructive so they must be taken seriously. While there are measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of termite infestations, early detection of termite activities and proper treatment methods will minimize the damages caused by termites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, termites will find gaps and cracks in your home, where they dig out a nest and start reproducing, slowly damaging your house. It can also happen when infested furniture is brought into your house.
Subterranean termites are attracted to moisture, so standing water, leaky pipes or improper drainage can attract them to your home.
Subterranean termites can cause more damage as they build large colonies, so they are considered worse than drywood termites.
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Fumigation Treatment: All You Need to Know
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
The never-ending battle between humans and pests has led to the rapid development of pest management services in Singapore, including fumigation treatments. The wide-ranging pests and their nature of behaviour can interfere with human activities.
The difficulties of controlling pests – due to the limitation on certain treatments’ application – has led us to using fumigation treatment to deal with severe pest issues.
Fumigation treatment in Singapore is usually carried out in the freight, shipping, storage and food manufacturing industries. All fumigators must apply for training and a licence from the NEA (National Environmental Agency). Beyond that, pest management companies are also responsible for the application of fumigation permits before they are allowed to carry out fumigation treatments in Singapore.
Fumigants in Singapore
Fumigation treatment is a unique form of action for pest management.
It is usually adopted by pest management companies and clients when there are no other feasible forms of control to the target pest. However, most fumigants such as hydrogen cyanide, methyl bromide and hydrogen phosphide are toxic to pests as well as humans. Nevertheless, fumigation treatment has effective killing effects and has become an inevitable pest management method in Singapore.
Mode of Action of Fumigation Treatment
Fumigation treatment is a process of release or dispersal of toxic chemicals onto the targeted pests. It can be very fast as the volatile nature of fumigants is able to pass through inaccessible spaces. It has almost no limit to penetrate any object as long as tiny pores are present on the surface of the treated object. In other words, the entire structure is secured with the fumigation treatment. The toxic chemicals enter the pest body mainly through its breathing system.
Target Pests in Fumigation Treatment
In general, fumigation treatment is helpful in dealing with all types of pests including stored product pests, wood borers, subterranean and drywood termites, bed bugs, cockroaches and even rats. It is often carried out in enclosed shipping containers, vessels and warehouses.
Fumigation on smaller structures such as infested wood and furniture is usually done for targeting drywood termites and wood borers. In this case, infested wood has to be removed and placed in an air-tight space to allow the proceeding of fumigation treatment.
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Disadvantages of Fumigation
One main disadvantage of using fumigation treatment is that there is no residual effect on the treated structure. Therefore, no residues remain in the treated spaces once the areas have been ventilated and cleaned properly. Hence, it does not help in protecting the treated structure from future pest infestations.
Since the knockdown effect of target pests depends on its respiration rate, low temperature of the treated environment may make the pest less susceptible. This is due to the fact that the lower the temperature of the surrounding, the lower the respiration rate of the pest.
Pro Tip: It's better to hire professional pest management services to ensure the fumigation treatment effectiveness.
Factors Contributing to Fumigation Failure
Fumigation failures are common. It can be due to the improper application and pest resistance. In addition, inappropriate choice of fumigants and loss of fumigant through leakage in treated spaces can also affect the effectiveness of the treatment. Hence, a leak detector is sometimes utilized before the treatment.
Final Note
Fumigation treatment, while seen to be effective because of its volatile and gaseous nature to target pests, can actually be harmful to human and pets. The excessive use and misuse of the fumigants not only pose harmful effects on human’s health but cause adverse effects on the treated commodity and property.
The use of it must be handled by trained and certified fumigators as they will have enough knowledge on its application and precaution steps before and after the treatment.
Pest Problem? Let Us Help.
We offer fast and effective precision treatments to eliminate pests while ensuring a safe environment for your home or business.
Careful planning and application must be adopted before the treatment is carried out. The appropriate choice and use of fumigants are vital as it may cause fumigation failures and hazards to the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fumigation treatment is usually required in freight, shipping, storage and food manufacturing industries. Businesses in these industries must avoid the spread of pests and minimize the risk of damage to the goods or people’s health.
Fumigation treatment usually lasts for years, but it is recommended to have regular inspections to keep the areas protected.
It is important to remove plants and pets before fumigation, and also all the food and medicines that are open and/or are not sealed.
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7 Tips on How to Get Rid of Ants
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
Waking up early in the morning to prepare a delightful breakfast for your loved ones is a sign of a good start to the day. However, unpredictable threats often follow after our expectations. You might be familiar with the situation that a group of ants, the nuisance intruders, infested your well-prepared food when it was out of your sight. You might also face seeing carcasses of those intruders floating on the surface of your drinking water after a few minutes on the dining table. Well, if you have encountered any of the above situations, now is the time to read on and get rid of the trauma. In this article, we answer the question and give tips on how to get rid of ants.
Ants are neither disease vectors nor carriers. However, their presence can be traumatic as they may sting, bite or damage our home structures. Pustules and blisters may be formed following the sting of fire ants.
Some ant species also transmit germs to humans.
Ants’ activity may still be present even though treatment actions had been done on it. It is most likely that improper control techniques were used by homeowners to deal with them without knowing their species, biology, and behaviours. Here, we provide you with the correct ways how to get rid of ants.
How to Get Rid of Ants
1. Identify the Entry Point
Understanding how ants find their ways to invade our homes is always the first step to curbing them.
The invasion of ants usually starts with the cracks and crevices in the wall, seam of walls, floors, ceilings, corners or windows, and gaps around the utility lines or pipes.
We often pay less attention to these areas while they actually provide enough space for tiny ants to access our homes. But it’s not too late for you to prevent them from entering! Giving you a task as a home protector, it is time to start investigating any potential entry point in your home. You may use silicone-based caulk to seal if you find those entry points.
2. Remove Water Leaks
It is common that we don’t realise the existence of water leaks in our homes. In this situation, ants can be beneficial to alert you that water leaks may be inside your property!
Water is one of the main sources for ants to thrive on.
Furthermore, they prefer to nest around moisture sources. Hence, if you find ants inside your home, you might want to start inspecting any leaky pipe or water source for them. Make sure you repair the leaky pipe as there is higher chance for them to coming back. If you want to know how to avoid or how to get rid of ants, this is an important part of it!
Want to find out more about ant removal in Singapore?
3. Keep Proper Sanitation
Food is a must for all living creatures. Keeping your home tidy, especially the kitchen area, can help to quell their activities. Foster a good habit of tidiness by regular cleaning of your home not only to keep ants but other pests away as well. Counters, floors, table and kitchen appliances are usually their favourite forage areas. Sweep or wipe down these areas as to remove any crumbs of food and spills of juice that can serve as an attractive food source for them. In addition, remember to dispose your garbage and trash on a daily basis.
4. Store Food in Airtight Containers
Don’t be surprised if you find ants inside your stored food since they are so tiny that they can squeeze through any gap formed between objects. Hence, make sure you store your food in pest-proof or airtight containers. Furthermore, ripe fruits or other food sources like bottles of opened juice or wine should be stored in the refrigerator since there might be some sugar-based residues on the outer surface.
Pro Tip: Hiring professional pest control companies makes it harder for ants to develop in your home.
5. Look out for the Indoor Potted Plants
You might get frustrated by the reoccurrence of ants inside your house even though you have done the first four steps. Here is another tip for you – take note of the indoor potted plants! Plants need water to survive, the same goes for ants too! Ants may have built their colony inside or around your indoor potted plants before you take precautionary steps against them. Hence, carefully check around your indoor potted plants and look for the signs of ants’ activities. If you found them inside, you have to remove and replace the infested soil. Make sure to always remove accumulated water inside the drainage plate at the bottom of your plant pot as these can serve as the water source for them.
6. Trim Trees and Keep Shrubbery Away from the Home’s Interior
Keep in mind that ants usually come from the outside environment. Thus if you want to know how to get rid of ants, start outside. The reasons for their occurrence inside a house are always food, water and shelter. Therefore, preventive actions against them at your home’s exteriors cannot be neglected. Trimming tree branches away from touching the wall and roof of your house can help to reduce their entry.
Pest Problem? Let Us Help.
We offer fast and effective precision treatments to eliminate pests while ensuring a safe environment for your home or business.
7. Get Help from a Professional
Some species of ants are just too troublesome to be eradicated such as pharaoh’s ants and crazy ants. Somehow, we eliminate a species, while a few weeks or months later a secondary species of ants come out from the same treated spot. Hence, identifying the ant species is crucial as there are some ant species that cannot be treated with insecticide spray but specifically designated bait. From a young age, we may have the same concept that ants love sugar-based food. However, that is not always true! Some ants prefer to feed on oil-based food while some even prefer MSG-contained food (monosodium glutamate, a common flavour enhancer in food)! Don’t panic if you see them, keep calm and get help from our trained professionals to keep your home free from them!
Frequently Asked Questions
Ants may suddenly appear in your house if they have found access to sugar or food. They can also be on a hunt for water and shelter.
Typically you will need to get rid of things that attracted ants to your home in the first place, like spoiled food or leaking water. However, this might be not enough for ants to go away on their own.
To get rid of ants inside your home, clean up your house, fix all the cracks and holes in the building, and use repellents or pest management services.
To get rid of ants outside of your home, find their nest and pour boiling water or outdoor insecticide over it. Also, keep your yard clean and remove any branches, bushes, or anything that touches your house and provides ants with easy access to it.
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7 Tips to Keep Mice Away
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
While mice are portrayed as characters in many popular cartoons and movies, they are not as welcome in our house as on the big screen. Mice belong to the family Rodentia which houses many other animals such as rats, squirrels and hamsters. Among all rodents, mice and rats cause the most problems to the urban environment, thus making them an important urban pest.
Table of Contents
Mice species
The most common species of rodent pests found in the urban environment are the house mouse (Mus musculus), roof rat (Rattus rattus) and Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). The house mouse can be distinguished from the other two species through several characteristics. They are small (5 to 7 inches long) and are usually light brownish to grey in colour. Mice possess relatively large ears and small black eyes. They are relatively smaller in size when compared to rats.
These small critters need to be taken seriously, not only due to being a nuisance and or their ability to transmit diseases such as leptospirosis, but also because they can cause structural damages to buildings.
There are several things that you can do to keep them away from your house.
Want to find out more about rodent control in Singapore?
1. Inspect your house and its surrounding for signs of infestation
Droppings, gnaw marks and tracks are the most obvious indications of a mouse infestation. The droppings are small, usually less than 6.4mm. Similar to other rodents, mice practice gnawing behaviour to file down their teeth. They tend to chew on wooden structures and wires and this can cause serious structural damage as well as fire hazards.
2. Always make sure doors and windows are properly closed
We should always keep the doors of our house closed to prevent unwanted guests from entering. Windows should be shut whenever there is no one home so that you will not come back home to find “new tenants” in your house.
Mice are agile climbers so they will have little problem climbing up the windows and making their way into your house.
3. Seal up all possible entry points of mice
Mice are so small and their bodies are so flexible that they are able to squeeze through openings that are as small as ¼ inches across. Besides closing all the doors and windows, other possible entry points should be sealed up to prevent them from entering the house. The possible entry points may be gaps around pipework, holes on the roof or even the gap between doors and the floor. All openings that may serve as entry points for mice should be sealed with materials that cannot be gnawed down by mice, for example, cement and wire mesh that is smaller than ¼ inches to deny their access.
4. Keep all food airtight
A mouse will feed on whatever humans eat. By leaving your food uncovered, you are making your house vulnerable to the infestation of various pests such as mice, ants, flies and cockroaches. Make sure your food is properly stored to prevent not only pests but also germs.
5. Dispose of food wastes properly
Mice are not as picky as we are when it comes to food. They will be attracted to, and happily feed on, the food wastes we leave behind. Proper disposal of food wastes is important as it will make your house less favourable to them due to the lack of food sources. Always practice good waste management to keep the rubbish chute and bins in your house free of mice as these are the popular locations for mice to forage for food.
Pro Tip: You need to rodent-proof your property, otherwise the mice will keep coming back.
6. Get rid of possible nesting sites for mice
A house mouse nests in sheltered locations and constructs its nests using shredded paper and other fibrous materials. If you recall the scenes from cartoons, the “house” of a mouse is always a hole or opening located at the bottom of a wooden wall. A mouse hole is one of the places where mice can be found because they are able to gnaw through wooden walls to construct their nests inside the hollow spaces behind the walls. By clearing all rubbish and sealing all holes or cracks around your house, you can prevent sharing your house with these sneaky critters.
7. Use traps
If your house is already infested with mice, traps can be deployed to remove them from your house. Some of the traps that can be used include snap traps, glue traps, cages and electrocution traps. The placement of traps is crucial to the success of the traps. Traps should be placed behind objects, in dark corners and at edges near walls because mice tend to move about touching the wall. Furthermore, attractants can be placed to increase the success rate of your traps.
In order to keep mice away from us, it is important to stay vigilant and be mindful towards the surrounding environment.
Pest Problem? Let Us Help.
We offer fast and effective precision treatments to eliminate pests while ensuring a safe environment for your home or business.
Early detection of activities facilitates the prevention of infestation and management of their population. Poor sanitation is always the cause of infestation so by practising good sanitation practices, we will be able to keep mice away from us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mice can get into the house through gaps and cracks in the foundation, walls, roof, etc, or through the holes around the pipes.
Mice don’t usually bite and are not aggressive unless they get disturbed and feel threatened.
Mice are not likely to leave on their own if your house has favourable conditions, so you will need to hire professional pest management services to get rid of them.
Handling Snakes in Singapore
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
Snakes have been frequently making the news in Singapore. Singapore is filled with green plants and colourful flowers; this landscape not only fascinates the public but also attracts a wide range of wildlife around the area.
As a tropical country, it is not uncommon to encounter snakes in Singapore and urbanisation has forced them to live in close proximity to houses and buildings.
The encounter with a snake can be a surprise, hence, it is important to be educated and to understand the basics of how to handle snakes.
It is easy for us to differentiate snakes from other wildlife, but most of us have little knowledge of their species, biology, behaviour and most importantly, whether they are venomous or not.
6 common snakes found in Singapore
- Banded Kraits (Bungarus Fasciatus), is one of the venomous snakes that prey primarily on rodents, cats, lizards, and fish. This species is nocturnal and usually can be spotted near rodent holes, termite mounds and places close to water.
- Banded Malayan Coral Snakes (Calliophis intestinalis), are venomous snakes that are active at night and prey on other snake species. They are usually spotted in forests, parks and gardens.
- Black Spitting Cobras (Naja sumatrana), spit venom when they feel threatened and they aim their venom at the victim’s eyes. They are also nocturnal species, feed on rodents and amphibians, and can be found in cooler places like shelters, drains and garden walls.
- King Cobras (Ophiophagus hannah), the largest venomous snakes in the world are very different compared to other venomous snakes. If encountered, it is best to stay clear of its path and move away quickly as a bite and venom from this snake can be fatal. King Cobras can be seen in forests or lowland areas to areas of high elevation.
- Oriental Whip Snakes (Ahaetulla prasina), not all are venomous and the venomous ones will not result in death. Their venoms are not strong enough to kill a human. Small birds, frogs and lizards usually fall prey to this snake. This species can be found in forests, parks, residential areas with trees and amongst vegetation.
- Reticulated Pythons (Malayopython reticulatus), are non-venomous and active mostly at night from low land to highland, mangroves, forests and drainage canals. Although they may not be venomous, they are still able to bite and suffocate their victim.
Handling Snakes by Killem Pest
Many agencies like Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) and Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) are dedicated to protecting and educating the community about wildlife. Killem is no stranger to wildlife and handling snakes, working closely with these agencies to ensure that these animals are handled with care and handed over to them. Our PCOs are kept updated on any changes and continually attend seminars like the Wildlife Handling Seminar organised by the Singapore Pest Management Association (SPMA).
Our PMPs are trained in using a variety of equipment to trap and handle snakes safely and humanely. Snake tongs are a piece of equipment with a long pole that ensures a safe distance from the head of the snake. The controllable jaws at the end of the grabber help to lift or drag the snake away firmly and gently. Besides snake tongs, other ways snakes can be captured include using towels, bags, pillowcases and dustbins.
Venomous snakes require more caution when handling compared to non-venomous snakes as they differ in terms of movement and behaviour where the former moves its head before moving its body.
The Complete Guide to Snake Prevention, Treatment and Control in Singapore
From our experience, snakes should never be restrained at the head or by their tail. This is because these are their sensitive regions, restraining their head and tail can provoke their aggressive behaviour as they feel threatened. Restrained or temporarily captured venomous snakes should always be labelled, as some can spit venom up to 2m and even chew through the bags they are contained in.
What to do When You Encounter a Snake?
Snakes are not as terrifying as they seem. By knowing what to do when you encounter them, no harm will be done to you or the snakes. Always remind yourself to remain calm and not panic when seeing a snake. Panicking may cause you to make the wrong decisions. The snake may be startled or provoked by your actions thus causing them to attack you.
Pro Tip: Snakes usually have no interest in humans as they usually prey on other small animals.
It is likely for snakes to flee when they see humans, so you should also walk away from them if possible.
Handling snakes on your own is not a good idea. Seeking help from professionals will be the right way. If you ever get bitten by a snake, it is important that you stay calm and seek immediate medical attention. You might have probably seen someone sucking out snake venom from a victim in a movie scene. However, in the reality, it is almost impossible to suck the venom out as it spreads quickly and efficiently in the lymphatic system. The best thing to do in case you get bitten by snakes is to minimize movement and call a doctor or an ambulance immediately.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Although snakes mostly live in forested areas, you can encounter them in city areas as well. Gardens and lawns or parks can be hot spots for snakes.
Snakes can enter your house through holes and cracks in the building, or they can also squeeze into gaps between doors or water pipes, or climb into the attic.
It is advised not to try to get rid of snakes on your own, so better call the wildlife control company. While you are waiting for help, you can try to create a barrier around the snake and open doors and windows for it to escape.
7 Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Mosquito Bites
Revelling in outdoor activities like jogging, hiking, and barbeques during a long-awaited weekend or school holiday in perfect weather are our desired plans. However, nothing spoils these plans like the whine of a mosquito searching for a fresh blood meal. The itchy mosquito bites and whiny hum of their buzzing wings can ruin not only our daily activities but also affect our quality of sleep.
Beyond the nuisance factors, mosquitoes are vectors of some deadly diseases including Dengue fever, Chikungunya, Zika, and Malaria.
These mosquito-borne diseases are transmitted by infected mosquitoes to healthy and uninfected people. Unfortunately, there are still no vaccines or drugs to treat or prevent dengue fever, other than avoiding ourselves from getting mosquito bites.
Learning how to reduce your risk of mosquito bites will lower the chances that you encounter these unwanted guests in your surroundings.
Here are 7 tips to reduce your risk of mosquito bites:
1. Use Insect Repellents
Apply insect repellent to uncovered skin when going outdoors. Repellents containing DEET (a common active ingredient in insect repellents) are the most widely available insect repellents in the world. A great deal of testing has been done on DEET insect repellents and they are proven to be safe to use.
2. Wear Protective Clothing
Vision is one thing mosquitoes use for searching for their blood meal. Black or dark coloured clothes are proven to be more attractive than light coloured clothes for mosquitoes. But can mosquitoes bite through clothes? It is known that mosquitoes can bite through certain fabrics and clothing that is made of thin materials like tights. Hence, long-sleeved thick clothing is advisable as mosquitoes might find it difficult to bite through.
It’s essential to keep in mind that while thick clothing provides better protection, it’s not foolproof. Mosquitoes can still find ways to access your skin if the clothing is skintight or if there are gaps. So, to avoid mosquito bites it’s important to consider not only the colour and fabric thickness, but ensure the proper clothing fit. Additionally, using insect repellent on exposed skin areas and clothing as well can be a helpful to prevent mosquito bites.
3. Avoid Peak Mosquito Hours
To avoid mosquito bites, you might need to plan any outdoor activities when mosquitoes are less active. Although different species have different active hours, mosquitoes are generally more active during dawn and dusk.
Want to find out more about mosquito control in Singapore?
4. Keep Air Circulating
Mosquitoes are weak fliers, which mean they are not that efficient at flying and are not able to overcome strong wind.
Use of electric fan for outdoor activities and gatherings can prevent you and your family from mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes usually fly at the lower half of our bodies and near to the ground. Therefore, aim fans to that area.
5. Sleep Under a Mosquito Net
If you notice mosquito bites on your body after hours of sleeping, using a mosquito net would be a good call for you.
6. Get Rid of Stagnant Water
Any puddles of water around your home can become a potential breeding source for mosquitoes. Always be mindful to empty water from flower pots, plates, pet food, WC pan collar, buckets, barrels and cans at least once or twice a week as mosquitoes’ life cycle can be completed within a week. Always cap the bamboo pole holders when not in use to prevent rainwater from being splashed into the holders.
Pro Tip: The best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to eliminate areas where they can lay eggs
7. Keep Your Landscapes and Home Clean
Remember to keep the gully traps, scupper drains, and roof gutters clean. Thinning dense vegetation will help to improve air circulation. You can avoid getting mosquito bites by making your environment less desirable or appealing to them.
The recommended measures discussed above may help to protect you from mosquito bites. However, mosquito bites are inevitable during some uncontrollable situations and in specific environments. To read more, click here.
Adoption of permanent measures is strongly advised to address and eliminate the root cause of mosquito breeding. To find out the available permanent measures, you may seek help from our expert team.
Pest Problem? Let Us Help.
We offer fast and effective precision treatments to eliminate pests while ensuring a safe environment for your home or business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually, mosquito bites only cause itching, however, if you get bitten by a mosquito carrying viruses or germs, it can make you sick.
If you start getting a fever, headache, body aches, or other severe symptoms after the mosquito bite, then you should definitely see a doctor.
Applying water, ice, or a mixture of baking soda and water can help to reduce the itching from mosquito bites.
7 Tips to Protect Your Home from Subterranean Termite Infestations
Have you found mud tubes forming on your wall or at the side of your cabinet? Have you seen discarded insect wings on the ground around your home? Have you heard hollow sounds when tapping on wood or timber inside your house? If yes, subterranean termites may have already established their nest inside your house! If not, now is the time for you to do some prevention.
Subterranean termites are known to be the highly destructive insect pests in the urban environment.
Each year, about US$40 billion of damages were accounted for worldwide. Their silent activities inside the structures can cause serious destruction well before you notice the infestation.
Want to find out more about termites treatment in Singapore?
No one wants their home to serve as termites’ food. Getting rid of them can be expensive and repairing damaged structures can be troublesome. Therefore, it is vital to protect your house before the intrusion of subterranean termite infestations.
Here, we discuss 7 tips to protect your home from subterranean termite infestations.
1. Ventilate and Reduce Moisture Sources
Understanding your enemy will help you better prepare against termite infestations. Hence, understanding the conditions that favour subterranean termite activities is important, for example, their dependency on moisture. Moisture damage wood structures should be replaced as this type of wood is most welcoming for subterranean termite infestations. Moisture damage to wood is one of the roots of moisture problems in every house. Ensure crawl spaces (floor joints and sub-flooring) are properly ventilated to minimize the amount of moisture around the areas.
2. Maintain Your Building Exteriors
Leaky pipes around your home need to be repaired to prevent water from leaking into wooden siding and windows. Furthermore, trimming all shrubs near home exteriors can help to quickly dry damp areas.
3. Use Proper Landscaping Materials
Synthetic mulch can be used when landscaping. Unlike wood mulch, it does not feed termites and any other pest. Besides, pea gravel can be used for keeping your wood mulch from contacting your home’s foundation.
4. Reduce or Monitor Plant Boxes Around Your Home
Planter boxes abutting building walls can give the chance or facilitate the process for foraging termites to enter the building. Make sure there is no close proximity between planter boxes and building walls to avoid future subterranean termite infestations.
5. Use of Wood Polish
Wood polishes not only give a good looking appearance to the wood used but also provide a protective coat to the wood. It can also provide water resistance to the wood which helps reduce the moisture source for subterranean termites. Make sure wood polish is applied thoroughly on the wood surfaces including the edges and sides of the wood used to prevent any entry point found by subterranean termites.
Pro Tip: Whether you've had termite infestation before or want to prevent them, have annual inspections of your home for termites.
6. Get Your Home Inspected by an Expert Each Year
Subterranean termites are the most highly destructive insects that can damage your home. Early detection of subterranean termite infestations can help to avoid financial burdens. Hire a pest control professional who is trained in termite detection. They have adequate equipment and experience to look for the tell-tale signs of termite infestations.
7. Barrier Treatment
This management treatment can be divided into treatment prior to construction (pre-construction soil treatment) and after construction (corrective soil treatment). Pre-construction soil treatment involves creating chemical barriers in the soil around and under the building foundation to prevent the intrusion of soilborne subterranean termites. Corrective soil treatment, in contrast, creates chemical barriers along the perimeter of the building.
The occurrence of subterranean termite infestations can become challenging to house owners to successfully manage on their own.
Pest Problem? Let Us Help.
We offer fast and effective precision treatments to eliminate pests while ensuring a safe environment for your home or business.
Proper inspection and identification of the type of termites is a more efficient way to manage them.
Click here for further information. Killem Pest can solve your problem!
Frequently Asked Questions
Subterranean can cause significant damage, specifically to the structure of your home (if they don’t get treated quickly).
There are various termiticide treatments available out there, but it is best to have professional pest management services handle the infestation.
Since subterranean termites are attracted to moisture, reduce humidity in your house, and make sure that there’s no water accumulation near the home’s foundation.
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7 Tips to Keep Flies Away from Your Kitchen
Keep flies away! Have you ever been annoyed by flies circling around you? You might be trying to enjoy your breakfast when an annoying one starts flying around you. You tried shooing them away but they kept on coming back. You tried swatting them with a newspaper but to no avail because they can see your movements with the thousands of visual receptors they have.
Pro Fact: Flies are not only annoying but they also act as mechanical vectors for many diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
They carry bacteria on their body and pass them onto your food when they land on the food. It is thus important to keep flies away from us to prevent being infected by these disease-causing bacteria.
Flies are attracted to human food and rotting materials. They can find plenty of food sources in your kitchen as it is where you prepare food. Improper management of food waste serves as an invitation for their breeding.
Since swatting them with a newspaper is not a very effective way to get rid of them, are there any other ways to keep flies away from your kitchen?
1. Deny Flies Access
Closing doors and windows are the simplest way to keep flies away from your kitchen. A better option would be to install fly screens as you can keep flies away without making your kitchen stuffy.
2. Improve Air Circulation
Circulating air disrupts their ability to fly, so using a fan to keep air circulating inside your kitchen helps keep flies away.
3. Keep Food Covered
Flies have a sensitive olfactory system so they will be able to smell food from afar. Make sure that no food is left exposed if you do not want to share your food with flies. By making sure that your food is covered, you can also prevent contamination of food.
4. Keep Up With the Dishes
Do you always leave your dirty dishes in the sink after meals and wash them only after days?
Flies love all the food stain and leftovers so your sink that is full of dirty dishes will be the perfect place for the flies to hang out and get food.
Cleaning your dishes after meals is a good way to prevent that from happening. It is also good to put your dirty dishes in a dishwasher if you are unable to clean them immediately.
Want to find out more about fly pest control in Singapore?
5. Empty the Bins Regularly
A kitchen bin containing rotten food wastes provides ample food sources for both adult flies and their young ones. Kitchen bins with your food waste should be emptied daily at the end of the day to keep flies away.
6. Keep the Drains Clean
Like many other insect pests, flies are attracted to moist places so dirty drains provide both moisture and food source for them. To clean your kitchen drain, you can pour vinegar and baking powder into the drain and then flush them with boiling water.
7. Plant Aromatic Herbs
Some aromatic herbs are known to repel flies and other insects. Some examples of these insect-repelling herbs are basil, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon balm and thyme. Furthermore, planting these herbs in your kitchen can increase the greenery in your house and also add some extra flavour to your food if you use them in your cooking.
Keeping flies away is not really that difficult.
By putting in a little effort you can protect your family members from these harmful pests.
If you have an established fly infestation around you, you should seek professionals’ help to solve it. Killem provides professional solutions to solve the fly infestation around your property and keep you safe from the pest.
Bonus Tip: Explore Natural Ways to Keep Flies Away
Besides using herds, there are other natural and easy ways to keep flies away from your home. For example, flies don’t like the smell of cloves, so placing a bowl full of dried cloves can help you get rid of flies. Another solution would be to use cinnamon as flies hate the smell of it too.
Using essential oils is another alternative way to keep the flies away. Try spraying lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and lemongrass essential oils around your house to prevent them from flying around.
You can also try to create a fly trap by mixing apple cider vinegar with a liquid soap. Flies will be attracted to the smell of apples and vinegar, but they won’t be able to escape the trap because of the surface tension created by the soap.
Pest Problem? Let Us Help.
We offer fast and effective precision treatments to eliminate pests while ensuring a safe environment for your home or business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flies get attracted to rotting fruits, vegetables and meat. Leaving dirty dishes, not frequently emptying your bin, or leaving the food waste bin accessible can also attract flies to your kitchen.
Flies often enter the kitchen and homes through open doors and windows. Sometimes they can also get through cracks and gaps in your building.
To find a source of flies and get rid of them you need to clean your kitchen and eliminate everything that attracts flies. Make sure that no food particles are left behind (e.g. behind the refrigerator, around your trash bin, etc).
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7 Tips for Keeping Our Bins and Bin Chutes Free of Rodents
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
Table of Contents
- 1. Mindful Placement of Bins
- 2. Always Keep Bin Lids and Bin Chutes Sealed Properly
- 3. Get Broken Bins and Bin Chutes Hoppers Replaced or Repaired
- 4. Make Sure Your Bins are Always Clean
- 5. Do Not Let Food Sit in the Kitchen Bin for too Long
- 6. Bag Your Food Waste
- 7. Do Not Let Bins Overflow
- Bonus Tip: How to Seal the Rubbish Chutes in Buildings
In our effort to become a garden city, plants and greenery have been incorporated into the buildings and structures around Singapore. With all these plants around, they provide opportunities for other organisms to thrive. While many of these organisms such as birds and butterflies might be harmless or even beneficial to us, some might cause problems to humans.
Rodents nest in burrows in the soil where plants grow in. In our effort to bring greenery close to our living environment, rodents are also closing in on our lives.
They pose public concerns as they are not only capable of transmitting diseases such as leptospirosis and rat bite fever but also causing structural damage when they chew on wires and other building structures.
You have probably seen rodents running around residential areas or at the void deck of flats, or heard them squeaking in the middle of the night. This is due to the fact that rodents are commensal so they live in close association with humans and feed on whatever humans eat.
You might have been feeding rodents without even knowing it. They scavenge for any food that you throw away so the rubbish bins and bin chutes might be their favourite haunt for nice, free food.
How do we keep rodents away from bins and bin chutes?
1. Mindful Placement of Bins
Rodents might perceive the placement of bins near windows and doors as an invitation so you might want to make sure the bins are kept away from the entrances. Avoid exposing the bins to direct sunlight to help reduce the smell of food.
2. Always Keep Bin Lids and Bin Chutes Sealed Properly
Rodents are so flexible that they can squeeze through a space as thin as a pencil so it is important to make sure that the bins have been completely sealed.
Furthermore, rodents are excellent climbers that are able to climb walls with a rough surface. Be sure that the bin chute hoppers are closed tightly so that these unwelcomed guests are unable to gain access to the upper floors.
Pro Tip: Metal bins and containers with tight-fitting and secure lids are the most secure way to keep rodents away.
3. Get Broken Bins and Bin Chutes Hoppers Replaced or Repaired
If bins are cracked or broken, have them replaced as the cracks serve as open doors for the rodents. Faulty bin chute hoppers should be repaired to make sure that they can always be closed tightly.
4. Make Sure Your Bins are Always Clean
Cleaning your bins regularly and rinsing them with disinfectant and hot water is a good way to get rid of the smell that attracts rodents while removing any pathogens present around the bins. Killem offers bin chute flush out treatment to control the population of pests that are commonly found in bin chutes.
By having clean bin chutes you can have your mind at peace as you will not have to constantly worry about pests sneaking into your house from these places.
Want to find out more about rodent flushout services in Singapore?
5. Do Not Let Food Sit in the Kitchen Bin for too Long
Kitchen bins with food waste attract rodents and other pests such as flies so it is important to empty them regularly.
6. Bag Your Food Waste
Throwing food waste into garbage bags or plastic bags will help isolate their smell while keeping the bins and bin chutes clean.
7. Do Not Let Bins Overflow
Garbage should always be inside the bins and not be left exposed. Rodents are capable of biting through the garbage bags so make sure the garbage is always contained inside the bins.
By giving a little bit of extra attention to the bins around us, we will be able to keep these unwelcome guests at bay.
Bonus Tip: How to Seal the Rubbish Chutes in Buildings
Sealing a rubbish chute is a common maintenance task in multi-story buildings as they can become a source of rodents and other pests. As time goes by, rubbish chutes can get cracks or gaps that become an entry point for pests into your home. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to conduct routine inspections and promptly seal any detected cracks or gaps.
To seal the rubbish chute, you first need to inspect it for any missing parts and replace them if needed. Seal the gaps and joints around the rubbish chute and the chute door. Regularly maintain and reapply the sealant to keep the chute effectively sealed, preventing odors and pests from escaping.
Pest Problem? Let Us Help.
We offer fast and effective precision treatments to eliminate pests while ensuring a safe environment for your home or business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, rodents get attracted to compost and garbage bins as a source of food and shelter for them.
Rodents can climb almost anything, except smooth surfaces. This means that if you put boxes, plastic bags with garbage, or anything else near the bins, chances are that rodents will easily climb into your unsealed bins.
Rodents are not able to chew through hard plastic, so your trash will be safe in plastic bins. On the other hand, they can easily chew through soft plastic, paper, and cardboard, so don’t store your garbage in those.
How to Handle Wildlife in Singapore
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
The landscape in Singapore is built and maintained such that wildlife co-exists with the people living around their habitat very closely. With limited living spaces, it is not uncommon to find a monitor lizard crawling near concrete buildings that are close to parks and woodland, or for wild boars to be seen crossing roads in quiet residential areas.
There are signs in places like parks to ensure that people are warned of probable encounters with wildlife and to stop feeding or disturbing them. These animals forage beyond their homes, lurking near food sources left by people. They may not be the dangerous wild elephants or tigers found in other Asian countries, but wildlife in Singapore can become a threat if encounters are not handled appropriately.
Wildlife in Singapore: Protection and Education
Many agencies like Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) and Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) are dedicated to protecting and educating the community about wildlife. Killem is no stranger to wildlife, working closely with these agencies to ensure that these animals are handled with care and handed over to them.
Killem’s Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) have many run-ins with wild snakes, monitor lizards and many other animals.
They are competent in handling any situation, always ready with their protective equipment and abide by the law and acts pertaining to wildlife in Singapore.
Our PMPs are kept updated on any changes and continually attend seminars like the Wildlife Handling Seminar organised by the Singapore Pest Management Association (SPMA) in June this year.
Dr Abraham Mathew, who is a senior veterinarian and wildlife expert from WRS, conducted a meaningful seminar that was attended by 8 of Killem’s representatives. He was very wilful in sharing his thoughts and techniques on handling wildlife in Singapore to ensure the safety of both the people and especially the animals. It was an eye-opener for many as we learned that animals are just as afraid of us as we are of them, finding ways to protect themselves from fear of harm. The ways in which people can protect themselves are as simple as moving away and placing space between animals and not making quick or sudden movements.
Wildlife in Singapore: Snakes
One of the more feared and underappreciated animals is snakes but Dr Abraham Mathew was able to place confidence in us with techniques and pointers for handling them.
Like many, we were concerned of snake bites as Singapore is home to both venomous and non-venomous snakes.
The non-venomous kinds leave a row of bite marks when bitten, evidence that they don’t have venom. Concern rises when it’s a venomous snake that has bitten where the snake leaves two fang punctures and starts to chew. Even though the venom is for digesting its food, people once bitten should get immediate help. Our PCOs realised how the situation can be handled without any stress with the right treatment of the animals.
Want to find out more about wildlife removal in Singapore?
Dr Abraham Mathew stressed the importance of strength in gentleness when handling snakes and wildlife alike. It may seem like a daunting task to remain calm in the presence of a snake or when bitten by one but doing just that can help with the situation tremendously. The gentlest movements can put a hyperalert snake at ease to an extent it mistakes its handler’s hand for a tree branch. Proper restraining techniques and equipment should be used as total immobilization of animals or restricting movements will affect animals’ behaviour and activities.
Our PMPs have experience handling snakes and thus are confident in using equipment like snake thongs when restraining them. Other ways snakes can be captured include using towels, bags, pillowcases and dustbins as makeshift snake containment enclosures.
Venomous snakes require more caution when handling compared to non-venomous snakes as they differ in terms of movement and behaviour where the former moves its head before moving its body.
Snakes should never be restrained at the head or by their sensitive tail. Restrained or temporarily captured venomous snakes should always be labelled, as some can spit venom up to 2m and even chew through the bags they are contained in.
In addition to the presentations done by Dr Abraham Mathew, Mr Kalai Vanan Balakrishnan of ACRES enlightened the attendees on how the drainage structures all over Singapore act as passageways for snakes and reptiles to move around and as habitation. From time to time, wild animals can cross our paths but to ensure they don’t venture too close to our living spaces, homes should be inspected for holes or gaps, sealing them shut.
Wildlife in Singapore: Lizards
Lizards are less-feared wildlife than snakes. In Singapore, there are many types of lizards. The more known ones are the tiny geckos, but the large specie called Monitor Lizards are active in the wild.
The Malayan water monitor is the largest one known to be active in Singapore and can get up to 3 meters long. One place where they are present is the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Malayan water monitor lizards love urban jungles and being in close proximity to water.
Wildlife in Singapore: Birds
The status of Birds in Singapore is defined in the Singapore Red Data book. This includes bird species that are vulnerable, endangered and presumed extinct, as well as common bird species that are of less concern in terms of their population. For example, most species of pigeons fall under the latter category.
Birds with vulnerable or endangered status are protected by Singaporean law, meaning that it is illegal to handle those species of birds without a permit.
Singapore records well over 400 bird species. Common birds in Singapore include:
- Pigeons
- Javan Myna
- Common Myna
- House Crow
- Asian Glossy Starling
Wildlife in Singapore: Policies
The Wild Animals and Birds Act (WABA) was highlighted, and it was made clear that feeding wildlife in Singapore is illegal. Animals should not be accustomed to food handed from humans as this might alter their behaviour towards humans, making them more aggressive. An endearing long-tailed macaque can become a hostile animal with just a flash of teeth from our smiles and laughs as what we assume as a harmless action is deduced as a sign of challenge for a monkey.
There were many concerns raised by the Wild Animals Legislation Review Committee (WALRC) formed by a Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC Louis Ng and consisting of various stakeholders from the pest control companies, religious organisations, town councils and nature community on the recent proposals for amendments to the WABA. The WALRC has proposed as one of the amendments, for the deployment of traps for all wildlife to be done only by qualified individuals. Animals such as wild boars have reportedly increased in sightings, indicating the ideal living conditions and increase in population. These bans on deploying traps can safeguard animals from illegal poaching and endangerment.
Pro Tip: Handling wildlife on your own is not a good idea, it's better to seek help from professionals that ensure that these animals are handled with care.
People have responded in favour of stronger penalties and protection for wildlife in Singapore through the discussions and surveys conducted by WALRC. The proposed amendments aim to fill any gaps in the WABA, protecting wildlife all the same, regardless of whether they are in protected national park areas or beyond.
Our PMPs are trained to refrain from unnecessary disruption to wildlife, respecting each being and handing over to the respective authorities when it’s beyond their means. Wildlife in Singapore, however small, will be a part of our living spaces from time to time. Killem aims to pursue more humane ways when handling wildlife and playing its part to ensure the safety of the public and not forgetting the animals.
Wildlife Trapping Permit
Did you know that Killem Pest has been granted approval by the National Parks Board (NParks) to trap and take certain wildlife under the Wildlife Act 1965? This is an honourable accreditation and Killem Pest has done and will continue to adhere to all applicable laws and regulations to handle wildlife in Singapore.
The following is a list of wildlife for which we have been granted approval to take and trap.
Snakes
- Brahminy blind snake
- Sunbeam snake
- Reticulated python
- Oriental whip snake
- Gold-ringed cat snake
- Dog-toothed cat snake
- Paradise tree snake
- Twin-barred tree snake
- Common Malayan racer
- Striped bronzeback
- Kopstein’s bronzeback
- Painted bronzeback
- Malayan bridle snake
- Keel-bellied whip snake
- Red-tailed racer
- Common house snake
- Striped kukri snake
- Keeled rat snake
- White-bellied rat snake
- Indochinese rat snake
- Black-headed collared snake
- Puff-faced water snake
- Equatorial spitting cobra
- King cobra
- Shore pit viper
- Wagler’s pit viper
Lizards
- Malayan water monitor
- Clouded monitor
- Green iguana
- Changeable lizard
- Green crested lizard
- Black-bearded gliding lizard
- Five-banded gliding lizard
- Common gliding lizard
- Maritime gecko
- Common sun skink
- Long-tailed sun skink
- Supple skink
- Thai supple skink
- Brown anole
Wildlife Intrusion? Let Us Help.
We offer fast and effective solutions to ensure a secure environment for your home or business while prioritizing wildlife protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Singapore has a very diverse flora and fauna – it is home to over 40,000 kinds of non-microbial organisms.
Although Singapore is an urban city, it is not uncommon to meet boars, lizards, snakes, bats, millipedes, and other wildlife there.
Among dangerous wildlife in Singapore, you should be aware of some poisonous bugs, spiders, and snakes that are better to avoid.
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Predators as a Pest Control Method
Nicole Zycinski-Singh
Pests can be difficult to deal with and sometimes people decide to fight fire with fire. Instead of relying on chemical repellents, humans have decided to return to a natural method: They introduce a predator into an environment in which it will eat pests.
Sometimes, this action works out great. In the majority of cases, however, the introduction of a foreign animal creates an invasive species.
These creatures are animals who have entered a new environment where they themselves lack natural predators or weaknesses to help keep their population in check.
Below are some of the best-known examples of this form of pest control as well as the outcome of each decision.
Predators: Pets for Pests
There is evidence that animals like cats have lived alongside humans for almost 10,000 years.
Cats are an excellent form of pest control because they eat nuisances like rats and mice. In medieval times, it was popular for cats to be used as mousers or to live in barns and granaries to stop pests from feasting on the local food supplies. During the Age of Discovery, felines were taken along on voyages and kept as ships to stop stowaway rodents from eating all of the supplies.
Pro Tip: Using predators for pest control has its own limitations and challenges, so if you have a large infestation it's better to consult pest management specialists.
Other domesticated rodent killers were dogs and weasels. Many breeds of canines were trained to hunt mice, rats, groundhogs, and other creatures that could dig up gardens and crops. This subset of dogs is frequently known as terriers, although they are not used as regularly in modern times. Weasels are an older form of pest control that dates back to Ancient Europe, Rome, and Greece. Weasels were trained and kept around households as another form of rodent removal.
Indian Runner Ducks
Ducks are found around the world but haven’t been used as a form of pest control until recently. In South Africa, some farms and vineyards have trained Indian Runner Ducks to parade from their rooms each morning and enter the fields. The ducks spend all day eating insects, snails, and slugs that grow on the vines. These bugs feed on the leaves of the plants as well as the edible crops, posing a considerable problem for farmers. The ducks stop these pests while allowing the crops to grow. Alongside the ducks are other trained waterfowl, including geese.
The Cane Toad
The saga of the cane toads is perhaps the most well-known example of a predator used to fight pests. In the early 20th century, Australia was known for its sugar production and many farmers and scientists wanted to combat cane beetles, which were destroying crops. The Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations brought over cane toads from Hawaii and released over 100 of them in the wild. The toads reproduced rapidly and now number over 200 million across the continent.
Unfortunately, the toads were not interested in the beetles and started to eat other native species instead. Because the cane toad naturally produces a toxin to defend against enemies, it has also started to kill other animals who try to ingest it. The situation with the cane toads constitutes an ecological emergency.
Pest Problem? Let Us Help.
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Today, scientists have tried to come up with new pest control methods to control invasive species. Some want to release sterile males into the environment to compete for resources, while others want to use a gene to change the females so they only produce males, limiting the population. Another method is releasing a virus that the toads are susceptible to, but this can harm native species.
This failed example of predators as pest control demonstrates some of the drawbacks of this method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Predators are one of the natural enemies of pests. So, as a way of biological control, predators can be introduced to limit and control pests.
The main predator groups include spiders, predatory bugs, predatory mites, lacewings, beetles, and hoverflies.
Predators attack different pest species and can effectively help to control insect pests.