Pest Help & Advice

Frequently Asked Questions

Find simple answers to common questions about pest treatments, preparation, safety, follow-up advice and what to expect when booking Pestco Pest Management in Cairns.

Before Your Treatment

Yes, the products we use in your home are amongst the most effective products available to the pest management industry and are approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). Just as importantly, they are selected with the safety of your family and pets in mind.

Yes. Professional pest treatments are designed to be used safely in homes and are selected with the safety of your family and pets in mind. As a precaution, we recommend keeping children and pets away from treated areas until surfaces are dry.

Our technician will also advise you of any temporary precautions that may be recommended depending on the treatment being carried out.

Typically the answer is no, however we may ask you to remain outside during the treatment and until treated areas have dried.

As a precaution, we may suggest leaving the property during the treatment if:

  • young children are present
  • you are pregnant
  • chemical sensitivities or allergies are a concern
  • there is a significant pest infestation present
To help achieve the best possible treatment results, we recommend vacuuming and mopping floors prior to our arrival, as cleaning is best kept to a minimum for several days after treatment. Please also clear kitchen benches of exposed food, dishes and utensils before treatment.

Where possible, please also pick up loose items such as children’s toys and clothing from the floor, ensure access to the manhole and remove or cover pet food and water bowls before treatment. We also ask that you remove any animal droppings from the yard prior to treatment.

While the products we use are considered to be safe, best practice is to keep pets such as cats, dogs and caged birds away from treated areas until the treatment is completed and surfaces have dried. Please also remove or cover pet food and water bowls before treatment.

Fish tanks and reptile enclosures should be covered and filters turned off until the treatment is completed.

Depending on the type of treatment being carried out, it may occasionally be necessary to remove pets from the property completely, however under most treatment circumstances this is not required. If you are unsure, please feel free to contact us prior to your treatment for further advice.

Most general pest treatments take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the size of the property, the type of treatment being carried out and the level of pest activity present. Larger homes or more significant infestations may take longer.
After Treatment
In most cases, pest activity will begin reducing shortly after treatment, however the time required for full results can vary depending on the type of pest being treated and the level of infestation present.

It is also normal to continue seeing some pest activity for a period after treatment as pests come into contact with treated areas.

It is common to see dead or dying cockroaches over the following days and weeks as concealed cockroaches come into contact with treated areas.

Over the following weeks, small juvenile cockroaches emerging from egg cases protected from the initial treatment may also be sighted. As these move through treated areas, they will also succumb to the treatment.

In tropical environments like Cairns, occasional cockroach activity may still be seen during the life of the treatment, particularly during humid or wet conditions when cockroaches move indoors seeking shelter but usually succumb to the treatment. Seeing dead or dying cockroaches during this period is generally an indication that the treatment is continuing to work as intended.

Following treatment, ant activity is typically brought under control quickly.

In some cases, particularly with species such as coastal brown ants, you may notice an increase in fine dust or debris around nesting areas. This is a normal part of the process as ants remove dead ants and material from the nest while the treatment takes effect.

It is also common for ant activity to stop for a few weeks and then briefly return as new ants emerge from eggs protected from the initial treatment. As these ants move through treated areas, they are also affected by the treatment.

In tropical environments like Cairns, occasional ants may still be seen from surrounding colonies or environmental conditions, however these are typically controlled before becoming an ongoing issue.

Most general pest treatments are designed to provide long-lasting control of 6 to 12 months. Treatment longevity can vary depending on the type of pest being treated, environmental conditions and the level of pest pressure surrounding the property. In some unit complexes or shared buildings, ongoing pest activity from neighbouring properties or connected service areas can also affect treatment longevity.

In tropical environments like Cairns, factors such as heat, humidity and rainfall can reduce how long treatments remain effective. For this reason, shorter maintenance intervals such as six-monthly treatments can be beneficial in maintaining ongoing control.

Before preparing food, we recommend wiping down kitchen benchtops and food preparation areas with a damp cloth after treatment.

To help maximise treatment effectiveness, please avoid deep cleaning, mopping or washing treated areas for a couple of days where possible. Longer periods without cleaning can allow more time for concealed pests to come into contact with treated surfaces. Normal day-to-day activities can otherwise continue as usual once treated areas have dried.

General Pest Control
Cockroach and ant treatments included as part of a general pest treatment come with a 6 month warranty to internal areas, provided normal treatment conditions and preparation requirements have been met. The warranty does not include the long-term control of spiders.

Some pest activity shortly after treatment is normal, as products can take time to work. Occasional insect sightings may also occur due to environmental conditions, however if cockroach or ant activity returns as an ongoing issue to internal areas during the warranty period, please contact us so we can assess the situation further.

Long-term residual control of spiders is generally less practical, as spiders are less affected by residual insecticides than pests such as cockroaches and ants.

Residual control of cockroaches and ants relies partly on the regular grooming behaviour of these pests as they move through treated areas. Spiders do not groom and transfer residues in the same way, which can reduce the long-term effectiveness of residual treatments.

Many spider species may also continue entering the property from surrounding external areas after treatment. Due to this ongoing environmental pressure and the reduced effectiveness of residual insecticides on spiders, occasional spider activity and reappearance over time is common, particularly in tropical environments such as Cairns.

General pest treatments are designed to significantly reduce spider activity; however, spiders are not included under the extended 6-month internal service warranty.

Cockroach and ant treatments included as part of a general pest treatment come with a 6 month warranty to internal areas, provided normal treatment conditions and preparation requirements have been met. The warranty does not include the long-term control of spiders.

Some pest activity shortly after treatment is normal, as products can take time to work. Occasional insect sightings may also occur due to environmental conditions, however if cockroach or ant activity returns as an ongoing issue to internal areas during the warranty period, please contact us so we can assess the situation further.

Seeing occasional dead or dying cockroaches during the warranty period is generally considered a normal part of the treatment process and is usually an indication that the treatment continues working as intended.