With small children & pets around, I will not allow any spraying inside my house. Do you have any other alternative methods of treatment to eliminate cockroach and ants?

Yes indeed. We can use gel baits and bait stations for both cockroaches and ants and they have been proven to be effective.

Recently I found some bed bugs in my room. I’ve been staying here for so long and this is the first time I have this problem. What can be the cause of it and how can I be rid of this problem? Can you guarantee that there will be no more bed bugs after the treatment?

Bed bugs have become a major problem worldwide. This is mainly because travel is very cheap these days and hence people from different background, travel quite freely these days. Budget and back-pack travellers do not mind staying in the cheapest locations where hygiene and housekeeping are not priorities. The great influx of foreign labour from the lesser countries around the region have also compounded the problem. So you need to ask yourself if you have been exposed to bed bugs yourself and without knowing this, could have brought them into your house. Or you need to confirm if you have had visitors from overseas or recently engaged any maid etc. You may keep your own house spick and span but this will not prevent the bed bugs from the neighbouring houses to crawl into your nice clean home.

Once you have a bedbug problem, you will need professional help. We will advice you on what needs to be done on your part and what will be done by us. When the preparation phase is completed, we will carry out a residual spray of the entire skirting areas all within the house. We will also treat the external apron area in contact with your house. We will then release a calculated amount of “Total Release Aerosol” to saturate the entire internal volume of the affected area. The house will then be sealed up for 2 to 3 hours. All the living bedbugs will be killed. However, the eggs will not be destroyed. This is why a second complete treatment is required to be carried out between 10 to 14 days later. This will ensure an effective and complete treatment. Despite this, we will not be able to guarantee that no more bedbugs will come into your house at a later date as there are too many external factors beyond our control that may allow the bedbugs to come into your house. You will just have to be more careful.

How can I eliminate lizards from my house?

Lizards are best controlled inside buildings by excluding them. Exterior cracks should be sealed and tight fitting screens installed on all windows and vents. Vegetation outside should be kept away from the foundation. Lizards inside can be captured using glue traps and then removed from the traps using vegetable oil to dissolve the glue. Release captured lizards outside at a distance away from the building. Lizards are actually helpful in that they feed on flying insects. However, they tend to mess up the walls with their droppings.

What is the best way to treat a flea infested home? I have 2 cats and 2 dogs.

This problem has to be dealt with by professionals. Flea control requires thorough vacuuming, treatment of pets and treatment of the infested premises. Vacuuming removes soils and debris that might interfere with the treatment. Removes a good number of adult fleas and some flea eggs, and opens carpet fibres so that treatment can penetrate to flea larvae and pupae. An insect growth regulator (IGR) should be used together with a product targeted at adult fleas. The IGR affects only the flea larvae and prevents them from molting into adult fleas which do the biting. The IGR therefore helps prevent future infestations while assisting in stopping the current problem. Vacuuming everyday stimulates adult fleas from cocoons so they will contact the treatment and die more quickly. Although the number of adult fleas you see quickly drops following the treatments, it may take 2 to 3 weeks before all fleas are gone from the premises. It is important to treat the pets on the same day as the home is treated. A second similar treatment must be carried out in the house 10 to 14 days after the initial treatment to kill off newly hatched eggs as these would not have been destroyed during the initial treatment. Hence, the pets must also be kept away from the house during this period.

How effective are bait traps for controlling cockroaches?

Bait stations will be effective in controlling cockroaches if placed properly. Baits, however, rely on every cockroach in a population to feed on the bait before the infestation can be eliminated. Bait stations should be combined with other control efforts such as crack and void treatments to ensure the infestation is eliminated. Knowing where to apply each product effectively is where our experience is helpful. In addition, our men will also look for any conditions that might contribute to cockroach infestations and make recommendations for correcting such conditions.

Is it possible to get rid of cockroaches and keep them from coming back?

Cockroaches can be eliminated from a home, but reinfestation can occur depending on the particular species involved and where the home is situated. Cockroaches may continually try to enter a home from the outside. Regular exterior service in addition to sealing outside cracks and holes in walls can help limit such invasions to a negligible level. Proper maintenance and cleaning of manholes and drains will certainly help. Proper housekeeping within the house is definitely essential but even these cannot stop cockroaches from crawling in from your neighbours or neighbouring areas. Hence, constant vigilance is required.

How do I get rid of Fire Ants?

Fire ants can be difficult to eliminate totally because they can reinvade from neighboring properties. Individual fire ant mounds should be treated using a fire ant bait or a residual contact product labeled for fire ants. The yard can then be treated with fire ant bait to help control unseen mounds and colonies foraging from neighboring properties. Regular fire ant services are necessary to keep ants to a minimum.

What’s the best way to get rid of pharaoh ants? 
Any residual treatments applied to control pharaoh ants only makes the problem worse. Such treatments cause colonies to split into two or more colonies. Pharaoh ants can only be controlled by use of baits. It normally takes the experience of a professional to achieve elimination of this ant due to its cryptic habits and biology. This ant commonly uses the electrical wiring and plumbing pipes inside walls as “highways” to travel from room to room.

My kitchen is inundated with small and medium sized ants. They seem to cluster in my dishwasher. I’ve used ant traps and some chemicals and nothing works. What should I do?

It is important to identify the ant involved before trying to control it. Some ant species can be controlled using ant baits, while others cannot. The key to success is following the ants back to their colony and treating the colony directly (except when dealing with pharaoh ants). We have the experience to properly provide this service.

How do I get rid of mice?

Mice are best controlled by using traps, either snap traps, live traps or a combination of the two. When using snap traps, use different baits (chocolate, peanut butter, etc…) on the traps and place them where the mice are active – but where children and pets can’t get to them. Also, seal exterior cracks and holes and put weatherstrips on doors to prevent new mice from entering. Mice only need a hole ¼-inch in size to enter. Numerous mice indicate a more serious problem and should be dealt with by professionals like us.

Is it possible to completely get rid of rats?

Yes, it is possible, but it takes a lot of effort and skill. Traps are best for control because the carcass/rat can be removed. With baits, you run the risk of the rodent dying inside a wall or in a place where you can not remove it, and it may cause an odour. In some cases, you need to use both traps and baits. Rodent bait should be used only in tamper-resistant rodent stations. Baits should NEVER be placed unsecured where children or pets could access them. It may be better to hire a professional like us to tackle the problem.

I have a problem with birds resting on my window ledges. They really mess up my walls. How can I get rid of them?

There are a few methods available. Specially designed spikes that will keep the birds from roosting but will not harm them. Some form of netting can be used to prevent bird entry. Glue is also used but this can be messy in our heat. Finally, the ledges can be cemented in a manner that there is a sloping ledge which will prevent roosting.

I have a house with some lovely plants and trees. I am having a problem with mosquitoes. Will once a month treatment be adequate?

With Dengue and Malaria in the air, it is extremely important to understand the breeding cycle of the mosquito and then put into place, the correct treatment procedures. Mosquitoes breed between 4 to 8 days. Hence, the recommended treatment should be done at least every 7 days to ensure eradication of the newborn mosquitoes. The fact that you have lovely plants and trees further reinforces the requirement of weekly services as these are potential harbourage and breeding areas and your vulnerability will be increased. The diseases from Mosquitoes will kill. The constant rains intermittent with high heat makes it ideal for mosquito breeding. If we value our loved ones, do not take the risk of exposing them to danger by saving a few dollars. Ensure weekly services are done. NEA is on the look out for houses that contribute to mosquito breeding and the fines are very heavy.

Why am I still getting bitten by mosquitoes even after fogging was done at my premises just 2 days ago?

Fogging is mainly targeted at destroying adult flying mosquitoes. Hence, all flying mosquitoes that come in contact with the “smoke” will die. As there is no residual effect in the fog, fogging alone can’t stop other flying mosquitoes from entering your premises after our fogging. Mosquitoes have an effective flying range of 1 to 2 kilometers which can be further extended by wind. If there is no mosquito control done at your neighbouring areas, you can still be bitten by the mosquitoes that fly in from these areas after the fog clears at your place. Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn and then will take cover in a safe haven. If the PCO comes in the late morning or afternoon and carries out fogging, it will not be very effective as not many mosquitoes would have been killed as they are not around. These will then bite you at their next feeding time.

Is your Company licensed to carry out pest control services and are your men licensed as well?

Yes, our Company is licensed by NEA to provide Vector Control services. All our Technicians and Workers are also licensed and certified accordingly by NEA.

When a PCO declares that his company only uses NEA Registered chemicals, what does this mean?

NEA registered chemicals are environmentally safe and label instructions give the proper application instructions for the product. It states what the active ingredient is and also all the safety precautions to be taken.

In terms of skills, are your field staff NSRS trained?

Major’s Pest Management is a NSRS Accredited Company. This means that at least 75% of our field staff have successfully passed the core unit, EQUIPMENTS. This means that a minimum of 75% of our field staff are proficient in the use of the 5 main equipments used for pest control, ie fogging machine, motor blower, hand duster, hand sprayer and ULV machine.

Is your Company ISO Certified?

Yes. Major’s is an ISO Certified Company (9001:2008) since 2004. We provide professional Administrative and Managerial support to all our clients.

Are your insecticides and baits safe to use especially for homes with children and pets?

All insecticides/chemicals that we use are approved and registered by NEA. Despite this, we do take special care not to use them or place them in areas where children and pets may come in contact with. A further safety measure taken is the use of tamper proof boxes which will prevent children and pets from making direct contact with the baits.

I found some insects in my house. Can you come and fumigate my house?

The term “Fumigation” refers to a specialized treatment using extremely poisonous gases, ie Methyl Bromide, Hydrogen Cyanide and Hydrogen Phosphide and is normally done for quarantine purposes ie containers, timber, grains, ships, etc. Specially trained and licensed personnel called Fumigators deal with this form of pest treatment. The correct terminology is fogging if the fogging machine is used. For homes, we also carry out misting, spraying and the use of total release aerosol dispensers to deal with pests within a house. Hence, there is a distinct difference between Fumigation and Fogging. Speak to your professionals if you are not sure.

How would I choose a competent and reliable pest control company?

As you will be required to allow a total stranger into the privacy of your home, you really do need to be careful. Hence, it is prudent to check out some vital details with the Company you intend to use. As a guide, here are some pointers:

1. Check if the Company is Licensed with NEA and likewise, if the technicians and workers are licensed and certified accordingly. You are at liberty to ask for proof of the above.
2. How skilled are the field staff? Are they NSRS trained? Once again, you can ask for proof.
3. When did the Company start its operations? You can make your own judgement from the answer.
4. Is the Company a member of the Singapore Pest Management Association? This will indicate seriousness.
5. Check on the track record of the Company ie what type of work done, what type of pests have they dealt with, how large or complex were the jobs that were done.
6. Ask for the Organisation Chart of the Company.
7. Is the Company ISO Certified? This will indicate the level of proficiency and competence of the Admin and Managerial staff.
8. Test the Company as to whether they are prepared to quote to you over the phone. If they are prepared to quote, they are doing it without many vital information that are necessary to do a proper job at the proper pricing. You should rule this Company out for obvious reasons.
9. Check what type of chemicals the Company uses. If they answer that all their chemicals are approved and registered by NEA, they can be classified as safe. How they use it comes into play ie, do they follow the label instructions, do they have proper measuring utensils, do they use proper personal safety gear when handling chemicals etc.

I live close to a nature reserve in a bungalow house. I am worried of snakes. How can I prevent them from coming into my house? 
Snakes by nature, shy away from human beings. As you live close to their natural habitat, there are a few precautions that you can take:

• Have a good fencing with no holes or gaps. If wire fencings are used, build a one foot high brick wall all around the fencing perimeter. Cement on broken glass on top of the low brick wall. This will prevent the snakes from crawling over the wall.
• Ensure that there is no stagnant water in the compound as this will attract frogs and toads. These are one of the favourite meals for snakes like cobra and pythons.
• Ensure that the grass in the lawn is kept short and remove all bushy plants that can harbour snakes.
• Try not to keep poultry and small pets in exposed pens in the compound as they can become obvious targets for snakes.
• Engage a professional PCO like us to carry out regular services to check the grounds for burrows, nests etc.

How do you carry out inspection for termites and what is the recommended frequency for services?

Please refer to our section on Total Termite Management for details.

What kind of treatment will you use when treating termite infestation?

Please refer to our section on Total Termite Management for details. For any active infestation found, we will initially treat using a specially formulated termiticidal powder. This will be introduced into the mud trails using a specially designed puffer. The dust will get onto the soldier and worker ants. The Queen, in grooming them, will ingest the poison and die. This will result in that particular nest being destroyed. A follow up inspection will be carried out after 7 to 10 days to confirm if the treatment has been effective.

Last month, we just had our premises inspected and treated against termites. Now I found another trail at another location. How can that be? Is it because your treatment is not effective?

In most cases, a single treatment is sufficient to control the infestation, provided there is only one nest. However, sometimes there are several nests underground and therefore each nest will have to be eradicated separately. If the treated area that is inspected about one week later shows no further sign of active termites, we can state that that particular nest has been eliminated. So, a fresh activity at another spot will be classified as a new infected area and the same treatment procedure will be necessary.

I found termites on my door frame and I have sprayed with an aerosol. Can you inspect and confirm that no more termites are in the house?

Any active infestation found in mud trails must not be sprayed with any aerosols or cleaned away because it will only disturb the trail and the termites will move to other areas. This will make treatment difficult as we will need the termites to actually help in the elimination of the nest by transporting the termiticide to the Queen. In the process of grooming, the Queen will be killed. When the Queen is destroyed the nest will be gone. Hence, never disturb an active termite sighting. Call in the specialists.

Can you apply the termiticide powder all round and inside my house to prevent the termites from coming into my house?

Treatment can only be done if active infestation is detected as the help of the live termites is necessary to reach the Queen to destroy it. By applying termite powder indiscriminately within and around your premises, it will not prevent the termites from attacking as they come through the soil below the house. In fact, this should never be done as the exposed termiticide can cause harm to pets and people if they come directly in contact with it or inhale it because of wind or dusting or sweeping the house.

Can I buy Termiticide powder from you?

As the active ingredient in the termiticide powder is classified as a controlled chemical, a poison license issued by NEA is needed for purchasing this item and application can only be done by licensed pest control operators.

I suspect I have a termite problem. Can you give me a quotation over the phone? similarly, the same situation and answer for ants, cockroaches, rats, bedbugs and fleas.

No professional pest management Company should quote over the phone when they have not confirmed what the actual pest problem is. The client is already not sure. More importantly, the client may be reporting only what they visually see. They will not be aware of the full extent of the infestation as termites or the other pests can be all around concealed within the woodwork and house. Hence, never accept a quotation over the phone as the pricing will not be accurate. A physical inspection is vital to determine the exact type of pest. This will determine the type of treatment necessary. The visual inspection will reveal the extent of the damage and the possible source of infestation. With these information, the actual time for the job can be ascertained and therefore, the client will be given a pricing that will be accurate for an efficient job to be done without having to cut corners and end up shortchanging the client because of under quoting.

I saw a small swarm of insects flying into my house at night and attracted to the fluorescent lights. What should I do?

They are likely to be the termite “alates” or the reproductive forms of termites. They swarm to form new colonies. Subterranean termites usually swarm in the early evening – when it is cooler and often right after rain. They are easily attracted by lights and can be seen hovering around street lightings along roadside. They could also be attracted by light sources at home and enter premises quickly. If you encounter such situation at home, you could quickly destroy them with aerosol insecticide spray. However, if you are living on landed property and do not have any pest management contract, it is advisable to engage a reliable Pest Management Company to conduct a check in your premises to ensure that it is free from subterranean termite infestation
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What are the tell tales signs of subterranean termites?

The common signs of infestation are:

• Mud shelter tubes
• Damaged woodwork or timber-based products.
• Swarms of alates, especially at dusk just after a rain

Can Thermal Imaging Cameras see through walls?

No, they cannot. They simply display surface temperature of whatever object they are pointed at. Many variables can affect this surface temperature, including the time of day, and ambient room temperature, large items previously placed against a wall (such as furniture and mirrors) can affect the wall surface temperature for up to 12 hours, thereby distorting Thermal Image readings.

Is a Thermal Imaging Camera the only tool required to detect and confirm the presence of termites?

No. Thermal Imaging Cameras only detect and identify possible termite risk areas, but will not actually detect or confirm the presence of termites. The Termatrac Termite Detection Radar should be used to confirm the presence of Termites.

Why is it cheaper to purchase the same Thermal Imaging Cameras in some other countries?

Due to the exchange rate and local distribution agreements, it is possible to purchase Thermal Imaging Cameras from other countries cheaper than what they are available for locally. However, should there be any problems with the product within the warranty period, local distributors or even the local branch of the manufacturer will not provide support. Even outside of the warranty, parts or service may be refused by a distributor or manufacturer branch other than the one that sold you the camera, due to distributor and internal company agreements.