Sydney’s pest season is already heating up, and Pest2Kill Founder Julian Bracewell joined Weekend Today to explain what homeowners can expect as we head into spring.
The segment followed the release of our Sydney Pest Trends Report, which analysed almost 100,000 pest control services across more than 22,000 Sydney properties over a decade to uncover when different pests are most active.
And Julian wasn’t alone in the studio. He brought along a few eight-legged guests to help demonstrate exactly what starts appearing around Sydney homes as temperatures rise.
Spider activity surges as Sydney warms up
One of the biggest findings from our research was just how dramatically spider activity changes throughout spring.
Our data found that spider enquiries increase 5.5 times between August and November, while overall household pest activity more than doubles as Sydney moves towards summer.
On Weekend Today, Julian explained why warmer weather brings this increase and shared some practical ways homeowners can make their properties less attractive to pests.
But there was another important message we wanted to get across.
Spiders are pest controllers too
While seeing a large spider at home can be unsettling, spiders play an important role in our environment.
They are actually highly effective natural pest controllers, feeding on flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches and other insects around our homes and gardens.
Where possible, Pest2Kill recommends taking a considered approach to spider management rather than treating every spider as a problem. Our technicians can assess the species, location and level of activity and recommend the most appropriate way to manage it.
How to pest-proof your home this spring
As pest activity starts increasing, a few simple preventative measures can make a significant difference:
- Seal gaps around doors, windows, pipes and other entry points.
- Keep gardens, vegetation and stored items away from external walls where possible.
- Reduce clutter in garages, sheds and storage areas.
- Repair leaking taps and remove other unnecessary moisture sources.
- Keep food stored securely and clean up crumbs and spills.
- Check flyscreens and door seals for gaps or damage.
For persistent activity, professional pest management can help identify why pests are being attracted to or entering a property, rather than simply treating the pests you can see.
A decade of Sydney pest data
Our Sydney Pest Trends Report was developed using Pest2Kill’s own service data, analysing 99,599 pest treatments across 22,751 Sydney properties.
The research found that Sydney’s pest season begins much earlier than many people realise, with activity accelerating throughout spring rather than waiting for the traditional summer pest season.
And while spiders showed one of the most dramatic seasonal increases, there was one notable exception to the spring surge: rodents remain active throughout all 52 weeks of the year.
Want to know what pests are doing in your part of Sydney? Explore our full Sydney Pest Trends Report, or contact the Pest2Kill team for advice on protecting your home this spring.
