Pest control
Ants
The City has Coopex insecticide powder for sale, available from our service and information centre, Town Hall Centre, 8 William Street, Fremantle
The Department of Agriculture and Food fact sheet on Argentine ants can provide more information.
Bed bugs
Bed bugs do not carry disease however the bite and saliva can cause an allergic reaction to the skin and welts to form. They are an increasing problem in the short term accommodation industry due to increased availability of travel options amongst the population and relative difficulty in eradication.
They can be found hiding in mattress piping, bed bases, and door or window architraves, woodwork, behind light and plug switches, in old books and papers, behind wallpaper, in clothing, dresser drawers, behind curtains and drapes, any crack and crevice in floors or walls, wallpaper joints, upholstered furniture, pictures, covers and bedspreads. Well used hiding places are covered in spots of dried blood excrement.
For more information you can download a Department of Health brochure.
What do I do if I experience bed bugs at a short term accommodation premises within the City?
Inform the premises immediately - this is extremely important as the room and your belongings will need to be separated, they will have a bed bug management procedure in place.
- Seek treatment for bites from a pharmacy.
- Contact our compliance services team to make a complaint.
- Check your belongings for bed bugs. Bed bugs can be transferred easily so is advised they be separated in sealed bags until they can be treated.
- Wash all your clothing and linen in hot water above 60°C and dry in dryer on hot setting.
- For more difficult objects you may want to consult the advice of a qualified pest controller.
What do I do if I experience bed bugs in my house?
- If you had a friend who has been travelling, check all their belongings and separate them in sealed bags.
- Wash all clothing and linen in hot water above 60°C and dry in dryer on hot setting.
- Contact a qualified pest controller to carry out treatment in the rooms as they can use both chemical and non-chemical methods to treat affected areas.
For more information on bed bugs go to www.bedbug.org.au
Bees and wasps
If you have a bee or wasp hive that needs removal on your property then you must seek the advice of a bee removalist. If the bee or wasp hive is on council property contact our parks and landscape team on 08 9432 9801.
For more information on bees and wasps:
- The Department of Agriculture and Food Honey bee swarms and nests fact sheet
- European wasps are not native to Australia and are a pest, the Department of Agriculture and Food's European wasp fact sheet has information to help you identify a European wasp's nest.
- If you suspect you have a European wasps nest, contact the Department of Agriculture and Food on 08 9368 3333.
Portuguese millipedes
The Department of Agriculture and Food brochure has more information on Portuguese Millipedes.
Rats and mice
The Department of Health Facts on Rats brochure has more information.
Termites
The Department of Health fact sheet protecting your house from termites. has more information.
White cedar moths
The Department of Agriculture and Food White Cedar Moth a serious pest of Cape lilac trees fact sheet has more information.