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Seasonal Guide

Sydney Pest Calendar: What to Watch Each Month

Pests in Sydney follow the weather. Cockroaches and ants peak in the hot, humid months, rats and mice move indoors as the nights cool, and termites become more active as the soil warms in spring. Use this month-by-month guide to know what to look for at home or at work, what you can do yourself, and when it is worth booking a service.

Pest activity by season at a glance

A general guide for Sydney. Activity depends on the property, moisture and the weather in a given year.

PestSummer (Dec–Feb)Autumn (Mar–May)Winter (Jun–Aug)Spring (Sep–Nov)
German cockroaches (indoors)HighMediumMediumMedium
Large cockroaches (drains, gardens)HighMediumLowMedium
AntsHighMediumLowHigh
SpidersHighMediumLowMedium
Rats and miceLowMediumHighMedium
TermitesHighMediumLowHigh
WaspsHighHighLowMedium
FleasHighMediumLowMedium

Summer (Dec–Feb)

January

Cockroaches, ants and fleas

What to watch for

  • Large cockroaches coming in from drains, gardens and subfloors on warm, humid nights.
  • Ant trails in kitchens and bathrooms before and after summer storms.
  • Fleas in homes with pets, especially in carpets and pet bedding.

What to do this month

  • Clean benches, floors and bins before bed, and cover floor drains that are not in use.
  • Wash pet bedding and keep pets on a vet-recommended flea treatment.
  • Check bags and luggage for bed bugs after holiday travel.

Related services

February

Moving season, wasps and spiders

What to watch for

  • Rental moves around the start of the uni year. Some leases and agents ask for pest control at handover.
  • Wasp nests growing under eaves, in shrubs and in wall gaps.
  • Sydney funnel-web spiders wander more at night after rain in the warmer months.

What to do this month

  • Tenants: check the lease and agent requirements early, then book end-of-lease pest control after cleaning.
  • Leave wasp nests alone and keep children and pets away from them.
  • Wear gloves in the garden and shake out shoes left outside.

Related services

December

Holidays, cockroaches and bed bugs

What to watch for

  • Cockroach activity is highest in hot, humid weather.
  • Bed bugs can come home in luggage after travel or with second-hand furniture.
  • Rental moves over the holiday period.

What to do this month

  • Check luggage and second-hand beds before bringing them inside.
  • Before going away, empty the fridge and bins and fix dripping taps.
  • Tenants moving out: book end-of-lease pest control after cleaning and before handover.

Related services

Autumn (Mar–May)

March

Wasps, spiders and late-summer cockroaches

What to watch for

  • European wasp nests are usually at their largest from late summer into autumn.
  • Webs around windows, eaves and outdoor furniture.
  • Cockroaches stay active while nights are still warm.

What to do this month

  • Clear clutter and leaf litter away from walls, and trim plants touching the house.
  • Check eaves, pergolas and sheds for wasp nests.
  • Fix leaking taps and pipes that give pests a water source.

Related services

April

Rodents start moving in

What to watch for

  • Scratching in the roof or walls at night as rats and mice look for warm shelter.
  • Droppings in pantries, under sinks and in garages.
  • Ants moving indoors with the first cool, wet weather.

What to do this month

  • Seal gaps around pipes, vents and doors before winter.
  • Keep food and pet food in sealed containers.
  • Trim tree branches that touch the roof.

Related services

May

Rodents in roofs, garages and kitchens

What to watch for

  • Chewed food packaging, gnawed cables and grease marks along walls.
  • Rodent activity around bins, compost and storage areas.
  • Food businesses: activity around storage rooms and deliveries.

What to do this month

  • Book rodent control as soon as you hear or see activity, before numbers build up.
  • Keep bins closed and compost covered.
  • Businesses: review storage, waste areas and door seals before winter.

Related services

Winter (Jun–Aug)

June

Rodents and indoor cockroaches

What to watch for

  • Rats and mice are most likely to be indoors in the colder months.
  • German cockroaches keep breeding all year in warm kitchens, behind fridges and inside appliances.
  • Subfloors and bathrooms that stay damp.

What to do this month

  • Check roof voids and garages for droppings and nesting material.
  • Clean behind and under appliances. Do not spray surface sprays over cockroach gel bait.
  • Improve ventilation in damp areas.

Related services

July

Plan your termite inspection

What to watch for

  • Moisture problems such as leaking showers, blocked gutters and poor subfloor ventilation, which raise termite risk.
  • Timber touching soil, and garden beds built up against walls.
  • Rodents still sheltering indoors.

What to do this month

  • Book a timber pest inspection before spring. Australian Standard AS 3660.2 recommends one at least once a year, and more often in high-risk areas.
  • Keep garden beds and mulch away from weep holes and walls.
  • Store timber off the ground and away from the house.

Related services

August

Get ready for spring

What to watch for

  • The first ant activity on warmer days.
  • Moisture around the house after winter rain.
  • Strata buildings: bin rooms and car parks where rodents sheltered through winter.

What to do this month

  • Book general pest control for late winter or early spring, before numbers rise.
  • Strata managers: schedule common-area checks of bin rooms, car parks and service risers.
  • Clear gutters and downpipes.

Related services

Spring (Sep–Nov)

September

Ants, spiders and termite activity

What to watch for

  • Ant colonies growing, with trails along skirting boards and benches.
  • Spiders becoming more active as the weather warms.
  • More termite activity as the soil warms: mud tubes and hollow-sounding or damaged timber.

What to do this month

  • Do not break mud tubes or spray termites you find. Leave them for the inspector.
  • Seal food and wipe up sugary spills straight away.
  • Book a termite inspection if you see any signs.

Related services

October

Termite swarms and rising cockroach numbers

What to watch for

  • Winged termites swarming around lights on warm, humid evenings, often after rain.
  • Cockroach numbers rising with the warmer weather.
  • Paper wasps starting small nests under eaves and railings.

What to do this month

  • If winged termites appear indoors, keep a few in a sealed bag and book an inspection.
  • Clean food and grease from kitchens, and check drains.
  • Keep away from wasp nests near doors or play areas and book wasp control.

Related services

November

Pre-summer pest control

What to watch for

  • Cockroaches, ants and spiders all increasing before summer.
  • Funnel-web spiders are more active in the warmer months. Check shoes, gardens and pool areas.
  • Restaurants and food premises: warm kitchens, drains and storage.

What to do this month

  • Book general pest control before the Christmas and holiday period.
  • Food businesses: book a pre-summer service and keep pest records up to date.
  • Check flyscreens and door seals.

Related services

Pests that do not follow the seasons

  • German cockroaches live indoors all year in kitchens and food areas, so they do not wait for summer.
  • Bed bugs follow travel and second-hand furniture rather than the weather.
  • End-of-lease pest control depends on the lease and the agent, not the month.

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Strata managers, property managers, real estate agents and community groups are welcome to link to this page from a newsletter, tenant guide or resident notice board.

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