Pest Control Services
AMPLA Uganda is equipped to help eliminate and prevent general pest issues such as mosquitoes, rodents, bedbugs, cockroaches, bats, snakes, wild cats, and bees among other pests for both residential and commercial customers throughout the country.
MOSQUITOES/ MALARIA CONTROL
Mosquitoes are a family of small, midge-like insects: the Culicidae. They consume blood from living vertebrates, including humans. The females of many species of mosquitoes are blood-sucking pests. In feeding on blood, some of them transmit extremely harmful human and livestock diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, and filariasis.
There are 3 major species in Uganda, i.e. Anopheles, Aedes and Culex. The female anopheles species known as gambiae and fenustis are the two common species that transmit malaria in Africa.
Mosquitoes as vectors and pests can be effectively controlled by as a strategy of IPM (Integrated Pest Management). This can be either targeting the young stages or the adults. It can also be chemical such as Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) or non-chemical control techniques.
AMPLA Uganda technicians understand the habits of each species and also using a range of pest control techniques can deal with mosquitoes and provide the reassurance that the problem has been fully dealt with.
There are 3 major species in Uganda, i.e. Anopheles, Aedes and Culex. The female anopheles species known as gambiae and fenustis are the two common species that transmit malaria in Africa.
Mosquitoes as vectors and pests can be effectively controlled by as a strategy of IPM (Integrated Pest Management). This can be either targeting the young stages or the adults. It can also be chemical such as Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) or non-chemical control techniques.
AMPLA Uganda technicians understand the habits of each species and also using a range of pest control techniques can deal with mosquitoes and provide the reassurance that the problem has been fully dealt with.
RODENT CONTROL
Rats are some of the most troublesome and damaging rodents in the World. They eat and contaminate food, damage structures and property, and transmit parasites and diseases to other animals and humans. Rats live and thrive in a wide variety of climates and conditions and are often found in and around homes and other buildings, on farms, and in gardens and open fields.
Our cleaning technicians are able to provide upholstery cleaning services for a range of different furniture including lounge suites, outdoor furniture, mattresses, lounge chairs, futons and any other piece of furniture that has upholstery. Avoid the risk of damage that’s costly, or worse, irreparable, by making use of our upholstery cleaners who’ll provide you with expert service that’s tailored to your individual needs.
House mouse, Mus musculus. House mice are small rodents with relatively large ears and small, black eyes. They weigh about 1/2 ounce and usually are light brownish to gray. An adult is about 5 to 7 inches long, including the 3- to 4-inch tail
Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, sometimes called brown or sewer rats, are stocky burrowing rodents that are larger than roof rats.
Roof rats, Rattus. rattus, sometimes called black rats, are slightly smaller than Norway rats. Unlike Norway rats, their tails are longer than their heads and bodies combined.
Effective Rodent control requires an integrated approach which can only be achieved through a professional pest controller.
Our cleaning technicians are able to provide upholstery cleaning services for a range of different furniture including lounge suites, outdoor furniture, mattresses, lounge chairs, futons and any other piece of furniture that has upholstery. Avoid the risk of damage that’s costly, or worse, irreparable, by making use of our upholstery cleaners who’ll provide you with expert service that’s tailored to your individual needs.
House mouse, Mus musculus. House mice are small rodents with relatively large ears and small, black eyes. They weigh about 1/2 ounce and usually are light brownish to gray. An adult is about 5 to 7 inches long, including the 3- to 4-inch tail
Norway rats, Rattus norvegicus, sometimes called brown or sewer rats, are stocky burrowing rodents that are larger than roof rats.
Roof rats, Rattus. rattus, sometimes called black rats, are slightly smaller than Norway rats. Unlike Norway rats, their tails are longer than their heads and bodies combined.
Effective Rodent control requires an integrated approach which can only be achieved through a professional pest controller.
ANTS CONTROL
Although ants are an irritant when they come into the home the most common species are not thought to carry disease. However, as it is impossible to know where the ants were last foraging for food, it is sensible to take steps to prevent them entering your home and food cupboards.
While DIY ant control solutions are everywhere, this doesn’t mean they’re effective. Each ant colony can hold up to half a million ants, and without the help of a professional, they can be tough to tackle. The best thing you can do on your own is to keep things clean. Garbage and food remains are very attractive to ants.
AMPLA Uganda technicians understand the habits of each species and also using a range of pest control techniques can deal with ants and provide the reassurance that the problem has been fully dealt with.
While DIY ant control solutions are everywhere, this doesn’t mean they’re effective. Each ant colony can hold up to half a million ants, and without the help of a professional, they can be tough to tackle. The best thing you can do on your own is to keep things clean. Garbage and food remains are very attractive to ants.
AMPLA Uganda technicians understand the habits of each species and also using a range of pest control techniques can deal with ants and provide the reassurance that the problem has been fully dealt with.
BED BUG CONTROL
Bed bugs are usually around 5mm in size and are reddish-brown in color with flat, oval bodies. Although they are usually found on mattresses and within bed frames, they can also be found behind loose wall paper, headboards and within other furnishings such as bedside tables, wardrobes, picture frames and electrical sockets!
They feed on our blood at night, attracted to the heat, vibration and carbon dioxide that we breathe as we are asleep.
Homes can become infested with bed bugs in a number of ways, but more often than not it is by luggage or clothing from recent travels. They can also be brought into a home through second hand furniture and in extreme infestation cases they can come from adjoining properties.
Bed bugs themselves do not carry diseases but they can cause a great deal of discomfort and bacterial irritations to the skin following a bite. Bed bugs typically feed every 5 to 10 days, spending up to ten minutes to take their blood meal. So if you are experiencing bites every night, there is a very good chance that you are living with quite a few of them!
If conditions are favorable (suitable hosts and warm ambient temperature), females can lay up to 12 eggs a day and up to 500 in a lifetime, which can be up to 18 months. Each egg will hatch within 14 days producing tiny bed bugs called nymphs. These nymphs go through five moulting phases over a 2 to 3 month period, rapidly increasing in size during each phase, to reach adult bed bugs. Adult bed bugs can go up to 1.5 years without feeding!
They feed on our blood at night, attracted to the heat, vibration and carbon dioxide that we breathe as we are asleep.
Homes can become infested with bed bugs in a number of ways, but more often than not it is by luggage or clothing from recent travels. They can also be brought into a home through second hand furniture and in extreme infestation cases they can come from adjoining properties.
Bed bugs themselves do not carry diseases but they can cause a great deal of discomfort and bacterial irritations to the skin following a bite. Bed bugs typically feed every 5 to 10 days, spending up to ten minutes to take their blood meal. So if you are experiencing bites every night, there is a very good chance that you are living with quite a few of them!
If conditions are favorable (suitable hosts and warm ambient temperature), females can lay up to 12 eggs a day and up to 500 in a lifetime, which can be up to 18 months. Each egg will hatch within 14 days producing tiny bed bugs called nymphs. These nymphs go through five moulting phases over a 2 to 3 month period, rapidly increasing in size during each phase, to reach adult bed bugs. Adult bed bugs can go up to 1.5 years without feeding!
SNAKE CONTROL
AMPLA Uganda is specialized in the business of Commercial and Residential pest management. Our technicians are trained and licensed to handle all your snake challenges. We care for the Environment. Call us to capture and relocate any snake or reptile that may be within your premises.
With our Integrated Pest Management approach, we are able to come up with customer tailored approaches that are safe and suite your pest control challenge.
With our Integrated Pest Management approach, we are able to come up with customer tailored approaches that are safe and suite your pest control challenge.
COCKROACH CONTROL
Cockroaches are not only undesirable pests but a threat to human health by consuming our food and contaminating the indoor environment. Cockroaches are known to transfer disease pathogens, such as the various bacteria that produce “food poisoning” in humans, by contaminating food, food preparation surfaces, dishes and eating utensils.
How many human gastrointestinal disorders are attributed to the mechanical transmission of pathogens by cockroaches has not been fully assessed, but remains a valid health concern. However, the roach’s greatest impact on human health may be its ability to trigger asthma. Cockroach nymphs grow by periodically shedding their “skin” (the exoskeleton). Fragments of their exoskeletons, along with bits of cockroach feces, serve as antigens (foreign protein) that, when inhaled, cause allergic and asthmatic reactions.
Several species of cockroaches live inside structures. Most domestic cockroaches are of tropical origin and the German cockroach, for one, cannot survive temperate winters outdoors. All are primarily nocturnal. All prefer warm, moist places where they can feed on human and pet foods, decaying and fermenting matter, and a variety of other items.
Food, water and shelter are basic roach requirements. With all three present in sufficient quantity, cockroaches grow and reproduce with mated females producing oothecae – pillow-shaped egg capsules each containing up to 48 eggs. Tiny, wingless nymphs hatch from their eggs and gradually grow into adult roaches.
MANAGING COCKROACHES:
Inspection
Cockroach infestations are rarely eliminated by using only one method of control, for example, by pesticide application alone. Similarly, infestations are rarely eliminated by the use of only one pesticide product without follow-up inspections and treatment.
Where long-term management or elimination is the goal, the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) should be applied. Beginning with inspection, all effective means of non-chemical control should be utilized, including exclusion and sanitation.
A thorough inspection requires use of a good flashlight and often other tools, such as a mechanic’s mirror for inspecting voids difficult to access, probing tools, and a flushing agent (typically an aerosol containing pyrethrins). Inspect for signs of roach activity, such as dark speckling found where German cockroaches gather. Others signs include cockroach consumption of foods and the presence of cockroach egg cases and shed “skins.” These signs of infestation can help pinpoint where the roaches are living. The use of pest monitors (“sticky traps”) also can reveal valuable information by helping to locate areas of roach activity. The use of monitors should continue even after cockroaches are believed to be eliminated. Leaving traps in place and checking them regularly can help confirm elimination, and give early warning of the presence of new roaches in time to control them before the population builds.
Cockroach hiding places often lie within a few feet of their food source. Look in areas that offer warmth, food, moisture and shelter. Remember roaches prefer natural surfaces such as wood and cardboard.
Younger nymphs typically do not venture more than 2 feet from their hiding places. Adults usually roam less than 10 feet from harborage in search of food, though a female carrying an ootheca may not move or feed until the egg case is detached. Obviously, knowing how the various stages of roaches in a population move is of great significance to any management plan, as are thorough inspections, good sanitation and exclusion, as well as the appropriate selection and use of pesticides.
Exclusion
Exclusion means reducing cockroach movement and hiding places. It may not be possible to seal all avenues of cockroach movement or deny them the use of all potential hiding places. But this does not lessen the value of exclusion. Every effort should be made to do as much exclusion as is practical.
In dwellings with shared walls, such as apartment buildings, preventing cockroach movement between rooms and units is important. German cockroaches typically move through shared walls, for example, through gaps around pipes under sinks. These gaps should be filled with materials such as silicone sealant or urethane foam. In some instances, American or Oriental cockroaches may be living around the outside of the structure or in adjacent structures. In such cases, the building’s exterior should be inspected to find and seal points where roaches can gain access to the building’s interior.
Similarly, roaches can be excluded from hiding places by sealing the cracks, crevices and holes through which roaches access the secluded spots where they spend most of their time.
Sanitation
The ultimate goal of sanitation is to remove all sources of food and water from the cockroach’s environment. As with exclusion, this goal is usually not fully achieved, yet every effort should be made to remove as much food and water sources as is practical. While good sanitation and exclusion alone rarely ensure cockroach elimination, these two methods enhance the effectiveness of pesticide application. If dirt, grease and moisture are not removed, they can interfere with the effectiveness of pesticides. Also, insecticides such as baits perform better when alternative sources of food are unavailable. Roaches not only feed on the baits, but also forage farther, potentially exposing themselves to pesticide-treated surfaces. On the contrary, in situations where sanitation is poor, there is typically a greater reliance on pesticide, i.e., more pesticide use and thus a greater potential for misuse and human exposure.
Steaming and vacuuming can be a valuable means of sanitation, in addition to killing and physically removing cockroaches from a structure. Steam units and vacuums designed for insect control are available and effective, especially in heavily infested areas.
Pesticide Application
Applying an insecticide according to label directions, sufficiently close to where cockroaches are hiding, is as important as selecting the best pesticide for the job. Even the best insecticides will not be effective if roaches are not exposed to them or do not discover bait placements. Thorough inspections are necessary to find where roaches are hiding so that bait can be placed close enough for the roaches to find and consume it.
Since the 1980s, new cockroach bait products have changed cockroach management. Available in a variety of brands and formulations from gels applied by syringe-type applicators to granular products, baits have replaced the routine baseboard spraying and fogging of the pre-bait era. With the availability of effective baits, relying on baseboard spraying to control cockroaches disregards the most effective means of cockroach control.
While baits are effective against cockroaches, as with other types of pesticides, one product should not be used over long periods of time. Cockroaches have shown some avoidance of bait products, and even resistance (having the ability to survive after feeding on bait). Cockroach resistance problems can be delayed or avoided by using one pesticide product for a few months before switching to a dissimilar product.
Note that dusts, such as those containing boric acid, are often sold in squeeze bottles that can easily dispense too much product if used incorrectly, leaving unsightly and ineffective piles of powder. Dust should be applied to cracks and voids as a thin, barely visible layer. With gel and container baits for cockroaches, the opposite is true. Many placements should be made at the corners and edges of shelves, and under sinks, wherever roaches are hiding. With bait stations, a dozen or more should be used in infested kitchens. Likewise, many placements of gel or other roach baits should be used. Apply gel baits in small drops – not as thick, continuous lines like caulking. Do not contaminate baits by storing them near other pesticides or by spraying on or near stations and bait placements. Once bait is applied, be patient. It can take several days for roaches to die, particularly from exposure and for roach populations to be noticeably reduced.
Combining pesticide use with nonchemical methods, the effectiveness of each is method is enhanced, and cockroach management maximized.
How many human gastrointestinal disorders are attributed to the mechanical transmission of pathogens by cockroaches has not been fully assessed, but remains a valid health concern. However, the roach’s greatest impact on human health may be its ability to trigger asthma. Cockroach nymphs grow by periodically shedding their “skin” (the exoskeleton). Fragments of their exoskeletons, along with bits of cockroach feces, serve as antigens (foreign protein) that, when inhaled, cause allergic and asthmatic reactions.
Several species of cockroaches live inside structures. Most domestic cockroaches are of tropical origin and the German cockroach, for one, cannot survive temperate winters outdoors. All are primarily nocturnal. All prefer warm, moist places where they can feed on human and pet foods, decaying and fermenting matter, and a variety of other items.
Food, water and shelter are basic roach requirements. With all three present in sufficient quantity, cockroaches grow and reproduce with mated females producing oothecae – pillow-shaped egg capsules each containing up to 48 eggs. Tiny, wingless nymphs hatch from their eggs and gradually grow into adult roaches.
MANAGING COCKROACHES:
Inspection
Cockroach infestations are rarely eliminated by using only one method of control, for example, by pesticide application alone. Similarly, infestations are rarely eliminated by the use of only one pesticide product without follow-up inspections and treatment.
Where long-term management or elimination is the goal, the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) should be applied. Beginning with inspection, all effective means of non-chemical control should be utilized, including exclusion and sanitation.
A thorough inspection requires use of a good flashlight and often other tools, such as a mechanic’s mirror for inspecting voids difficult to access, probing tools, and a flushing agent (typically an aerosol containing pyrethrins). Inspect for signs of roach activity, such as dark speckling found where German cockroaches gather. Others signs include cockroach consumption of foods and the presence of cockroach egg cases and shed “skins.” These signs of infestation can help pinpoint where the roaches are living. The use of pest monitors (“sticky traps”) also can reveal valuable information by helping to locate areas of roach activity. The use of monitors should continue even after cockroaches are believed to be eliminated. Leaving traps in place and checking them regularly can help confirm elimination, and give early warning of the presence of new roaches in time to control them before the population builds.
Cockroach hiding places often lie within a few feet of their food source. Look in areas that offer warmth, food, moisture and shelter. Remember roaches prefer natural surfaces such as wood and cardboard.
Younger nymphs typically do not venture more than 2 feet from their hiding places. Adults usually roam less than 10 feet from harborage in search of food, though a female carrying an ootheca may not move or feed until the egg case is detached. Obviously, knowing how the various stages of roaches in a population move is of great significance to any management plan, as are thorough inspections, good sanitation and exclusion, as well as the appropriate selection and use of pesticides.
Exclusion
Exclusion means reducing cockroach movement and hiding places. It may not be possible to seal all avenues of cockroach movement or deny them the use of all potential hiding places. But this does not lessen the value of exclusion. Every effort should be made to do as much exclusion as is practical.
In dwellings with shared walls, such as apartment buildings, preventing cockroach movement between rooms and units is important. German cockroaches typically move through shared walls, for example, through gaps around pipes under sinks. These gaps should be filled with materials such as silicone sealant or urethane foam. In some instances, American or Oriental cockroaches may be living around the outside of the structure or in adjacent structures. In such cases, the building’s exterior should be inspected to find and seal points where roaches can gain access to the building’s interior.
Similarly, roaches can be excluded from hiding places by sealing the cracks, crevices and holes through which roaches access the secluded spots where they spend most of their time.
Sanitation
The ultimate goal of sanitation is to remove all sources of food and water from the cockroach’s environment. As with exclusion, this goal is usually not fully achieved, yet every effort should be made to remove as much food and water sources as is practical. While good sanitation and exclusion alone rarely ensure cockroach elimination, these two methods enhance the effectiveness of pesticide application. If dirt, grease and moisture are not removed, they can interfere with the effectiveness of pesticides. Also, insecticides such as baits perform better when alternative sources of food are unavailable. Roaches not only feed on the baits, but also forage farther, potentially exposing themselves to pesticide-treated surfaces. On the contrary, in situations where sanitation is poor, there is typically a greater reliance on pesticide, i.e., more pesticide use and thus a greater potential for misuse and human exposure.
Steaming and vacuuming can be a valuable means of sanitation, in addition to killing and physically removing cockroaches from a structure. Steam units and vacuums designed for insect control are available and effective, especially in heavily infested areas.
Pesticide Application
Applying an insecticide according to label directions, sufficiently close to where cockroaches are hiding, is as important as selecting the best pesticide for the job. Even the best insecticides will not be effective if roaches are not exposed to them or do not discover bait placements. Thorough inspections are necessary to find where roaches are hiding so that bait can be placed close enough for the roaches to find and consume it.
Since the 1980s, new cockroach bait products have changed cockroach management. Available in a variety of brands and formulations from gels applied by syringe-type applicators to granular products, baits have replaced the routine baseboard spraying and fogging of the pre-bait era. With the availability of effective baits, relying on baseboard spraying to control cockroaches disregards the most effective means of cockroach control.
While baits are effective against cockroaches, as with other types of pesticides, one product should not be used over long periods of time. Cockroaches have shown some avoidance of bait products, and even resistance (having the ability to survive after feeding on bait). Cockroach resistance problems can be delayed or avoided by using one pesticide product for a few months before switching to a dissimilar product.
Note that dusts, such as those containing boric acid, are often sold in squeeze bottles that can easily dispense too much product if used incorrectly, leaving unsightly and ineffective piles of powder. Dust should be applied to cracks and voids as a thin, barely visible layer. With gel and container baits for cockroaches, the opposite is true. Many placements should be made at the corners and edges of shelves, and under sinks, wherever roaches are hiding. With bait stations, a dozen or more should be used in infested kitchens. Likewise, many placements of gel or other roach baits should be used. Apply gel baits in small drops – not as thick, continuous lines like caulking. Do not contaminate baits by storing them near other pesticides or by spraying on or near stations and bait placements. Once bait is applied, be patient. It can take several days for roaches to die, particularly from exposure and for roach populations to be noticeably reduced.
Combining pesticide use with nonchemical methods, the effectiveness of each is method is enhanced, and cockroach management maximized.
TERMITE CONTROL
Termites "nest" in the soil and from there they can attack structures by building shelter tubes from the soil to the wood in structures. To control termites, it is almost always necessary to use pesticides. Pesticides used to control termites are called termiticides. Termiticides may be applied as liquids or baits.
When applied as a liquid, the termiticide is injected into the soil or to wood members of a structure. When a bait system is used, the bait is placed in specially designed bait stations in the soil around the exterior perimeter of a structure.
TREATMENT OF STRUCTURES
A termite treatment may involve any of the following basic steps:
- Mechanical alteration/sanitation
- Soil treatment
- Wood treatment
- Foundation treatment
Mechanical alteration /sanitation
Wood, paper, cardboard and other cellulose debris under or against a structure increases the risk of termite infestation. Similarly, wood supports, fence posts etc. in contact with the soil and the structure present an easy access for termite entry. Regardless of what treatment options are used, these items should be corrected. Debris must be removed and wood /soil contacts should be broken. Termites thrive in moist environments and can survive above ground in excessively wet wood. Correcting plumbing and roof leaks and other defects contributing to such conditions is imperative. Increasing ventilation in the crawlspace, adding rain gutters, grading to direct surface water away from the house may be beneficial in resolving moisture conditions. Mechanical alteration/sanitation techniques alone are rarely sufficient to prevent or control a termite infestation.
Soil treatment
Treatment of the soil establishes a termiticide barrier in the soil under and adjacent to a building. A continuous barrier must be established along the inside and outside of the foundation wall, under slabs and around utility entrances.
Wood treatment
This type of treatment involves applications of termiticides directly to wood to eliminate existing termite infestations or to make the wood resistant to termites. There are several supplemental ways in which wood treatments are used in the pest control industry.
Pressure-treated wood is frequently used in the construction of buildings and provides effective termite control if it is used for all wood construction, at least to the ceiling level of the first floor.
Spraying termiticides on the wood already in place provides only surface protection and doesn't penetrate to the center of the wood, where it is most needed.
In damaged wood, termiticide can be injected into the cavities made by termites. This will provide better control than will a brush or spray application.
Foundation treatment
Foundation treatments involve the application of termiticides to foundation elements. The objective of this treatment is to create a barrier by placing termiticides inside of concrete block/multiple brick walls where voids exist. This is accomplished by drilling foundation elements and injecting termiticides. Drilling and treating foundation elements allows termiticides to be placed on top of concrete footings where cracks may exist. In addition, where evidence of either past or present termite infestation exists, voids in multiple masonry foundation elements must be drilled and treated at a minimum distance of four feet in all directions from such evidence.
When applied as a liquid, the termiticide is injected into the soil or to wood members of a structure. When a bait system is used, the bait is placed in specially designed bait stations in the soil around the exterior perimeter of a structure.
TREATMENT OF STRUCTURES
A termite treatment may involve any of the following basic steps:
- Mechanical alteration/sanitation
- Soil treatment
- Wood treatment
- Foundation treatment
Mechanical alteration /sanitation
Wood, paper, cardboard and other cellulose debris under or against a structure increases the risk of termite infestation. Similarly, wood supports, fence posts etc. in contact with the soil and the structure present an easy access for termite entry. Regardless of what treatment options are used, these items should be corrected. Debris must be removed and wood /soil contacts should be broken. Termites thrive in moist environments and can survive above ground in excessively wet wood. Correcting plumbing and roof leaks and other defects contributing to such conditions is imperative. Increasing ventilation in the crawlspace, adding rain gutters, grading to direct surface water away from the house may be beneficial in resolving moisture conditions. Mechanical alteration/sanitation techniques alone are rarely sufficient to prevent or control a termite infestation.
Soil treatment
Treatment of the soil establishes a termiticide barrier in the soil under and adjacent to a building. A continuous barrier must be established along the inside and outside of the foundation wall, under slabs and around utility entrances.
Wood treatment
This type of treatment involves applications of termiticides directly to wood to eliminate existing termite infestations or to make the wood resistant to termites. There are several supplemental ways in which wood treatments are used in the pest control industry.
Pressure-treated wood is frequently used in the construction of buildings and provides effective termite control if it is used for all wood construction, at least to the ceiling level of the first floor.
Spraying termiticides on the wood already in place provides only surface protection and doesn't penetrate to the center of the wood, where it is most needed.
In damaged wood, termiticide can be injected into the cavities made by termites. This will provide better control than will a brush or spray application.
Foundation treatment
Foundation treatments involve the application of termiticides to foundation elements. The objective of this treatment is to create a barrier by placing termiticides inside of concrete block/multiple brick walls where voids exist. This is accomplished by drilling foundation elements and injecting termiticides. Drilling and treating foundation elements allows termiticides to be placed on top of concrete footings where cracks may exist. In addition, where evidence of either past or present termite infestation exists, voids in multiple masonry foundation elements must be drilled and treated at a minimum distance of four feet in all directions from such evidence.