Summer of creepy crawlies: pest control busier than ever in excellent season

Brad McMillan from MidWest Pest Management says he's absolutely flat out responding to requests for controls for mice, spiders, cockroaches and other pests.

"A lot of it has got to do with the weather," he said this week.

"The amount of rain we have had has made it a good season for spiders and cockroaches, and the good season that we've had with the crops has made it conducive to rodents."

It all adds up to a very busy time for pest control across all fields.

"Summer is always pretty busy but with the weather we have had this year they (spiders) have gone mad," he said frankly.

"It's the busiest year I've had."

Lachlan Health, which includes Forbes and Parkes hospitals, has had eight recent presentations with spider bites.

While most of the spiders Brad's been dealing with are unlikely to trouble people, he has had calls to increasing populations of redback spiders and has heard of at least one bite.

"I have seen a lot of redbacks in houses, inside and outside as well," he said.

The others he's seen in his travels have mostly been daddy long legs, making a mess with webs everywhere, black house spiders and huntsman. Orb spiders are also putting on a spectacular display in gardens.

White tail spiders are about, but less likely to be seen due to their habits.

"They tend to hide a bit more and they don't web much," Brad explained.

The good news for those who don't like spiders is that they are more active during the warmer months, and we should start to see less of them as the weather cools down.

Winter will come with its own issues, however: Brad has been on the frontline of dealing with the explosion in the rodent population.

He estimates his business has seen an increase of 75 per cent in baiting mice.

And while the spiders will disappear in winter, he adds we are more likely to see mice come inside our homes in the cooler months.