Identify • Understand • Resolve
What’s bugging you?
Australian pest identification, practical advice and straight answers to the pest questions people actually ask.
Popular pest questions
All PestMan Answers →What pest did you find?
PestMan Answers
From mysterious noises in the roof to ants appearing around the kitchen sink, PestMan Answers explains what’s happening, why it’s happening and what you can do next.
Every answer starts with a short, direct answer, then explains the cause, what you may be seeing, what you can do, what to avoid and when professional help may be worth it — with sources and dates so you can judge it for yourself.
How PestMan answers work
- Identify — what is it?
- Understand — why is it here?
- Resolve — what should I do?
- Get help — do I need pest control?
Know your pest
Cockroaches
Fast, flat-bodied insects that hide in warm, damp gaps and come out at night to feed. A few introduced species cause most household problems in Australia.
Ants
Social insects that live in colonies and follow scent trails to food and water. Most ant problems in homes are nuisance foraging trails from colonies outside the house.
Spiders
Eight-legged predators that feed on insects. Most household spiders are harmless and useful, but a few Australian species, such as redbacks and funnel-webs, need to be treated with care.
Rats
Introduced rodents that live alongside people, nest in roofs, walls and gardens and gnaw through building materials and wiring. Roof rats are the most common household rat in many Australian cities.
Mice
Small, curious rodents that squeeze through tiny gaps, nest in walls, cupboards and appliances and breed quickly. The introduced house mouse causes most household problems.
Mosquitoes
Small biting flies that breed in still water. Beyond itchy bites, some Australian mosquitoes spread viruses such as Ross River virus, so reducing bites and breeding sites matters.
What pests are active right now?
Warming weather restarts insect breeding. Ant colonies expand, wasps and bees build new nests and mosquito numbers rise with early storms.
General seasonal patterns for Australia — not live outbreak data.
See seasonal pest activityBrisbane pest information
Brisbane’s warm, humid subtropical climate, summer storms, river and creek corridors and mix of Queenslander homes and apartments create a long and varied pest season. This page explains what Brisbane residents are likely to encounter, when, and why.
- Brisbane Pest Calendar
- Summer Pests in Brisbane
- Winter Pests in Brisbane
- Pests After Rain in Brisbane
- Cockroaches in Brisbane
- Ants in Brisbane
- Spiders in Brisbane
- Mosquitoes in Brisbane
- Rats and Mice in Brisbane
- Pests in Brisbane Queenslanders
- Pests in Brisbane Apartments
- Pests Around Brisbane Pools
- Pests in Brisbane Gardens
- Pests Around Outdoor Entertaining Areas
Latest guides
The Australian Guide to Cockroaches
Everything an Australian household needs to know about cockroaches: which species you are seeing, why they are there, how they get in, the health implications, and how to prevent and manage them.
GuideHow to Pest-Proof Your Home
A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.
GuideCommon Brisbane Household Pests
A Brisbane-specific overview of the pests residents meet most often, when they are active, and what the subtropical climate, storms, creeks and Queenslander homes mean for pest pressure.
GuideFire Ants in South East Queensland
How to recognise red imported fire ants, what to do if you find them or are stung, how the National Fire Ant Eradication Program works, and what the biosecurity rules mean for households in South East Queensland.