Bird-lice treatment in Port Elizabeth
A bird-lice problem is often the part that brings the roof problem to our attention. Clients tell us about tiny insects moving through the house, sometimes with birds still making a racket overhead.
At True Clean in Port Elizabeth, we look at the problem in the house and the nest or roof access behind it. The name someone uses on the phone isn't a confirmed identification.
Written by Diederik Visser
Operations, marketing and pest control at True Clean. Seven years in pest control.
First-hand information recorded .
How do you work out what needs treating?
I ask where you've seen the activity and whether there are birds entering the roof. Then we look at the nest location, the access and what's happening inside.
We need to inspect rather than choose treatment from bites alone. People can notice or react to a problem differently, and tiny insects need identifying.
With starlings in the roof, bird lice are one of the problems we get called about. The client may describe very small insects moving around the rooms as well as the noise overhead. I want to hear about both, because dealing with what is inside and checking the roof source need to be considered together.
Not everyone in a household necessarily notices the same thing at the same time. Someone having fewer marks or not noticing insects doesn't settle what the pest is. We look at the actual activity and identification before choosing the treatment.
Does removing the nest always happen on the same visit?
Sometimes we can't get to the nest. In those cases, we may need to wait until the birds have moved out naturally and then close the access point.
We'll explain whether we can deal with the source now, what work is practical and what that means for the treatment plan. An inaccessible nest is a real limit, not something to promise away.
Where the nest can be reached, we assess the nest work and the opening the birds are using. Where it can't, that changes the plan. The access work may have to wait until the birds have moved out, even though the activity inside the house needs attention in the meantime.
What does the treatment inside involve?
We may use ULV treatment alongside other appropriate work because the activity can be spread through the house. That is professional treatment planned for the areas and surfaces involved.
Tell us about pets before booking. We'll explain the time away from treated areas, drying, ventilation and return conditions for the products used. There isn't one return time that covers every treatment.
These little insects can be spread across rooms and around furniture, rather than concentrated at one visible patch. That is why we assess the extent of the indoor activity. ULV can form part of the work, but the areas and surfaces involved still need to be considered individually.
We discuss the arrangements before the visit so you can plan the time away from the treated areas. Use the return instructions given for your treatment, including the arrangements for pets, rather than a time someone remembers from a different pest job.
Will there need to be a follow-up?
In my experience, we usually see a large improvement quickly and many jobs are sorted with one treatment. Some do need a follow-up.
That isn't a promise of immediate relief or a fixed finishing day. Tell us if you're still seeing activity so we can check what's happening and whether the roof source is still an issue.
I also want to know what is happening at the roof source. A large improvement inside is useful, but it doesn't tell us whether an inaccessible nest or an entry point has been dealt with. The indoor result and the roof work both matter when we decide whether another visit is needed.
Questions we get asked
Can you identify the problem from bites over the phone?
No. We need to look at what is present and where it's coming from. Tell us about birds or nests as well as the activity in the house.
Is the bird-proofing work a separate consideration?
Yes. We assess the access and nest as well as any treatment inside. The amount of proofing and access work can be very different between roofs.
What does the work cost?
VAT is included in the bird-lice prices below. Roof extras and larger proofing work are listed or quoted separately on the bird-control page.
| House | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 bedroom | R1 380 |
| 4 bedroom | R1 610 |
| 5 bedroom | R1 840 |
| 6 bedroom | R2 128 |
See the travel charges by area for work outside Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha.
Prices can change. We keep the site up to date as best we can, and the price we quote you before we start is the one you pay.
Tell us what you're seeing
Tell us where the problem is and what you've noticed. We'll take it from there.
Or phone 061 905 0514 if you'd rather talk to a person.