Pest Control in Malaysia: Common Pests & Solutions
Malaysian homes get a fair lot of pests due to the tropical weather and busy owner lifestyles. Pest issues may be a sign that the house needs more cleaning and maintenance.
You have to act on it quickly to prevent the roaches, mosquitoes, or other pests from multiplying, wreaking havoc, and/or spreading diseases to the occupants.
Worse still, the seemingly benign pest occurrence can develop into a full-fledged infestation, such as a swarm of termites eating decayed wooden walls and ants marching along the kitchen cupboards.
Thus, here we’ll identify the common pests in Malaysia and give DIY solutions for you to get rid of them. But, in case that fails to work, calling a pest control specialist will be the wise thing to do.
The Common Pests in Malaysia and How to Get Rid of Them
Although you can instantly kill a pest using an insecticide, it could only give you a temporary solution or could make the problem even worse than before.
Now, each pest has unique characteristics and habits and needs to be treated in a particular way to repel them in your house for good. Let’s discuss the common Malaysian pests and how to get rid of them.
1) Cockroaches
Cockroaches are probably the number-one feared pest in Malaysia for their creepy appearance of oval, brown bodies, long antennae, and thorny legs.
Judgments aside, they also do their part for the environment by consuming decayed food, wood, and leaves, which contain nitrogen, and through it on their faeces help fertilise plants and trees.
What they can do
They contaminate food and spread disease to young and old people alike. They also destroy fabrics and book bindings they come across.
Besides that, they drop nasty faeces, egg cases, and peeled skin and leave a notorious stench. These outward signs indicate that a cockroach may be nearby.
Where they come from
Cockroaches hide in dark and damp spots in homes or workplaces like kitchens, bathrooms, basements, trash bins, under sinks, and behind kitchen appliances.
They are nocturnal critters and are sensitive to light. And so, they usually come out at night when no one is in the area or everyone is asleep.
How to get rid of them
You can use oregano oil to repel cockroaches. This has been studied to be effective for up to a week after application.
Whereas, to eliminate them, you can also spray the pest directly with a combination formula of 3 parts fabric softener and 2 parts water.
In addition to that, simply declutter your things at home and place food inside air-tight containers so roaches won’t be able to touch it.
2) Mosquitoes
Found everywhere in Malaysia, mosquitoes are small yet deadly insects. As they have caused many casualties, they are widely considered to be the most dangerous pests in the country.
They are not afraid to approach humans and emit a high-pitch buzzing sound that can be heard when they’re very close to them.
What they can do
Female species feed on the person’s or animal’s blood. Having a blood meal allows them to lay eggs for new offspring.
Upon biting an infected person, they can transmit viruses and diseases such as malaria and dengue, which can cause fever symptoms, weakness, and death.
While male mosquitoes don’t bite and feed on nectar, they can also come to people and cause terrific annoyance, as females do, according to a Journal of Medical Entomology research.
Where they come from
Mosquitoes breed or lay eggs in stagnant water. Stagnant water is a pool or puddle, regardless of size, that is left out in the open for long periods.
Among where you can find them are old and unused tires, flower pots, unmaintained gutters, dirty swimming pools, garden ponds without fish, and kids’ toys.
How to get rid of them
There are many products you can get to repel or neutralise mosquitoes. For example, mosquito lotions and scented sprays can repel and discourage them from biting your skin.
You can also get a luminous, high-voltage appliance where mosquitoes can be zapped upon contact with it. As to how it works, they are naturally attracted to its light which lures them in for the kill.
3) House Flies
Another common pest in the country are house flies. Don’t let them near your food and body since they carry a mass of harmful bacteria as they fly about everywhere.
Other than that, they are a nuisance to have at the home and farm. They can come through your open window or door and can be one or many depending on the food or fruit you have and how disorganised your place is.
What they can do
As we said, they carry diseases that the person can unknowingly pick up by eating the contaminated food and water and not washing their hands.
These include typhoid fever, food poisoning, pneumonia, and other ailments. Even though they don’t seem to be as bothersome as other pests, they are also dangerous.
Where they come from
House flies feed on all things filth like droppings, garbage, and rotten materials. A dirty home with unsealed doors and windows are a welcoming invite to them.
Females also lay clusters of eggs in unsanitary and decaying organic materials. It won’t take long for the larvae to hatch and eventually grow into an adult.
How to get rid of them
The electric appliance we recommended for mosquitoes also works for flies. But you can take a different approach too, such as to set your own DIY fly trap.
First, you will need apple cider vinegar, dish-washing detergent, a food plastic wrapper, and a tall glass or plastic bottle.
Mix about 15ml apple cider vinegar and scoop some detergent into the open container. Cover the top with the wrapper and make holes on it, big enough for the flies to enter them.
What happens is the apple cider vinegar will attract them whilst the detergent will prevent them from escaping. After a while, the annoying house flies will die in the hand-made trap.
4) Lizards
Lizards are cute and harmless creatures. From ancient to present times, people have always believed that seeing one is a sign of good luck and prosperity.
And yet, they are regarded as pests because they can leave marks and stains in their tracks, and can transmit salmonella, which is a kind of bacteria that make people very sick.
What they can do
Of lizards that carry salmonella, they can cause serious discomforting symptoms to the person like fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhoea.
This happens if you consume food or liquid contaminated by the pest’s urine or faeces. And this can also be life-threatening for people with weak immune systems.
Where they come from
They are attracted to insect food like ants, beetles, and cockroaches. So, they’re likely to be where there are plenty of them to survive.
If your house doesn’t have as many of the insects we just mentioned, chances are you will find fewer lizards too.
Also, they produce eggs in dark and moist conditions, such as by bathroom walls or behind bookshelves.
How to get rid of them
Getting rid of lizards is easy. For this, you’d have to put empty eggshells, garlic, onion, or pepper in areas where you see them coming out, since these items aren’t pleasant to them.
And in most cases, you can just clean your area periodically, leave them alone when you see them, and they’ll not bother you at all. Don’t worry, house lizards are mostly harmless and venomless.
What’s more, if you have a pet dog or cat, this will reduce the likelihood of having lizards or having lizard infestations at your house.
5) Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are blood-sucking insects that feed on both humans and pets at night. They are red-brown, oval-shaped, and have pointed mouths for biting.
These parasites are very tiny compared to a thumb, measuring 5 to 6 millimetres. After feeding, they will quickly moult and expand into a bigger size.
What they can do
Bed bugs can cause itchiness and inflammation on the bitten body area. They mostly bite the exposed skin as you sleep such as the face, neck, arms, and hands.
It’s also possible that you will feel a burning, painful sensation in your body. You will know that bed bugs have bitten you if you have red and swollen spots in a scattered or straight trail.
Where they come from
These pests are most commonly found in unclean beds and upholsteries. As they don’t have wings nor jump to long distances, they crawl and hang on to their host subject to relocate.
They are crafty in that they can travel from one place to another by hitching a ride on luggage, backpacks, or purses.
You can also get bed bug bites whilst staying in infested buildings like hospitals, apartment complexes, or a friend’s house.
How to get rid of them
To deal with a bed bug issue, try sprinkling baking soda in suspected areas on your bed or couch. Let it remain there for about 3 to 4 days to dehydrate the hiding parasites before vacuuming it clean.
You might also want to encase your mattress and trap the bed bugs inside. Then, place it in a clear bag outside on a hot day (35℃) to kill all life stages of bed bugs.
No, there’s no need to get a new mattress or box springs, because the culprit bed bugs will just transfer anew there.
However, if the problem has become dire, the DIY solution won’t probably be enough. So, we advise calling in a professional bed bug exterminator to let you sleep soundly once again.
6) Spiders
Differing in size and colour, spiders are one of the most fascinating insects out there. But many people are scared of them—of their looks alone, and since they can bite or inject venom.
But, spiders that come out to play at home pose little to no threat at all. Like most insects, they only bite if they are threatened, and this bite will cause only minor pain and irritation.
They are great friends too because they trap and catch flies and mosquitoes, both of which as we’ve been discussing, cause disturbance and disease in homes.
What they can do
Essentially, like lizards, they usually come out to satisfy their hunger. They are said to provide effective pest control by eating earwigs, roaches, flies, mosquitoes, and moths.
That will save you a trip from going to your local hardware store to pick up an insecticide. They can keep your house pest-free every time, if you don’t plan to get rid of them, that is.
Where they come from
They come into the house through gaps and cracks in doors, windows, and air vents. In addition, they can access your abode through small holes along your house’s pipes and cables.
How to get rid of them
You should seal off possible entranceways including under doors, inside walls, and plumbing lines. Also, remove garden bags, compost bins, and declutter your house.
For a DIY solution, use or rub the peel of citrus fruit such as lemon and oranges under doors, windowsills, and on the kitchen counter. Spiders hate the acidic smell of these fruits, which should thwart their attempts in getting into your home.
Alternatively, you can hang or leave dried mint leaves in a sachet plastic in the bathroom or cabinet where you find them.
7) Rats
Rats are common pests in Malaysia that are both aggressive and dangerous. That’s because they gnaw away at anything they fancy and carry contagious diseases with them.
Don’t get us wrong, though, very few people are choosing to keep them and mice as pets. Because they are very low-maintenance and can adapt to their environment easily.
What they can do
They can do a lot to cause great disturbance in the home. Not only do they leave rice-shaped droppings, but they also feed on food and household items, and smear the wall or floor they rub against.
Also, we mentioned that they can transmit many kinds of diseases, and so can harm the whole family and pets.
Where they come from
Being warm-blooded animals, they also seek warmth, comfort, and shelter like us. And they are relentless in doing so which is what makes them a pest.
So in whatever way they can quench their thirsts and appetites, they will do. For instance, if they can’t find food in your kitchen, they’ll look for it in your garbage or compost bin; and if they can’t find any water source, they can be near your dripping pipes at home.
Furthermore, they even come close or hide behind fruit-bearing or potted plants to avoid detection by people. So, they’re really cunning and aggressive compared to the other pests we’ve listed.
How to get rid of them
Many things can be done to get rid of rats for good. Here are some of the things you can do for that:
- The most classic way to kill it is to buy a rat trap cage from your nearest hardware store. Use peanut butter as bait and at the moment the rat takes it, take the cage and drop it in a bucket of water.
- You can repel it by coating a cotton ball in peppermint oil or just using garlic or pepper flakes. Plant them in areas where you’ve spotted the rat, and that should drive them away.
- Seal off holes into your home with steel wool. The material is so strong that rats can’t chew their way in.
8) Ants
Ants are super hardworking and loyal to their fellow ants and queens. These are admirable traits in an insect, in fact, people can learn something from them.
But, to be honest, sometimes ants can be irritating too as they are on the constant hunt for food and suddenly appear from out of nowhere. And, they still keep on finding food even after you’ve already discouraged them.
What they can do
No matter what kind of ant you come across, be it black or red, carpenter or harvester, they can bite and sting, especially if threatened.
The red ant, also called the fire ant, can bite and cause a painful or burning aftereffect. This they do to guard their nest and kill other insects in their path.
Apart from that, they are very annoying as they march in colonies and are constantly looking out for food. Particularly on top of their list are sweet food like spilt ice cream or soda.
Where they come from
Ants can come from anywhere in your house as they’re lurking underneath or nearby. The ant troops are always constantly scouting and obtaining food, so they can be found mostly in kitchen and dining areas.
This adaptive nature has made them survive and thrive for millions of years. Where there is an ant infestation, there’s probably an ant nest somewhere in your home inaccessible to you, and so you can’t see it.
How to get rid of them
Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle. Afterwards, spray away at the stubborn ants to exterminate them without the need to call a pest control specialist.
Similar to repelling spiders, you can use peppermint oil on the ants’ tracks or where they frequently appear. You can also sprinkle cinnamon, pepper, or salt, as their scents are unpleasant to ants.
But, since the spice or seasoning doesn’t dry out on its own, you can apply them in the nooks and crannies of your house or behind kitchen appliances.
9) Termites
Termites are the rivals of ants having a rank hierarchy and a common goal. They feed on cellulose materials which are found in wood, plants, and carpets, whether decaying or not.
Each termite has its specific food preferences. It can be attracted to a home according to its wood, moisture, cracks, and structure.
There are many species of termites but the most common are subterranean, dampwood, and drywood termites.
What they can do
Firstly, termites destroy wood structures at the house. In the process of doing so, they form mud tunnels within the wood and leave waste looking like sawdust and broken-off wings.
These are externally visible to the observer and if you hear a hollow sound as you rap on the wood, it’s a sign that the insides of the wood have been consumed by them.
Ultimately, with their ravenous feeding habit, they can seriously destroy and weaken a home structure, as well as cause tremendous annoyance to the occupants.
Where they come from
They are found in soils, forests, and new home development sites. They can access your home if they sense your firewood and furniture possessions because these are their favourite food.
Moreover, if you have big, old trees outside your house, the termite colony may also be lurking in them. So, basically, they are there where there is food.
How to get rid of them
Because of their large group, it may be difficult to get rid of them alone, it’s advisable to work with a termite expert to exterminate them or send them out of your house promptly.
But if you think you can take on the job, you have to get a termite insecticide online or from your hardware store.
Plus, since termites are attracted to water leaks (since these lead to rotting wood), make sure to repair any areas in your house concerned with that. For example, your damaged roof, ceiling, and walls.
Pests can be a big problem in your home or if you plan to lease your property. We hope that you find the information here useful for getting rid of the common pests safely and easily.
Don’t forget to schedule a regular cleaning in your house, because that alone will help a great deal in keeping your home free from malignant pests and unexpected annoyance.
However, if all else fails, you can always rely on a pest control specialist. Here is a quick directory of some adept ones you can hire around Malaysia: