Here is the Class of November 2015 at the Singapore Polytechnic’s Advanced Food Hygiene Course.

John Ho from Aardwolf Pestkare conducted the session on Integrated Pest Management. The Course Coordinator was Martyn Wong from the Food Innovation & Resource Centre.

During the Q&A Session this question was asked:

With the increasing frequency of reports on rat infestation, why can’t the authorities work with the pest controllers and mount an intensive campaign to, once and for all, eliminate all the rats in Singapore?

The Answer: This can be done, but it will be at a very high cost in terms of resources. The Question is, will it be worth the time and money?

The present philosophy is that so long as the rats keep to their side of the territory, we shall live and let live. And we can all help by not making it attractive for rats to cross over. One practical way is not making food readily available in our neighbourhood by properly disposing food waste.

BULLETINA Q u a r t e r l y P u b l i c a t i o n o f A a r d w o l f P e s t k a r e ( S ) P t e L t d

Jan - Mar 2016MCI(P) 046/04/2015

Advanced Food Hygiene Course

These are our 23 staff who recorded perfect attendance in 2015.

As part of the accolade, they had the choice of taking home one box of Fuji apples, nectarines or peaches, in addition to the incentive of $540.

We are indeed proud of them, our unsung heroes.

One Hundred per Centers

PG 1

DFSG Suppliers’ Day 2015

As the contractor for pest management services, Aardwolf Pestkare was invited by Dairy Farm Singapore (DFSG) to participate in their first Suppliers’ Day.

The objective was to invite the vendors to showcase their goods and services at the Singapore Suntec City to the DFSG Staff so that they can learn and familiarize themselves with what is available.

It was an enriching and inspiring experience for both participants and exhibitors.

As part of our service, Technical Manager Dr Jerry Hu, conducted a training session for the hygiene staff at Wyeth Nutritionals, organized by Plant Hygiene Executive Lee Qing Yu.

The staff found the session both interesting and intriguing.

Training at Wyeth Nutritionals

Supervisor Muhd Nazmi Osman explaining that rats are trapped and disposed, safely and without alarming the shoppers at the supermarket.

From left, Senior Supervisor Tony Tan, Senior Supervisor Sam Ngo, Business Development Manager Pierce Chan, Service Development Manager Lily Lim and Supervisor Muhd Nazmi Osman, were all set to demonstrate their area of expertise.

Her curiosity was observed by the rest of the company. It was part of the training on the proper use of the Telescopic Lance.

During inspection with Plant Hygiene Executive Lee Qing Yu (lady on the right).

Dr Jerry Hu conducting the Classroom Training.

Dr Hu on the Plant Floor.

What was HR Executive Sujatah Suppiah doing peeping at the

roof top, with the help of her service colleagues Jeremy Ng,

Nordinigh Ismail and Fauzee Othman?

Peeping at Aardwolf Pestkare

PG 2

This is the new look at our Aardwolf Pestkare Indonesia South Branch, under the leadership of Branch Manager Yulianti Sutantri Halim (5th person on the back row).

We thank the couple for agreeing to Sharul going to Aardwolf Pestkare Shanghai for a month, less than 2 months after their wedding. Our Chinese partners appreciate the help Sharul gave in the field training, inspections and treatments in Shanghai.

Nur Fariza flew to Shanghai to join Sharul for a week during the year-end holidays, her first visit there.

Senior Technician Ahmad Pinadi and Nur Hidayu on their marriage. We wish them happiness and may their journey through Life as man and wife be blessed and blissful.

Heartiest Congratulations To ……..

New Look at Aardwolf Pestkare Indonesia South Branch

Technician Muhd Nur Sharul Seleman and Nur Fariza on the occasion of their wedding.

A ceremonial silat display at the wedding.

It is our leading branch in Indonesia.

PG 3

It was fun time for the 56 children who attended this year’s Aardwolf Pestkare Bursary Awards Party held at the Jurong Country Club.

They came dressed in their favourite Super Hero costume and were entertained by Aaron Leong Magic, balloon sculpting, lots of games and laughter.

A special treat was the speech by Aunty Alice Tan, who was flown in from Penang, to help boost the self-confidence of the children. She authored several books on mathematics and science, which became the textbook for schools in Malaysia.

Irena Kee, daughter of our Projects Executive Kenneth, won the Most Improved Performance Award of $1,000. She was amongst the top 5% in the UNSW Australia Assessment for Writing and the top 10% for Mathematics. In addition she scored “A” in all her subjects in the recent PSLE exam.

The Outstanding Award of $1,000 went to Muhd Nur Hakim Sabirin, son of our Foreman Sabirin Mohd Sadli. He was recognised for his participation in the musical performances of his school, including the MESRA Malay Cultural Contingent at the Chingay Parade. He was from the Hillgrove Secondary School.

There was a total of 22 Merit Award Receipients, each winning $200. On the academics side they were Dean Iskandar Md Faizal, Jayden Ng, Kristy Chia, Kristle Chia, Lia Marissa Iswadi, Liyana Razali, Md Nabil Iman Md Ismail, Md Naufal Ilham Md Ismail, Md Nyqil Md Ismail and Nuralisha Md Nazim.

On the activities side, we had Ilhan Harith Ramzan, Ilsyah Raushan Ramzan, Jayden Ng, Mira Eryna Md Faizal, Md Hans Ryan, Md Naufal Md Nazree, Md Nur Danish Sabirin, Nelly Imelda Md Ismail, Nur Nikki Aleesya, Ryan Tan, Samuel Tan and Sherlin Toh.

All participants received a bursary ranging from $250 for the primary students, to $2,000 for the undergraduates.

We are indeed proud that this year we have 2 undergraduates Joel Chong and Sherlin Toh.

Congratulations, children. Keep up your effort. You have all done well.

AARDWOLF PESTKARE BURSARY AWARDS 2015

Top Award Winners with their proud parents

Our Guest Speaker Aunty Alice from Penang

Superhero Mcees

PG 4

The Bursary Party 2015PG 5

Hornets (or Social Wasps) are well known for injecting venom as a defence mechanism. Depending on your level of tolerance and the number of bites received, death can occur. Their sting is a little red dot in the middle of a mound.

A hornet’s sting is sharp like a needle and it will continuously inject venom until it is exhausted.

Mosquito Bites

Hornet Bites

When we sustain a painful bite by an unidentified insect, 2 questions naturally come to mind: “What is this?” followed by “Is it life threatening?”

Insects bite for survival, either because they need to feed or as a defence mechanism.

The mechanism takes one of three forms:1. They pierce and suck your blood through a proboscis, which is their mouth part, 2. They sting by injecting a venom from the tip of their abdomen, or3. They use the mandibles attached to their head to scissor-cut, thus inflicting pain and sometimes resulting in blood

oozing out.

To help in the identification of the source of the bite, you should observe the environment (e.g presence of other animals or nesting), any smell, physical presence of the pest and the bite marks (e.g. shape, pattern, puncture point or colour).

Getting to know … Insect Bites

1

2

This is the No. 1 vector-borne killer in Singapore, with dengue as the most common disease.

In January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned pregnant women from traveling to 14 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, where infection with Zika, a disease borne by the Aedes species mosquitoes, is a risk. Zika, although not detected in Singapore, yet, is linked to serious birth defects affecting the brain.

The classic example of an insect biting for food is the female mosquito. The protein in the blood is needed for its egg formation. However, both the female and male mosquito feed on plant nectar for its food.

For most of us the mosquito bite will disappear within a day. It needs to bite a dengue or malaria victim before it bites you, in order to transmit the disease.

Here are 5 insect bites that we should avoid getting.

PG 6

The fresh bite of the flea is a water-like bubble, sitting on top of a mound. It is perhaps the most itchy of all the insect bites because both the female and male have to inject enough anticoagulant to keep the blood liquid long enough for it to flow through the insect’s body and exit through the tip of its abdomen as faecal droplets. These droplets fall onto the floor or carpet and are then food for the nymphs.

Our antibodies attacking the alien liquid injected by the bite cause the itch. We then scratch the itch and it bursts, leaving a distinct red spot that looks like a volcano, sitting on a mound. It remains itchy for more than a week.

Occasionally you will see 3 bites in a row. This means that the flea was tasting and did not find your blood “suitable”. So it walked backwards to try again. If it happens to be 4 bites in a row, the flea is definitely insulting you.

The culprit is a small black insect with its wings held in a “V” shape above its body. Its itchy bites remain unsightly, especially for ladies in bikinis, for up to 10 days. Beach resorts are most vulnerable, especially when they have piles of decaying leaves and cut grass that are the favourite habitat. It is most active during dusk and dawn.

An example of a scissor-cut is the Macrotermes carbonarius major soldier’s bite. The danger is when they attack en masse. The common Kerangga (or Weaver Ant) also uses the scissor-cut. Although these bites are painful, the ant lacks the strength to pierce through our tough human skin.

Treatment of the bites is to stay calm, avoid scratching and wash with soap and cold water. Apply an antiseptic cream (e.g. Savlon) or medicated gel (e.g. Tiger Balm). If you observe extreme allergic reaction (e.g. gasping for breath or high body temperature), seek medical attention immediately.

Flea Bites

Sand Fly Bites

Macrotermes Termites

Treatment of Bites

3

4

5

6PG 7Editorial Design: Equity Communications Pte Ltd Printer: Hock Cheong Printings Pte Ltd

Aardwolf Pestkare (Singapore) Pte LtdCompany Reg No: 199700791R

26 Third Lok Yang Road, Singapore 628015 T 6268 1771 F 6265 1551E aardpest@singnet.com.sg W www.aardwolfpestkare.com

Aardwolf Pestkare Mobile app

We have developed a mobile application to help our Clients identify an insect or animal that appears unfamiliar and we will give advice on how to handle the situation.

All you need to do is snap a photo with your smart phone and zap it to us. Our site will also give you information on the common pests, including some fun facts.

If you are not an existing Client, we will be happy to assist you but we will need to charge you S$50 for each identification.

Depending on your smart phone, scan and install either our Android app Code or our Apple app Code. And you are connected.

For your convenience the app name is PEST SINGAPORE.

PG 8