Earning a Bachelor degree in Biological Sciences and having a passion for creepy crawlies, it was inevitable that Jay would find his calling as a pest controller. Ironically, Jay initially began his career breeding insects for the pet trade with the very successful business ‘Minibeasts Enterprises’, which was also owned by himself and his wife, Nicky. They supplied crickets, meal-worms, maggots, snails, leaf insects, scorpions and spiders to pet shops all over South Eastern Australia. It was also during this time that Jay discovered a new tarantula species and in recognition of his revelation, it was named after him.
Jay and his knowledge of insect biology was lured into the pest control trade due to a chance meeting with a local pest controller. Not only did Jay complete his Certificate III in Urban Pest Management at Northern Melbourne Institute of Technology, but his results were the highest score ever and he was commissioned to share his insightful knowledge through seasonal teaching at the Tafe. Over several years working for a few very well respected pest control businesses, Jay completed several trade qualifications, which included accreditation for installing physical and chemical termite barrier and vertebrate pest management. However, Jay felt that these companies lacked the personal service he could offer clients on his own.
Jay’s attitude towards pest control is a bit different than most. He’s often questioned ‘if you like spiders so much then why are you a pest controller?’. Jay takes this question in stride and answers with “you have to understand your quarry before you can hunt your quarry! For instance if a client had a problem with redback spiders, residual surface sprays aren’t as effective as space sprays or dusts which penetrate those upturned hiding spots that redbacks favour. The spiders we (pest controllers) treat for are household spiders which we have created an artificial environment ideally suited for them. We build structures perfect for them to construct webs on and we leave lights on which attracts plenty of prey for them. As a pest controller I tip the balance back in favour of natural sized populations.”
Qualifications:
- Bachelor of Biological Sciences & Entomology
- Certificate II in Vertebrate Pest Management
- Certificate III in Pest Management & Termites
- Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
- Australian Building Management Accreditation – Strata Mastery
- Master Builders – Business Management Course
- Accredited Camilleri Underslab Injection Systems
- Accredited Report Writing for Timber Inspectors
- Accredited Exterra Termite Interception & Baiting Systems
- Termatrac Certified – The World’s Number 1. Termite Detector
- Accredited Termidor Application
- Accredited Termidor HE Applicator
- Accredited Sentricon Always Active Baiting Systems
- Accredited Term-Seal Applicator
- Accredited TERMX Replenishment Systems
Licences:
- QBBC – Contractor Licence
- QBBC – Nominee Supervisor Licence
- QLD Health – Pest Management Technician Licence
