|
rats & mice
|
fleas
|
dust mites |
ants |
moles
|
squirrels |
birds
|
wasps,
hornets & bees
| rabbits |
woodworm |
|
|
Rats & Mice |
|
Rats and mice can contaminate and
spread diseases, which can be harmful to humans as they
live through their urine, droppings and hair. They can
also cause damage by chewing cables and structures. |
|
How do I identify it is a mouse? |
-
Small browny/grey in colour
-
Make little nests out of fibrous
materials such as paper
-
Active at night
-
Small droppings
-
Nibbled foods
|
 |
|
How do I identify it is a rat? |
-
Brown/Black in colour around
30-40cm long with the tail
-
They leave droppings near food
areas,
-
Make burrows/tunnels in the
ground causing structural damage to
property/buildings
-
Gnaw marks on cables etc.
|
 |
|
Different way of controlling infestation of mice/rat: |
|
House mice/rat infestation is most
common when the colder weather comes. |
|
Mice/rat problem occur where there is
lack in hygiene and proofing. |
-
Trapping
-
Poison baiting
-
Live catching
|
|
To
reduce/prevent infestation of mice/rat: |
-
ensure airbricks are in order
-
inspect for access points around
gas, electricity and water pipes
-
that doors are proofed
-
drainpipes have cone guards to
prevent rats from climbing up the drain pipe
-
store food carefully no traces
of food sources in containers etc
-
clean up any spillage
-
remove rubbish
-
clean on a regular basis
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Fly & Fleas
top |
|
How do I identify it is a flea? |
|
Adult fleas are between 1-3 mm long
and brownish in colour. Their bodies are compressed from
side to side which enables the flea to move through fur
and feather with ease. The hind legs of a flea are
relatively large and are used for jumping heights of up
to 16 cm. |
|
Flea eggs are pearl white in colour,
oval shaped and approximately 0.5 mm long. |
|
Adult fleas are visible to the naked
eye, as brownish-red insects, that move quickly or jump.
Fleas feed exclusively on warm blooded animals, drawing
blood from their host by using their piercing mouth
parts. As they pierce the skin they inject anti-blood
clotting saliva to extract the blood of their host. As
well as being found on the host, e.g. cat or dog, fleas
and their eggs are frequently found in the animal's
bedding or in carpets where the animal usually lies. |
|
How do they affect me? |
|
Fleas can be carriers of disease or
may transmit parasitic worms. Both cat and dog fleas are
intermediate hosts of the dog tapeworm which can
sometimes be transmitted to man. Generally, in the UK
fleas are not responsible for the transmission of
disease. However, they are still objectionable due to
the bites they inflict. Fleabites are identified as a
small dark red spot surrounded by a reddened area. The
bite persists for one or two days and maybe intensely
irritating. Occasionally people become immune to
fleabites. |
|
The eggs hatch after one week into
white thread-like larvae. The larvae thrive in dark,
humid places such as carpets and animal bedding. |
|
After two or three weeks when they
are fully-grown the larvae spin a cocoon and pupate. The
adult usually emerges within seven weeks but can remain
as a pupa throughout the winter only emerging when
triggered by the movement close by of a suitable host.
This explains the occasional mass attacks which take
place in homes that have been empty for a long time. The
complete life cycle will normally last four weeks but
may take longer at low temperatures. |
|
Flea control measures depend to a
large extent on the size of the infestation. In most
instances infestations of well-kept houses can be easily
traced to pets. Control measures must be directed at the
brood as well as the adult flea. |
|
Different ways of controlling infestation of fleas |
|
Insecticidal Control |
|
Insecticides can be used to treat
premises infested by fleas and will help protect them
from re-infestation. However, for the treatment to be
successful the host animal must be treated as well.
Insecticidal products are available which have been
especially formulated for use on host animals and are
available from most veterinary surgeries or pet shops.
Care should be taken to follow the manufacturers
instructions. |
|
Please follow the instructions
outlined below prior to having treatment domestic flea
problems: |
-
Remove all small items from the
floor
-
Thoroughly vacuum clean the house
and throw away the bag. If using a bagless vacuum
cleaner clean out the chamber with disinfectant.
-
All the carpeted areas of the
house will be sprayed.
-
The property must then be vacated
for at least 4 hours. All pets must be removed too.
-
After the treatment do not vacuum
for at least 14 days.
|
|
To reduce/prevent the risk of
infestation of fleas |
-
Provide your cat or dog with a
flea collar.
-
Check your animal for fleas on a
regular basis.
-
Treat your cat or dog with an
approved flea product.
-
Brush your cat or dog thoroughly
with a flea comb.
-
Don't forget to treat your pet's
basket/bedding area.
-
Maintain a good level of
housekeeping.
|
|
Good Housekeeping |
|
Regular and thorough cleaning will
deny fleas a breeding site and make an important
contribution towards their control. Infested beds and
bedding should either be thoroughly cleaned or sealed in
a polythene sack and disposed of with normal household
refuse. Accumulations of dust and debris should be
removed from cracks and crevices and carpets vacuumed
paying particular attention to the edges or under the
furniture e.g. chairs etc. If pets lie on furniture this
should also be cleaned paying attention to under
cushions, crevices etc. |
|
 |
|
Dust Mites
top |
|
The house dust mite Dermatophagoides
pteronyssinus is about half the size of a dot or full
stop. The mite has no eyes, no organised breathing
system, cannot drink and lives for approximately 3-4
months. Twenty droppings a day may be produced by the
mite, which means approximately 2000 during its
lifetime. The house dust mites can get nourishment from
its own droppings and may eat them up to three times
over. The females can lay from 60-100 eggs depending
upon living conditions, which ideally, are warm dark and
damp for breeding mites. |
|
Ways of controlling infestation of dust mites: |
-
Freeze - Putting soft toys or
small soft furnishings in the freezer overnight will
kill the dust mites.
-
Lower Humidity - Tumble dry soft
furnishings on a hot setting or place in direct
sunlight to kill the dust mites.
-
Washing - Wash sheets and
blankets at 60c
-
Avoidance - Dust mites need damp
areas to survive.
-
Have a professional treatment
|
|
 |
|
Ants
top |
|
Ants on the premises can infest and
contaminate foodstuffs, contaminate sterile areas and
invade hospitals or at home can have serious
consequences: |
-
Loss contaminated food and other
products will have to be thrown away
-
Fear hospital patients can be
alarmed by the appearance of ants
-
Reputation compromised health and
hygiene can lead to lost trading revenue
|
|
Sign
of ants |
-
Live insects
-
Ant pathways in and out of your
premises
-
Small heaps of earth or dirt
indicating nest sites.
|
|
To
reduce/prevent the risk of infestation of ants |
-
Keep premises clean
-
Identify the species youll
require professional help here
-
Proof access points against Garden
Ants
-
Deploy Luminos Units against Rogers
Ant
-
Set up regular ant control
inspection visits by qualified technician.
|
|
Different ways of controlling infestation of ants
|
|
·
Insecticide |
|
·
Insect Proofing |
|
·
Bait Station |
|
·
Luminos Range |
|
·
Insect Monitor Unit |
|
|
Moles
top |
Moles damage lawns and
agricultural land by digging hills and tunnels. The
hills cause nuisance to lawns and flowerbeds while
tunnels damage the roots of plants.
|
|
Methods used of controlling moles |
-
Trapping locate the runs and
set trap as required in the run/s.
-
Gassing locate the runs and
strategically place aluminium phosphate tablet in
the mole run/s
-
Live catching - a trap that
catches the mole alive without harming it so it can
be removed & released elsewhere. Requires to be
checked on a daily basis.
|
|
How do I identify if it is a mole? |
-
Moles very rarely come above
ground.
-
They leave tunnels just below the
surface or dig deeper tunnels 10-40cm underground
and leave a hill of soil.
|
|
 |
|
GREY SQUIRREL top |
Grey Squirrels can cause a lot of
damage to loft spaces, woodlands, gardens etc.
|
|
Methods used of
controlling squirrel |
-
Trapping - suitable in loft
spaces, gardens and woodlands
-
Poison restricted to certain
time of the year
-
Shooting to our discretion
depends on the location
|
|
|
Birds and Pigeons
top |
|
Birds can cause a lot of damage,
their droppings damage buildings/premises and can spread
diseases. |
|
Methods used of controlling birds |
-
Trapping - Larsen trap control
Magpies/Jays and Rooks
-
Bird repeller/spike - to prevent
birds (pigeons, gulls and starlings etc) from
roosting and leaving droppings on building and other
premises.
-
In some cases poisoning - only
certain species and time of the year.
|
|
|
Wasps, Hornets and Bees top |
|
Being stung by a wasp, hornets or bee
is not a pleasant experience. Some people are allergic
to stings and can in some cases be life threatening. |
|
We can offer same day service/callout
for this type of control. |
|
Methods used of controlling wasps and hornet |
-
Specialist Insect Powder blown
into the nest hide entrance, it is picked up and
carried into the nest by returning wasps, killing
the nest within a few days.
-
Foam to be applied by customer
same method used as powder but can be sprayed from a
distance of 2 meter.
|
|
How do I identify it is a wasp or hornet? |
-
Nest is made out of chewed wood
approx 30 cm across or larger could be found under
roof eaves, in lofts, in sheds or in other out
buildings.
-
They are more active at the end
of the summer
|
|
It
is preferable to destroy a nest earlier in the year
rather than later as the wasp become more aggressive in
the warmer weather. |
|
How do I identify it is a bee? |
Bees are less aggressive than
wasps and much less likely to cause harm.
|
They should if possible be left
undisturbed. If allergic to stings the nest can be
removed by a pest technician or beekeeper.
|
|
|
RABBITS
top |
Rabbits have increased
considerably in number in the last few years,
especially in the countryside.
|
Rabbits cause a lot of damage to
river/railway embankments, Trees, agricultural land,
gardens etc.
|
|
Methods used of controlling rabbits |
-
Trapping kill or live trapping
-
Snaring used in rare
situations, needs to be checked on a daily basis.
-
Shooting to our discretion
depends on location. To be combined with another
method of controlling rabbits.
-
Gassing Fumigation of burrows
using poisonous gas
-
Rabbit repellent painting or
spraying vulnerable areas of the bark this method is
seasonable.
-
Ferreting this method is not
the most effective one.
-
Fencing/proofing Fencing is
humane and environmentally friendly a suitable
solution of reducing crop/garden losses caused by
rabbits. Wire mesh and or electric fence is buried
and/or covered with cut turves, plastic mesh tree
guards can be put in place to protect bark or young
trees.
|
|
 |
|
Woodworm
top |
Wood worm is a wood boring insect
which damage and weakens the structure of the
timber. The invade and consume the wood by laying
eggs on or in the wood leaving tunnels once they
reached maturity. Their life span is from 10 months
to 11 years.
The amount of damage caused by
woodworm depends on the kind of species and the type
of wood.
Signs to look for if you think
your property is infestated:
-
Small round holes in your wood
-
Fine powdery dust around the
holes
-
Crumbly edges to boards/joints
-
Adult beetles emerging from the
wholes/around the premises.
To prevent/reduce the risk of
infestation:
Installing a fly killer unit/trap
in your loft space and other under-ventilated areas.
There are four types/species in the
UK
-
Common Furniture Beetle - attacks
softwood
-
House Longhorne Beetle attacks
softwood only
-
Powderpost beetle attacks wide
pored hardwood such ash, elm and oak
-
Deathwatch Beetle can cause
severe damage to European hardwoods such as oak, ash
and chestnut
Different types of treatments:
-
Surface application using
pesticides
-
Freezing to be treated on
furniture's only
-
Fumigation if infestated with
Deathwatch Beetle
|