Pest control

Ants normally nest outside in the ground, and commonly beneath paving and in walls. They become a nuisance when they enter homes as they search for food, however they do not normally constitute a risk to the health of the occupants. The nests can be inaccessible and this makes their direct destruction difficult. Good hygiene and the removal of potential food sources, particularly sweet foods, can help to reduce the problem from foraging ants in the house.

• British Pest Control Association - Ant Information

Bees do very little damage and are unlikely to be a threat to public health, it is advised to leave them alone. Generally, bees won’t sting unless provoked. It will only be necessary to treat bees which pose particular danger e.g. at a school or nursery.

Refer to the British Beekeepers Association website for a step by step guide which can help identify the type of bee and includes contact details for swarm collectors who will collect honey bees.

• Living with bees [pdf / 2.28Mb]
• Bees and wasps in the garden [pdf / 102Kb]

Bedbugs do not fly so they must crawl or be transported in things like clothing, luggage or furniture. Bedbugs feed on blood and they can survive for long periods of time without feeding. In domestic premises most infestations are found in the bedroom. Their hiding places will be close to where their host sleeps - in the bed frame, mattress, bedside furniture, skirting boards or wallpaper etc.

The female bedbug lays white eggs approximately 1mm long into cracks and crevices. They will lay about 200 eggs which will hatch in 10 to 20 days and will reach adulthood in about nine weeks. The adults live for up to 18 months, usually feeding weekly, but can survive for over a year without blood. Their presence can be upsetting and stressful, however they do not transmit any human diseases and most people do not develop any serious skin reaction.

You will need professional help in dealing with an infestation of bed-bugs.

• NHS - Bed Bug Information
• British Pest Control Association - Bed Bugs Information

Cockroaches can spread diseases such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, typhoid and polio. Cockroaches and their faeces can also cause allergic reactions. The most common species of cockroach in Britain is the German cockroach which is 10-15mm in length and of a yellowish-brown colour. Less common are Oriental cockroaches which are dark brown and up to 30mm in length. 

The development from egg to adult can take between 6 to 18 months depending mainly on temperature. The adult has a life expectancy of around 26 weeks. Cockroaches can be found in premises where food is stored or handled including in the home. They are nocturnal insects can survive without food for several months but not without water, and will spend most of the day hiding in cracks, around drains, pipe work and service ducting.

Getting rid of cockroaches is difficult because their eggs are resistant to poisons and may lay dormant for months before hatching. It is therefore recommended that treatment is only carried out by professional pest control operatives.

• British Pest Control Association - Cockroach Information

Flea infestation is one of the most common health problems occurring in cats and dogs. Almost every dog and cat will become infested with fleas at some time during its life. The life cycle of the flea begins when the adult flea lays eggs in the coat of the pet. The eggs then drop off into the environment and develop to form the next generation of adult fleas. When it first emerges the young adult flea immediately begins to search for a host and a blood meal. One to two days after landing on a host and taking her meal of blood, the female can start to lay eggs and the flea cycle begins again.

Prevention is always better than cure in the control of fleas.  If a problem is identified, it is advised to take action as soon as possible.

• Flea Information from RSPCA
• British Pest Control Association - Flea Information

Rats and mice are common. If you see a rat or mouse outside your property on one occasion there is generally no need to worry.  However, if you continue to see clear evidence of their presence such as excavated holes in soil, small droppings or disturbed foodstuffs, then treatment will need to be carried out.

If the problem is inside the home, look to see how the rats or mice could be getting in such as holes around waste pipes, around ill-fitting doors and windows or through broken drains. If repairs are needed, then arrange for these to be carried out.

Do not leave vermin problems to sort themselves out. Rats and mice can breed very quickly and a small, easily dealt with problem could quickly become a major problem with damage to property and greater costs of treatment.

• British Pest Control Association - Rat Information
• British Pest Control Association - Mouse Information

Wasps are probably the most familiar and generally disliked of all British insects. Their bodies bear the characteristic black and yellow bands and have a narrow waist in the middle of the body. Wasp stings are usually more painful and alarming than they are dangerous; an initial sharp pain is followed by mild swelling and soreness, which first aid can relieve; if you are concerned seek professional advice.

Sites commonly selected by queen wasps would be soil banks, roof spaces, hollows in trees and walls, etc. Sometimes wasps will have chosen sites in or very close to houses, and home owners are naturally concerned about their presence and may want them removing.

Consider whether or not it is absolutely necessary to destroy a nest, remember wasps are beneficial to your garden helping with pollination and keeping other garden pests under control. The nest will die off naturally, even if left alone.

• British Pest Control Association - Wasp Information
• Bees and wasps in the garden [pdf / 102Kb]

Those receiving housing benefit and/or council tax benefit, or who have state pension as their only income, are eligible for a refund of up to £41.50 toward the cost of treatment for fleas, rats or mice. No refund is payable for treatment of any other pest. To claim the refund please contact us on 01427 676676 to request a claim form. A receipt for payment must be provided when returning the form.