Pest Control News Archive 2011

Pest Plague Looms
A cocktail of lamentable circumstances is proving a potent mix, fuelling a surge in pest infestations across Britain. As austerity measures bite, living standards fall, the property rental market grows and we have mild – even warm – autum... [more]

IPM In Fast Food Restaurants
We can be proud that our pest control industry has been rightly called a "guardian of public health" – and we can be proud of that role as it applies to the fast food restaurant industry. The presence of flies, rodents and / or cockroaches in f... [more]

Crack Down on Nantwich Rat Problem
A Nantwich company is waging war on the town's growing rat problem by taking on extra staff to boost its pest control team. Environmental specialists Suddenstrike has been inundated with pleas for help from householders plagued by super-rats - some ... [more]

Online Training From PestPractice
All pest professionals need to keep up-to-date, but it can often be difficult to spare the time to attend training seminars and conferences. PestPractice is a new online training tool that provides a convenient, cost effective solution to this proble... [more]

Black Pearl Mouse Bait
Marketed by Lodi-UK, the unique Black Pearl micro-encapsulation of alphachloralose attracts and controls mice very quickly - certainly the fastest of any mouse bait in the UK. With alphachloralose as the active ingredient, this means that mice resis... [more]

How to Prevent a Moth Infestation in Your Home
Moths don't pose a health risk but they can cause lots of damage to your home. There are two types of moth: those that attack clothes, carpets and soft furnishings, and those that go for food - particularly dried food goods. It's possible to prevent ... [more]

Pest Guru in Award Glory
A pest controller based in Scotland has scooped a national award. Ian Cain, of NBC Bird and Pest Control, has been crowned Scotland's BFA / HSBC Franchisee of the Year for 2011, as well as securing the bronze prize for the whole of the UK. His comp... [more]

Advion Ant Gel
Advion Ant Gel is a broad-spectrum and highly attractive ready-to-use gel bait containing 0.05% indoxacarb, the revolutionary active ingredient from DuPont. This exclusive formulation is colourless, odourless and non-staining. As a result of extensi... [more]

Seagull Expert: ‘Council Wrong’
The managing director of one of Scarborough's leading pest control companies has accused the council of getting it wrong over seagulls. Andrew Hunn, of East Coast Pest Control, believes measures introduced in April 2010 by Scarborough Council, makin... [more]

The Art Of Detection
Inspection and monitoring are described as the first steps in any integrated approach to pest management. Today, the pest management professional may spend as much or more time searching for, observing and collecting data on activity than in the actu... [more]

Get Ready For Stinging Insects
It's that time again. It is the season to don the protective gear and battle stinging insects. Even though stinging insects are part of any warm weather menu of pests, calls to control stinging pests such as bees, wasps and hornets peak in late summe... [more]

Why You Should Try IPM
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a strategy that uses environmentally sound, yet effective, ways to keep pests from invading your home, damaging your plants, or annoying you. Successful IPM usually combines several methods for long-term prevention... [more]

Leeds Faces Plague Of Wasps
Wasps are causing chaos across Leeds with more problem nests reported in the last four months than in the whole of 2010. Leeds City Council's pest control team has been inundated with calls about the yellow and black menaces. They have received 1,62... [more]

Bed Bug Codes of Practice
The European Code of Practice for Bed Bug Management was launched in May 2011 and joins the Australian Code of Practice for the Control of Bed Bug Infestations, now in its third edition and the USA's Bed Bugs Best Managment Practices for Pest Profess... [more]

Pest Control Expert Warns of Cowboy Exterminators
A pest control expert has warned of cowboy exterminators "ripping people off" in the county. Andy Beddoes, from AB Complete Limited in Tirley, said he has found numerous homeowners have been charged over the odds in their haste to get rid of vermin.... [more]

Fleas Be Gone!
Dog and cat fleas tend to flourish more in the summer as the warm weather affords them the luxury of living happily both indoors and outdoors. If you find that fleas have become resident in your home, the following steps should help to control an in... [more]

Silverfish and Bed Bugs
These are the most common household pests in the UK and if they could be gotten rid of with a simple bucket of mop water, there would probably be no need for exterminators. But it usually takes a professional to show insects the door – and to m... [more]

Pest Control, Done Naturally, Restores Order
Gardening is about balance. Light, nutrients, temperature and moisture all work together to make a proper environment for plants to thrive. Gardens are a microcosm where bacteria, earthworms and countless other organisms go about their business, usua... [more]

Reducing Allergen Exposure
Most people don't recognise the serious impact allergies to cockroaches have on the British health-care system. When you ask a person what they think of cockroaches, their likely answer is a reflection of the places cockroaches live – they are ... [more]

Pest Control Team Ready For Anything
If there's one man in Oxford who doesn't make a pest of himself, it's Tony Brind. As the city council's pest controller, it's Mr Brind's job to answer calls for help from homeowners worried about pest infestations. During his 23 years working for th... [more]

Protecting Your Wallet
Warmer temperatures across the country are prompting bugs and other pests to seek shelter in many homes and office buildings. Pest Control Charter files indicate that consumer enquiries into local pest control companies typically spike during the mon... [more]

More Wasps This Year
Pest controllers are warning businesses to act now to make sure trade doesn't suffer from pests such as wasps and flies this summer. Cleankill Pest Control's Managing Director Paul Bates is predicting wasps numbers to be higher than normal due to fa... [more]

Expert Advice On Bedbugs
Bedbugs have resurged as pests to many people, including British residents, but Steve Anderson, owner of SDA Pest Control, has advice for dealing with the problematic insects. Bedbugs are flat, oval, wingless insects about a quarter of an inch long.... [more]

The Key To Controlling Bed Bugs
As the summer heat increases bed bug infestations across the country, many people affected have resorted to extreme measures to rid themselves of the pesky pests. From disposing of all belongings to dousing an affected area with gasoline and ignitin... [more]

Mouse in the House
"Since mice are most active at night, homeowners frequently are unaware that they are playing host to them." These are the thoughts of Steve Anderson, who has been dealing with mice infestations for over 25 years. Athough mice can occasionally be se... [more]

Dicing With Death
When pest controller Barrie Montgomery discovered he was allergic to wasps, there was no question he would be giving up the job he loves. 38-year-old Barrie Montgomery, who lives in Dundee and works all over Angus for Blairgowrie firm Graham Pest Co... [more]

Cockroaches and Asthma
Many studies have pointed to the fact that cockroaches are a leading trigger of allergies and asthma attacks. The pests' saliva, droppings and decomposing bodies contain allergen proteins known to trigger allergies and increase the severity of asthma... [more]

Oldies But Goodies
A hundred years ago mothballs and cedar chests were a common sight (and smell) in British homes – with good reason. Back then most of our clothes, curtains and carpets were made from natural fibres such as wool, but these items had a dreaded en... [more]

Eco-Friendly Pest Control
Pests come in many shapes and sizes. None of them are ones that we want around. However, most methods of getting rid of pests and keeping them away can be hazardous to the environment. Traditional methods are full of chemicals that leach into the gr... [more]

The Bed Bug Saga
Unless you've been asleep for the past year or two, you have probably heard that bed bugs have made an impressive comeback. The tiny, wingless bloodsuckers – only about 4-5mm wide – have found their way into hotels, houses, cinemas and go... [more]

Control of Stable Flies and House Flies
Stable flies and house flies are major pests near confined livestock facilities, cattle feedlots, and dairies, and cost livestock producers millions of pounds annually. Losses result from decreased weight gains and production by cattle that suffer t... [more]

Pest Control Takes Over From Pulling Pints
A pest control company has been given the go-ahead to convert a former vacant pub at the heart of Bailiff Bridge since the 1700s into its new headquarters. Plans were submitted to Calderdale Council at the beginning of May to change the use of the f... [more]

Tackling The Indian Meal Moth
Indian Meal Moths are probably the most common pantry pest found in kitchens and pantries. In private residences, Indian meal moths are usually introduced through products brought from the grocery store. Consequently, infestations are usually just in... [more]

Creating A Buzz
A pest control company has received buzzing praise for a new ecological initiative which encourages residents to take up beekeeping. The Suffolk Pest Control Company plans to relocate swarms of unwanted bees to newly constructed hives, which will be... [more]

Sub-Slab Mice
When the average pest management technician goes into a commercial account to perform mouse control (among other things), his training tells him to look for access points into the building. He knows also to look for a source of food. If he finds door... [more]

Controlling Ants
With the summer months nearly upon us, it's time to start thinking about holidays, pool parties, and barbecues. Unfortunately, while we get ready to spend more time outside our homes, all sorts of pests are more than happy to move in in our absence. ... [more]

Keeping The Summer Months Hassle-Free
If you want to look after your property, pest control is a must. During the summer months, its wise to be aware of the pest control options to keep your home free from bugs, insects and other more harmful creatures. If you're frequently spending on ... [more]

Parakeets Cause Havoc
A team from pest control company Cleankill has just finished dealing with their largest ever infestation of parakeets after being called to a block of flats in Greenwich where the birds were causing damage to the building. Managing Director Paul Bat... [more]

Be Vigilant Against Bed Bugs
Hiding behind the headboard in your hotel room, a bed bug anxiously waits for you to turn out the lights, pull the covers up to your chin and close your eyes. When all is calm, the bed bug strikes, sinking its teeth into your skin for a taste of your... [more]

Biological Insect Control Products
There are a number of products on the market that advertise they are biological insect controllers and are safe for the environment. It is important to understand how some of these products work, or don't work, as the case may be. Just because a prod... [more]

Look For The Word 'Nuisibles’
If you're looking for a pest control solution in France, the word "nuisibles" covers most types of insects if you're looking for a DIY solution or specialist. Wasps, rats, flies and termites can be a crushing blow when you've spent good money buying... [more]

Tackling the Pests You Can't See
Rentokil have developed a new thermal imaging treatment to deliver quicker and more effective identification of pest control problems, using infra red technologies. This will give businesses access to pest-related information they would otherwise be... [more]

Croydon Pest Killers Called In
When TV presenter Sarah Beeny stumbled across a moth infestation on her latest show, she knew exactly where to turn. Staff from Croydon-based pest control company Cleankill became stars of Help! My House is Infested as they tackled the mini-monsters ... [more]

Effective Bird Control Strategies
For companies affected by nuisance birds, finding an effective bird control strategy can be difficult, but there are a number of means through which they can control the problem. Bird control can be a serious – and difficult – problem. T... [more]

DIY Pest Control
When it comes to pest control, home DIY solutions can often be very effective. Pests, such as rats, mice and cockroaches can cause untold misery if they manage to invade your house, and you'll want to get rid of them as soon as possible. So, what are... [more]

Bootle is Rodent Capital of Sefton
A special investigation has revealed that Bootle is the worst hit area in Sefton for rodent complaints. Council pest control services were sought 3,851 times over a two year period, accounting for almost half of the borough's requests. Worst hit was... [more]

The Norway Rat
The Norway rat is common in most parts of the UK. Rats attack the food of man in the farm fields, orchards, and livestock facilities, during its processing, storage and transport, and while it is in our supermarkets, restaurants and homes. What rats... [more]

Housekeeping and Pests
Pests are the species that make life difficult for us as humans and pest control is how we deal with them. One of the most important examples is in agriculture, where large-scale pest control is used as a means to protect crops and ensure maximum yie... [more]

Bed Bugs Crawl, Bite and Baffle
Don't be too quick to dismiss the common bed bug as merely a pestiferous six-legged blood-sucker. Think of it, rather, as Cimex lectularius, international arthropod of mystery. In comparison to other insects that bite man, or even only walk across m... [more]

Winning New Types Of Work
Countryman Services was set up by Phil Rider and his wife, Dorothy, in 2006, as work from his career as a press photographer began to decline. Countryman, based near Exeter, deals with a range of pests - from squirrels, moles, mice and rats through ... [more]

Practice Pest Control Without The Chemicals
Traditional extermination products rely on chemicals that can pose health concerns for children, pets or other family members. Luckily, the number of chemical-free options for keeping your home free of pests has grown as more people become aware of p... [more]

Encourage and Repel
Gardens have awakened from their winter slumber, and insects and weeds have awakened too! Before you grab a product to eradicate them, come up with a plan that's the least harmful to the environment and your health. Encouraging good bugs to destroy ... [more]

Health Hazards Posed By Cockroaches
Though they have long been a pest that causes one of the strongest reactions when discovered in a home or place of business, the health threats posed by cockroaches often don't factor into the disgust felt at encountering them. Dynamic Pest Control ... [more]

Services of a Pest Control Company
In some businesses and homes, people will use preventative methods for keeping pests away. They may not currently have any pests but want to prevent them from every becoming a problem. In most cases it is the work of positive and proactive treatment... [more]

Trillions of Insects, Millions of Rodents
"We all welcome spring," says Steve Anderson, owner of Cambridgeshire based SDA Pest Control, "but springtime is the trigger for populations of insects that number in the trillions and populations of rodents that can reach millions if the conditions ... [more]

Warning As Bed Bug Infestations Rise
Scots have been warned to be on the look out for bed bugs as environmental health experts report a dramatic rise in infestations across the globe. Around 50 members of the Royal Environmental Health Institute for Scotland gathered in Glasgow to disc... [more]

Top 4 Pests In 2011
Since the Ice Age, cockroaches and mosquitoes have roamed the Earth. As pests continue to evolve, they become increasingly resistant to tried and true treatment methods and more difficult to control. This year, Dynamic Pest Control predicts that the ... [more]

The Perfect Parasite
The bedbug is sometimes called the "perfect parasite." "They bite you while you're sleeping and the bites are painless," explains professional pest controller Steve Anderson. Steve, who owns and runs Cambridgeshire based SDA Pest Control says there ... [more]

Natural Products To Tame Pests
Often mentioned are food-grade diatomaceous earth and boric acid to tame pests, but there are also other varieties of natural ingredient that can fend off unwanted visitors. Baking Soda Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a mined alkaline minera... [more]

Pied Piper of Loughborough
A Charnwood rat-catcher is set to deliver key lectures to Scottish and Irish pest busters on how the council in Loughborough is flushing out rodents. John Davison, Charnwood Borough Council's senior pest control officer, will tell members of the Nat... [more]

Gearing Up For Grey Squirrel Surge
A Surrey pest control company is gearing up for its annual surge in calls to deal with squirrel problems as March sees the furry creatures starting nests in lofts across the country. Cleankill Pest Control experts say electric cables chewed by squir... [more]

The Sad Strange Fate Of The Honey Bee
When was the problem identified? In the closing months of 2006, when thousands of American beehives were found to be almost entirely devoid of bees – victims of a mysterious malady known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). A study across 15 different... [more]

Got Bedbugs? Your Hotel Might!
"Wherever there are humans, there will be bedbugs," says Pete Jameson of Dynamic Pest Control based in Cheshire. And how right he is. In recent years, cases of bedbug infestation have exploded, and the critters don't discriminate. You can find bedbu... [more]

Mitie Takes Over Pest Control
Budget cuts and financial pressures on Mid Suffolk District Council have resulted in its pest control service being outsourced to private company, Mitie. Residents living in Mid Suffolk will now receive a slightly different pest control service. It ... [more]

Showing Vermin The Door
Regardless of the neighbourhood in which one lives, an invasion of vermin can happen in nearly any home. When these creepy crawly critters come for a visit, most people are ready to show them the door as soon as possible. SDA Pest Control helps to ke... [more]

Pest Management In Food Facilities
Having a strong pest management program for a food facility is critical. The policy in place should be closely tied to the products that the facility is producing and extreme emphasis should be placed on the fact that those food products go directly ... [more]

Rodents Problematic On Farms
Large numbers of farms across the country are continuing to suffer serious rat and mouse problems according to the latest annual rodent control study conducted by rural hygiene leaders, BASF Pest Control Solutions. And this despite more frequent rode... [more]

Be Aware Of Bed Bugs
With bed bug infestations on the rise, you may want to learn more about keeping your home free of these invasive insects. Steve Anderson, a pest control professional with SDA Pest Control, works with key researchers, pest management professionals an... [more]

Buzz Of Success
A pest control firm established on the Isle of Wight last year has achieved a national accreditation award. Ryde-based 5 Star Pest Control gained National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) accreditation following an audit that scrutinised the comp... [more]

Europe To Make Pest Control Products Safer
The EU Council reached an agreement which will make pest control products and other everyday items safer to use. The Council determined its first-reading position on revised EU rules concerning biocidal products. The act covers a wide range of pest c... [more]

Innovative Solar-Powered Pest Control
Britain has never exactly been short of bugs. For as long as gardeners have tilled UK soil, insects and other pests have proved a remorseless enemy. Traditionally garden pests have been deterred through the use of environmentally harmful chemicals. ... [more]

The Enemy Within
Pests are a definite no-no when it comes to convenience retailing. You can find yourself in court, risk your own and your customers' health, and destroy the reputation that you have spent years building up in one fell swoop. Pay no heed to the saying... [more]

Dealing with Grey Squirrels
Most people can identify a squirrel by its distinctive bushy tail. The head and body measure between 25cm-26.5cm (9"-10"). They have short front legs and much more powerful hind limbs which enable them to leap to and from heights in excess of 6 metre... [more]

Cockroach Control
There are two species of cockroach which are common in the UK, namely the Oriental cockroach and the German cockroach. The main issues concerning cockroach infestations are the very serious food safety risks posed by these insects in food premises. ... [more]

We Smell A Rat
Low temperatures have Cambridgeshire residents bundling up, and rats and mice breaking into their homes for a piece of the warmth. "Within a night or two, CRACK, you get 'em!" said Steve Anderson of SDA Pest Control, as he shows off how a standard m... [more]