Ant Control
There are several different ants, so identification is essential to determine the method of control. Garden ants, the most common, cause a nuisance in buildings while searching for food. Other ants may pose a threat to health as vectors of pathogenic organisms. Professional control is recommended, using integrated pest management techniques, including hygiene and proofing. New 'professional use' ant baits are proving useful.
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Bed-Bug Control
Bed bugs are on the increase, often spread on luggage and second hand goods. Bed bugs are nocturnal insects feeding on humans, when they are in bed, by sucking their blood. Blood spots on bedding along with itching 'bites' may indicate an infestation. Secondary infection of 'bites' is common. During daylight hours bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices in walls and furniture. Professional control is recommended, where a thorough treatment of all harbourages will be undertaken. Hotels, B&Bs, etc may benefit from bed bug monitoring. Contact AB Pest Management for advice.
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Bee Control
Bees are a very useful insect and play a vital pollination role in food production. Honey, bumble and masonry bees are the most common and are fairly docile, rarely presenting problems. Control is only carried out if public health is at risk. Swarms of honey bees will be passed to a local beekeeper.
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Bird Fouling (Guano)
Deposits of bird droppings, usually feral pigeon, can build up in many situations. The droppings damage buildings, corroding stone and brickwork, blocking gutters and fall pipes and attract insect pest infestations. Specialist treatment with biocides is necessary before, during and after removal. Risk assessment has to assume 'worst case scenario' due to the risk of disease, so full personal protective equipment is required.
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Bird Proofing
There are two main aims of bird proofing buildings; one is to prevent birds gaining access into buildings, especially food premises; the second is to prevent birds from nesting/perching/roosting on buildings. To prevent birds gaining access to buildings, windows, doors, eaves, ventilation louvres etc. will need proofing, with plasic strip curtains, mesh grills etc.. With regard to the exterior of buildings, there are several systems available including polythene/polyester netting to cover voids and anti perching systems such as pin and wire and/or stainless steel spikes fitted to edges and ledges. A thorough survey and observation is required to identify the bird and density of the bird population. Proofing is also part of an integrated pest management program, where hygiene, waste management and perhaps humane culling may be required, when legislation permits. Please contact AB Pest Management for more information or advice.
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Cockroach Control
Cockroaches are very unpleasant pests, fouling their environment with droppings and regurgitated food, often living in filth and implicated in spreading diseases such as food poisoning. Generally nocturnal, the main species locally are the Oriental and the German cockroach. Identification is important and surveys may include night inspections and trapping to find the extent of the infestation. Control requires an integrated pest management program including improving hygiene, removing food sources, proofing and chemical control, utilising a range of insecticides including insect growth regulators. Post treatment monitoring is essential to ensure the source has been eliminated.
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Flea Control
The most common flea is the cat flea, a parasite that feeds by piercing skin and sucking blood. These 'bites' may cause intense itching and distress. The source of the fleas must be identified and if a pet is responsible, it must be treated with a suitable veterinary product. Infested areas should then be treated with a residual insecticide, usually by spraying. Care must be taken when 'bites' are reported in offices and shops, as static electricity may be responsible.
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Fly Control
There are many different flying insects, some feed on human blood, some on decaying matter, faeces, rotting flesh etc. Flies include cluster flies that overwinter in roofspaces, blue and green bottles, house flies and fruit flies to name a few. Many are capable of spreading pathogenic organisms. Careful identification is required to find the source and eliminate it. Control is achieved using integrated pest programs including improved hygiene, proofing, careful use of insecticides and mechanical means such as electronic flykillers.
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Insect Control
Stored product pests include:-
Mealworm beetles, grain beetles, hide beetles, various moths, flour beetles, spider beetles, booklice, weevils, and biscuit beetles.
Textile pests include:-
Carpet beetles, silverfish, various moths, woodworm beetles.
Parasites include:-
Fleas, headlouse, crab louse, body louse and others including scabies mite, ticks and mites.
Please contact AB Pest Management for help and advice.
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Mole Control
Mole infestations are easily recognised from the mole hills created by the displaced soil from their tunnelling under ground. Mole hills are unsightly in gardens and a problem on sports pitches and golf courses. They also cause dangerous fermentation in silage. The tunnels pose a risk of accident on sports fields and race courses etc. where they may collapse breaking ankles. Control is achieved by the use of humane spring traps in the mole tunnels.
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Mouse Control
Mice can cause considerable damage, to goods and structures, due to their constant gnawing. They contaminate food and food preparation areas with droppings, urine and hairs. Mice are capable of spreading many pathogenic organisms, control is essential.
The house mouse generally, and the field mouse in Autumn and Winter, can invade all types of premises. Signs to look for are droppings, holes, smear marks, damage, scratching noises in roofspace or under floors, nests, dead and of course live mice. An integrated pest management program is recommended including full survey, hygiene, proofing, trapping and safe poison baiting.
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Other Pests
Other pests include foxes, mink and feral cats.
Please contact AB Pest Management for help and advice.
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Pigeon Control
Birds, especially feral pigeons, can cause serious problems; their droppings can contaminate food, corrode buildings, lead to slip hazards on footpaths, and cause disease. Legislation protects all birds, but certain birds classed as pests may be controlled under General Licenses. All methods of control other than culling must be considered first. Control measures will include proofing, hygiene, removal of food sources and when necessary, humane destruction.
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Rabbit Control
Rabbits breed rapidly and their burrows can be seen in farmland, meadows, woodlands, parks, golf courses, railway embankments and gardens where they cause a great deal of damage to crops and other vegetation. Control is by excluding them using rabbit proof fencing usually supported by drop boxes and/or humane destruction by trapping ( cage or spring traps ) ferreting, shooting and in some circumstances gassing.
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Rat Control
By far the most common rat is the brown, common, sewer or Norway rat. Rats are very unpleasant, especially when gaining access to homes and other buildings, causing damage to structures and electrical cables by gnawing, burrowing causing subsidence, leaving droppings, urine and hairs, destroying and contaminating food. Rats are also capable of spreading a wide variety of pathogenic organisms to humans and other animals. Infestation in urban areas is often due to sewerage/drainage defects allowing rats to gain access to properties. Control is achieved by an integrated pest management program including finding the source, proofing, improving hygiene, removing harbourages and water, trapping and the application of rodenticides.
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Squirrel Control
The Red squirrel is protected and is unlikely to be encountered locally. The Grey squirrel, however is a serious pest in some situations, causing a great deal of damage to woodland stripping bark from the trees and eating fruit, cereals and vegetables in parks and gardens. Squirrels gaining access to roof spaces can cause serious damage to timber, wiring and plumbing with resulting risk of fire and flood, from their gnawing. Bird feeders are a great attraction to squirrels, with easy access to food. Control is achieved by trapping with cage or spring traps, and in some cases shooting.
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Wasp Control
Wasps are useful insects, controlling other insect pests, but may become a nuisance and a risk to health. Wasp stings are very unpleasant and may sometimes prove fatal due to respiratory obstruction or anaphylactic shock, where death can be rapid. Access to wasp nests may be difficult and professional control is recommended due to specialist equipment being required. Food businesses attracting wasps may benefit from the supply and service of wasp traps and/or the supply and service of electronic flykillers.
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