What are Silverfish?
The common silverfish has a long slender body and is silver in colour. They typically live in damp areas with a high relative humidity such as bathrooms
What about the Grey Silverfish?
The Grey Silverfish is extremely easily confused with the Common Silverfish as they do look extremely similar. They were first reported in the UK in 2014 and have become quite prevalent since then. They are usually larger in size than the Common Silverfish and have a much longer tail. They are also much more resilient with regards to humidity levels and can survive with a relative humidity as low as 55%. This means that they can be found throughout the property, and not just solely in damp conditions.
What do Silverfish feed on?
Silverfish feed on starch/carbohydrates. In the home this is typically paper, wallpaper or cotton.
What can I do about Silverfish issues in my home?
For the Common Silverfish to survive, they need a relative humidity greater than 75%. So any infestation of common silverfish is most easily dealt with by adjusting the humidity levels, either by the use of a dehumidifier or a desiccant dust. This is usually enough to solve the problem.
As the Grey Silverfish is more resilient to lower humidity levels, it is much harder to control a Grey Silverfish problem with this method alone. There are new gel products on the professional market specifically designed for the control of the Grey Silverfish.
If you would like more information about the services we offer regarding silverfish or any other insects, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
It is fairly well known that rodents like to have a nibble on wires and cables. But why? And what are the consequences of them having a chew on your wires?
Why do rodents gnaw on cables?
Rodents have very strong teeth, with a much harder enamel than on human teeth, which allows them to chew through materials such as wood, plastic and electrical cables. Unlike human teeth, their teeth do not stop growing, so they have to gnaw on things to keep their teeth short. Due to a gap in their teeth, called a diastema, they can spit any chewed material out and therefore don’t eat it. It is thought they particularly like cables due to their shape and ease at which they can gnaw on them.
What are the consequences?
When rats gnaw on wiring within houses, they often attack the plastic insulation on the outside of the wiring, which leaves the wiring exposed. In some cases this can lead to house fires. So it is always worth getting that noise in your loft checked out, because ignoring it can have pretty bad consequences.
It is not just homes that can have the wiring damaged. We have had several cases of them chewing through cables within bin lorries and cars. This has been in the news recently, as there have been many instances of this happening to new electric cars such as Teslas. They use a soy-based plastic insulation to protect the wires and even though this is thought to be more environmentally friendly, it would appear that it is tastier too!
If you would like more information about the services we offer regarding rodents, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
July is usually the time of year that we suddenly get an increase in calls regarding wasp nests, even though the nests may have been around since April. It is not until July/August that the nests become more evident as the number of individuals in the nest is much higher.
April/May – The queen emerges from hibernation as the temperatures begin to increase and she starts to build a nest This initial nest is usually only the size of a golf ball, and soon after she begins to lay the first eggs.
June – the nest grows slowly, and the first adults emerge from the nest 4-6 weeks after the first eggs are laid.
July – The nest starts to grow more rapidly as the numbers in the nest increase. This tends to be when you will start to notice nests on your property as there are more wasps flying around.
August/September – This is the peak of the size and activity within the nest. At the peak of nest activity there can be up to 20,000 individuals in one nest, however the average is between 2,000 and 5,000. Nests within loft spaces can grow to be very large in size.
October/November/December – As the temperatures drop and food supply decreases, the nest starts to decline and once some heavy frosts have happened, the nest dies off completely.
Over the winter months, the nest is empty, and the nest cannot be re-used in subsequent years. So, if you find a large wasp nest in your loft in the winter or spring months, it is an old nest that does not cause any problems.
If you would like more information about wasps, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
Electronic fly killers (EFKs) are an efficient method of reducing issues with flying insects. They work by attracting insects to UV light. Pest Solution are happy to supply and install a wide range of EFKs to both commercial and domestic scenarios. Below are some of the frequently asked questions regarding EFKs.
- How do they work? All EFKs use UV light to attract insects towards the unit, but there are two ways in which they kill the insects:
- Electric Grid – these are the zappy fly killers that attract the insects to a high voltage killing grid. This provides a quick kill and requires little maintenance. However, this can lead to small insect fragments being ejected from the unit.
- Glue Board – these have a large sticky pad in the machine that the insects get caught on. The sticky board will require replacing every so often, but they are quieter and more discreet so can be ideal for client facing areas. No-one wants to hear a fly being zapped whilst eating a meal!
- What size do I need? EFKs vary greatly in size and price, but they are designed to cover a specific area. It is best to start by working out the size of the room/area that needs to be covered, as some units only cover 20m2, and the larger units can cover more than 450m2.
- Where should it be installed? There are many factors that need to be considered when siting an EFK. These include where the other light sources are in the area, doors, location of food preparation surfaces as well as having a power source available. We are more than happy to provide advice on the best location for EFKs.
- How often do they need servicing? We recommend that EFKs are serviced at a minimum of four times per year. This includes removing any dead insects (either in catch trays or replacing glue boards), and an annual change of tube. The efficacy of the tubes reduces over time, so to ensure a high output of UV light, we recommend changing these once a year.
- What are shatterproof tubes? This a plastic coating on the outside of the tubes that means that if the tube was to break, all the glass would be contained. These are ideal for kitchen and food production environments.
- What about LED bulbs? LED bulbs are very new to the market and there are currently only a handful of machines on the market that use them. They can be much more cost effective, and the lifespan of the tubes is longer too.
- What about if it is just for my kitchen? There are small and aesthetically pleasing electronic fly killers on the market that are perfect for a small domestic kitchen. They are not just for commercial environments!
If you would like more information or a quotation, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
The most common ant in the UK is the black garden ant, Lasius niger. It is the only indigenous ant species that commonly enters properties in the UK. They typically nest in soil but can also nest under paving and concrete.
Reasons for control
- The black garden ant is harmless and mostly pose a problem as a nuisance pest when they find a food source and enter homes.
- Large colonies can lead to undermining and subsidence of paved areas.
How to control ants?
The key to controlling ant infestations is to get to the nest itself, which can be restricted if underneath paving or concrete. There are several options for controlling ants:
- Gel baits rely on worker ants picking the bait up and taking it back to the nest. Therefore, it does not matter if the precise location of the nest cannot be found. When using gel baits, it is common to see more ants initially as they are feeding from the bait before the numbers begin to reduce.
- Residual insecticide sprays can be applied in and around nesting areas.
- A non-toxic method of control is by reducing the food available to ants in the home. Good hygiene including cleaning any food spillages as well as blocking off any cracks where ants may be entering the property.
If you would like more information about ants, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
Pests, like all other living creatures need a steady source of food to survive. Often this food source is the rubbish we throw away. This could be commercial waste in trade bins outside or just a few crumbs of food on a kitchen floor. Here are some of the pests that are attracted to human rubbish:
- Rodents such as rats and mice are easily attracted by overflowing bins or easily accessible food waste. They can squeeze through small holes and easily nibble their way through bin bags. In the case of rats, they have also been known to gnaw through plastic wheelie bins.
- Birds such as pigeons and seagulls are also attracted to overflowing bins and litter. They can open bags to get to food waste and seagulls can also become quite aggressive.
- Flies can be a substantial nuisance around food waste both outside and inside. In favourable conditions, their numbers can grow extremely rapidly, and problems can escalate quickly.
- Ants do not pose a significant public health risk, but they can easily grow in numbers once they find a food source. When ants find a food source, they create a scented trail which leads the rest of the colony to the same food source.
- Cockroaches can be found in kitchens and are usually hiding in the nooks and crannies behind units and appliances.
Whatever the pest issue is, having good hygiene will often work wonders in minimising the impact of the infestation. Small changes such as regular emptying of bins, cleaning routines and blocking off any holes can prevent a pest issue from escalating quickly. Pests can spread disease through their droppings/urine, so any sign of an infestation should be dealt with as soon as possible.
If you would like more information about any of the above issues, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
Our aim at Pest Solution is to minimise the quantities of pesticides used and provide customers with targeted non-toxic treatments wherever possible. All pesticide usage is carefully monitored and used in a way to prevent contact with non-target species with all surplus material removed after treatment. This helps protect the environment for future generations. Here are a couple of examples of this in action:
- Mouse infestation in a garage – For rodent treatments we always consider non-toxic treatment methods first. For this situation, trapping is suitable and often the problem can be resolved without the need for any pesticides to be used at all.
- Bedbugs in a hotel –We will always recommend monitoring techniques to be used alongside treatments for bedbugs. It may be that by monitoring, it is evident that only 5 of the rooms have bedbugs, so only these rooms are treated, and therefore minimising the pesticides used. This is also a lot more cost effective that just treating all rooms regardless.
The professional pest controller is often in the spotlight with the impact to non-target species, especially when it comes to birds of prey and rodenticides. However, often it is the DIY pest controllers at home that are more environmentally damaging as they do not read the label correctly and often misuse the product entirely. By choosing Pest Solution to deal with your pest problem, you can ensure that steps are taken to minimise the environmental impact of any treatment carried out.
If you would like more information about the services that we offer, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
At Pest Solution, we do not just offer pest management services to clients, but we also offer a variety of training courses for those who wish to work in pest control. We frequently get enquiries from people who are interested in pest control but do not know where to start.
Pest control is an extremely practical skill and experience in the field is vital, however, to be able to use professional products it is necessary to obtain a qualification. Here at Pest Solution, there are two qualifications that we recommend:
- RSPH Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Rodenticides – This is a one-day course that focusses on rodent control. It is a really good starting point if you want to concentrate solely on rodents and is assessed by a 25-mark multiple choice exam at the end of the day. The results usually come back to us within a week, so you can get started really soon after the course.
- RSPH Level 2 Award in Pest Management – This is a much more in-depth course that is taught over six days and covers everything from rats to bedbugs as well as the legal aspects of pest management. This is a great course if you are looking to jump into pest control with both feet. It is assessed by three one-hour written exams.
There is more information about both of the above courses on our dedicated training website, click here.
If you would like more information about getting into pest control, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
Many media sites have been reporting that there has been an increase in rat infestations during the coronavirus pandemic. But what can you do about it, when they decide to join you in your own home? The best way to control rats is to stop them from getting into your home in the first place. This is a long term solution that will stop any future infestations. Rats frequently enter homes through drains and one way to prevent this is by installing a rat flap in the drain.
A rat flap is essentially a cylinder which fits at the end of pipes and drains. Inside this cylinder, there is a flap which only opens one way. This results in the flap being able to open and allow water and waste to flow out of the system, but not allow anything to come back up the drain system towards the property. It is a highly effective way of stopping rat entry via the drains.
Choosing and fitting the wrong type of rat flap can result in rats still being able to access your property. Fitting the rat flap in the right place provides a long lasting and reliable way to prevent rats. Here are a few top tips for rat flaps:
- The material – forget about anything made from plastic! These are a cheap alternative, but rats will easily gnaw their way through and you will still have rats entering your property. We always recommend stainless steel rat flaps as they are the most durable.
- The location – this is very important as if the rat flap is installed in the incorrect location, the rats may find a different route into the property, and the problem will just have moved.
- The flow rate – installing a rat flap where there is a very high flow rate of water can lead to breakages of the rat flap and in some cases result in rats still being able to enter.
- Ownership of the drain – check with your local authority as some drains and pipes belong to the water board, so it’s important to make sure the drainage system is yours before installation.
If you would like more information about rat flaps or would like one installed in your drain, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
It’s reached that time of the year to have the annual venture into the loft to get the Christmas decorations out. Some people have had theirs out for weeks already, others are yet to carry this job out. The last thing anybody wants to find is unexpected visitors in the loft in amongst the decorations. The most common visitors of lofts at this time of year are rodents and cluster flies.
If you have found evidence on pest activity in your loft and would like more information about the services we offer, get in touch with Pest Solution’s friendly and knowledgeable staff by clicking here.
Christmas opening hours
The whole team at Pest Solution will be working up to 5pm on Christmas Eve. However from Friday 25th December to Sunday 3rd January inclusive, we will be operating on emergency visits only. If you require any assistance during this period, please either call the main office number, 01284 766362 and leave a voicemail or drop us an email at info@pestosolution.co.uk. We will be operating as usual from Monday 4th January 2021.
We wish all our customers a very merry Christmas and we all look forward to a more positive 2021.