Author Archives: apc

1. Their Mother’s Love Them

   October 13, 2009 12:39 pm Leave a Comment

   Unfortunately though it wasn’t appreciated when they helped themselves to an early breakfast in the kitchens and left salmonella bacteria all over everybody else’s food.

   Unfortunately though it wasn’t appreciated when they helped themselves to an early breakfast in the kitchens and left salmonella bacteria all over everybody else’s food.

   They didn’t know you don’t open cereal packs and bags of sugar with your teeth and climb inside. Nobody had told them they were a major carrier of disease.

   Good thing nobody knew they had also done the business over the plates… the cutlery… the table tops…

   Then they would have been in trouble! – ALWAYS REMEMBER

   • Each female mouse can produce 60 offspring per year. They begin to breed when only two months old;
   • Mice are agile climbers and, when permitted, will gain access to all parts of a building. They can squeeze through gaps as small as 6mm in diameter;
   • They actually only need to eat 3-4 grams of food a day but will always contaminate far more than they consume;
   • Mice are known carriers and transmitters of a wide range of diseases including salmonella, listeria, and forms of meningitis;
   • They have weak bladders and will dribble urine as they cross work surfaces and climb over exposed foodstuffs;
   • In addition, each mouse produces up to 80 droppings a day and sheds hair which adds to the contamination;
   • As with all rodents, mice gnaw continuously and their razor-sharp teeth will damage pipe-work and electrical wiring – leading to floods and fires;
   • Look regularly for signs of mice. Droppings, damaged goods, black smear marks from their fur and teeth are all tell-tale signs;
   • If you think you have even a single mouse. GET HELP!

   WARNING – the presence of mice in a food preparation area is not only prima facia evidence of an offence under the food regulations, there is also a danger to health both from disease and damaged wiring or pipe-work.

2. Invasive Ladybird Threatens UK Species

   12:38 pm Leave a Comment

   A new ladybird has arrived in Britain. This is not just any ladybird, this is the Harlequin ladybird, the most invasive ladybird on Earth.

   A new ladybird has arrived in Britain. This is not just any ladybird, this is the Harlequin ladybird, the most invasive ladybird on Earth.

   There are 46 species of ladybird resident in Britain and the recent arrival in 2004 of the Harlequin ladybird is a major threat to many of these. It is also a deadly threat to many other insects, including butterflies and lacewings.

   The Harlequin ladybird is an extremely voracious predator that easily out competes native ladybirds for food. It is so successful that while native ladybird numbers dwindle the Harlequin ladybird flourishes. When their preferred food, of green fly and scale insects, is not available the Harlequin readily preys on native ladybirds and other insects such as butterfly eggs, caterpillars and lacewing larvae.

   Introduced from Asia into North America for biological control of aphids on crops, the Harlequin ladybird has swept across the US, quickly becoming by far the most common ladybird. In the last decade its catastrophic increase in numbers has threatened native North American ladybirds and other aphid predators, many of which are plummeting alarmingly as the Harlequins consume their prey.

   The Harlequin ladybird is also partial to overwintering inside houses in huge numbers where their defecations destroy upholstery, curtains and wallpaper. Despite this unwelcome and well-publicised take-over of America by the Eastern invaders, Harlequin ladybirds are still sold in continental Europe by bio-control companies, and it now roams across France, Belgium and Holland, with numbers soaring annually.

   The Harlequin Ladybird Survey is keen to monitor the distribution of these ladybirds in the UK. If you have spotted a Harlequin, please record it with the survey so that checks can be made on it’s spread across Britain.

3. Grey Squirrel Cull

   12:37 pm Leave a Comment

   A massive cull of the grey squirrel is to take place across Britain to try to halt declining numbers of the endangered native red squirrel population.

   A massive cull of grey squirrels is to take place across Britain to try to halt declining numbers of the endangered native red squirrel population.

   Currently confined to Scotland, Cumbria, Northumbria, the Isle of Wight and Islands in Poole Harbour, the cull is designed to focus on areas where red squirrels are being squeezed out.

   The aim is not to completely eradicate the grey squirrel, which have a population estimated at more than two million, but to control them before they have the opportunity to wipe our native species from the UK.

   It is thought the cull will use poison to reduce numbers over the next three years.

4. The Threat From Myxomatosis

   12:36 pm Leave a Comment

   If you have a pet rabbit, vaccinate it. The British countryside stands on the verge of the biggest outbreak of myxomatosis for years.

   If you have a pet rabbit , vaccinate it. The British countryside stands on the verge of the biggest outbreak of myxomatosis for years. Epidemics have already been confirmed in Dorset, East Sussex, Essex, Newcastle, Cambridge and Surrey.

   Myxomatosis is a skin pox first discovered in South American rabbits, who have become immune to it’s fatal effects. In the Fifties scientists introduced it to Australia and France to combat their rocketing rabbit populations, from where it spread to England, killing 99% of the rabbit population in 2 years.

   Passed on by blood-sucking mites, the virus first creates lumps around the rabbit’s eyes and genitals. Blindness follows. The rabbit loses it’s sense of balance, stops eating and develops a fever. Death typically takes about 13 days.

   Experts are blaming the current outbreak on the mild autumn, which has allowed the parasites to flourish.

5. Winter Pest Proofing Tips

   12:35 pm Leave a Comment

   This winter, as you crawl into your sweaters, socks, and hats to adapt to falling temperatures, pests with four or more legs may be crawling into your home.

   This winter, as you crawl into your sweaters, socks, and hats to adapt to falling temperatures, pests with four or more legs may be crawling into your homes. It is necessary to take steps year-round to pest-proof your home.

   Pests adapt to the changing environment and rodents can cause serious property damage in and around the home, so it is vital that you, the homeowner, take proactive steps to protect your largest investment.

   In late autumn and winter, the most common home invaders are house mice. A considerable health threat, these critters can transmit disease and have been proven an allergen to children. Mice are also known to consume and contaminate food, chew up woodwork and insulation, and trigger electrical problems by nibbling on wires.

   These are Attack Pest Control’s top ten tips for winter pest-proofing :

   1. Seal up any cracks and holes on the outside of your home including the entrance areas of utilities and pipes.
   2. Make sure vents are screened.
   3. Keep tree branches and shrubbery well trimmed and away from the house.
   4. Inspect boxes, grocery bags and other packaging thoroughly to curb hitchhiking insects.
   5. Keep cellars, lofts, and crawl spaces well ventilated and dry.
   6. Store rubbish in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly.
   7. Store fire wood at least 20 feet away from the house and five inches off of the ground.
   8. Repair fascia and sofits and rotted roof shingles; some insects are drawn to deteriorating wood.
   9. Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around the basement foundation and windows.
   10. Call Attack Pest Control to speak to a qualified pest control professional for additional advice and treatment if necessary.

6. Early Signs Of The Carpet Beetle

   12:34 pm Leave a Comment

   Early detection of the carpet beetle, and knowing where to look will help you minimise the problem of this pesky pest.

   Early detection of the carpet beetle, and knowing where to look will help you minimise the problem of this pesky pest. Often the signs are noticed during the redecoration of a room within your home. Bare patches on the carpet where the furniture has been is often an indication that you have an uninvited guest, along with the presence of rice-like egg cases.

   Adult carpet beetles are about 3mm long and look like mottled brown, grey and cream ladybirds; larvae are about the same length and resemble maggots with brown hairs, hence their nickname woolly bears . As they grow, they moult, so finding cast-off skins is the first sign that you have them.

   Act quickly as they’ll be looking for fabrics such as carpets and clothing in which to lay eggs. As the larvae hatch, they can munch through their surroundings, leaving holes like those made by clothes moths.

   Wide areas may be infested by the carpet beetles , so it’s important to trace the source. Birds’ nests or roadkill are favourite hangouts, so search the loft before you try to eliminate grubs that have moved down the house. Look for damage in airing cupboards, wardrobes and chests, as well as under carpets and rugs .

   You need to launder or dry-clean affected items and vacuum carpets.

   Attack Pest Control are specialists in dealing with these little beasts. Call our technicians today for professional advice and treatment.

7. Bird Flu In Britain Soon

   12:34 pm Leave a Comment

   Bird flu advanced across Europe towards the UK last week. Experts agree that the virus would eventually reach Britain.

   Avian flu advanced across Europe towards the UK last week. Dead birds infected with the H5N1 virus were found in France, Italy, Austria Croatia, Slovenia and Greece, as unusually cold weather in eastern Europe and around the Black Sea drove migrating swans, geese and ducks west.

   There was a serious outbreak in northern Germany, and one confirmed case in France, near Lyon. Poultry sales collapsed across Europe.

   Many EU countries, including France, the Netherlands and Germany, moved all poultry inside to protect them from infection , but Britain’s animal welfare minister Ben Bradshaw said its 20 million free-range chickens would only be ordered inside if the disease was detected here. The ravens at the Tower of London were, however, moved indoors for the first time in history.

   Gamebirds have fallen under suspicion as the potential conduit by which bird flu might enter the UK. After a wild duck near Lyon was found to have died from the H5N1 strain last week the British Government has been urged to ban the purchase of all French gamebird eggs or chicks, including pheasants and partridges.

   As many as half of the 35 million pheasants and partridges that are shot in Britain each year originally come from France. If any were identified as having the disease , a mass slaughter would be inevitable, in the run-up to the start of the autumn shooting season.

   Experts agree that the virus – which has killed millions of birds and more than 90 people since 2003 – would eventually reach Britain. The risks you need to know:

   • H5N1 is not a food-borne virus. Properly cooked meat is safe.
   • Britain faces an airborne assault on two fronts from
     • birds migrating westwards will last until March, when the weather warms up, and birds start migrating back to Siberia
     • waterfowl arriving in Britain from Africa in the spring. Nigeria, where the virus is rife, is a migratory crossroads for birds such as garganey and wood sandpiper that will head north.
   • Humans at present only catch avian flu from close contact with infected birds.

   Although bird flu is a new threat, Attack Pest Control has the expertise and experience to deal with an outbreak. If you have any suspicions of a potential bird flu case, don’t hesitate to contact us, where one of our technicians will offer you advice, information, and services in order to control your problem.

8. Rampaging Slugs

   12:33 pm Leave a Comment

   When a slug finds it’s way into your home, often simple pest control measures are enough to get rid of this pesky pest.

   Although not classified as a pest, slugs can be an ugly addition to any room and are most often found in kitchens, utility rooms, larders, and garages.

   Classed as casual intruders, they usually find their way indoors through cracks and crevices, and thrive in areas where damp conditions are present.

   As a temporary measure, Attack Pest Control recommend using environmentally friendly slug pellets, which will help control your slug pests, at least until the problem can be dealt with in a more permanent way.

   By employing preventative pest control measures such as moving foliage and potted plants away from all door and window frames, and investigating logged water drains and guttering, you can discourage slugs from entering your home in the first place.

   By simply remembering that slugs don’t like dry conditions, you may be able to discourage and remove the presence of slugs yourself without having to call in a pest control technician.

9. Avian Influenza Still A Concern

   12:32 pm Leave a Comment

   According to the Commissioner for Public Health and Consumer Protection, bird flu is now ‘under control in the EU’, but the danger has not vanished even if it no longer tops the headlines.

   Members of the European Union Agriculture Committee at a meeting last week, heard reassuring news on bird flu, which is "under control in the EU", according to the Commissioner for Public Health and Consumer Protection, Markos Kyprianou.

   Mr. Kyprianou said: "The first wave with affected wild animals has been sorted out. The impact on captive animals was minimal". He stressed however, "This does not imply that we can rest on our laurels". The danger had not vanished even if bird flu no longer topped the headlines.

   Decisions had been taken to help the sectors concerned, as consumers’ "rather exaggerated reaction" had led to reduced demand for poultry meat. The situation, he added, was being closely monitored in the EU as well as other parts of the world, such as Indonesia, where cases had recently been confirmed of human infection within a family from the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

   However, the Indonesian cases had so far not caused a change in the level of alert, said Mr. Kyprianou. He agreed that the situation in Romania was of concern for the country itself and also posed a threat to the EU. This was the only case on the European continent of a continuously growing outbreak.

   Romania had asked for help from the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organisation and had not taken up the EU’s offer of assistance. Mr. Kyprianou said the debate on vaccination was still ongoing.

   Financial assistance was earmarked for Africa, where the situation was not as bad as expected and would include training for the authorities. Meanwhile in the UK, Defra is currently reviewing its policy for dealing with the threat of avian influenza during the autumn migratory period.

10. Bird Flu Hits Fife

    12:31 pm Leave a Comment

    A positive case of the deadly strain H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in Scotland.

    Tests on the swan found at Cellardyke in Fife, Scotland last week have confirmed that the bird did have the deadly strain of H5N1 avian influenza. However, tests on numerous other dead birds from the region have all proved to be negative.

    Reacting to the discovery of a positive bird flu case, the Scottish Executive have set up a 3km Protection Zone around Cellardyke within which the movement of poultry and poultry products is restricted, and a 10km Surveillance Zone where farm and smallholding premises are subject to hightened precautions.

    Following the announcement of the infected swan, the DEFRA helpline has been flooded with thousands of calls regarding dead birds. DEFRA have been asking that you report any occurence of a dead swan, goose or duck, or three or more dead wild or garden birds together in the same place to their helpline: 08459 33 55 77.

    The birds may need to be examined for signs of disease, and DEFRA will advise you on what action you should take. If the dead bird is a single, small garden, or wild bird then you do not need to call the bird flu hotline.

    On confirmation from DEFRA that the dead bird is not considered a risk, you should either leave it alone or dispose of it following some simple hygiene precautions:

    • avoid touching the bird with your bare hands;
    • wear disposible gloves or use a leakproof plastic bag;
    • place the dead bird in a plastic bag, taking care not to contaminate the outside of the bag, and tie it;
    • place this bag into a second plastic bag, tie it and dispose in the household refuse bin;
    • alternatively, the bird can be buried but not in a plastic bag;
    • hands and anything that has been in contact with the bird should be washed thoroughly.

    This routine hygiene procedure is required to protect against any disease which the bird may have, such as salmonella or campylobacter.

    The current threat of bird flu to the UK is low, and it must be stressed that there is no reason for public health concern. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is also urging people to remain calm and to keep the Cellardyke swan case in perspective.

    Avian influenza is a disease of birds and very rarely passes from birds to humans. The virus requires extremely close contact with infected birds or their droppings in order to spread from birds to humans.

    If you have any suspicions of a bird flu case, an Attack Pest Control technician would be happy to offer you advice and information on what to do.