Author Archives: apc

1. Rats In The Stables

   October 13, 2009 12:21 pm Leave a Comment

   Horse stables can extend to many acres, however if a rodent problem is causing both health and aesthetic issues, it may be time to ditch your traps and call in the professionals.

   While horse trainers and owners are not unaccustomed to seeing rodents in a stable environment, what with the abundant straw and open-air structure, the amount of rats taking up residency can cause health and aesthetic issues if the numbers continue to grow.

   Although stable properties can extend to many acres, the real focus needs to be on the actual stable buildings, including roof spaces, stalls and drains.

   Stable properties can suffer from sanitation issues, however if the straw is cleaned and changed regularly and offices are clean and tidy, then you can be assured that as the stable owner / manager, you are doing the required amount to reduce the chances of your stable becoming the target of an infestation.

   Unfortunately, clean stables do become welcome refuges for rodents due to the shelter and food that they provide. When doing corrective baiting in places where there is so much food competition already, it is common practice to mix baits together thus ensuring the best possible results in the least amount of time.

   Low-profile baiting stations are used thus ensuring that the horses do not come into contact with the poisons used. The design of a low-profile unit also means that they can be placed in tight spaces, including between the horse stall bars and window wells.

   Snap traps are also useful in these situations, and a bait combination of chocolate and peanut butter seems to go down a treat. By placing the traps on rat tracks, rub marks and other telltale signs of rat infestations will ensure the best success rate.

   If the traps are being placed within the roof spaces of the stables, it is important to ensure that there is no risk of the trap falling down onto the horses below and spooking them. Strong teeth and keenly balanced trap ensure that the rats will be held in place, even when perched on a beam.

   Installing perimeter trapping systems ensures that should any rats return to the stables following the original knockdown phase, they will quickly be identified, and further steps can be taken.

2. Second Homeowners

   12:21 pm Leave a Comment

   Properties left unattended for months on end run the risk of becoming home to a wide variety of pests and other creepy-crawlies.

   Second homeowners may find their vacation properties have become home to such crib crashing critters as squirrels, mice, birds, spiders, ants and wasps.

   With the purchase of vacation homes on the rise, more and more second homeowners are starting their vacations with a common creepy crawly problem – ridding their getaway of unwanted pests.

   As more people purchase vacation homes in natural settings and leave them vacant during the colder months, it is only natural to discover that Mother Nature has moved in while they were out.

   "People are upset when they open up their cabin or beach house for the season to find garden ants in the kitchen, spiders in the bathroom, and small wildlife in the chimney or loftspace," said Cindy Mannes, Vice President of the NPMA. "If you don’t properly pest-proof your home, nature will find its way in through cracks, crevices, holes, vents and chimneys and can create a really dangerous situation."

   Insects can sting and bite, cause minor skin irritations and extreme allergic reactions in some cases, while grey squirrels can cause thousands of pounds in property damage. Animals that seem cute and harmless in their natural environment can attack and become defensive if they are trapped or have set up camp indoors.

   "It’s not something you expect to deal with when you are on holiday and it can be an overwhelming and unsafe situation," said Mannes. "If possible, second homeowners should try to open their home for the season prior to the whole family coming for their holiday, but either way, they should at least go prepared with the phone number of a local pest professional to safely remove their pest and wildlife problem."

   This is not just a problem for homeowners with properties in exotic locations. Attack Pest Control have recently become aware of a surge in calls to our hotline from people with properties on the Norfolk Broads and along the east coast.

   If you have a pest problem in your holiday home, or simply would like to arrange for courtesy visits to your property whilst you are not there, contact Attack Pest Control to see what services we can offer you.

3. Hasten Fleas Out Of Your Home

   12:20 pm Leave a Comment

   Fleas are one of the most common parasites caught by your pets. To irradicate this pest from your home, simply follow these tips.

   Fleas are one of the most common parasites caught by pet cats and dogs. Indeed, it’s thought that every cat and dog will suffer an infestation at some point in their lives.

   Fleas are not just an inconvenience. Their saliva is considered one of the most allergenic substances on earth, and a heavy flea infestation can even be enough to kill a small puppy or kitten.

   If you haven’t been practising preventative flea control, and you’ve found fleas on your pet, you’ve got a bigger problem than you might think. If you’ve found 10 fleas on your pet, there are likely to be another 2000 eggs, larvae and pupae hiding around your house.

   The first thing you should do is visit your vet to discuss treatment of your pets. The treatment could entail something that you put in their food, or an injection. Having established your pet on a treatment program, the fleas in your house will be unable to reproduce.

    

   At this point, there will probably still be hundreds, if not thousands of fleas living as eggs, larvae and pupae in your home. The pupae in particular are difficult to remove, because no currently available insecticide will penetrate their cocoons, and they are usually spun around the base of carpet fibres. However, once they have hatched, they can be effectively treated.

   We would recommend that a pest control technician is called in if you have a substantial flea infestation, as they will be best to advise you on the ideal course of action for your particular case.

   As soon as you have treated your pets, your flea population will start to decrease as they will not be able to reproduce, however for the fleas to disappear altogether can take up to three months. There are a few things you can do to help speed up removal of fleas from your house:

   • Turn your heating up. The warmer and more humid the environment, the faster flea eggs will hatch, pupate and emerge as adults.
   • Wash the pet’s bedding, together with any removable covers used where the pet frequents (such as sofa covers).
   • Vacuum the house thoroughly. Pay particular attention to areas where the pets spend most time. This will remove some flea eggs, larvae and pupae, though certainly not all. But the vibration of the vacuum cleaner may trigger more pupal fleas to hatch from their cocoons.

4. Bloodthirsty Bedbugs

   12:19 pm Leave a Comment

   ‘Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.’ This old saying may be becoming newly relevant. Bedbugs, which feast on human blood at night, are biting back in developed countries around the world.

   The current invasion of bed bugs into North America, Australia, and Western Europe is highlighted in a new study published by the Institute of Biology, London.

   It’s still unclear why the parasites are returning to cities where they were exterminated some 50 years ago. "The trend is very worrying," said the report’s author, Clive Boase. "Since the mid-1990s, numbers of reported infestations have almost doubled annually."

   In parts of London bed bug infestations have risen tenfold since 1996. In the US, the National Pest Management Association reports a 500 percent increase in bedbug numbers in the last few years.

   Similarly, in Australia, there were as much as 700 percent more calls to pest control companies in the four-year period ending in 2004, compared with the previous four-year period, according to the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR) in New South Wales.

   The bed bug’s dramatic comeback is perplexing. The rebound comes even as other creepy crawlies, such as cockroaches and ants, are in retreat from people’s homes. Possible factors fueling bedbugs’ global spread include growth in international travel, increased resistance to certain insecticides, and the introduction of new pest control methods that leave bedbugs unharmed. Yet the precise cause or causes of the problem are yet to be determined.

   In the 1930s, the UK Ministry of Health stated, "In many areas all the houses are to a greater or lesser degree infested with bedbugs." But infestations quickly receded once synthetic pesticides such as DDT were introduced following World War II. By the 1980s bedbugs were almost nonexistent in Britain, the US, and many other developed countries.

   No bigger than an apple seed, the bedbug is descended from plant-feeding insects that evolved skin-piercing mouthparts for sucking up blood. They are thought to have first gotten a taste for human blood when cave-dwelling humans lived beneath bug-infested bat roosts.

   Bedbugs are notoriously difficult to locate. They hide in mattresses and furniture, under floorboards, and even inside electrical equipment, emerging to feed only when it’s dark. Adults can survive up to a year without blood, allowing infestations to persist through periods when properties are vacant.

   Side effects of bedbug bites include itchy body swellings, and in rare cases – usually involving people living in poverty – severe infestations may lead to severe blood loss, due to the volume of feeding by hundreds or even thousands of bedbugs. While studies have shown that HIV can survive on bedbugs’ mouthparts for up to an hour, the insects are not known to be vectors for disease.

   If you think you may have a bed bug infestation, contact Attack Pest Control for advice and services to help rid your property of this persistant pest.

5. Change Of Gear

   12:18 pm Leave a Comment

   More than 60 delegates from 14 countries representing all sectors of the European pest control industry attended the recent General Assembly of the Confederation of European Pest Control Associations (CEPA) meeting.

   An air of optimism and dynamism was evident at the recent General Assembly of the Confederation of European Pest Control Associations (CEPA) held over two days (5 – 6 October 2006) in Dublin, Ireland.

   Over 60 delegates attended from 14 countries representing all sectors of the European pest control industry.

   The Irish Pest Control Association, one of the most recently formed associations, hosted the meeting. Their president, Brendan Ryan gave a warm traditional Irish welcome saying: "One hundred thousand welcomes to you all."

   Traditionally annual meetings can be formal and full of protocol, but Robert Stuyt, the CEPA president, was having none of this. A clear illustration of the increased level of vigour within the Association. Short and sharp presentations were given from each of the four specialist rapporteurs.

   An update on progress regarding legal affairs was given by Michael Römer, from DSV, Germany, in particular the significance of the draft European Services Directive. Sergio Urizio (ANID, Italy) who has responsibility for professional services raised the vexed question – is now the time to consider core training standards across Europe?

   Communication in all its forms is a key priority for CEPA and Richard Strand, now representing the Irish Association, sited the newly redesigned, and much visited CEPA website as an example of changes to come.

   Formal pest control market statistics within Europe has always been a neglected area. Responsibility for economic affairs rests with Milagros Fernandez de Lezeta from ANCEPLA, Spain. The air of optimism within the meeting was heightened when Milagros revealed that the 2006 annual CEPA survey showed an increase of 8.2% to €1,636 million in the European pest control market. This growth had arisen from the opening-up of several new markets and sectors, particularly the new EU accession states. On the downside, she reported prices for pest control work had fallen accompanied by an increasing social resistance to the use of pest control chemicals.

   Looking to the future, CEPA president Robert Stuyt, concluded by saying: "CEPA intends to build upon this new outward facing and proactive focus. CEPA aims to be seen as an industry driver, not just an administrative operation. The appointment of Rob Fryatt, as CEPA Director General, has created a new and raised level of activity and interchange of ideas. We are engaging with new industry sectors, in particular with the international manufacturers and service companies. One of the key challenges which remains is the generation of funds to support these objectives."

   The meeting concluded with topical presentations from international industry experts including Rob Lederer, executive vice-president from NPMA in the USA.

6. Control Of Meal And Flour Moths

   12:17 pm Leave a Comment

   Moth larvae can blight grain and food stores, but by taking on board a few simple measures, you can minimise the risk of these insects attacking your stock.

   The main pest species of stored food include the Flour or Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis ), the Mediterranean Flour Moth (Ephestia kuehniella ) and the Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella ).

   The larvae of these and several other species feed on cereals and cereal products and frequently destroy or damage large quantities of food in granaries and flour mills. They also attack nuts and dried fruit.

   Moths are extremely delicate insects, and the most common species in the UK have a wingspan of about 20-40 mm. They are usually more or less brownish in colour, although the wings of some species are distinctively patterned with contrasting dark and pale areas, and sometimes with reddish or green-tinged patches. The forewings are generally narrow and the hind wings somewhat broader, and both pairs of wings bear relatively short fringes.

   Adult moths cause no direct damage and it is only when the insects are in the larval stages (or caterpillars) that they attack our food stuffs.

   Caterpillars of meal and flour moths are generally whitish or pale-yellowish in colour with few distinguishing features, but often they can be recognised by their vigorous wriggling when disturbed. They feed on a wide variety of materials, including grain and other stored food products, and many of them live in silken tubes and tunnels.

   It is always advisable to keep household foods such as grain, cereals, flour, nuts, etc., in well sealed plastic or glass containers – this not only keeps out vagrant moths, but also prevents the spread of insects which might be introduced accidentally (often as eggs and/or larvae) with newly purchased goods.

   Control of Meal & Flour Moths

   • The best method of avoiding problems with stored product pests is good sanitation. Be sure that the areas where food is prepared, eaten, and stored are cleaned regularly. Leaving spilled food or food exposed in open packets and containers attracts and harbours these pests. Avoid such practices and, together with regular cleaning, you will probably never have a problem. Remember that crumbs and bits of dried food may accidentally fall behind furniture, under appliances, or into cracks in worktops, storage cupboards and drawers. Regularly pull out appliances and drawers and thoroughly vacuum these areas to remove all traces of accumulated debris.
   • Buy dry food stuffs intend for storage, such as cereals, grain, meal, flour, biscuits, nuts, dried fruits, etc., only in quantities that you will use in a reasonable length of time. Materials stored for long periods (e.g., six months or more) are often the source of serious infestations. Pests can develop here without being noticed. In any event, routinely check all stored food products, especially those that go extended periods of time between use.
   • Meal and flour moth caterpillars can chew their way into cardboard boxes and thin polythene bags. Always keep stored materials in tight-fitting containers, preferably of glass, metal or tough plastic. If an infestation should occur under these conditions (possibly introduced with newly purchased goods), it probably will be confined to a single jar or container and easily eradicated by discarding the contents. Glass jars should have rubber seals, and metal or plastic containers should have tight-fitting lids. Dried pet foods are one of the most frequent stored products attacked by moth pests, so it is wise to be especially attentive to the storage of these foods. If you find a container with infested food, place the food container in a home freezer for about a week, which should kill any livestock that is present. Then discard the infested material and wash the container thoroughly before reusing.
   • If a moth infestation becomes apparent, locate the source immediately and get rid of it. If you act early enough, this may be the only material infested. Examine unopened food packages thoroughly. If there is the slightest suspicion — be ruthless — throw it out. If the material appears uninfested and you prefer to keep it, then at least transfer it to a sealed glass, metal or plastic container and inspect it frequently. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove debris from cracks and corners of infested storage areas. Also clean all nearby areas, especially spills and crumbs behind and alongside appliances. Scrub the storage space and vicinity with very hot water and a good household kitchen cleaner or strong detergent solution. Allow to dry thoroughly before replacing food stuffs.
   • Insecticide control of household food pests is not generally recommended and can only supplement the more important steps of sanitation. Only use insecticides well away from areas where food is stored, prepared or eaten and then only as a last resort – for example, to treat inaccessible cracks and crevices in other parts of the house or building (away from food) where caterpillars or adult moths may have crawled or flown away from an infested food source and hidden themselves.

   The control measures described above for Meal and Flour Moths are also applicable to Grain and Flour Beetles, as well as other domestic beetle pests that likewise attack dried food products. For further information and advice on stored product moths, do not hesitate to contact Attack Pest Control.

7. Mating Interruptions For Moths

   12:16 pm Leave a Comment

   Pheromonones are being used to confuse tropical warehouse moths in a bid to slow down their reproduction rates.

   A leading food industry cleaning company is using science to disrupt moth mating cycles and prevent them contaminating chocolate bars. Hygiene Group is using pheromone technology to confuse male tropical warehouse moths, whose larvae can chew through foil wrapping.

   The biological solution — which uses insect pheromones in place of traditional pesticides — is part of a long-term trial in conjunction with Exosect Ltd, a research and development company which specialises in environmentally friendly insect pest control.

   An electrostatically-charged food grade wax powder soaked in female moth pheromone is used to attract male moths, which become covered in female pheromone. Other male moths then try to mate with the female pheromone-covered males, disrupting mating and egg-laying cycles.

   Hygiene Group pest control division manager Dave Maxwell said, "It’s called ‘Auto-Confusion’, and where we’ve introduced it we’ve seen tropical warehouse moth numbers decline. It’s not a stand-alone solution, but is highly effective when used alongside regular cleaning processes, and without it there would have to be more cleaning done with pesticide sprays."

   Hygiene Group has been using the process for three years, passing its findings and data back to Exosect, and expects to continue the trial for another year. It is the only hygiene management services provider using the process in the chocolate production environment.

   The tropical warehouse moth, ephestia cautella, is now indigenous to the UK, having been introduced via imported cocoa beans used in chocolate-making. Females lay up to 350 eggs in their short 18-day lives and can cause considerable damage to stored goods by feeding or by contamination with webbing or frass.

8. Bed Bugs Make A Comeback

   12:11 pm Leave a Comment

   Some people are definitely not sleeping tight with bed bugs crawling between their mattresses and sofa cushions. But what has caused this sudden increase in the number of bed bug infestations?

   The incidence of calls regarding bed bug infestations has risen over the last year. Calls are being received from five-star city hotels to council estates, all in dire need of a bed bug exterminator.

   The problem faced by pest control companies attempting to eradicate this insect is their resistance to pesticides, which has made it increasingly difficult to initially remove all incidences of the bed bug, and then to safeguard the property ensuring that the problem does not re-occur.

   The paper-thin bed bug is only about the size of a tick, making it easy to sneak into suitcases and between clothing without travellers noticing.

   This is thought to be the main reason that we are seeing a revival of this pest, and how they have managed to spread worldwide following a prolonged period of absence in the developed world.

   Bed bugs can find a home in tight dark spaces anywhere, and feed on blood at night while people sleep. They leave dark stains from their droppings underneath furniture and behind beds, and some are known to emit a "pungent" odour. Although bed bugs carry a social stigma associated with being unclean, this is not necessarily the case and can often occur in very clean properties.

   Chemicals that are most effective at killing the bugs, like DDT, have been deemed unsafe to use near humans so terminating the bed bug is a slow and intensive process, and requires occupants to evacuate the infested area for at least 12 to 24 hours. In this time Attack Pest Control technicians use insecticide in every possible place bed bugs might be lurking including furniture, walls, paintings, and clocks.

   What used to only account for a small number of calls a year ago, has turned into an average of six calls per week for the Attack Pest Control team. If you think that you have a bed bug infestation, do not hestiate to contact us and we will send a technician out to your property as soon as possible to evaluate your problem.