Category Archive: News

1. Controlling Periodomestic Cockroaches

   October 13, 2009 12:51 pm Leave a Comment

   Periodomestic cockroaches include all the common types of large cockroach found within the UK. Usually originating from outside, they will find their way into your premises looking for food.

   Peridomestic cockroaches include all of our common large cockroaches such as the American cockroach, but also some smaller species, such as the Asian cockroach.

   When you find peridomestic cockroaches indoors, they usually came from outdoors. If the weather is warm, it’s a good bet there are still cockroaches around, above or below the building, and new insects will continue to find their way inside.

   Inspect Outdoors

   In warm weather, indoor problems with peridomestic cockroaches should always trigger an outdoor inspection. Cockroaches may be in the landscape, on the building, in the loft, living in the drains or even up on the roof.

   Peridomestic cockroaches often hide during the day on the building itself. They squeeze inside cracks and crevices on the outside walls, under the siding and in holes around pipes and wires. They leave at night to find food and water, and may travel inside.

   You can drive cockroaches out of their hiding places using a short burst of a flushing agent. But flushing agents aren’t very practical when inspecting a building’s exterior. There are just too many potential hiding places. A better method is to inspect the exterior of the building one to two hours after sunset – prime time for large cockroaches to begin their search for food.

   Spend an hour or so and look for cockroaches emerging from cracks and crevices. Note all of the locations and inform your pest control technician who can then treat active cracks and crevices. These gaps should then be sealed to prevent cockroaches from using these hiding places in the future.

   Always inspect the landscape. Peridomestic cockroaches can reach high numbers in moist, shaded leaf litter under trees and shrubs. You may find up to 50 or more in a single rotting stump, a log, or in a planter next to a building. Don’t limit your inspection to ground level.

   1. Look up. Large cockroaches often congregate under roof overhangs. The roof gutter system is another prime inspection site, often ignored. Leaves and pine needles and other debris provide both food and shelter for large cockroaches.
   2. Look down. Check cellars and pantries. Look inside water meter boxes. Be alert to the possibility of cockroaches in nearby sewers as hundreds of American cockroaches can live in a single sewer manhole or storm drain.

   Habitat Modification

   Ongoing problems with peridomestic cockroaches indoors often can be reduced or even eliminated by pest-proofing the building or modifying the cockroaches’ habitat outdoors. Most of these tasks will be your responsibility, including:

   • Sealing cracks and crevices, holes in foundation walls, at windows, vents, doors, pipe/cable penetrations and soffits;
   • Installing door sweeps, thresholds and weather seals on exterior doors and garage doors;
   • Moving firewood, lumber and rubbish bins away from structures;
   • Avoiding heavy mulch;
   • Reducing moisture near foundations;
   • Cleaning gutters;
   • Keeping trees and shrubs trimmed, and making sure that no branches touch the building.

   For further information on controlling a cockroach infestation, please do not hesitate to contact Attack Pest Control, who will be able to organise for a qualified pest control technician to offer advice and arrange a site visit.

2. Booming Vermin Populations

   12:50 pm Leave a Comment

   Overflowing bins and pest control cutbacks are causing Britain’s vermin population to boom.

   In many areas around the country, the council has cut back its pest control services to divert resources to "priority" causes, most notably recycling. Rubbish is collected every week but unfortunately in areas such as London, overflowing bins are a common occurrence.

   The result is rats – and lots of them. Recent estimates put the UK rat count at between 60 million and 100 million and climbing. After three successive mild winters and warm summers, rats have become fitter, stronger and much more numerous.

   A female rat is capable of producing litters of 10, 10 times a year, and they have thrived as rat-catchers have been made redundant and rubbish collection has become less frequent.

   There is huge anger out there, and it will only get worse as more councils switch over to fortnightly collections.

   We think of it as a thing of the past – the last known outbreak in Britain was more than 300 years ago – but yersinia pestis, as the bubonic plague is correctly termed, is still with us. More than 38,000 cases have been reported recently to the World Health Organisation by 25 different countries in Asia, Africa, South America – and the United States. In fact, there are believed to be more rodents infected with plague in North America than there were in Europe in the Middle Ages.

   Of course, rats don’t only carry plague. Two out of three carry cryptosporidium (a cause of gastroenteritis); only slightly less common are salmonella, listeria (which causes septicaemia), toxoplasmosis (blindness), Q fever, Hantaan fever, and the lethal Weil’s disease.

   Britain has long been perceived as the "dustbin of Europe" by its continental neighbours. Householders dump nearly 18 million tons of domestic rubbish and nonrecyclable waste each year in landfill, covering an area the size of Warwick (109 square miles).

   Now, however, EU recycling targets mean local authorities have to change. At present councils are expected to recycle 25% of their waste, rising to 40% by 2015. Failure to meet the targets will result in severe financial penalties of up to £150 a ton. Adding to their woes is the spiralling cost of landfill, currently £24 a ton, rising to £32 a ton in 2008.

   The solution, for many councils, has been a combination of fortnightly collection and investment in recycling. Described by experts as "alternate weekly collections", they involve recyclable waste being picked up one week and domestic refuse being picked up in the next.

   Another big issue is sewers, where water companies do little to eliminate rats. In most areas, barely a fifth of sewers are inspected as a matter of course. The rest are checked only if something goes wrong. It’s not unknown for retired engineers to be called out in emergencies and asked where pipes run.

   Similarly catastrophic is the decision by 67% of local authorities to cut back on rodent officers. According to the National Pest Technicians Association, the result of councils charging for pest control – and people declining to pay – is an increase of 69% in the rat population over seven years.

   Attack Pest Control are the number one provider of 1st class pest control for the south-east region, and specialise in the operation of integrated pest management solutions. Contact us for further information.

3. Feeling A Little Antsy

   12:50 pm Leave a Comment

   The recent wet weather has been found to force ants from their nests into our homes, but what can be done about the infestations?

   Attack Pest Control have been taking an increased number of calls regarding ant infestations in recent weeks.

   Springtime is when ants always seem to appear in large numbers anyway, but if homeowners are seeing a few more six-legged guests than usual, take comfort: you’re not alone.

   Just about anywhere that’s been getting heavier-than-usual rainfall has been experiencing the same thing.

   So what does wet weather have to do with anything?

   Well, the same rain that keeps some people indoors and restless can flood ant tunnels and force them to go on the move. They nest underground, so the rain may be driving them out to search for new homes.

   Most ants found in the United Kingdom are fairly harmless, but that doesn’t mean that people want them in their home, or worse, their food. So how do you keep them out, or get rid of them once you’ve got them? The first trick: sort the garden out. Specifically, trim back any trees or shrubs that are touching the house. Those might as well be insect motorways, offering easy access to your home. Second, seal up any cracks and crevices in the house that you can find, particularly any leaks near doors and windows.

   Keep an eye on your ornamental plants as well for aphids. Ants feed off of the honeydew that aphids excrete. And of course, don’t leave food out if you can help it.

   Over-the-counter products can help repel an invasion, but read the label carefully to make sure it’s effective against ants and safe to use in the house. The most effective substance to use against an ant infestation is probably boric acid, which is very safe around kids and animals. When ants walk through it, it sticks to their feet, and as they groom themselves, it carves holes in their exoskeleton and they die.

   There’s a lot of other chemicals and substances that will repel ants, but those don’t really solve the problem. The ants simply avoid the substance and go around it. Most exterminators prefer baits and non-repellent chemicals inside the home – the sort that an ant will take home to its nest – along with spraying outside of the house and working with the homeowner to check nearby trees for nests.

   And of course, everyone has their own home remedies for ants. You’re always free to try what you like, though there are no guarantees any of it will work.

4. Cockroaches Trigger Asthma

   12:49 pm Leave a Comment

   The link between cockroaches and asthma has one again been reinforced by a new study by the NIEHS and the NIAID.

   In recent years, several large-scale studies funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) have reinforced the dangerous connection between cockroaches and asthma in children.

   One in five children in the United Kingdom have severe sensitivities to cockroach allergens, which can cause or increase the severity of asthma symptoms.

   These allergens are most commonly introduced into homes through cockroach saliva, droppings and the decomposing bodies of these pests.

   The presence of cockroaches in the home poses a severe risk to health, especially as an asthma trigger in children. Homeowners should feel confident in contacting a licensed pest professional as services regarding cockroach control have shown to be most effective in reducing cockroach populations.

   The professional treatment of cockroach infestations will ultimately reduce the number of allergens that can exacerbate a child’s asthma. Homeowners must be vigilant in preventing such infestations, especially as the summer approaches. Cockroaches are most active when temperatures reach 70 °F or above and these pests thrive in warm, dark and moist places.

   Attack Pest Control offers householders these tips to protect their families and properties from cockroach infestations:

   1. Keep food sealed and stored properly, particularly in kitchens.
   2. Clean kitchens daily, where crumbs and rubbish are more likely to build up.
   3. Dispose of garbage regularly and store in sealed containers.
   4. Seal cracks and holes in homes, including entry points for utilities and pipes.
   5. Keep basements and loft spaces well ventilated and dry.
   6. Contact a qualified pest professional to treat any infestations.

   For further information on cockroach control methods or to have an Attack Pest Control technician inspect your home, do not hesitate to contact us.

5. Bed Bug Encasements

   12:47 pm Leave a Comment

   Mattress encasements were once only used to help allergy sufferers sleep at night. Now, however, they are being used as a primary weapon against bed bug infestations.

   Bed bugs are proving to be one of the most challenging bugs pest management professionals have ever faced. The resiliency of this insect is nothing short of amazing.

   In addition to being capable of withstanding weeks of freezing temperatures and the ability to survive many months without a blood meal, we are now finding that we might also have to deal with some significant pesticide resistance concerns.

   With the odds in favour of the bed bug, the pest control community has been eager to welcome tools and techniques that help level the playing field.

   Problems with eradicating a bed bug infestation lie with the difficulty of eliminating 100 percent of the population from mattresses that have become infested. Regardless of whether vacuum cleaners, steam units or pesticides are used, bugs and eggs can be located in areas where they remain protected from such control efforts.

   Complicating matters is the fact that bed bugs readily disperse away from beds, infesting other environments within dwellings to include other furniture, personal items and even beneath floor boards. The end result is that discarding the bedding is rarely a solution – replacement bedding is more than likely to become re-infested by bugs that are still present.

   The Case for Encasements

   The use of encasements overcomes the challenges associated with mattresses and provides numerous benefits that can lead to more efficient control, peace of mind and cost savings. By properly encasing the new mattresses, re-infestation of the new bedding can be prevented.

   As bugs that are still in the dwelling migrate to sleeping areas in the days and weeks to come, they are unable to get inside of the mattresses, but instead are restricted to the exterior of the encasements, where they can be readily observed and eliminated.

   Encasements also can help people who have not yet experienced a bed bug infestation but are looking to prevent their mattresses from becoming infested in the event that bed bugs are somehow introduced into their homes.

   Proper Design is Key

   Encasements for mattresses are widely available in the consumer market, but have they been developed for the purpose of bed bug management? While in theory it seems like any encasement should be effective, it turns out that not all materials are bite-proof; not all zippers are escape proof; and the end of the zipper is a point of vulnerability for escape.

   For this reason, Attack Pest Control suggest that if you are looking to buy a mattress encasement to help eradicate / prevent bed bugs, you should ensure that you ask whether it is suitabile for the purpose you are going to use it for.

6. Elevated Wasp Population

   12:46 pm Leave a Comment

   A mild winter and early spring is leading to real concern over the growing wasp population in the UK.

   The pest control world is bracing itself for an elevated wasp population this summer. A mild winter and early spring coupled with low winter rainfall has given every opportunity for colonies to flourish.

   Early signs show that an unusually high number of the productive queen wasps survived over winter, finding shelter in sheds and attics. This has lead to an earlier than usual start on nest building and reproduction.

   With more and more people becoming susceptible to allergic reactions after being stung by a wasp, it is important to stay on top of numbers by acting on the source of the problem.

   The threat posed by wasp stings is a point made only more poignant by the increasing number of reported reactions to stings, which is becoming a real problem in terms of public health. An anaphylaxis reaction can be life-threatening, with reactions including breathing difficulties, chest pain and palpitations. Obviously, this is a worst-case scenario, but there are numerous other problems that can also result.

   Day-to-day life can be impeded by neighbouring wasp populations, with a real fear or unease felt by a large amount of people. This can bleed into business productivity, where staff spend a significant portion of the day having to deal with the unwelcome visitors.

   Although tempting, Attack Pest Control strongly advise against attempting to destroy a wasp nest, and to always seek expert help. The danger involved can be greatly reduced when the proper precautions and equipment are implemented.

   Early summer is the calm before the predicted storm, where the worker wasps are busy collecting food to feed the young. It is in the later months of summer where their duties are lessened that they are free to search for sweet substances. It is around this time where the problem is predicted to be felt most, with the high numbers being a real nuisance.

   The effect on the business of public houses could also be large. This has typically been a problem area for wasp infestation, which is likely to be worsened by the elevated wasp population and an increase in the number of patrons outside, due to the smoking ban.

   If you are worried about the effects of a high number of wasps on your business or home, don’t hesitate to contact us – we are always happy to offer advice and real solutions.

7. No Fleas Please

   12:46 pm Leave a Comment

   Thorough treatment of a flea infestation requires cooperation between pest controller and customer to ensure that the problem does not re-occur in the future.

   Fleas are a more difficult opponent to eradicate than most other household pests.

   By using an integrated pest management approach that includes you, the homeowner, as part of the overall, long-term solution, fleas can be effectively controlled and customer relationships strengthened.

   When facing flea infestations, the first and most-important challenge you will encounter is the insects’ biology, which mandates that different control approaches be used at specific stages of fleas’ four-stage lifecycles.

   At their most-resilient, the pupal stage, these parasitic insects are protected by an impenetrable shell and can lay dormant for months. This stage allows them to survive most treatments and return to breed and re-populate.

   To ensure effective, long-term solutions to flea infestations, it is often necessary to solicit your cooperation as part of the pest control strategy. Education is key as this will maximize the success of flea treatments, as well as ensuring that your home will remain flea-free once treatments have concluded.

   Without customer cooperation and pre-treatment preparations, flea management will unfortunately prove to be mere temporary, half-measure fixes to out-of-control problems.

   Pre-Treatment

   • Clean House – homes must be thoroughly cleaned immediately prior to treatments. This includes washing any affected bedding and cleaning up all debris and clutter that could act as harborages to fleas. Treating unprepared homes ensures that unhatched eggs and pupae will remain to feed and repopulate in the future.
   • Vacuum – vacuuming encourages fleas to develop out of their nearly invulnerable cocoon stage.
   • Knowledge – A list of specific areas, both inside and out, the your pets and even nearby wildlife frequent should be composed.

   Post-Treatment

   • Pet Peeve – Treating pets regularly is essential for their own comfort and to kill any errant fleas entering homes.
   • Cleaning and Cooperation – Regular and thorough vacuuming and cleaning of infested ares is needed every two to three days.

8. The Eco-Friendly Garden

   12:45 pm Leave a Comment

   With increased focus and interest on our carbon footprint, we should be turning to more eco-friendly ways to manage our gardens and the pests that are found within them.

   Kermit the Frog is fond of saying "It’s not easy being green", but thanks to concerned companies and people all over the world, going green has risen from obscurity to the mainstream in recent years.

   Gardeners and weekend warriors, along with the products they use, can be some of the biggest offenders in perpetuating a not-so-eco-friendly world.

   But today, more and more green-conscious products and tools are making their way into gardens across the UK, leaving behind a smaller environmental footprint than ever before!

    

   Traditional Views

   Typically, the first things people think about in an eco-friendly garden are compost and organic solutions to dealing with soil amendments and pest and disease control. There’s no denying, compost is king when it comes to an easy, natural way to creating a nutrient-rich soil amendment for your lawn and garden.

   Making compost is eco-friendly for several reasons:

   • It takes common garden and kitchen waste and recycles it into healthy soil
   • It reduces or eliminates the need for additional chemicals
   • It conditions the soil to become less water dependent
   • It improves soil percolation, reducing the chances of runoff and
   • It keeps waste out of landfills and reduces trips there by collection vehicles.

   Organic Pesticides, Herbicides and Fertilizers

   These continue to be the most traditional way to reduce environmental footprints. They are also a highly effective way to produce a healthy, abundant, beautiful garden that’s not only safe for the Earth, but for people, too. Beyond compost, natural products such as blood meal, bone meal, cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, greensand and rock phosphate are common ways to add organic nutrients to your garden.

   Pest Control

   Natural products are available to fight off pests and diseases and kill weeds, too. Traditional synthetic pesticides (a.k.a insecticides) are very effective. In fact, that is the problem: Only about 3% of all insects found in our gardens are actually even considered pests. The others are either neutral or beneficial.

   Most pesticides are non-selective. meaning they will kill any insect. That includes not just the pests but the good bugs too, such as ladybirds and honey bees. A more responsible approach is to select products that are either very specific to the particular pest you are trying to control and / or ones that break down very quickly when exposed to the elements.

   One of the greatest advantages to using organic products for insect control is not that they are less lethal or more selective. Rather, it’s the fact that natural products typically break down very quickly when exposed to ultraviolet light, making the residual impact minimal. However, because these products have little long-term effect, they must make contact with the pest in order to be most effective.

   Active ingredients in natural insect controls often include Neem oil, pyrethrins, canola oil, mild soaps and highly refined oils among others.

9. Welcome Summer Unwelcome Mosquitoes

   12:44 pm Leave a Comment

   

   The time of year has arrived where mosquitoes can be a real nuisance, but there are steps you can take to minimise the risk of being bitten.

   Mosquitoes top the list of summer pest concerns according o recent research.

   Although mosquitoes will inevitably continue to put a stinger into summer fun this year, Attack Pest Control offers solutions for homeowners on how to keep these backyard biters at bay.

   Not only are mosquitoes a summer nuisance pest, they have also been known to be a major health threat to the public as they can carry West Nile Virus and Malaria.

   Attack Pest Control offers the following tips for homeowners seeking relief from mosquitoes this summer season:

   • To avoid mosquito nesting and breeding sites, eliminate standing water and other sources of moisture in or around the home in flowerpots, water dishes, birdbaths, swimming pool covers, barrels, and other objects that can collect water.
   • Keep rubbish bins covered and sealed.
   • When dining outside, keep food covered until ready to eat.
   • Keep windows and doors properly screened to keep mosquitoes outside.
   • Be alert when outdoors during dawn, dusk and early evening hours when mosquito-biting activity peaks.
   • If approached by a mosquito or any stinging insect, remain calm and quiet. Avoid swaying or swinging, as this may provoke an attack.
   • Avoid wearing dark colors and floral prints, loose-fitting garments, open-toe shoes and sweet-smelling perfumes or colognes.
   • Plan ahead for spending time outdoors and wear mosquito repellant.

   Of course an effective mosquito control solution is also available by Attack Pest Control.

10. Plague of Mice Spreading

    12:44 pm Leave a Comment

    Householders are facing a plague of mice this summer, heightening the risk of disease.

    Warmer winters, the prevalence of rubbish on the streets and homeowners renovating their houses are all causing mice numbers to escalate at an alarming rate.

    New figures have revealed that homes and businesses with mice problems increased by eight per cent compared to last year.

    Although there is no accurate way of counting the number of mice, it is the second year in a row that calls to deal with infestations have climbed substantially, which can be used as a reliable indicator that mice numbers are soaring.

    The most affected areas are town and city centres, especially where rubbish is put out in bin bags rather than metal wheelie bins. In addition, the increased use of central heating and the popularity of home renovations – creating ever-wider cavities within stud walls and false ceilings – are making homes and offices the perfect habitat for wild mice.

    Homeowners are often unable to deal with the problem with a seemingly endless array of traps, poisons and deterrents on sale. People think a bowl of poison or a mouse trap will do the trick. But mice like to move around.

    A single mouse spotted in your kitchen is usually a male foraging for its family – and a sign that there are many more hiding beneath the floorboards or behind a false wall.

    The major issue with a rodent infestation is the serious health hazard that they pose to anyone coming in contact with their urine. Mice have the potential to spread diseases just as much as rats, as they cannot control their bladders and hence urinate continually.

    The best ways to keep mice out of the home is to make sure that no food is left out, all holes are blocked up, and the temperature of each room is kept down.