Pest Control

Garden Ants     Bedbugs     Cockroaches     Fleas     House Flies     Mice     Pigeons     Rats     Slugs     Spiders     Wasps

Garden Ants

Are garden ants a health hazard?

Garden/Black ants are not regarded as a ‘significant risk to public health’, however they can be a nuisance when found in the home.

Where can they be found?

Garden ants are found throughout Britain and usually nest in gardens and areas around buildings.

They often enter homes in search of food.

Are ants a problem?

Garden ants can find the smallest of cracks in buildings, and if they locate a source of food within the building they communicate this to other ants and then lead them into the building to feed.

During the summer, flying ants may be seen emerging from the nest in large numbers.

This event normally lasts for only a few days.

How to control them

Remove the food sources, i.e. ensure that sugary foods are kept in sealed containers and that all food and drink spillages are cleared up immediately.

Some insecticides are applied directly to the ant nest.

If the nest can be located (usually on the outside of the building) it may be destroyed by pouring a kettle of boiling water over it.

This is advised for problems on a ground floor outside area only.

If the nest cannot be found, an insecticide may be used along the cracks and crevices where the ants appear (e.g. skirting boards) and this may provide a ‘barrier’ against them.

Obvious holes in the exterior of the building should also be sealed using a commercially available sealant.

Insecticides

When purchasing insecticides, you should read the label carefully to ensure that it will treat this pest.

A number of different types of insecticide are available for controlling ant problems.

These products can usually be bought from a local hardware store, chemist and some supermarkets.

Safety

Care should be taken when using boiling water and insecticides.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Insecticides should not be placed where children or animals come into contact with them.

Wash hands after handling pesticides.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Bedbugs

What do Bed bugs Look Like?

Bed bugs are wingless, oval-shaped, flattened insects, usually about 6mm long.

When they have not eaten they are pale brown in colour but become reddish brown to mahogany when fully fed on blood.

The head has large antennae and the mouthparts are well adapted for piercing the skin.

Young bugs (nymphs) are nearly colourless, becoming brownish as they mature and moult five times before adulthood.

The feet have claws and the legs are well developed. Bed bugs can crawl up vertical surfaces of wood, paper and plaster, but are unable to crawl up smooth polished surfaces.

Where do they Live?

Bed bugs are found wherever human beings sleep within a property.

They can be carried into the home on luggage brought in after a stay in an infested hotel or dwelling.

Bed bugs can also enter the home on second-hand furniture and in very rare cases, can be brought in on a person’s clothes.

They are nocturnal and spend most of their time hiding in areas such as floor cracks, under carpets, behind loose wallpaper or pictures, loose skirting boards and door frames, and the surrounding structures of infested rooms.

They commonly appear in the seams, piping and buttons of bed mattresses and on bedroom furniture.

Modern buildings often allow bed bugs to migrate along terraced houses and between flats, spreading the problem away from the original infestation.

What do they Eat?

Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, normally every 3-4 days and generally only in darkness.

Although human blood is preferred, they can survive on blood from rabbits, dogs, cats and rodents etc.

Bed bugs can survive extreme starvation and have been known to survive for up to 12 months without feeding.

What are the Signs of Infestation?

Aside from live sightings, evidence of faecal marks near cracks and crevices, on bed linen and bed frames can be signs of infestation.

If there are bed bugs in sufficient numbers an unpleasant almond-like smell may be detected in infested rooms.

Are Bed bugs a Health Hazard?

The close association of bed bugs with humans can cause a substantial nuisance through the blood feeding habits.

Bites often result in a hard, white swelling – unlike flea bites, which leave a dark red spot. Itching caused by bites and the possibility of secondary infection caused by scratching, is most common, however if infestation is high then there can be a risk of anaemia.

Bed bugs are not however known to be carriers of disease.

How can I prevent Bed bug Infestation?

Bed bugs are carried from infested premises in luggage, second hand furniture, etc.

Careful inspection of these articles should be made if there are any doubts about their origin.

Bird nests can also be a source of bed bug infestation.

How can I get rid of Bed bugs?

Treatment must be very thorough and should therefore be carried out by a professional.

The standard treatment for infested premises is the application of an insecticide approved for use against bed bugs.

The insecticide should be applied to all cracks and crevices where bed bugs could be hiding, including the crevices of bed frames, flooring, skirting boards etc.

Mattresses can be lightly sprayed with a water-diluted spray.

All bed linen should be washed at the hottest temperature that the material will allow.

It is recommended to avoid vacuuming for seven days after treatment.

When using insecticides, always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.

Do not use insecticide dusts on beds.

If you use an aerosol spray or any other insecticide ensure that asthma sufferers are not present.

After treatment has been carried out it is important to monitor for several weeks to ensure that the treatment has been successful.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Cockroaches

Are they harmful?

Cockroaches carry food poisoning germs on their bodies and are responsible for the spread of dysentery, typhoid and gastroenteritis.

They will feed on almost anything, including refuse, faecal matter and food for human consumption.

What do they look like?

The two main species of cockroach in Britain are the Oriental cockroach which is dark brown in Colour and about 30mm long and the German cockroach which is light yellowish brown, and about 12mm long.

Both species bodies are divided into three sections and have large antennae protruding from the head.

IMMATURE STAGES LOOK JUST LIKE THE ADULTS ON A SMALLER SCALE.

THERE MAY BE A DISTINCTIVE ODOUR DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF COCKROACH INFESTATION.

Where do they live?

Cockroaches are generally found indoors, in areas such as cellars, basements, kitchens, bakeries and heating ducts.

The Oriental cockroach can survive outdoors in Britain.

Cockroaches will often remain hidden during the day using cracks and crevices as harbourage.

This means that in most cases they will not be evident during the hours of daylight.

Most species can climb with ease, especially the German cockroach which can climb smooth vertical surfaces.

Cockroaches can survive for several months without food, but will not live for more than a few weeks without water.

Control

• Hygiene
  A thorough cleansing of the area should take place prior to the insecticidal treatment, paying particular attention to removing food and water sources and hiding places.
• Sticky Traps
  The use of sticky traps is not recommended for controlling cockroaches, and should only be used for monitoring the extent of the infestation.
• Insecticidal Control
  The success of the treatment depends on what insecticides are chosen, and how thorough the application is.
  Many of the insects and their egg cases are hidden in cracks and crevices, so particular attention should be paid to theses areas when applying insecticides.
  To control an infestation, the insecticide used should persist until the egg cases have hatched.
  This may require further applications of the insecticide.
• Insecticide Baits
  Baits can give continuous control of cockroaches over an extended period.
  The cockroaches will feed on these baits picking up enough insecticide to kill them.

Safety

Care should always be taken when using insecticides and the manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed.

Insecticides should not be placed where they may be accessible to children or animals.

Always wash hands immediately after using pesticides.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Fleas

What do Fleas Look Like?

Adults fleas are normally 1 - 4mm long, brownish in colour, without wings, but with powerful legs adapted for jumping.

Female fleas can live up to two years, during which time they can lay up to 1000 eggs.

Where do they Live?

Adult fleas live exclusively as parasites of warm-blooded animals.

The females lay their eggs after feeding on the infested animal.

The eggs drop onto the floor and the animal’s bedding.

After several days the eggs will develop into larvae.

After two to three weeks the larvae will be fully developed.

The larva will then spin a cocoon where it will spend a further two to three weeks before emerging as an adult flea.

What do they Eat?

Larvae feed on debris and adult flea droppings.

Adult fleas feed solely on blood.

What are the Signs Of Infestation?

• You will probably first become alerted to the fact that your pet may have fleas by his or her constant scratching.
  Your suspicion can then be confirmed either by seeing fleas or flea droppings in the coat.
  Flea droppings are small black specks mainly composed of dried blood, and they are usually seen in clusters lying next to the skin.
  They are easy to spot in light coloured animals by brushing back the hair.
  In dark coated breeds it may be better to comb the animal over a sheet of paper onto which any flea droppings will then fall.
  The identity of the black specks may be confirmed by adding a few drops of water - if they turn red, your pet has fleas.
• Bites on you or family members - in humans, flea bites can produce an allergic reaction.
  The typical symptom of a flea bite is a small red spot 5mm or so in diameter.
  In sensitive individuals, however, the response can be worse and the bite intensely itchy.

Are Fleas a Health Hazard?

In this part of Europe there is little evidence to suggest that fleas transmit any serious illness to humans.

However, fleabites can cause skin irritation and distress.

If in doubt, contact your GP for advice.

How did I get Fleas?

In most situations a flea problem in the home, is caused by the cat or bird flea.

These are the two most common fleas found today, followed by the dog flea.

(The human flea is extremely rare).

Fleas can be carried into the home by an animal or a person.

How can I prevent Flea Infestation?

Control

There are many stages involved in treating a flea problem.

In order to successfully treat an infestation the type and source of the flea needs to be determined.

This may require professional identification.

First, clear as much floor space as possible, to ensure that treatment is as thorough as possible.

Vacuuming all areas helps to remove any debris, eggs, larvae and adult fleas.

The vibration of the vacuum cleaner also helps to stimulate adults to hatch from their cocoon stage.

Pay particular attention to areas where your pet may sleep.

Remember to remove the waste collection bag, from the vacuum cleaner, and to dispose of it in an outside bin as you will have collected eggs, larvae and adult fleas while vacuuming.

The standard treatment for infested premises is the application of a residual insecticide, either as a powder or a liquid spray.

The insecticide is applied to all floor surfaces AND THESE AREAS MUST NOT BE VACUUMED OR WASHED FOR AT LEAST 10 DAYS AFTER THE TREATMENT, OR LONGER IF POSSIBLE.

Although new adult fleas may still be emerging from cocoons up to a month after treatment, there should still be sufficient insecticide to kill them off.

In order to achieve effective control, pets MUST also be treated with a product approved for veterinary use.

NEVER APPLY INSECTICIDES DIRECTLY ONTO PETS.

Pets’ bedding should be thoroughly washed at a high enough temperature to kill off all stages of the flea’s development.

Safety

When purchasing an insecticide it must be suitable for the control of the specific pest to be treated.

When using insecticides you must always follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.

Do not use insecticide dusts on beds.

If you use an aerosol spray or any other insecticide ensure that asthma sufferers are not present.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

House Flies

Fly is the common name used to refer to a range of insects that includes fruit flies, blow flies (blue bottles/green bottles) and mosquitoes.

The common housefly and bluebottle are the flies that most frequently causes a nuisance in the home.

However all flies are problematic as they carry bacteria and can transmit diseases via body hairs, sticky pads on the feet and through saliva and faeces.

What do Houseflies Look Like?

The housefly is 6-7 mm long, with the female usually larger than the male.

The female can be distinguished by the relatively wide space between the eyes (in males, the eyes almost touch).

The head of the adult fly has reddish eyes and sponging mouthparts.

The thorax bears four narrow black stripes and there is a sharp upward bend in the fourth longitudinal wing vein.

The abdomen is grey or yellowish with a dark midline and irregular dark markings on the sides.

The underside of the male is yellowish.

Where do They Live?

Houseflies are commonly found where people work or live because of the warmer environment and ready supply of food.

Bluebottles, which are larger than the common housefly, are also often found in human environments, and are particularly attracted by meat and decaying materials.

Where do They Come From?

House fly eggs are laid in moist or rotting matter such as household rubbish, compost or manure.

Once hatched, flies can reach maturity in a very short period of time depending on temperature.

A female fly can lay up to 900 eggs during her one to three months of adult life.

Common houseflies have a flight range of several miles and can easily transfer from breeding grounds to the home.

A sudden appearance of bluebottles in the home normally indicates that a small animal (rodent or bird) has died - possibly under the floorboards or up a chimney.

Why do Flies Come Indoors?

Houseflies and bluebottles come indoors looking for food.

They are not fussy what sort of food they settle on, and are likely to be highly active once indoors.

Female bluebottles are easily able to find sources of suitable food and are often found in domestic kitchens.

Because of the way flies feed and where they are may have come from before settling on the food, it is best to make sure that food is covered, to avoid contamination.

Can They Cause Harm?

Bluebottles and houseflies go from filth to food in a short time carrying diseases such as gastroenteritis (tummy bug), salmonella, cholera and typhoid and they can also transmit intestinal worms.

How can I Prevent Housefly Infestation?

The best ways of controlling and avoiding housefly infestations are good hygiene and taking a number of simple precautions to prevent their entry to the home.

Drains should be cleaned frequently, particularly near kitchens, and waste bins should be covered to avoid providing ideal breeding conditions for flies.

How Can I Get Rid of Houseflies?

Insecticidal control using fly sprays (“knock down” sprays, available at most supermarkets) is a good, almost instant, way of dealing with flies in your property.

Remove dead flies immediately and remember not to use insecticide near food and preparation surfaces.

Insecticide may also be harmful to household pets and humans should not inhale it.

Insecticide is extremely harnful to fish.

Flypapers, while unsightly, are another solution.

Specialist electric ultra-violet fly killers controll flies, however their efficiency can be affected by where they are placed.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Mice

What Do They Look Like?

The most common mouse found in buildings is the house mouse, weighing less than 25g.

The fur colour varies between light brown and grey. Body length ranges between 60-90mm and the tail can add an additional 100mm.

Mice have an acute sense of hearing, frequently using ultrasound to communicate, and are particularly sensitive to any sudden noise.

Where Do They Live?

Mice live in nests that they build out of cloth, wool and paper.

Nests are often built inside houses, in places such as roof spaces, under floors or in wall cavities, and wherever there is access to a good source of food, especially during the winter.

Mice can squeeze through cracks as small as 5mm but mouse holes are normally 20-30mm in diameter.

Mice are mainly active at night and can be heard running about as they search for food.

What Do They Eat?

Their favourite foods are cereal products, although they will eat almost anything.

Most of the damage they do is by gnawing and ripping open packets.

They also spoil food with urine and droppings.

Mice will gnaw their way through wood to get to sources of food.

What Are The Signs Of Infestation?

There are a number of signs to look out for and if found, may indicate a mouse infestation.

• Mice Droppings
  Droppings are often black, rod shaped and 3-6mm long.
  Fresh droppings will be soft and moist.
  Each mouse can leave approximately 80 droppings per day.
  Common places to find mouse droppings are under the kitchen sink, under the hotpress, around central heating boilers and in roof spaces
• Smears
  These are dark grey marks left on surfaces by repeated contact with the oils in mouse fur
• Nests
  Sometimes nests can be found indoors for example in lofts, under floorboards or in airing cupboards.
• Gnawing
  Mice gnaw continually on materials such as wood, carpets, paper, pipe cables and furniture.
  Check for damage to foodstuffs in cupboards.

Why Must Mice Be Controlled?

In addition to the damage caused through gnawing, mice have been known to spread diseases such as salmonella and listeria, which lead to food poisoning and tummy bugs.

How Can I Prevent Mouse Infestation?

Householders can assist in preventing mouse infestation by taking a number of simple precautions.

• Keep your home in good repair.
  Mice only need a gap the diameter of a pencil to gain entry.
• Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, and by cutting back overgrown areas.
• Seal gaps around heating and water pipes.
• Ventilation bricks and slots should already have a fine wire mesh incorporated.
  If this is worn, replace it externally with 3.15mm insect mesh.
• Do not leave household waste where mice can get access to it, close dustbin lids and composters and do not feed wild birds to excess - you may be feeding mice as well.

How Can I Get Rid of Mice?

It is important to get rid of mice quickly, as house mice reproduce rapidly.

It is possible to carry this work out yourself however a Professional Pest Control Expert will always have more technical expertise and access to rodenticides that are not available over the counter.

If you decide to carry out the work yourself there are two options – poison or break back traps.

Mouse poison (rodenticide) can be bought from most hardware stores and most garden centres.

Put the poison in a safe and secure place out of reach of children and pets and ALWAYS wash your hands after use.

Use of rodenticide can take 4-12 days to take effect.

This may result in a localised foul smell due to dead carcasses.

Break-back traps may be set and these should be placed next to walls where mice tend to travel.

The trap should be baited with chocolate, biscuit or cereal.

Use several traps and examine them daily, removing dead mice as soon as they are discovered.

All traps should be handled with care.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: When using pesticides always follow the instructions on the label.

Remember that pesticides may be harmful to other animals e.g. household pets etc.

Pigeons

Are pigeons a health hazard?

Pigeons are regarded as unacceptable, especially in large numbers.

They are regarded as potential transmitters of disease.

Are they a problem?

Problems may arise when pigeons roost on buildings as they foul from ledges and other nesting or roosting areas.

Their droppings cause an unsightly mess and may also cause ‘slip’ hazards on walkways and pavements.

A BUILD UP OF PIGEON DROPPINGS MAY PROVIDE A FOOD SOURCE FOR A RANGE OF FLY SPECIES.

PARTICULARLY in PIGEON LOFTS.

THEIR PARASITES - FLEAS AND MITES CAN CAUSE NUISANCE TO HUMANS.

Pigeons can also cause a noise nuisance to people living and working in the area.

What happens if we feed the pigeons?

Many people feed pigeons.

The number of pigeons attracted to an area depends on the food available.

If pigeons are being fed, more pigeons will be attracted to that area.

All pigeons require nesting and roosting sites (e.g. balconies, window ledges & roof areas of surrounding buildings) as well as a reliable food source.

It is vital that food sources for pigeons are kept to a minimum.

There have been a number of cases where people have been prosecuted for causing a health risk by repeatedly feeding pigeons.

How can they be controlled?

If pigeons begin to roost on part of your property a number of remedial measures can be taken:

i) Attempts can be made to ‘scare’ the pigeons away and to let them know that it is not a suitable nesting place (e.g. fixing a piece of string with silver foil attached or a plastic carrier bag to the area).

ii) You can remove any food sources available to them, in the immediate area.

iii) There are many products available to professional pest controllers that prevent pigeons from landing on areas such as ledges, roofs, balconies.
It is best to seek expert advice on these products.

If you are a housing executive tenant the maintenance department may be able to give you advice on how to deal with this problem.

If you are a private owner/ tenant, you may have to contact a private Pest Control Company who would normally be willing to give you a quote for pigeon proofing at your property.

All pigeon proofing work should be carried out by an experience professional.

This is due to this pests’ ability to adapt to obstructions.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Rats

What Do Rats Look Like?

The common rat typically has brownish fur on its back and is grey underneath, but colour can vary from white through to black.

The adult body length is 200-270mm, plus a tail length of 150-200mm.

The ship rat (smaller, black and with hairless ears) is nowadays rarely encountered in Britain.

Rats have excellent senses of smell and taste, but their sight is very poor.

They have an acute sense of hearing, frequently using ultrasound to communicate, and are particularly sensitive to any sudden noise.

Where Do They Live?

Common rats live in any situation that provides food, water and shelter.

In homes, they will live in roof spaces, wall cavities or under floorboards.

In gardens, they will burrow into compost heaps and grassy banks or under sheds.

Rats are often found living in sewer systems; they are agile climbers and excellent swimmers.

What Do They Eat?

Preferred foods are cereal products, although rats are omnivorous and will eat almost anything that humans eat.

Most damage caused by rats is through gnawing and ripping open packets of food.

They also spoil and contaminate food with urine, droppings and hairs.

Up to 5% of food produced worldwide is lost as a result of rodent activity.

Unlike mice, rats require water every day.

What Are The Signs of Infestation?

• Sightings of live rats or droppings
  Rats are particularly active at night, but may be seen during the day searching for food, water or shelter.
  Common rat droppings are capsule-shaped, (tapered at both ends), black and up to 12mm long.
  A rat will leave about 50 droppings a day.
  Fresh droppings will be soft and moist.
• Runs
  Rats follow the same routes when travelling and leave trails through grass and low vegetation.
• Footprints, smears and tail swipes
  These can be seen on muddy or dusty surfaces.
  Smears are dark grey marks left on surfaces by repeated contact with the oils in rat fur.
• Burrows
  Rats can build complex tunnel systems, which often extend deep into the ground.
  Entrance holes 70-120mm in diameter will be seen in grassy banks, under tree roots and at the edge of paving or drain cover surrounds
• Nests
  Sometimes nests can be found indoors, in lofts or under floorboards
• Gnawing
  Rats gnaw continually to wear down their front teeth, even on non-food materials such as electrical cables, pipes and wooden fixtures.

Why Must Rats be Controlled?

Rats can transmit many diseases to humans, including Salmonellosis (food poisoning) and Weils disease, usually from the urine of infected rats.

Rats may also cause considerable damage to buildings, foundations and other structures due to gnawing and burrowing.

How Can I Prevent Rat Infestation?

Householders can assist in preventing rat infestation by taking a number of simple precautions.

- Keep your home in good repair; rats only need a gap of 125mm to gain entry.
- Remove potential nesting sites by keeping yards and gardens clean and tidy, and by cutting back overgrown areas.
- Ensure that drain inspection covers are in place and are in good repair.
- Seal gaps around heating and water pipes.
- Ventilation bricks and slots should already have a fine wire mesh incorporated.
If this is worn, replace it externally with 3.15mm insect mesh.
- Do not leave household waste where rats can get access to it, close dustbin lids and composters and do not feed wild birds to excess - you may be feeding rats as well.

How Can I Get Rid of Rats?

Rats are adaptable, highly mobile and breed rapidly to produce large rat infestations.

This combination can make rat control a difficult task for the untrained individual.

If you decide to carry out the work yourself there are two options – poison or break back traps.

Poison (rodenticide) can be bought from most hardware stores and most garden centres.

Put the poison in a safe and secure place out of reach of children and pets and ALWAYS wash your hands after use.

Use of rodenticide can take 4-12 days to take effect.

This may result in a localised foul smell due to dead carcasses.

Break-back traps should be placed next to walls where rats tend to travel.

The trap should be baited with chocolate, biscuit or cereal.

Most rats are wary of new objects placed in their environment and will avoid them for a period of time.

So do not set the spring on the trap until bait has been eaten.

Use several traps and examine them daily, removing dead rats as soon as they are discovered.

All traps should be handled with care.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: When using pesticides always follow the instructions on the label.
Remember that pesticides may be harmful to other animals e.g. household pets etc.

Slugs

Although slugs and snails do not carry disease, they may cause distress if seen in the home.

Where can you find them?

They occur naturally throughout Britain, and are mostly found outdoors.

They do however occasionally make their way inside and can be found in damp rooms, e.g. cellars or kitchen areas.

This normally occurs after being brought in on vegetables which may contain unnoticed slugs or snails!

Are they a problem?

Although they are very unwelcome pests, they are completely harmless to humans.

How to control them

If the slugs or snails are causing a problem in a garden or outside area you should contact your nearest gardening centre for advice.

There are a range of slug and snail control products on the market and the advice of a professional gardener should be sought.

If slugs or snails are regularly being seen in the home, some relief may be gained by clearing outside vegetation and debris from the areas closest to indoor access points.

FAULTY DAMP PROOFING MAY ALSO BE ENCOURAGING SLUGS TO SHELTER INDOORS. EASY ENTRANCE INTO THE HOUSEHOLD MAY BE VIA GAPS UNDER DOORS.

If appropriate, slug pellets may also be applied in the immediate area to discourage entry.

It may also be advisory to check any purchased vegetables for the presence of pests prior storage within the home.

Pesticides

When purchasing a pesticide, ensure that it will treat slugs or snails.

There are a number of different products available for the control of these pests.

However due to their insignificance in terms of ‘risk to health’, it is recommended that pesticide treatments are used only as a ‘last resort’ measure.

Safety

Always take great care when using pesticides.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Do not place pesticide where children or pets can come into contact with it.

Always wash hands after handling pesticides.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Spiders

Are they harmful?

Spiders are found throughout Northern Ireland however there are no dangerous species native to the UK.

Spiders can live in many different areas but can cause the most distress when found in the home.

Spiders are predatory and feed on insects, e.g. flies.

Spiders in the UK are not dangerous and help in the control of other insects within the home due to their feeding habits.

All spiders kill their prey by injecting poison into them, from their fangs.

In the UK there are few spiders that are able to puncture human skin, and even less cause any significant problems.

Control

It would be wrong to suggest that chemical control of spiders is necessary in most domestic premises within this country.

Spiders are solitary creatures and it is not often that they are seen in large numbers in a property.

A large number of spiders usually indicates that there is a good supply of food for them.

Thus, by dealing with the food supply (e.g. small insects) you may help to discourage the spiders.

Spiders form an important part of the food chain.

They do not carry diseases and do not cause damage to property.

In fact, they are beneficial to humans, as they help to reduce other insect pests present in their vicinity.

Spiders are very clean creatures and regularly preen and clean themselves.

This behaviour is also applied to their webs.

If dusty or dirty cobwebs are found, it is most likely that they have been abandoned.

The best way to remove spiders, that are causing distress, is to use a cup or glass.

Place the cup/glass over the spider and slide a piece of paper underneath to trap it.

The spider can then be set free once outside.

It is appreciated that some people cannot bear the idea of going anywhere near a spider.

SPIDERS INDOORS DURING THE AUTUMN MONTHS ARE USUALLY SEEKING A COOL DARK ENVIRONMENT TO SHELTER OVER THE WINTER. TURNING UP HEATING SYSTEMS CAN DISSUADE INTRUSION AND WILL DRY UP ANY EGG BATCHES LAID WITHIN THE HOUSE HOLD.

There are aerosol sprays available that are recommended for use against spiders.

These may be purchased from supermarkets, DIY stores or supermarkets.

It is recommended that chemicals only be used as a last resort.

ANY SUSPECTED NON-NATIVE SPIDERS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITES AS A PRECAUTION.

THESE ARE BECOMING MORE COMMON DUE TO INCREASED FRUIT IMPORTS.

Safety

Care should always be taken when using insecticides and the manufacturer’s instructions should always be followed.

Insecticides should not be placed where they may be accessible to children or animals.

Always wash hands immediately after using pesticides.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

Wasps

What do Wasps Look Like?

Although similar in size to bees, wasps are distinctive in their appearance because of their narrow waist and bright yellow and black banding.

Wasps have two pairs of interlocking wings.

Depending upon their species they are usually 1 - 2 cm in length, the most common being the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the German wasp (Vespula germanica).

Wasps are aggressive when disturbed or frightened and it is not advisable to try to treat large nests or infestations yourself.

Where do they Live?

Wasps live in nests that are typically found in roof spaces, airbricks, cavity walls, garden sheds, trees and even in rockeries and flowerbeds if left undisturbed.

The nest is usually constructed from chewed bark and dried timber mixed with saliva and is a light grey/beige colour with a papery appearance.

If undisturbed and built in an unrestricted space, the nest can measure up to 90 - 120 cm in circumference towards the end of the summer months.

A nest this size would contain between 3000 - 5,000 individual wasps.

New nests are formed each year by queen wasps that have hibernated over the winter.

Depending on the weather, nests can be found in late spring / early summer.

The wasps die in the autumn and the nest is never reused.

I am already seeing large wasps in early spring.

Why is this?

These are queen wasps and they are coming out of hibernation - this sometimes happens even in late winter during warm weather.

There may be several together and they are larger than normal wasps.

It is unlikely that there will be a nest at this time of year.

Queens can be killed with a flying insect spray - thus preventing a potential nest being built.

Can Wasps Cause Harm?

Wasps are aggressive when disturbed and will sting.

This is painful and may cause redness and / or swelling but a sting is not normally serious, unless you are stung around the face, mouth, throat or tongue or suffer an allergic reaction to stings (known as anaphylactic shock).

In these cases you should get immediate medical attention, as severe anaphylactic shock can be fatal.

I have found a dead nest. What should I do?

Wasps never re-use an old nest, so if you are certain that there is no activity it can simply be removed and disposed of.

Any nest found during the winter will be dead and can be safely removed.

How Can I Get Rid of Live Wasps’ Nests?

If you have a live nest that is not bothering you, then it is not essential to destroy it.

However, nests can cause problems for your neighbours, so bear this in mind when deciding what to do.

Wasps can be very aggressive and if a nest is causing a nuisance then it is best treated professionally.

Insecticides that destroy wasps’ nests can be purchased from garden centres and DIY stores.

If you do decide to treat the nest yourself, do so late at night when the nest is quiet and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

How Can I Get Rid of Wasps Indoors?

Insecticidal control using fly sprays (“knock down” sprays, available at most supermarkets) is a good, almost instant, way of dealing with the problem.

Remove dead insects immediately and remember not to use insecticide near food and preparation surfaces.

Insecticide may also be harmful to household pets and fish and humans should not inhale it.

Seek professional advice from the Council’s Environmental Health Service if you require any assistance.

Warning: Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.