RDA Insect Control
Crawling insects, such as cockroaches, carry a range of serious illnesses including salmonella, dysentery, gastroenteritis and typhoid. The risks of contracting an illness are particularly high in homes with more susceptible people such as children, the elderly or those fighting existing illnesses. Cockroach droppings have also been linked with increases in eczema and asthma. Whilst the distress and irritation caused by fleas is also very worrying.
Flying insects within the home are not just a nuisance, some flies such as bluebottles and house flies can contaminate foodstuffs. Many moths like the brown house moth and the common clothes moth can destroy many fabrics, including wool and leather. Other insect pests such as wasps can be a particular problem to those who are more sensitive or have an allergic reaction to stings.
WASPS
Although Wasps help the gardener in the Spring by feeding on various garden pests, the rest of the year they can be a real nuisance. Most people are only to pleased to be rid of these stinging pests as soon as they find that they have a nest. Although in some situations it is possible to treat a nest yourself with sprays from the shops, it is strongly advisable to have them treated professionally if they are large or in an awkward location, as Wasps are very aggressive when upset.
ANTS
The Black Ant is the most common Ant pest that you are likely to have come into your house. They rarely cause any problems other than being a nuisance by infesting your kitchen worktop and sugar bowl. With the latest professional insecticide gels it’s possible to eradicate the whole colony, rather than just reduce the numbers with sprays and powders brought from the shops.
COCKROACHES
It is fairly rare for domestic premises to get a problem with cockroaches, unless you have brought back an “egg case” in your holiday luggage. Most “roaches” turn out to be harmless beetle species a lot of the time. Commercial food premises and warehouses stand a greater chance of getting a cockroach infestation due to the constant intake of products from outside suppliers. Early identification and treatment of an infestation is essential as the longer it is left the more costly the treatment becomes.
FLEAS
The most common flea problem that you will encounter is from the Cat Flea. Most Fleas are “host specific” and can only feed off their chosen host, whether it be a Dog or Hedgehog, etc. The Cat Flea however will feed on Cats, Dogs, and feed off us. A thorough spray of the carpets and soft furnishings with an insecticide spray solves the problem very effectively. Any Cats or Dogs should also be treated with a specific Flea treatment at the same time, in order to prevent a re-occurrence of the problem.
CARPET BEETLE
The larvae of the Varied Carpet Beetle (commonly known as Woolly Bears) can cause substantial damage to wool-based carpets and products, as well as numerous other fibres and furs. Usually the damage is only found when furniture that hasn’t been moved for a while is moved and vacuumed behind, revealing bare patches on the carpet. A thorough treatment of the carpets with an insecticide spray usually solves the problem. Although sometimes a further treatment of the attic or voids with a ULV fog may be required to kill off any remaining beetles.
CLOTHES MOTH
Much like the Varied Carpet Beetle the Clothes Moth feeds on wool based carpets and clothing. Although it’s the larvae that do all the damage, it’s important to eradicate both larvae and adults to solve the problem totally. The treatment requires a very thorough spray of the carpets with an insecticide, and a ULV fog of any voids to kill off any adults.
SPIDERS
There are no deadly types of indigenous spiders in the UK although some very nasty spiders have arrived into the country on such things as imported fruit and vegetables (bananas have appeared in the news quite often). However that doesn’t mean that there is no such thing as a spider infestation which needs professional care to eradicate.
EXOTIC
Exotic pests such as Pharaoh Ant or Asian Longhorn Beetle are fairly rare in domestic premises. Food premises and warehouses are more likely to encounter exotic insect pest species, due to the increased likelihood of them being brought in on containers of foodstuffs from abroad. Early identification of any exotic pest species is advisable so that the correct treatment can be applied as soon as possible.