Pest Services in South West London - Squirrel Control in South West London - Fumigation in South West London

Mice are an extremely common pest. Found in many homes around the world, they can make our homes feel dirty. People can become very alarmed when they see or hear them, and many people suffer from “rodent phobia”. Mice live in families of 7, consisting usually of 1 dominant male, 2 sub- dominant males and 4 females. They urinate a great amount for such small creatures. 1 mouse can urinate up to 3 litres per annum and this is usually around where they feed. A mouse only needs a small amount of food to satisfy its hunger, and because the mouse knows it’s under threat it eats little and often (sporadic feeding). They are extremely versatile and are able to customise to any given environment. Mice are rodents and rodents need to gnaw constantly to avoid their teeth growing back into their skulls, they can gnaw through anything from wood to cooper wiring. Mice account for more household fires than actually reported, for such a small creature they can be such a big problem, especially when left to infest.
Identification:
The house mouse has a shorter tail than other species of the mouse family, it’s colour varies, grey, brown or almost black and normally they have a grey belly. Weight is usually no greater then 15g. They have small eyes, large ears and are 6cm-9cm head and body, tails are usually 10cms in adults.
Habitat and breeding:
Mice can live just about any where. They use wall cavities to travel in and out of homes and find entry points near piping and floor boards. 82% of our mice work is conducted in kitchens as this is an obvious source of food. A few scraps or crumbs can satisfy it’s hunger until its next feed. It’s rare that a mouse will reach 1 year old, which is why they breed so frequently. Gestation takes 21 days, litter sizes vary between 4 to 16, weaning usually 3 to 4 weeks and young are sexually mature by week 9. 1 female will have 7 to 8 litters per year. A mouse weighs 1g at birth and is the size of a baked bean. Nesting is made up of fabrics and soft materials often gnawed from human homes.
Control:
Your technician will complete both a survey and a C.O.S.H.H assessment strategically place bait stations in places where the mice will feed little and often. Other options include;

• Brake Back Traps
• Sticky Traps
• Contact Gel

Worldwide Rats are the most destructive pests known to man. They are a known source of numerous diseases afflicting humans and domestic animals. Their urine when left in water/puddles/wet can carry leptosporosis, trichinosis, typos, tularaemia, rabies, salmonella and hanta virus. Because of their unsanitary habits, secondary infections from Rat bites can be fatal. RATS ARE A SERIOUS HAZARD TO PUBLIC HEALTH. The most common Rat in the U.K is the Brown Rat.
For this creature to survive it needs food, water and shelter- all available from us humans. The female requires these three elements to nest. When indoors they will build their nests in double walls, between ceilings and floors, loft/attic spaces and in cellars. The way in which they enter these places differ in every individual case. Treatment is imperative and should commence at the earliest stage.
Identification:
They are generally brown and weigh 150-500 grams. The average weight being 300g. Their total length (adult) is 440mm. The tail is usually 150mm -200mm.
Habitat and Breeding:
As a very general rule, Rats live outside, they enter our homes and businesses when in search of food, water and/or shelter. A sewer is a underground transport system for Rats with each man hole cover as a station. They will explore all these covers and find all the weak points in which they can create a new entry point.
Breeding is possible throughout the year, our milder winters enhance this and allow them to also live longer. One pair of rats can produce as much as 200 in one year. Gestation takes a mere 21 days and the process is repeated on average six times. They live for 18 months and are now growing bigger due to the high protein waste we now leave out for them.
Control:
On completion of a site survey and COSHH assessment your technician will establish the method in which he/she will control the infestation. We are able to use a whole range of products, methods and techniques to eradicate and protect you from future infestations. Rats are our speciality and we take great pride in our 100% success rate.

Cockroaches come from all over the world, they are extremely versatile and are able to survive and breed in many different climates. All Cockroaches are scavengers. There is a strongly suspected link with disease transmission in the “indoor” species of cockroaches, and a general public distaste over their presence in housing, and restaurants in-particularly, kitchens and hotels.

German Cockroach (Blattella Germanica)
Identification:
12mm-15mm, mid brown, with a yellow brown thorax having two dark brown stripes with long antennae. Wings full length in male but 2/3 length in the female.
Habitat and Breeding:
These insects prefer a warm and moist environment. They relish in machine cupboards, conduits and fridge motors. The female carries the ootheca (membrane of eggs) and deposits them, 4 to 8 ootheca are produced each containing 30 to 40 eggs, that’s a staggering number of eggs produced by one female( a minimum of 120 eggs). It takes 1-2 days for nymphs to appear and then there are 6 to 7 nymphet stages to adulthood. The longevity of the insect is 128 days for males and 153 for females.

Oriental/Common Cockroach (Blatta Orientalis L)
Identification:
17mm-30mm, dark brown to black very shiny and very flattened, the female has very reduced wing buds and the male wings are longer to almost the end of the abdomen.
Habitat and Breeding:
Mainly in heated buildings, dustbin areas, cellars, ductings and lift shafts. Colonies are often established in drains or services but sometimes in cladding and dead spaces inside processing equipment. Ootheca produced 5 to 10 per female each containing 16 to 18 eggs, incubation is between 48 to 80 days. Nymphet stages 7 to 10 to adult, life span 60 to 250 days depending on temperature.
Control:
Cockroaches are reasonably small and use all crevices, cracks and pipe networks to harbour a whole building entering all rooms via these routes. We will start our treatment with a monitoring and insecticide treatment process. Gels will be placed around the infested area and monitoring devices will be strategically placed throughout. Insecticide sprays can be used but only when it is safe to do so. Treatment is vital at the earliest stage as they breed and infest so quickly.

Sadly many of us see a Moth and tend to ignore it as we believe they will just go away, this can be a costly mistake. The speed in which the Larvae can completely damage delicate materials is often a matter of weeks and can turn a low level infestation to a severe one. On the initial visit your Technician will complete a site-survey and further to all findings will grade the infestation. They range from a level 1 (low) to a level 10 (severe). Some treatments will be much more complex and some will require multiple visits.

Most species of Moths that invade human habitations belong to the families Tineidae and Pyralidae. Some species damage clothing, carpets and other household furnishings. Others are common pests of stored food products and often occur in houses, bakeries, grain stores and warehouses or any food storage area, especially dried food particles such as grain, cereals, flour, nuts, etc. The majority of species are small, rather drab-coloured with little that is distinctive about them, and their larvae (or caterpillars) are likewise quite ordinary and generally pale-yellow or whitish in colour. Nearly all the common domestic Moth species found have been spread worldwide through commercial trading.

Clothes Moths (Family Tineidae & Oecophoridae)

Most of our household clothes moths belong to the family Tineidae. The adult Moths are generally small insects with a wingspan of 10-20 mm, more or less brownish in colour but often with a golden or silvery sheen. The head is rather roughly haired, with the proboscis (or feeding-tube) reduced or absent altogether. Hence, the adult insects do not feed and it is their larvae (or caterpillars) that damage our fabrics. Clothes Moths in general are dark-loving insects and, although males and spent females sometimes come to light, they are more likely to scuttle for cover than to fly into the open when disturbed.

The larvae are whitish in colour and feed mainly on dried plant and animal material. Clothes Moth larvae are among the few insects able to digest the keratin of hairs and feathers. The natural haunts of these insects are the nests of birds and small mammals, from where it is only a short step to human households in which carpets, clothing, and general debris provide abundant food. Damage to articles may consist of irregular surface feeding (especially on carpets) or holes eaten completely through the fabric, usually in association with the 'tell-tale' signs of silk webbing produced by the caterpillars. Moths are more likely to attack fabrics soiled by perspiration and urine, or stained by spillage of beverages and food, than clean fabrics. Furthermore, only natural fabrics are at risk, especially those containing wool or cotton - the larvae will not attack synthetic fibres (nylon, polyester, acrylic, etc.), so that clothing and furnishings made from these materials are relatively safe from Moth damage unless they are heavily soiled by sweat, urine, food stains, etc. Pipe-lagging, (usually left undisturbed and is often warm) is a particularly favourable site for these Moths, although again modern man-made plastic and fibre-glass materials are safe from attack.


Damage caused by Cloth Moth larvae.

Control of Cloths Moths:

Your Technician will ask you to thoroughly vacuum the entire property and replace the vacuum bag once this completed.

Controlling existing infestations of Clothes Moths requires patience, your Technician will need to locate potential sources and these can range from roof spaces to wardrobes. We may require your assistance in removing some items to be cleaned, laundered, dry-cleaned, frozen or destroyed (severe cases).

Once we have located or removed the main source we will commence treatment. In the majority of Clothes Moth treatments we use what is called a UVL fogger. This machine transforms a liquid insecticide into a gaseous vapour, the particles penetrate in all the cracks and crevices of the property and leave a residual layer. This is a very effective method on all sized properties and we have had a high completion rate using just this technique alone. We have non-toxic powders that we use to brush around carpet edging and non-toxic liquid insecticides for the use in kitchens and food preparation areas. We also use an extremely effective insecticide that has revolutionised the control of this particular species.

We also leave a monitoring device which has a visual attractive check pattern that Moths find irresistible, this is loaded with a non-drying glue with a unique lure (tineola bisselliella). This allows you to actively evaluate how effective our treatment is. These can be left in cupboards all year round (non-toxic) and are a good means of catching adults capable of breeding. If you have second/holiday home/s these must be treated at the same time as the possibility of a re-infestation will be high and unmanageable as cloths transported between both sites can carry all life stages of Cloth Moths. WARNING. Traditional Moth Balls (even if available) should not be used. These contain either Naphthalene or Paradichlorobenzene. Both chemicals are potentially very toxic. They vaporize to produce fumes which may have toxic effects on humans and pet animals. They are no longer approved for home use by the UK Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

Meal, Flour & Wax Moths (Family Pyralidae).

Adult Pyralidae are rather delicate moths with a wingspan of about 20-40mm, 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. The adult moths, like the cloths moths, cause no direct damage3 and it is only the larval stages (or caterpillars) that attack food items.

Caterpillars of pyralid moths are generally whitish or pale-yellowish in colour with few distinguishing features, but often they can recognised by their vigorous wiggling 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 adviser able 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 helps prevents the spread of insects which might be introduced accidentally (often as eggs and/or larvae) with newly purchased goods.

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 can damage large quantities of stored products in very short time spans.

Control of Meal Moth & 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 practises and , together with regular cleaning, you will probably never have a severe problem. Buy dry foods intended for storage in reasonable quantities, as many large moth infestations are found in products stored over a six month period. Moths can develop through all their required stages unnoticed. Regularly check stored products over this period and destroy all material if eggs, larvae, silk tubing or adult moths are found.

The largest moth infestation E.E has found in a domestic situation was in a large sack of stored dried dog food. High in protein and protected by polyethylene the moths found easy access as did four separate families of mice. These must be stores in large plastic or glass air tight containers.

On our arrival once we have identified the species we will check all stored dried products and remove what we feel is effected. Your Technician will have a variety of treatments available to the given environment. As we will be working in food preparation areas will use non- toxic insecticides and treat accordingly.

We also leave a monitoring device which has a visual attractive check pattern that Moths find irresistible, this is loaded with a non-drying glue with a unique lure (tineola bisselliella). This allows you to actively evaluate how effective our treatment was. These can be left in above kitchen cupboards all year round (non-toxic) and are a good means of catching adults capable of breeding.

Monitoring devices are left on all our Moth treatments.

Wasps have a bad reputation as they can sting up to sixteen times, unlike the Honey Bee which stings once and dies. The Honey Bee is under threat and it is important and imperative to stress that our operatives will know the difference, as we DO NOT treat against the Honey Bee (we do however know a local Bee Keeper that we highly recommend). Wasps are usually a major problem in the Summer months, they usually nest on the side of buildings and lofts in urban situations. They can become easily aggravated. If untrained persons touch the nests, severe multiple stings are common place.
Identification:
10mm to 20mm, narrow waist, distinctive banding in bright yellow and black, two pairs of membranous wings. Wasps are smaller then Honey Bees.
Habitat and Breeding:
A Queen emerges from hibernation in mid-April, constructs 10-20 chambers and lays eggs in each one, sterile female workers hatch and by late Summer the colony reaches 3,000 to 30,000 individuals. Males and new Queens are produced in late summer, males mate with the new Queens and then die. The Queen wasps in turn fly off to find an over winter hibernation site usually inside buildings or hollow trees, and the whole process is repeated.
Control:
Wasps are highly attracted to U.V rays and though a fly killer would kill many, it would certainly not control a nest. We use a very effective insecticide only available to professionally trained individuals. This can be a very straight forward treatment when we have direct access to the nest. Please allow a day or two to gain complete control and a week before the nest is removed.

Technician 01207 inserts insecticide directly into nest in a loft space.

Bed Bugs are an ever growing problem in the U.K, mainly due to central heating. In these conditions they can breed and thrive, eggs will only hatch above 13°C.
They purely live of mammal blood, rodents, dogs, cats and humans are the desired host. They are able to go for long periods without food, if fed they can survive up to 12 months without feeding. By day the Bed Bug will hide and the nocturnal parasite will awaken and follow our exhaling breath (carbon dioxide) and bite us from the waist up. Feeding usually takes 10 minutes and they can ingest 7 times their body weight. They are not known to carry diseases but when bitten some people have a severe allergic reaction. A bite usually causes irritation and many bites can cause pain. The stigma caused by bed bugs makes us feel unclean and it’s quite horrifying to think that a parasite is waiting for us to sleep to feed on us.
Identification:
Adults are a flat oval shape and are reddish brown, females are larger then males usually 4mm-8mm. The head is small and body is large with 6 legs, they can almost appear be a purple colour after feeding. They only have small wing buds but have well-developed antennae and compound eyes. The legs are clawed to allow them to climb up rough surfaces, they are able to climb upside down on ceilings.
Habitat and Breeding:
The Bed Bug lives in cracks and crevices. Bedside furniture, door-casings, under windowsills, behind pictures, in exposed floor boards, behind the skirting boards and in the seams of curtains are the most common places that our operatives find these parasites. An infestation can dramatically increase and get out of control in a very short space of time, this is due to breeding. One female can lay up to 200 eggs away from their host, they are usually laid at a rate of 4-5 per day glued in crevices and harbourages. Eggs are white with a cap on each one, 0.8mm-1.3mm long. They have an incomplete metamorphosis (egg-nymph-adult). They hatch into nymphs after 10 to 20 days. 5 moults are normal and 1 blood feed is essential before each moult. In all, from egg to adult takes 18 weeks and can be shorter if conditions are warmer.
Control:
On arrival your operator will begin a systematic survey followed by a C.O.S.H.H assessment. Once this is completed and both parties have agreed then treatment will commence. Depending on the severity of the situation you may be asked to remove and destroy bed linen and in some cases even the mattress. The whole room will be treated and all furniture within. We use a pressure spray that kills quickly and efficiently. We would ask you to stay out of the room for a minimum of 2 hours after treatment, your operator will open windows to air the room out. We have encountered many complex situations regarding this species and severely infested homes may need light switches and skirting boards removed.

Fleas totally rely on warm blooded animals to survive, and although they have a preferred host (cat fleas prefer cats and dog fleas prefer dogs), they can be found on and feed from other animals and people. As well as being present on the host, fleas are often found on the host’s bedding. Problems usually occur when a pet has been removed and the flea has nothing to feed on but us. Whilst cat and dog fleas cannot breed without their preferred hosts, they can live for several months on a diet of human blood.
Identification:
Usually 2mm-3mm long and brown in colour. Very large hind legs which are used to propel itself from floor to a mammal host. Their eggs are 0.5mm long and oval shaped and a pearly white colour.
Habitat and Breeding:
Fleas will live in rugs, carpets, bedding, cupboards and in cracks and crevices around its next meal. From egg to adult the Flea’s development time span depends on both temperature and food availability (usually 9-18 weeks). Four to Eight eggs are laid after each blood meal, a flea is expected to lay 1000 eggs in its short life span. Once hatched the flea larva will moult twice growing to 5mm and have 13 segments. Once full grown the larva will spin a cocoon and pupation can last months to years.
Control:
Your technician will advise that all pets MUST be treated with a special collar/drops available from all pet shops. He/She will then treat all rooms and pay particular attention to bedding areas of both people and pets. We have a number of options available depending on the given environment. These include insecticide residual sprays, insecticide powders, UVL fogging, smoke generators and irregular growth regulators.

Sadly, birds can be a very hazardous pest in urban environments. There are a variety of reasons for managing urban bird pests. These reasons generally involve health, safety or saving expenditure on industrial cleaning. We are able to control, deter, scare and/or remove;

• Feral Pigeon
• Starling
• Gulls (Greater B.B, Lesser B.B, Herring, Black Headed, Common and the Kittiwake)
• House Sparrow
• Craven Crow
• Magpie

• Netting
• Spikes
• Post and Wire systems (more expensive than netting/spikes but far more superior in appearance)
• Chimney guards
• Chimney Spikes
• Bird Barrie Coils
• Wire Mesh
• Daddi Long Leg™ System
• We also are able to cage/trap and shoot individual bird pests in the correct given environments.