Mites, Plaster Beetles & Booklice

• The Flour Mite, which feeds off cereal products

• The Poultry or Bird Mite which feeds off the blood of birds &

• The Clover Mite which feeds off plants but often moves into buildings.

They can also be found in bird nests & any damp material. They all will be seen moving slowly across walls & ceilings. They are more easily noticed on light covered surfaces. Bird or Poultry Mites will bite people.

Why should Mites be treated?

As mentioned Bird Mites can bite humans & can damage and taint food materials and rendering them unpalatable, they can cause respiratory disorders as well as irritation or dermatitis to persons handling infested commodities.

Clover Mite

Preparation

If Flour Mites are a problem then the infested foodstuffs need destroying and the cupboards clearing and clearing prior to treatment. With Bird Mites the bird nest needs removing. In all cases the rooms will have to be sprayed so anything that would be damaged by a fine mist of water needs removing or covering. All pets must be out of the room. The areas to be treated must be clean, dust & grease free. Insecticides only work on clean surfaces.

Treatment

The infested and surrounding areas will be treated with an insecticide spray called Demand CS'* which contains Lambda-cyhalothrin.? The HSE Number is 6287 and the product is made by Sorex. Demand CS is probably the most modern insecticide available. Also a powder might be used called Ficam D*. This contains? an insecticide in a dust formulation @ 1% w/w Bendiocarb. Both insecticides are biodegradable, almost odourless, non tainting & do not corrode or stain. They are not highly toxic towards mammals but are extremely so to all forms of crawling and flying public health pests. All the infested areas will have been sprayed ad some possibly dusted.

What do I do afterwards?

Mites & Plaster Beetles like humid conditions & the treatment will only succeed if the areas are kept well ventilated - ie windows must be left open at all times & the heating left on. It must be warm & well ventilated. In the case of the Clover Mite it may be necessary to remove plants & turf from the edge of the affected building.? With Poultry or Bird Mites the birds nests must be removed & proofing measures carried out to prevent birds nesting in the future. After treatment do not let domestic animals walk on treated surfaces until dry and if bare skin comes into contact? while wet then wash.? You may see mites/Plaster Beetles (in small numbers) for up to 2-3 weeks after treatment. As long as the surfaces that have been treated are not washed or vacuumed the insecticide will remain active for up to 3 months. So do not vacuum, wipe or wash treated areas until a week after the infestation has finished (once dead mites are no longer seen)
The treatment is guaranteed? (treated areas only) for one month after the first spray, and is only valid as long instructions and advice on hygiene and other matters are adhered to. Insecticide treatments will only work on clean surfaces.