Pests - PEST UK

Providing pest control services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Midlands, West Sussex, Wiltshire. Est. 1985.

Posts in Pests

How to prevent rats getting into large capacity bins

Communal bin stores that house large capacity wheelie bins for flats or restaurants are a rat’s paradise. They provide a source of food and shelter for rats so it’s essential that they’re kept clean and tidy. When our technicians are called out to treat rats in bin stores they’ve observed that the bung from the

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What is the correct preparation for a bed bug treatment?

The most effective treatments to get rid of bed bugs are insecticides or extreme heat. However, the treatments will only work if the correct preparation and aftercare is carried out. Please watch the video below which shows the preparation required. In summary Clear all clutter such as toys, books, boxes, DVDs, posters, shoes etc. Items

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Why are ants active in late spring?

Why does ant activity increase in May and June? As the weather becomes warmer, ant colonies become more active. Ants are cold-blooded insects so their body temperature is influenced by the environment. Warmer temperatures provide them with the necessary energy to be active and forage for food. Springtime means more food is available for ants

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What is the difference between a honeybee and a wasp?

What is the difference in appearance between a honeybee and a wasp? Size Honeybees are smaller than wasps. Honeybees are 10-15mm long. Wasps are 10-30mm long. Body Shape Honeybees are plump and slightly rounded. Wasps have a slender, elongated body with a narrow waist between the thorax and abdomen. Colour Honeybees are predominantly golden or

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How a PEST UK technician extracted a bee nest from a roof space

Bee nest extraction In November 2022, one of our technicians, Rick Pellen, attended a property in Oxfordshire with two live bee nests in the roof space over a downstairs cloakroom. The nests had been there for several years and honey was seeping through the ceiling into the rooms below. The weight of the nests was

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How to prevent rat problems | Rats access properties via drains

Rat problems in drains Avoid rat problems in drains as the drains provide rats with easy access to a property if they haven’t been proofed. If a property has been left vacant for a significant period, the toilets won’t be flushed which leaves the drainage system dry making it very easy for rats to move

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Top tips to deter pests in a heatwave

Whilst we’re experiencing a heatwave, you’ll notice an impact on the behaviour and activities of insects and other pests. What does heat do to insects? Insect activity is always at its highest during the summer. This is because insects are cold-blooded so their body temperature is entirely dependent on the temperature of the environment around

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Top tips to get rid of fruit flies

Why are fruit flies a problem? Fruit flies are annoying, and although they don’t bite, they can be a health hazard They carry bacteria and transfer it to wherever they land. They’re particularly attracted to ripe and rotting food, manure and other faeces that may contain salmonella, E.coli and listeria which cause food poisoning. Additionally,

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How to safely collect and remove a swarm of bees

Do you need help to remove a swarm of bees? Why do bees swarm? As the weather has become warmer during the last couple of weeks honeybees are starting to swarm. They are the only type of bee that swarms as they are the only sociable bee. Honeybees swarm when a queen leaves her nest,

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How to protect your home from honeybees

You may have noticed bees buzzing amongst the spring flowers. The warmer temperatures have woken queen bumblebees from their winter hibernation and they have emerged to feed on nectar before looking for a suitable nest site. The more social honeybees have also become active after ‘overwintering’. When the temperature drops below 10°C the worker bees

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Do you have a rat problem?

Why is it necessary to control rats? Rats are one of the ultimate survivor species. This is because they are natural scavengers, remarkably intelligent and can squeeze through tiny spaces that you wouldn’t believe possible. They are also prolific breeders. They breed all year round, producing up to 6 litters each year with between 5

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What are moles and why do they make molehills?

What are moles like? Most people have never seen a mole as they live almost entirely underground. They are cute, velvety creatures that grow to between 11 and 16 cm and have very tiny eyes. They have limited eyesight although it doesn’t matter because they live in darkness. Moles find their way around underground and

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Watch How a PEST UK Technician Treats and Prevents Infestations

PEST UK’s pest control technicians are highly skilled and experienced in treating and preventing infestations. Our social media editor went out with a few of our technicians to film them in action. This video shows George carrying out rodent treatment and prevention, treating a wasp nest and an infestation of ants. He explains why he

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An Invasion of Cluster Flies is a Huge Nuisance

It’s necessary to get rid of cluster flies as they infest homes in such large numbers. Are cluster flies a health hazard? Cluster flies aren’t a health hazard in the same way that house flies are. For instance, they aren’t attracted to your food or waste as somewhere to lay their eggs. They only invade

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Woodlice are a Harmless Nuisance

We need to get rid of woodlice when they invade our homes in large numbers. Are woodlice dangerous? Woodlice are completely harmless. They don’t sting, bite or transmit any disease and they don’t cause damage to home furnishings or structural materials. How do woodlice get into our homes? Woodlice usually find their way into our

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Glis glis are cute but can be a pest

More than 100,000 glis glis are now running wild in the UK, their numbers having doubled in just 10 years. This means that they are invading more properties so more people need help in getting rid of glis glis from their homes. What are glis glis? Glis glis look cute. With small ears, big eyes,

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Invasion of the Ladybirds

Across the UK people have been experiencing ladybird swarms on their front doors, window frames and inside their homes. However, whilst being a nuisance, these infestations usually only stay for a week. Why do ladybirds swarm? Ladybirds swarm in late autumn when the weather turns colder as they are looking for a warm, dry place

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Why Are There So Many Spiders in our Homes in Autumn?

Why are there so many spiders in autumn? There seems to be so many spiders in our homes during the autumn – and they seem bigger. This is because it’s their mating season, which begins in early September and finishes mid-October. During mating season, male spiders come out of hiding to look for a mate.

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How Do Ants Farm Aphids? | Ants Help Aphids To Destroy Garden Plants

What is an aphid? Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests for almost all garden plants – ornamentals, vegetables, fruits and greenhouse. These tiny insects, also know as greenfly and blackfly, weaken plants by sucking their sap. They can also transmit plant viruses. They live on the undersides of leaves and stems of plants

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A Horsefly Bite is Very Painful | How Can I Get Rid of Horseflies?

When is a horsefly most active? Horseflies are more active during the summer months and the recent heatwave with its hot, sunny days and no wind has been perfect for them. They’ve been busy biting people, probably because people have been outside more exposing their skin. Horsefly bites are very painful. They can develop into

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Why Are There So Many Flying Ants?

What are flying ants? Flying ants are just normal ants with wings. Although they can be irritating, they are actually harmless. In the UK there are one quadrillion ants (that’s 16 zeros) – more than one million ants per person. Several species of ants are common in this country, and most of them fly and

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How Do Bed Bugs Spread During Summer?

How do bed bugs spread? Infestations of bed bugs in the UK have been increasing since 2003 due to increased business travel, foreign holidays and immigration. People bring bugs home on the clothing they’re wearing, in the seams and folds of luggage and amongst folded clothes. And they aren’t fussy… even the cleanest home can

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Jackdaw Rescued After Falling Down Chimney

There are over 1.4 million pairs of jackdaws in the UK. They like to nest in chimneys and build their nests by pushing twigs down into the chimney pot until they are wedged tight. This can take a huge amount of twigs as lots fall down the chimney before a base is formed. What problems

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Starving Rats Forced to Move Out of Town Centres by Covid Lockdown

PEST UK technician Grzegorz Michalik has seen a 20% increase in call-outs to get rid of rats in people’s homes and gardens during the 12-months since the start of lockdown. He covers Oxford, Banbury, Buckingham, Daventry, Northampton, Bicester, and Brackley. Why has there been an increase in the UK rat population? In 2020 the UK

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Problems Caused By Gulls Nesting Under Solar Panels

Why has there been a rapid increase in the number of gulls living in urban areas? The number of gulls living in towns and cities has been rapidly increasing over the last 10-years. This is because they have an easy supply of food from discarded waste on the streets and from scavenging in landfill sites.

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Clothes and Carpet Moth Treatment and Prevention

Clothes and Carpet Moths can wreak havoc in the home, destroying clothing, rugs, carpets and curtains. We field many calls regarding the prevention and treatment of moths. Prevention should always be a first and foremost measure, but often treatment is required. If not controlled they can increase in number incredibly quickly, furthering damage which can

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Raccoon Dogs – What Are They And Why Do They Pose A Threat?

What Is A Raccoon Dog? Whilst the word raccoon appears in their title, raccoon dogs are actually members of the canid (dog) family. They are indigenous to East Asia and are omnivores, feeding on birds, rodents and amphibians. They do not bark, but growl and whine. Are there raccoon dogs in the UK? Possibly in

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How To Deal With A Swarm Of Bees

At present we are dealing with an increasing number of calls regarding how to deal with a swarm of bees. Swarming is predominantly a spring or early Summer phenomenon in the UK. Garages, sheds and chimneys are all favourite locations for swarming bees. While mostly harmless, the possible numbers involved can be unnerving due to

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Ants Are Entering My Home, How Can I Stop This?

As the weather warms, are ants entering your home? It’s that time of the year again whereby ants become more prevalent in and around the home. With the colder winter months behind us, all manner of creatures awaken on the lookout for food and harbourage. There are over three dozen species of ants in the

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