2008 News Archive
Feeding The Birds Could Attract Rats
Pest control officers in the Cheshire region have found that of almost 500 reports of rat problems, more than one in four was linked to residents feeding wild birds. Now well-meaning residents keen to encourage feathered friends into their gardens ar...
Apple Moth Populations Spread
Cherry growers are waiting with bated breath to learn whether they will be allowed to use an insecticide to control a "new" pest that can devastate their crops if left to its own devices. It is the light brown apple moth, a native of Australia, now w...
Exposure To Rat Poison
Many of us have pest control services come to our homes on a regular schedule. Are you aware of where those bait traps are being placed and whether your children are being exposed to rat poison? Let's consider what it is and how to protect ourselves ...
Squirrels Gone Wild
It's something you don't expect to see in your living room: a squirrel scampering across the mantle piece; but that is exactly what greeted one Devonshire resident as they settled down to a nice cup of tea and an episode of Emmerdale. For ghouls ratt...
Big Pigeon Problem
When he moved into a new housing estate, Roger Segdorn paid no mind to the resident pigeons swooping from rooftop to rooftop. Then the birds multiplied. What started as 100 birds is now a legion of 400. Segdorn now spends a good part of his free time...
The Scourge Of Our Streets
Some Hindus worship them, Michael Jackson serenaded one of them, James Cagney thought them "dirty" and one saved TV AM in the 80s - rats are very much part of our culture. And there's one thing that's indisputable - their population is increasing. Th...
Tiny, Evil, and Everywhere
It took me a while to figure out what had gone so wrong in our bedroom. I had had a bad chest infection and spent more time at home than usual trying to get better. Although that seemed to be clearing up, big red welts on my hands, arms and shoulders...
Problem Wasps
My dad hated all stinging insects, and especially those that built nests under the eaves of his barn. Every year, he'd get a ladder and aerosol can of pesticide and spray nests. After he got chased down the ladder once too often, he rigged up a spray...
Silverfish Control
Silverfish thrive anywhere moisture is high - under sinks, around leaks, bathrooms, kitchens, attics, piles of leaves and mulch, and anywhere there is standing water. Silverfish control begins by reducing excess moisture as much as possible by fixing...
Getting Rid Of Fleas
If you suspect that your property has fleas, the first thing to do is correctly identify and confirm your suspicions. The fastest way to do this is to comb or brush your pet. As you do, look for tiny dark dots or comma-shape objects. This is flea exc...
Turning Up The Heat
When bed bugs bite, don't rest tight. Take action immediately. The tiny insects are making a comeback in regions across the UK. The good news is that they are not life-threatening; people are not going to die from them. The worst-case scenario is tha...
Ecologically Safe Bee Control
During the warm summer months of bee season, protecting the environment and bee control should go hand in hand. Bees have an immense impact on our own ecological system; removal, rather than extermination, helps preserve the environment and protect t...
Banner Year For Rats
The scratching starts at 4 am. "And I know exactly what the bloody things are," says the frustrated homeowner, who doesn't want to boast about his problem. He's got rats. Furry-bodied, bare-tailed rodents are running through his loft space, gnawing t...
The Unwelcome Travel Companion
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, many Brits take to the skies or hit the road for a holiday break during the summer months. In addition to packing luggage and double-checking itineraries, travellers should learn how to prevent unwelcome su...
Flies Resisting Treatment
Alternating fly control options applied to manure heaps that harbour fly eggs and larvae this summer will be vital to combat growing concerns of resistance. With recent product revocations, relying on fewer fly treatment options will increase the ris...
Avoiding An Invasion
They crawl, they fly, they swarm, they scurry - in short, bugs are pests. This year is a lot worse for infestations as we've had so much rain. The ants are trying to come in so they are not drowning; and the fleas and ticks are likely to be really ba...
Ants on the March
Got ants in your house? A lot of people do this year, but how do you get rid of them? Unfortunately, if you try calling an exterminator now, you'll probably get a busy signal, because everyone in town is trying to get rid of the little buggers. We ex...
Check Your Mattresses
After decades in obscurity, bed bugs have returned to the United Kingdom to take up residence in a place where they can live long-term, rent-free and have all the food they need - in mattresses all over the country. We hadn't even seen a live bed bug...
The Bird-Borne Bugs Of Summer
The return of songbirds and robins on the lawn - for many, these sights signal the arrival of the many joys of summer. The truth is, however, that the birds of summer really bug a lot of people - literally. Summer is also the season of Lyme Disease a...
The Wine-Makers Battle
So you've got the wine bug. It's springtime in the Devonshire wine-makers domain. You itch to visit the vineyards. But do you see the cutworms gnawing at the buds? Dagger nematodes injecting viruses into roots? Fruit flies? Parasitic wasps? A malicio...
Battling The Pigeons
Experts agree: There are definitely more pigeons in the south west these days. And with the increased population comes increased problems related both to public health and property maintenance. Many people are resigned to the fact that pigeons are a ...
Take A Bite Out Of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs, which can be difficult to spot, are becoming even tougher to eradicate as they spread and their resistance to some pesticides grows. In response, pest control companies are adopting new tactics....
Local Mice Numbers Rising
The last two or three years has seen an increase in the numbers of mice within the Devonshire region made apparent by the increased numbers of mice calls that local pest control companies are responding to....
Are Pests Bugging You?
They are as big as a man; they're invisible. Some have fur, others feathers, maybe armoured scales. They creep, crawl, hop, jump, scamper, slither, fly - you name it. And they're generally things you don't want around. That's why they're called pests...
Increase In Bed Bug Numbers
You've heard the phrase "don't let the bedbugs bite" - well, according to local pest control firms, bed bugs are on the increase in counties across the UK, and with around 20 enquiries per week, Devon is no different. Bed bugs have been in this count...