One of the most effective ways of preventing an ant invasion is to stop these pests from reaching food sources: especially sweet, but they will look for high protein sources, such as meats. Ants are notoriously determined on the trail of food and can get into jars and boxes through the tiniest gap.

All ants belong to the order of insects known as Hymenoptera, which include some of the most highly evolved insects known to man. Ants are social insects which construct and develop complex nests with a highly organised hierarchy of roles, attributed to male and females. Sterile, wingless female ants also know as workers build nests, nurse the young and search and gather food. Reproduction is performed by fertile females known as Queen ants and the males are responsible for the fertilisation of the Queens.

Moths do not represent a health hazard, however they cause severe damage to clothes, fabrics, furs, leather and carpets. In all species, the moth’s larva is the most detrimental stage. These pests cause extensive and costly damage to carpets and household furnishings by these pests.

Moths can lay as many as 200-300 eggs which in turn can hatch in a very short space of time (7-10 days) causing widespread destruction to many household items over a short period of time. They are often found in dark undisturbed places, under sofas and chairs, in drawers, under furniture, beneath carpets and underlay, between floorboards, skirting boards, birds and wasp nests – the list is almost endless.

As with all pests, locating the source is the best place to start. Our experts will ensure that insecticides are in contact with the insect at all stages of the life cycle, therefore all areas which they may frequent, feed, fly or lay eggs in need to be treated.

Cockroaches, known in 3 common species: Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis). German cockroach (Blattella germanica), American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) are pest insects infecting homes, restaurants, commercial and industrial premises. This pest is often introduced into buildings through the transportation of goods and equipment.

Cockroaches are known to carry a large number of diseases, dangerous to man, and if left untreated by a professional pest control technician, have the potential to reach epidemic proportions in a very short time span.

Cockroaches don’t have a pupal (maggot) stage and after the egg (ootheca) hatches, which can be anything from four weeks to two months depending of the variety of cockroach, the young cockroaches known as nymphs appear in alarming numbers (anything between 16 and 28 nymphs for the Oriental and American cockroach, and an incredible 35-40 nymphs per ootheca per German cockroach. Under optimum conditions cockroaches can produce two million offspring in one year, and fossil remains have been found dating back over 200 million years which makes this pest insect a true survivor.

Fly control is an important aspect of everyday life for all of us, never more so for many commercial and industrial businesses, as it is a requirement of law. A huge variety of dangerous diseases are carried by these pest insects and environmental health agencies are quick to enforce the terms of the Food Safety Act 1955 and 1976 for individuals and businesses selling or dealing with food in unhygienic conditions.

The identification of the specific fly species is an important factor in controlling the problem, as all flies have different habits, life cycles, and originate from different sources. Pest Control in almost all instances of fly infestation is achieved by locating and treating the breeding sites where the larvae exist, combined with a surface treatment of alighting surfaces.

Silverfish are serpentine insects that require damp and humid conditions and thrive in kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms and other dark, isolated areas. Fixing leaks in pipework, improving ventilation and using dehumidifiers can help discourage silverfish.

Silverfish feed on:

• Starch
• Cellulose
• Sugar

They can be found in a variety of common items in households and businesses such as books, wallpaper, paintings, fabrics, carpets, coffee, sugar, pasta and other food debris.

Deny silverfish sustenance by keeping dust and debris to a minimum, vacuum rarely disturbed areas in the home and store food in containers with tightly sealed lids.

Home DIY products such as sprays can help control silverfish populations but large or repeated infestations will require professional treatment.

Woodworm is a generic term used for the larvae state of a number of different wood-boring beetle species. Generally, wood-boring beetles lay their eggs during the months of April through to September which can cause serious infestations and fatal structural damage – proving a huge problem for residential properties across the UK.

Cockroaches, known in 3 common species: Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis). German cockroach (Blattella germanica), American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) are pest insects infecting homes, restaurants, commercial and industrial premises. This pest is often introduced into buildings through the transportation of goods and equipment.

Cockroaches are known to carry a large number of diseases, dangerous to man, and if left untreated by a professional pest control technician, have the potential to reach epidemic proportions in a very short time span.

Cockroaches don’t have a pupal (maggot) stage and after the egg (ootheca) hatches, which can be anything from four weeks to two months depending of the variety of cockroach, the young cockroaches known as nymphs appear in alarming numbers (anything between 16 and 28 nymphs for the Oriental and American cockroach, and an incredible 35-40 nymphs per ootheca per German cockroach. Under optimum conditions cockroaches can produce two million offspring in one year, and fossil remains have been found dating back over 200 million years which makes this pest insect a true survivor.

There are more than 35,000 species of spiders worldwide, but approximately only 650 of these are found in the UK.

Although they are mostly beneficial to our environment, many people do have an inherent fear of spiders, known as Arachnophobia. This causes feelings of uneasiness at the mere sight of spiders, which in it’s extreme can lead to excessive sweating, crying and panic attacks.

Thankfully, most species of spiders found in the UK are not considered dangerous and are not pests. The few that may bite very rarely do.  If bitten by a spider, it often has very little effect on most people, while a few species can cause an exceptional reaction due to their venom.

Fleas are insect pests with laterally compressed bodies, which allow them to move easily through the hairs or feathers on the host’s body (or in the case of humans, under clothes).

Fleas parasite a wide variety of animals including dogs, cats, humans, chickens, rabbits, squirrels, rats, ferrets, and mice. Fleas are not just a nuisance to their hosts, but can also cause acute irritation, infection and transfer of other parasites, such as, tapeworms.

The flea bite causes an itching sensation which in turn may result in the host attempting to remove the pest by biting, pecking, scratching etc the vicinity of the parasite.

One of the most effective ways of preventing an ant invasion is to stop these pests from reaching food sources: especially sweet, but they will look for high protein sources, such as meats. Ants are notoriously determined on the trail of food and can get into jars and boxes through the tiniest gap.

All ants belong to the order of insects known as Hymenoptera, which include some of the most highly evolved insects known to man. Ants are social insects which construct and develop complex nests with a highly organised hierarchy of roles, attributed to male and females. Sterile, wingless female ants also know as workers build nests, nurse the young and search and gather food. Reproduction is performed by fertile females known as Queen ants and the males are responsible for the fertilisation of the Queens.

Wasps are seasonal pest insects, with their queen emerging from hibernation in spring, rapidly start building the nest and the wasp queen lays her first eggs. Nests are often excavated in dry soil or built in roof gaps. Although recent years have seen wasps becoming active in early April or May, the first worker wasps usually emerge in early summer months, usually in June.

Autumn is mainly the mating season between the males and queens and sees the social degeneration of the nest, as the workers may not return. During the cold season, the queen hibernates and all the males and worker wasps die. The complex nest is made redundant and never re-used, although it has been known for an adjacent nest to be built, so extra attention should be paid when removing old nests, especially during active seasons.

Everyone knows how annoying – and painful – midges and mosquitoes can be. Somehow, no matter how many you manage to swat, there always seem to be some that manage to get through to give you a nasty, itchy bite or two.

Here are some facts that you might want to know about these nasty little insects:

• They can develop from eggs to adults in just six to ten days.
• They are found close to still water, where their larvae feed and develop.
• They seem to be attracted to dark colours.
• Mosquitoes will normally bite you at dawn or dusk – or if you’re unlucky, both. That’s when their internal clocks tell them it’s feeding time.

Moths do not represent a health hazard, however they cause severe damage to clothes, fabrics, furs, leather and carpets. In all species, the moth’s larva is the most detrimental stage. These pests cause extensive and costly damage to carpets and household furnishings by these pests.

Moths can lay as many as 200-300 eggs which in turn can hatch in a very short space of time (7-10 days) causing widespread destruction to many household items over a short period of time. They are often found in dark undisturbed places, under sofas and chairs, in drawers, under furniture, beneath carpets and underlay, between floorboards, skirting boards, birds and wasp nests – the list is almost endless.

As with all pests, locating the source is the best place to start. Our experts will ensure that insecticides are in contact with the insect at all stages of the life cycle, therefore all areas which they may frequent, feed, fly or lay eggs in need to be treated.

Finding evidence of rat activity in your home or business premises should be acted on immediately – finding droppings that are 1-2cm long, damage to food packaging, wood or plastic, or shredded paper or cardboard means you need the services of a pest control expert.

And just like mice, rats can cause costly damage to property. Constantly gnawing, they will even chew through cables and wires and can cause electrical faults as a result. It’s always wise to check the details of your buildings insurance policy if your property is susceptible to rat infestation; many insurance companies list fire caused by rodent damage within the exclusions to cover.

Birds in the wrong location, in particular pigeons and seagulls can become a real nuisance for your business. It’s not just the mess they make; they can also damage your premises by dislodging roof tiles, blocking guttering and affect your reputation. There are other problems that mean you should adopt bird control measures sooner rather than later. Pigeons and seagulls on your premises can:

1. Deface buildings & vehicles with their droppings. They frequently foul entrances and pavements, which can become dangerously slippery.
2. Encourage insect infestations such as bird mites, textile beetles and fleas – these are attracted to their nests and roosting sites.
3. Attack customers and staff, especially during the breeding season when they are defending their young.
4. Be a health hazard, by spreading diseases such as Ornithosis, E.Coli and Salmonella.

Moles are mammals, adapted to subterranean lifestyle and classified as insectivores. Their main diet consists of live earthworms, beetles, ants, grubs and other insect larvae. Moles generally eat in excess of their own weight in food every day. Moles become major pests when they destroy lawns, golf courses, and parks with unsightly burrows and earth mounds. As well as disturbing or removing the root systems of many plants and creating underground travel lanes for other small mammals (most notably the mouse), moles cause hazard underfoot on sports / playing fields, and in paddocks and fields. Moles have frequently caused broken or sprained limbs on horses and domestic animals.

Moles have a small pointed snout, nearly invisible eyes and ears and large paws used for digging. For the most part they live in seclusion in underground burrows, rarely coming to the surface. Moles are solitary animals and the situations where more than 2 or 3 moles tend will occupy the same burrow system are very rare. Each year a mole can give birth to one litter of up to six young. Gestation is very short, only lasting for five weeks, and litters are produced any time from mid-April through to June.

These mammals are fast prolific diggers, being able to achieve a rate of 12 to 15 feet per hour, and build an extensive network of tunnels. It may seem that many moles are occupying an area, however most often, it is the result of one mole’s activity. Moles dig elaborate tunnel systems and have feeding runways just beneath the grass, with the ridge being elevated and easily visible. The tunnel system will have many yards of travelling tunnels within several inches of the ground surface. As the weather cools, moles will retreat into their deeper tunnels up to five feet beneath the surface.

Pest controllers are mainly involved in public health pests, however we also get asked to deal with more exotic pests.

It may be an escapee from a pet shop, from someone’s home or a refugee on a package in transport, increasingly we get calls for snakes, frogs, spiders and reptiles.

Spiders rarely bite people and in the UK none of our indigenous spiders are considered dangerous. Many people have a fear of spiders and they can be a particular nuisance in the home.

They are attracted to warm, dark small spaces, like wall cracks, corners, air vents, and in the eaves of your home. Other species prefer to stay closer to the outdoors, weaving their webs in your barn, garden or near your outside lighting. Most spiders are a nuisance primarily because of their webbing. They are beneficial for hunting and catching other insects.

When exotic spiders arrive often on fruit, we will be pleased to assist.

Our native snakes rarely cause a problem, however when snakes escape from a pet shop or home into a neighbouring property, they can become a pest and you could take home more than you bargained for.

We get called for all creatures great and small, frogs, scorpions, reptiles. We will be pleased to assist in identification, collection and relocating.

Unlike many other pest bird species, Gulls introduce professional pest controller with two very different and severe challenges. Firstly, gulls do not settle in a single centre of activity, are highly adaptable and are often making a round trip of 100km in search of food in a matter of hours. Secondly, they are considerably more intelligent than most pest birds and despite the best efforts of some professionals to prevent or remove them, colonies have continued to expand.

Our local technicians are experienced in providing a range of bird-proofing solutions to combat gull infestations in homes and businesses. Using certified Pest Control methods we can treat high-density Gull populations quickly and effectively starting with a FREE Prokill Pest Control Audit.

Several recent studies have shown that gulls carry disease organisms which cause food poisoning in humans and spread them in the environment. Organisms such as Salmonella spp, , vibrio cholerae spp, listeria spp, Escherichia coli are routinely carried by Gulls and distributed by way of their faeces. In 2003 an E-Coli outbreak caused the death of 20 elderly people in Scotland and the situation was caused by gulls contaminating water sources with both Salmonella spp. and E-Coli 0157.

Crows are large, jet-black, intelligent birds – with load, hoarse voices – that are frequently seen in every sort of environment and living situation. These smart birds are native throughout the UK. Some crows live to the age of twenty. The nesting period of crows can last up to 40 days. Young crows often help nesting pairs protect the nest and feed nestlings.

Among the main reasons: birds carry and can spread disease passed on from hosting parasites, also their droppings can corrode building materials. If birds are allowed to inhabit an area long enough, they will persistently defend it as their territory.

Once we have identified the bird pests, and have established their specific behaviour and frequency, we can then select the most appropriate proofing technique. Once we determine the number of birds on the site – known as Bird Pressure – we will adopt the most appropriate and effective the strategy for treatment.