Statistics show that in the UK there is a 25% annual rise in reported bedbug infestations. It is expected to have a massive social and financial impact on London, especially with the 2012 Olympics around the corner. Private homes, apartments and hotel rooms are reported lately as being the most highly affected by infestations. Bedbugs are spreading rapidly into the more developed countries, ever increasing populations are a main factor in the parasites growth.

WHERE DO THEY LIVE & WHAT ARE THE SIGNS

Bedbugs are found wherever humans sleep within a property (duvets, mattress, certain sofas etc). They can be carried into the home on a person’s clothes, luggage brought into the home from an infested area and even second hand furniture. Because bedbugs are nocturnal parasites they hide away in any small nook they can find within the infected room. In cases of flats, apartments and even terraced housing bedbugs can migrate and infest other areas with ease. There are a few tell tale signs of a bedbug infestation such as; faecal marks near cracks, crevices or on bed frames and linen. In significant numbers an unpleasant almond like smell may be detected. Visual sightings are the most obvious sign of an infestation.

 CONTROL & PREVENTION

The main cause of bedbug infestation is from taking luggage or second hand furniture from an infested premises. Therefore a thorough inspection of such items is key to bedbug prevention. In order to eradicate a bedbug infestation it would be advisable to let a professional do the job. The pest control technician would conduct a thorough sweep of the entire area applying insecticide to all possible hiding areas

 DESCRIPTION

Bedbugs are wingless, flattened, ovular insects, around half a centimeter in length. They have large antennae on their heads and mouth parts capable of piercing human skin. Their colour varies depending on when they last fed ranging from a pale brown to a rich mahogany, nymphs are almost completely colourless. Bedbugs can crawl vertically up practically any surface as long as it is not completely smooth.

FINDING BED BUGS - "MAN V DOG"

A pest control firm in London is now using specially trained dogs to detect bedbugs. Research has shown that well-trained dogs can detect a single live bug or egg with around 96% accuracy. The dogs used are Labradors and come down from generations of pedigree working dogs with an excellent sense of smell. The dogs work in pairs doing alternate shifts so that they don’t get bored. These dogs can either be bought or trained up personally from pups or in the USA can be purchased as fully trained adults but with a hefty price tag.

In January two Trowbridge pensioners dubbed the 'pigeon ladies', were given Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) after they attracted hundreds of pigeons to the town by feeding them every day. For several years the pair - 76 year old Danuta Rogowa and 68 year old Margaret Ann Reynolds - have flouted orders by Wiltshire council to stop feeding the birds. Previous attempts by the council to stop the women failed.

In Cumbria, a mother and daughter were found guilty of breaching an abatement order to stop leaving food for the birds. Mildred McIntosh and daughter, Janet, were each fined £500, but said they were willing to make a stand and were prepared to go to jail. This action follows complaints by neighbours that up to 300 pigeons were being attracted by this pair.

The pest controller put a buggy in his garden and in it he placed a dead piglet wearing baby clothes. He then played the sound of a baby crying through an MP3 player. He borrowed a friends video camera to film what happened.

Several foxes came to look at it then one of them reached forward, grabbing the baby, urinated on its 'kill' before pulling off the baby grow and discarding it.

To watch the video for yourself go to the online fieldsports channel at www.fieldsportschanel.tv

Wasps and bees are similar in size, although the shapes of their bodies distinuish them apart. Wasps have narrow waists and bright black and yellow banding, two pairs of wings and are approximately 1-2 cm in length. German wasps can also be seen in this country and look very similar to the common wasp. Honeybees, in particular the worker bees have a dark brown head, bees unlike wasps to the naked eye seem to be rather hairy, bees also consist of black and yellow striped bands but are not as bright as those on a wasp.

Honeybees new job as detector bees

In the UK researchers are harnessing the ability of Honeybees for trace vapour detection. It is a new idea under development. The system should offer a large range of possibilities from detecting early stages of dry rot, drug detection, diagnosing tuburculosis and even explosives. Thirty six bees are part of a handheld portable vapour device. When the bees are exposed to a particular type of air that they are trained to react to then the bees will stick their tongues out, the bees responses are calculated and translated showing the results on a PDA screen.

Habitat and Nesting

Wasps live in nests which are constructed from chewed bark and dried timber mixed with saliva, often a biege colour, these nests can be found anywhere but commonly in roof spaces, cavities, sheds, trees and gardens. Nests can be between 90-120cm in cicumference containing upto 10,000 wasps. The queens start nesting in spring and summer abandoning their nests to overwinter and start new ones the next year. Abandoned nests are never reused, meaning if you find a clearly abandoned nest in winter it is safe to be removed and disposed of.

Stinging

Wasps and honeybees are both capable of stinging. Wasps can become aggressive especially if disturbed or provoked, where as bees are rather docile insects and do not intend to cause harm, but if they believe they are under threat will sting. Stings can be painful and cause redness and swelling, stings are not normally serious. Some people take badly to stings and are highly allergic. Suffering from allergic reactions (anaphylactic shock) , in some cases can be fatal.

Controlling

If a nest is not causing a nuisance to you or your neighbours it is advisable to leave it. With wasps and bees turning aggressive easily it is advisable to get a professional pest control company to treat a live nest. If wasps or bees are causing a nuisance indoors insecticidal control sprays (knockdown sprays) can be purchased retail. These sprays kill the target almost instantly, and then safe removal of the dead insect is advised. Spray insecticides should not be used near non-target species, food, food preparation areas and humans. Always read the label.

DESCRIPTIONS AND IDENTIFICATION

All ants have the three main divisions of the body; head, thorax and abdomen. These body parts are joined by very narrow waists. All ants have antennae that feature an elbow-like joint.

Pharaoh's ants have biting mouthparts and a set of fore wings hooked to a pair of hind wings, although wings may not be present in all cases. Workers are 1.5-2mm long and yellow/brown in colour. Males are 3mm long, black, winged but do not fly. Queens are 3.5-5mm long, dark red with non-flying wings that are discarded after mating.

The black worker ant is 3.4-5mm long and despite its name, is dark brown in colour whilst the queen is typically 15mm long and mid brown in colour.

CONTROL

Pharaoh’s Ants

The control of pharaoh's ants is difficult due to their highly developed social structure and the inaccessibility of their nests, as pharaohs ants can nest between sheets of paper. The most effective control involves the use of an insect growth regulator or insecticidal bait so that the whole infestation is affected within a short time.

Garden Ants

Control can only be achieved by the destruction of their nests. A thorough understanding of the ant species its biology, lifestyle and habits is required to achieve effective control. Insecticides should be applied to the nest areas or the pouring of boiling water over the nest is also effective.

WARNING: SUPER ANTS ON THE RISE!

Scientists claim to have discovered an ant species that could soon colonise parks and gardens across Europe, including the UK. The origin of these ants is uncertain although they are believed to be from western Asia. Colonise now exist in France, Germany, Poland and Belgium. They are seen as a threat as their colonies are 10 to 100 times greater than native ant colonies

People seem to believe that over the winter period pests take time off. The truth is that during these colder parts of the year problems can easily escalate. Within the home fleas, bedbugs are still as common as they are during summer months, bedbugs and fleas thrive off heat so when homeowners feel the winter chill and turn the thermostat a few notches this can energise dormant bedbugs and fleas. Other problems come from the rodentia family, mice and rats only need a few fundamentals to survive food, shelter and water. Within the average property lies all these rodents need to make their home in your home and once comfortable if not dealt with these pests can breed rapidly, changing the problem from an imposter into an infestation. Not only do mice and rats carry disease and eat their way through your home but they can cause extensive property damage, chewing through insulation, electrical wiring, furniture and so on. Cockroaches are always a problem as they are natural survivors no matter what the condition cockroaches will always be a pest. Here are a few tips on preventing pest problems in your property.

PROPERTY PEST PREVENTION TIPS -

Seal up cracks and tiny holes, Ensure vents are screened, Trim down long or thick shrubbery, Inspect packaging (boxes and bags) before taking them into the home, Keeps unused areas such as attics and basements well ventilated and dry, increase or maintain general hygiene around the home (e.g. don’t leave food lying around, clean up dirty dishes, vacuum regularly, ensure pets are well groomed and clean), Store rubbish in sealed containers and dispose of regularly, store fuel or wood piles in areas a far distance from the home and if possible in an elevated position, repair rotted woods and seal up roof problems, and of course if a problem occurs you can always contact AG Pest Management on 01226 288844. If are already under a pest control contract it is important to stick to and maintain the recommendations and proofing plans placed down by the pest control technician.

OTHER PEST CONTROL RELATED NEWS -

With the government making massive budget cuts in 2010 and reducing the budgets set by local councils for 2011, the question is put out. What will happen to the council pest control department?

Recent research into the increase in global population has also drawn research in the possible mass increase in pest population. As the human population grows the greater demand there will be for food, as more food is being produced and manufactured, the more opportunity there is for pests to thrive, estimating that over the next few decades demand for pest control will grow.

The Chemicals Regulation Directorate will be working on the implementation of EC Regulation 1107/2009 and Sustainable Use Directive 2009/128/EC published at the end of 2009. In order to get them into force this year, although national legislation is needed to implement and support them.