A GUIDETO PEST

CONTROL

Environmental Health Section

Wasps are probably the mostfamiliar and generally disliked ofall British insects. Their bodieshave black and yellow bands witha narrow waist in the middle of thebody. They vary in size from theworker, which is 10-15mm inlength, to the queen, which is20mm long. They have two pairsof wings which lock together. Onlythe females have the needle-likesting which is hidden near the tipof the abdomen.

DistributionSeveral species of wasp exist in theUK but the most abundant is theCommon Wasp and German Wasp.Both species nest underground orin the cavities of trees, walls andbuildings.

SignificanceWasps can be a nuisance but donot spread disease. Although theyare generally disliked because oftheir sting, most species of waspwill only do this if they are aroused

WASPS

or frightened. Wasps can causeserious damage to ripe fruit andare generally a nuisance whenattracted to sweet smelling foods.Their benefits, however, are that inthe spring and early summer waspgrubs feed on other insect pests.

Life CycleThe queen comes out of the nestin the autumn and after matingselects a suitable place tohibernate. Late in the followingspring the surviving queens comeout of hibernation to choose anest site. The nest is usually eitherin the ground or in roof cavities.The nest is built up from woodpulp which is moulded into theouter shell of the nest andcontains many internal chambers.The queen lays an egg in each ofthe chambers and these hatch intolarvae which are fed on deadinsects by the queen. When fullygrown, the larvae pupate andsterile workers emerge from thepupae. These workers help to rearnew larvae and the new queens.Towards the end of the summerthe queen lays a number of eggswhich produce male wasps andthese mate with the new queens.As the weather becomes colder inthe autumn, all the wasps dieexcept the new queens which flyaway to find hibernation sites. Theold nests are not recolonized thefollowing year.

ControlIt is only necessary to treat waspsnests if they pose a particulardanger to you or your family. If thisdanger does not exist, the nestsshould be left undisturbed.

If necessary you can treat waspsnests yourself with care, using aproprietary insecticide. However, ifprofessional help is required ourPest Control Officers can treat thenest with insecticidal dust or spray.A single treatment will usually beenough to destroy all the wasps ina nest. As old nests are notrecolonized, you do not need toremove treated nests.

SafetyAll pesticides are applied by ourqualified and experienced staff toensure the safety of the public andto minimise damage to theenvironment.

DistributionThe Garden Ant (or common blackant) is found throughout Britainand will nest in gardens underpaving stones and aroundbuildings, often going intopremises to search for food.

SignificanceThe Garden Ant is a nuisancebecause of its foraging habit but itdoes not carry germs or spreaddisease. Garden Ants are attractedto sugary food. The presence ofants in food although unpleasant,does not in itself constitute ahealth risk.

Life CycleThe Garden Ants mate in flightwhen winged males and femalesswarm between mid July andmid August.

After mating the male dies and thefemale loses her wings and buries

GARDENANTS

herself in the soil over the winter.In late spring the female lays eggswhich hatch into white larvae in 3-4 weeks. The larvae are fed by thequeen and when fully grownpupate. The worker ants whichemerge from the pupae feed thequeen and any new larvae. The lifecycle is complete in two monthsand in favourable conditions thenest may remain for several years.

ControlThere are several measures thatyou can take to control GardenAnts:

❖ Identify and destroy the nestusing boiling water or anapproved insecticidal dust orspray used around the nest andopenings in buildings, e.g.doorsteps, wall vents andwindow sills.

❖ Ensure that sugary foods arekept in sealed containers andall food spillages are cleared up.

SafetyPlease remember to take allappropriate safety measures whenusing pesticides.

Always follow manufacturersinstructions and ensure childrenand pets are kept away fromtreated areas.

Always store chemicals andpesticides in a high, lockedcupboard.

Always wear gloves and cleanhands after applying pesticides.

DescriptionThe adult flea is 2-7mm long andbrownish in colour. Their bodiesare compressed from side to sideenabling them to move quicklythrough hairs and they haverelatively large hind limbs whichare used for jumping. The threemost common species are:

❖ the cat flea,❖ the dog flea, and❖ the human flea.

DistributionAll fleas live soley as parasites onwarm blooded animals andalthough they have a preferredhost, normally mammals, both thecat and dog flea can also be foundon and feed from other animalsand man.

As well as being found on the host,fleas can frequently be found inthe hosts’ bedding. Cat fleas are byfar the most common, accountingfor 75% of all flea infestations. Theflea population reaches its peak in

FLEAS

September and is a particularproblem in areas of highpopulation density.

SignificanceFleas are known as carriers ofdisease and can also beresponsible for the transmission ofparasitic worms such as the dogtape worm. In the UK, however,fleas are not generally responsiblefor the spread of infection but caninflict unpleasant bites on theirhost. Flea bites will be seen as atiny dark red spot surrounded by areddened area. The bite willremain irritating for one to twodays and in some cases may leadto hypersensitivity.

Life CycleFlea eggs are small, oval shapedand pearl white in colour and arelaid indiscriminately in the fur orfeathers of the host or in itsbedding or resting materials. Theeggs hatch in about one week intowhite thread-like larvae. Thelarvae thrive in dark, humid placessuch as carpets and animalbedding.

After two to three weeks whenthey are fully grown, the larvaespin a cocoon and pupate. Theadult usually emerges withinseven weeks but can remain as apupa throughout the winter onlyemerging when triggered by themovement of a suitable host. Thecomplete life cycle will normallylast four weeks but may takelonger at low temperatures

ControlBy taking simple measures youmay be able to control a minor fleainfestation yourself by:

❖ thoroughly cleaning all infestedclothing and bedding.

❖ thoroughly cleaning theinfested area by vacuumingcarpet edges and softfurnishings and remove allaccumulations which may actas a breeding site, and

❖ checking your pets for fleas andtreat if necessary with aproprietary flea powder or fleacollar.

If you need professional help, ourPest Control Officers will treat yourpremises with an insecticidal spray.You can help us by clearingfurniture away from the roomswhich will be treated and byvacuuming the carpet before wevisit.

A single spray treatment of thecarpets and soft furnishings will bemade and all treated areas shouldbe left undisturbed for eight to tendays.

SafetyAll pesticides are applied by ourqualified and experienced staff toensure the safety of the public andto minimise damage of theenvironment.

DescriptionThe two types of mice in Britainwhich can become pests are:

❖ the house mouse, and❖the long-tailed field mouse.

The adult house mouse may weighup to 50 grammes; usually hasbrown fur on its back and is greyunderneath. Its ears are fairly largein relation to its body and its feetare small. The tail is the samelength as the head and body but ismuch thinner than the tail of ayoung rat.

DistributionMice are widely distributedthroughout urban areas and infarm buildings.

The house mouse is a morecommon domestic pest which willnest beneath floor, in lofts andbehind wall boarding. Mice aremost active at night and will rangeover a very small area if food isplentiful. They are less dependanton water and will normally obtain

MICE

sufficient moisture from their food.

SignificanceMice, like rats, are a major hazardto health. They are responsible forthe spread of many diseases someof which can be fatal to man. Theyeat food which may be intendedfor human consumption andcontaminate much more with theirurine, droppings and fur. Foodcontaminated in this way mustthen be disposed of. Mice can alsocause structural damage toproperty by gnawing throughwoodwork, wires, pipes andhousehold items.

Life CycleThe life expectancy of mice isaround one year during whichtime a female may breed up to sixtimes. The average size of a litter issix. Breeding occurs throughoutthe year but especially in theSpring and Autumn.

ControlYou will need professional help incontrolling colonies of mice.

They are particularly difficult tocontrol because of the rate atwhich they breed and are able tocolonise new areas.

By ensuring that your premises arein good repair and that no food isleft around the house or gardenyou will prevent mice from beingencouraged onto your property.

In the event of infestation, our PestControl Officers will survey the

area to determine the size of thecolony and the most appropriatecontrol measures.

Poison baits will normally be laidwhere mice have been active. Thebait should be left undisturbeduntil our officers return to assessthe effectiveness of the treatment.

SafetyAll pesticides are applied by ourqualified and experienced staff toensure the safety of the public andto minimise damage to theenvironment.

DescriptionBritain is home to two kinds of rats:

❖ the common rat (or brown rat)❖ the ship rat (or black rat)

The adult common rat may weighfrom 100 to 500 grammes and hasbrown fur on its back and greyunderneath. Its tail is shorter thanits head and body. The ship rat,which is far less common, issmaller and more lightly builtweighing only between 100 and300 grammes. It may have black orbrown fur, has large almost hairlessears and has a tail which is longerthan the head and body, giving itgreater agility.

DistributionThe common rat is the mostabundant and widespread speciesand can be found anywhere thatoffers shelter and food - includingsewers. They are efficientburrowers and favour compostheaps and the ground underneathhedges and sheds where they dig

RATS

shallow burrows and form nestswith dry grass and leaves. Inhouses they will nest in wallcavities and beneath floor boards.Ship rats will normally be foundindoors, mainly in port areas, butthey may be transported inland,with cargo. Being agile climbersand jumpers, ship rats will oftennest in roof spaces and upperfloors.

Both species of rat are activemainly at night but may be seen insearch of food and water duringthe day.

SignificanceRats are a major hazard to health.They spread many forms of diseasesome of which may be fatal to mansuch as Weils’ Disease. They mayeat food which is intended forhuman consumption and theyoften damage much more whichhas to be discarded. Through theirgnawing habit they also causeconsiderable structural damage towoodwork, waterpipes, electriccables, etc.

Life CycleThe life expectancy of rats isaround one year, during whichtime a female will typically breedfive times. The average size of alitter is between seven and eight.Breeding occurs throughout theyear but especially in the Springand Autumn.

ControlYou will need professional help incontrolling colonies of rats. Theirability to burrow, climb and jump,and the speed in which they breedand form new colonies, makes ratsdifficult to control.

You can assist us by ensuring thatyour pemises are in good repairmaking it difficult for rats to gainaccess, and by removing anysources of food and water orclearing areas which may offershelter or nesting materials such aspiles of timber or any areas of yourgarden which are overgrown.

In the event of infestation our PestControl Officer will visit and surveythe area to determine the mostappropriate control measureswhich may include the laying ofpoison baits along rat runs and inthe drainage system.

The baits must be left undisturbedand will be examined by ourofficer when a re-visit is made.

SafetyAll pesticides are applied by ourqualified and experienced staff toensure the safety of the public andto minimise damage to theenvironment.

DescriptionThe Hide Beetle has become a wellestablished pest within this part ofthe country. The beetle is black,about 10mm long, and the larvaean active bristly grub which growsto a similar length.

DistributionHide Beetles breed rapidly inkitchens and canteens and arecarried from place to place onfurniture and household goods orthe beetle may fly in during thesummer. In blocks of flats theymay spread via the service ductsand pipes.

SignificanceHide Beetles are not recorded asbeing significant carriers of diseaseand their presence in houses isconsidered to be of nuisance valueonly. They may however, causedamage to stored commodities

HIDEBEETLES

and food due to the burrowingactivity of the larvae as they feed.

Life CycleThe females lay up to 200 eggs onmaterials which are suitable forlarvae development e.g. soft wood,food etc, usually beneath skirtingsand fittings such as cookers andfridges in kitchens where theythrive in the dark warm humidconditions.

The eggs are white, 2mm in length.The larvae hatch out in about aweek, are dark brown, hairy andfeed on almost any dry ordecomposing animal andvegetable material. They are veryactive and will avoid light. Ifdisturbed they will curl up andfeign death.

The full grown larva is 10-15 mmin length. When mature, the larvaewill either:

❖ excavate holes in hard, inediblematerial in order to pupate, or

❖ pupate deep inside the infestedcommodity, or

❖ pupate beneath cookers,fridges, units etc. Evidence ofpupation in these circum-stances is highlighted byaccumulating skin cases andthis may be the first sign of anactive infestation.

Generally the pupal stage iscompleted in 2-4 weeks and thefull life cycle is 2-12 months.

ControlThe first step in control is to tracethe source of the infestation.Infestations usually commence inthe kitchen behind appliances andbeneath fitted units where fooddebris may accumulate.Infestations may also spread intoother rooms and normally occurbeneath skirtings or furnishings.

All sources of infestation should beremoved and the surrounding areavacuumed, paying particularattention to skirtings. The vacuumcontents must be disposed ofimmediately thereafter to anexternal refuse receptacle.

Routine surveillance and regularcleaning are also very important.

Thorough residual insecticidetreatments are vital whereinfestations are discovered. OurPest Control Offices will treat anyaffected properties with aninsecticidal spray around theboundary of the rooms at thejunction between the walls andfloors, behind equipment andfittings.

The treated area should be leftundisturbed for as long aspossible.

SafetyAll pesticides are applied by ourqualified and experienced staff toensure the safety of the public andto minimise damage to theenvironment.

Published by West Dunbartonshire CouncilDesigned by Public RelationsPR: 0502/3TL524JJR

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Environmental HealthCouncil OfficesRosebery PlaceClydebankG81 1TG

Tel: 01389 738290

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