Tiny bugs sharing our Christmas treats? It’s not something that we like to think about but it could be a problem all the same as insects can infest stored food.

Being aware of the problem and knowing how to spot the signs of stored product insects is the first line of defence – and will hopefully help you to keep those Christmas treats all to yourself.

Being alert to the signs of stored product insects will allow you to take early action and nip the problem in the bud before the insect infestation spreads.

What insects are found in stored food?

In the United Kingdom stored product insects are generally beetles weevils, silver fish and moths.

Most of the insects are minute with beetles and weevils measuring around 3-4mm, flour mites are just 0.5mm, while moths can be up to 9mm.

These little critters are brought into warehouses, factories and bakeries inside bags of grain and flour.

However, they can also be found in products such as nuts and dried fruit.

They can be a serious problem if found in a commercial operation as infected produce will need to be thrown away. Business owners will also need to thoroughly clean the area – and apply insecticide to ensure the insects have been removed – this should be done by a professional pest control firm.

Within the house stored product insects cause similar problems albeit on a much smaller scale. At the sight of a brown fleck moving in your flour, holes in packing, damaged food or silken webbing in the kitchen it is time act – and quickly.

The faster the response to stored product insect infestations the easier the situation will be to manage and to contain the amount food affected.

What to do

Remove all affected food – this could be sugar, flour, breakfast cereals, dried meat and dried fruit. Follow up by comprehensively cleaning the entire cupboard, including cracks and joins. Make sure the kitchen is as clean as possible.

A pest control company will be able to ensure the removal of insects and can treat the affected area.

For advice on tackling insect infestations contact Pest Busters.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

Carpet beetles – they sounds like pretty serious invaders, but if you are picturing substantial shiny black visitors think again.

Measuring just 3mm – these textile-loving insects are miniscule and coloured white and black.

On account of their tiny stature, they are also incredibly difficult to spot.

Should you be unlucky enough to suffer an infestation of carpet beetles it is far more likely that you will notice the signs of your unwelcome visitors before you manage to spot a carpet beetle itself.

These small insects make their way into homes through unsealed entrances – think drafty window seals, open doors and settle down to work eating away at (more than likely) your soft furnishings.

A common household pest

Fans of natural fibres, carpet beetles feast on textiles for the protein keratin and are a common household pest.

Adult carpet beetles are mainly active through the summer from May to August when they will lay their eggs – usually under skirting boards, in wardrobes and under furniture.

When these eggs become larvae they will hide away, munching away on whatever textile is at hand – be that your carpet, furniture or stored blankets or clothing.

Tell-tale signs that carpet beetles have made themselves at home in your house include holes left in materials, faeces, and shed skins. They can also cause skin irritation similar to that caused by bed bugs.

Take action

The best way to avoid an infestation is to pack clothes away carefully in air tight bags and to maintain a clean home – vacuuming regularly.

Should you discover an infestation, vacuuming the area thoroughly will help. However, carpet beetles can be very difficult to get rid of so consider calling a pest control expert in who can treat the area with insecticide.

If you are concerned you may have a problem with carpet beetles contact Pest Busters.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

Make no mistake about woodworm, it is a pest – and you will certainly know they’ve been making themselves at home thanks to their destructive nature.

Woodworm are actually beetle larvae, and as they make their way towards becoming a fully-fledged beetle they spend a lot of time munching through wooden structures.

Seemingly attracted to damp wood, beetles lay their eggs on the wood and as these form into larvae they feed on the material.

Once having found a good damp wooden base, beetles will perpetuate the cycle as the new adults choose the same spot to lay their eggs, which go on to cause more destruction.

Signs of woodworm

So how do you know you have a woodworm problem?

• Giveaway holes bored into the wood
• Fine dust around the holes
• Beetles around the area
• Crumbling edges of the wooden item
• Dead beetles in the area

Taking action as soon as possible after spotting the signs of a woodworm infestation is vital as the effects of them boring through the wood can weaken structures.

One problem with woodworm is that the infestation can often not be seen if the exit holes are not visible.

How to get rid of woodworm

The most commonly used method of getting rid of woodworm is to spray the affected area with an insecticide. This will need to be done by an expert, who will thoroughly check the affected area to see the extent of the infestation and whether it is still active.

Treatment with insecticide is quick and effective, however if there is an underlying reason for the woodworm infestation, such as damp, this will need to be fixed to avoid the problem happening again.

If you are concerned that you may have woodworm at your property, or would like more advice about insect control, please contact Pest Busters for advice.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

The fruit fly – it spreads its wings far and wide inhabiting all the continents of the world, being a pest wherever it goes. The big problem with fruit flies is their astounding capability to infest buildings – be it a home, restaurant or business. Almost microscopic at 3mm long, fruit flies are drawn to over-ripe fruit and vegetables that might be found in kitchens or dustbins.

While fruit flies are not directly harmful to humans, they will visit unclean areas and can carry dangerous bacteria, which they can then leave behind.

The very worst thing about fruit flies is their stomach-churning capacity to multiply.  The females lay their eggs on fermenting fruit and vegetables, then within just 24 hours they can hatch into maggots. This is certainly not a scenario you want in your kitchen or workplace.

What can be done to get rid or fruit flies and to stop them visiting in the first place?

The best way to avoid fruit flies paying a visit is to avoiding leaving overripe fruit and vegetables out – they also like alcohol so keep the bottle stop in!

Keeping the kitchen area clean and bins emptied should also help to discourage them. In the event that you do suffer from an infestation, throw away any food that may have attracted the fruit flies and give the area a thorough clean.

There are home-made remedies for attracting fruit flies away from food but, certainly in the case of a business, specialist fly deterrents should be put in place to prevent a future problem.

Fly papers that catch insects, and fly-curtain doors are a great way to start. Larger premises may want to look at screening and electric units as a solution. Just a few simple steps should keep this pest at bay – and keep your fruit and veg safe.

For more advice on dealing with fruit flies contact Pest Busters.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

The thought of having 10,000 wasps living on your doorstep is a terrifying prospect. But should wasps choose to make their nest on your property this is the reality some homeowners could face.

Wasps can make their nests in a number of areas around the home such as cavity walls, lofts, garden sheds and garages.

Starting off small, the queen wasp will soon set to work stripping wood and repurposing it to enlarge her kingdom. These nests can grow to the size of a football – if not larger – accommodating thousands of wasps.

Throughout the summer the number of wasps continues to grow as well as the nest, which is built up by worker wasps which take over from the queen while she concentrates on laying hundreds of eggs every day.

The presence of just one wasp is enough to send some people in to a panic, but what would you do faced with thousands of them? The first thing is keep calm and call for help.

Why do wasps’ nests pose a danger?

Pest control options can take the sting out of your wasp’s nest problem quickly and efficiently by taking a few simple measures, so don’t live in fear of a menace on your doorstep, take action today.

As a rule wasps only sting when they feel threatened, the problem is when they do feel under attack they release a chemical that alerts other wasps to the danger, which then join the attack.

Disturbing a wasps’ nest is particularly hazardous as it will release multitudes of angry wasps. Wasps can sting multiple times and being stung by more than one is certainly an unpleasant experience, the most worrying factor though is the possibility of anaphylaxis from a wasp sting.

Leave getting rid of a wasp’s nest to the experts

For these reasons wasp’s nest removal is best left to the experts. Unlike bees, which are an endangered species, pest control is the best way to tackle a wasps’ nest.

Pest Busters will target the wasps inside the nest, making the area safe once again, and giving you peace of mind that your home – and your children – are safe from the threat of wasps.

Pest Busters have extensive experience of removing wasps’ nests, so don’t leave yourself in danger a moment longer than necessary – contact us today for expert advice.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

The humble bee has found itself at the centre of global concerns about the future of the environment. So concerned are experts about the demise of bees that they predict their loss could spell disaster for the food chain due to their important roles as pollinators.

So why, when bees are such an important part of the natural world, are they being targeted on the doorsteps of homes around the country as a pest?

Yes, no-one can overlook the fact, that as wonderful as they are to the world of nature, bees can sting. And with invasions of angry wasps driving fear into the hearts of children everywhere, it is inevitable that the buzzing of the significantly less angry bumble bee, or honey bee, will also cause alarm for youngsters. And no family wants their child frightened to go outside.

Bees – best left well alone

But is destroying their home, or, even worse, killing bees the best course of action to take? We would say definitely not.

So, what is the solution – should bees make themselves at home on your property? If at all possible bees should be left well alone.

Although a swarm of bees can be an intimidating sight, bees are unlikely to sting unless provoked. Obviously, this is not always the case, and should a bee head your way the best advice is to stay as still as possible until it flies away.

Bees cannot usually be moved, and herein lies the problem as the only remaining solution is to use a chemical to destroy the nest. This course of action is devastating when calls are being made to protect bees at all costs.

Short-term stays help to take the sting out of bees’ nests

Bees only set up home for a relatively short period of time – usually just two months. Bumbles bees often live underground in holes, but can inhabit sheds or compost heaps. They usually keep themselves to themselves and live in relatively small numbers with nests often not containing more than 100 bumble bees.

Honey bees, however, can make their homes in walls, trees and lofts, but the real problem is the numbers in which they nest with as many as 40,000 bees in a colony. Like bumble bees, honey bees should be left alone where possible, but if they pose a threat to public health it might be that a chemical solution is the only alternative.

The best solution all round is if we allow bees to be a friend to our garden. Plant bee-friendly plants and craft a bee hotel for solitary bees and help to protect the vital role these hard-workers do to bring harmony to nature.

For more advice on what to do regarding bees’ nests contact Pest Busters.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

Standing at the sink, washing the dishes, and all of a sudden you catch a glimmer of silver out of the corner of your eye. Come to think of it, didn’t you see a similar flash in the corner behind the toilet just the other day?

It may only be a tiny speck, blink and it’s gone, but your mind may not be playing tricks on you and there might actually be a cause for concern about these twinkling shapes. What you may have is a possible silverfish infestation.

What are Silverfish?

Silverfish are tiny wingless insects, the name originating from their silvery-grey colouring and wriggle-like movements. Also known as carpet sharks, fishmoths or paramites they are difficult to spot being nocturnal and actually quite shy in nature.

The problem is, they breed very quickly and can live up to a whole year without eating. The one small saving grace is that they don’t bite and don’t carry diseases.

Typically characterised with flat, elongated bodies and flickering antennae, the insets move swiftly and can cause extensive damage to your home.

Often found in darker kitchen, bathroom and loft space corners that are prone to warm and moist temperatures. Despite their veiled nature, there are a few clear indications that you may have a silverfish problem if you know what you’re looking for:

• Their feeding habits can cause holes in wallpaper and clothing
• Damage can be characterised by yellow stains
• Tiny pepper-like faeces
• White skin extracts

How to eradicate your Silverfish problem

Silverfish are an ancient insect and they like to nibble on sugary, starchy and cellulose substances plus anything bound by glue. Typical household items such as paper, photographs, mold, books bindings, coffee, carpet fibres, and even your clothing and hair. The latter is probably not going to happen as silverfish tend to retreat away from human confrontation!

If you think you have a problem, consider the following actions as a starting point:

• Invest in a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air
• Check and fix all leaking pipework
• Seal food containers
• Removing any standing water vessels
• Check your bathroom fan is working efficiently to remove moisture
• Clear dead leaves and damp debris from around your walls outside
• Ventilate rooms properly
• Vacuum all tiny crevasses

Once you have formed general habits as a preventative measure, here are some basic removal solutions to try:

• Sticky traps
• Spray cedar or cedar oil along floor and wall crevasses
• Spray insecticides

Be sure to clean your hands properly and keep pets away from the sprayed areas until completely dry.

And there’s still professional help from Pest Busters

For severe infestations or complete peace of mind, call the experts in today.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

House spiders can be pretty large and can cause a nuisance in anyone`s home. They have the ability to bite, but they are not very dangerous for humans because they do not have venom. House spiders are not aggressive, but they can sometimes leave a painful bite which can cause swelling and redness around the bitten area.

Male spiders usually enter homes at the end of the summer or early autumn months when they go out looking for breeding partners. If you want to avoid dealing with these creatures and prevent them from invading your space, then you can do the following things.

1. Clear away other dead insects, flies and other small insects, because they are the main spider food.

2. Clean and vacuum your home regularly, especially sheltered spots behind sofas, cupboards, and worktops.

3. Remove any spider webs you find in your home. Check out all corners of mirrors, picture frames, and ceilings.

4. Fill in all the gaps in your home, between walls, pipes, and below the doors.

5. Limit the light sources, because all insects are drawn to heat sources. Outside lights often attract flies, which are main spider prey. Turn them off whenever you can.

6. Spiders are repelled by the strong smells of vinegar, lemon, eucalyptus and peppermint. You can rub a lemon peel on the corners of your doors and around windows, to stop spiders from entering.

7. Cats are also enemies of spiders and are well known for eating them. So, if you are thinking about a pet, a cat can be very efficient in eliminating spiders. However, the cat cannot prevent spiders from coming inside your home….unfortunately!

8. There is an old belief that spiders really do not like conkers, so it might be a good idea for you to place a few of them in some corners of your home. You never know…it might work!

9. Compost heaps, garden bags, and firewood piles should be covered or removed.

10. Search for holes and cracks in the walls and try to fill them.

Spiders get a bit of a bad press but they’re unlikely to invade your home in huge numbers. However, if you’re a bit arachnophobic, one spider is enough. Try the above and you should see a difference if not contact Pest Control!

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

Prevention of rodent infestation is an issue that the human race has faced for over 6 centuries. In the 14^th century, Europe and Asia were affected by Black Death (bubonic plague) which killed millions of people. Although such plagues are not seen today, this doesn’t mean that they can’t occur on a micro level.

Although cases of bubonic plague are very rare, the fact is that rodents like mice and rats can trigger many different diseases that can affect the lives of humans and their pets. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Lassa fever, Wells syndrome, hantavirus, rat-bite fever, pneumonic plague, typhoid plague – these are just some of the diseases related to mice and rats.

Rodent issues: telltale signs

Bite marks on a cereal box is one of the most typical signs that you have a rodent problem in your home. But, there are some other signs that can help you determine whether you have unwanted guests in your home – small paw prints on the floor or other dusty areas, droppings that are small and dark, the strong musky smell in some rooms, sounds behind the walls etc. Keep in mind that mice and rats can enter through very tight holes and they can breed incredibly fast.

How to keep pets safe from rodent control

The simplest way to keep pets safe from rodent control is to take preventive measures. Inspect your home from the outside and seal any visible openings that can serve as entry points for rodents. Of course, ensuring there is no accumulation of rubbish or food scraps in your yard or back garden will help too.

When it comes to the interior, you should take special care of kitchen counters which should be kept clean all the time. If you have any open food, store it in glass or metal containers. Throw your rubbish away on a regular basis too.

If you already have mice in your home, use specially designed mouse traps and sound barriers. By doing this, you can rest assured that your pet will be perfectly safe.

For all your rodent infestation needs, please contact us now.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk

There are many different species of ants, but when it comes to ants that are found in households, we are usually talking about the carpenter and black ants. Black ants, also known as black garden ants, can cause a lot of frustration with homeowners because they are difficult to eliminate once they settle in the house. A single colony of these ants can have more than 2,000 active black ants. Black ants are active both at night and during the daytime. Gardens and houses are their favourite habitats even though some of them are found in forests too. These ants can be found in Europe and in some parts of North America too.

The elimination of black ants is not a simple task. When they are in our homes they usually nest in cracks in walls, woodwork, in basement walls and under carpets and rugs. In the garden, they are found in concrete cracks, mulch, trees and under rocks too.  It can be difficult to locate the nest and they are also very resilient creatures.

Another reason why it’s difficult to get rid of these ants is the fact that they can use almost anything as food. Black ants love vegetables, sugar, protein, plants and they eat other insects too. In addition, they eat honeydew that comes from scales and aphids. They have a very good sense of smell and they can locate food sources without any problems. The food is usually brought to their nest where all of them eat.

Springtime is their favourite season because this is the time of the year when they can leave their nests more frequently and for a longer period of time. They are looking for new and fresh food in spring. This means that if you notice more black ants at this time of year, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your home is infested, they’re likely to be about anyway. However, if you notice them in large numbers in your property, then there’s a good chance that you have a nest somewhere.

If you are experiencing an ant infestation and need help in locating the nest and eradicating them, please contact us now.

Pest Busters (Birmingham)

Highfield Farm, Middle Lane, Kings Norton, Birmingham B38 0DX
0121 695 9076
www.pest-busters.co.uk