Insect Pest Control

An insect infestation can be a real problem for both homes and businesses. Not only can they be bad for your business’ reputation and put guests off from visiting you, some insects carry and transmit diseases and others may bite. Insects that might cause you problems are:

• Mites
• Carpet Beetles
• Ants
• Moths
• Silver Fish
• Flies
• Beetles
• Stored Product insects

Don’t worry though as we can eradicate any insect infestation!

Mites

There are several types of mite which could infest your home or business, such as dust mites, furniture mites, flour mites, scabies mites, bird mites and the red spider mite. Mites are more closely related to spiders, having 8 legs. Mites can spoil food, kill plants and also cause itchy, irritating bites and in some cases cause an allergic reaction. Bird mite bites are commonly mistaken as being bedbugs, primarily due to the bites happening when in bed. This is because bird mites can migrate from nests in gutters and lofts, into bedrooms below.

Carpet Beetles

Carpet beetles are sometimes mistaken for bed bugs, the big difference is that they, thankfully do not feed on blood. They do, on the other hand, feed on natural fibres such as wools, silks and furs which can cause significant damage to soft furnishings, curtains and, as the name suggests, carpets. The carpet beetle is about 3mm long and shaped like a ladybird. The larva, which do the most damage, are about 4-5mm long. You can tell if you have carpet beetles if you see odd damage to your soft furnishings, and particularly threadbare carpets around the edges of rooms, or you see brown shed skins from larvae moulting.

Ants

Ants are close relatives of bees and wasps and they can form colonies which hold up to 500,000 ants! The most common ant in the UK is the garden ant which is dark brown/black in colour. Ants are drawn to sweet foods which they take back to the colony to feed the larvae and the queen ant. An ant infestation will be obvious as you will see rows of ants marching backwards and forwards between sources of food and the colony. Clearing up food remnants, cleaning down worktops and sealing up small gaps in doors and windows will help prevent ants entering your home or business. Other common ants in the UK include Argentine Ant and Pharoah’s ants. It is very important to identify which species of ant is present, as undertaking the wrong treatment with Argentine Ants and Pharoah’s ants can cause satellite colonies to split, spreading the problem further.

Moths

There are approximately 2,500 different moth species in the UK and the vast majority are harmless. Clothes moths and carpet moths can however severely damage carpets, clothes, leathers and fabrics in your property. It is not the moth that causes the damage but the moth caterpillar. A sure sign of a moth issue is unexplained holes in fabrics and clothing.

Silver Fish

Silver fish are not fish but are rather destructive insects which will eat books, photos, wallpaper, plaster and any other household items containing starch or cellulose. They prefer dark, humid environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and cellars. Silver fish will leave yellow stains on clothing and fabrics and leave small holes along the edges of books or wallpaper. Silver fish are not harmful to humans.

Flies

Flies are a perennial problem and more so in the summer months. There are over 120,000 fly species worldwide. Although flies don’t typically bite, they do vomit saliva onto their food and then suck up the resultant liquid. This is known to transmit food poisoning such as salmonella and E. Coli. Flies will also lay their eggs in your home which can lead to problems with maggots as well. An average housefly will live for around 30 days. You can take steps to prevent flies such as putting up fly screens over doors and windows to stop them getting in. In addition, clear up any food debris and keep bin lids tightly closed. Cluster flies can be found in large numbers in certain properties in the spring and autumn, due to their lifecycle.

Beetles

In the UK we are likely to see species of beetle such as the biscuit beetle, death watch beetle, furniture beetle (woodworm), ground beetle, larder beetle, longhorn beetle, plaster beetle and the spider beetle. Not all of these are considered pests (although you don’t want hundreds of beetles scurrying around your home), but beetles like the biscuit beetle, plaster beetle and the furniture beetle can cause damage in your home or spoil food.

Stored Product Insects (SPI)

These are insects such as weevils, flour beetles, flour mites and cheese mites to name a few, which infest foodstuffs and foodstuff raw materials. The most common sign of a stored product insect is unexplained damage and tainting to foodstuffs and foodstuff raw materials, or excessive numbers of insects in kitchens and food storage areas. SPIs are particularly harmful in food preparation and storage businesses where they can cause significant product damage and if not spotted, cause significant reputational damage to the business and potential financial impacts or other penalties.

Insect Pest Control

If you think you have an insect infestation, get in touch with iX5 Pest Control immediately. We will conduct a thorough survey and detail our recommended solutions, including advising on preventative measures. We use a range of control strategies depending on various factors such as the location, the extent of activity, and any sensitive receptors or non-target species.

We offer insect pest control for domestic premises and businesses in Northampton, Daventry, Rugby, Market Harborough, Towcester, Brackley, Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby, Olney and all of the surrounding areas. Our team of specialists are available both evenings and weekends at no extra cost. Should you require assistance call us on 01604 328545, email [email protected] or use our simple contact form.