Biology: Foxes are a Red/Brown with a lighter underside. They stand about 35-45cm tall with a tail between 30 and 50 cm long. An adult fox weighs about 8kg. They have 1 litter of 4 to 7 per year and reach maturity in a year. They live between 7 and 14 years.

Control: Foxes are becoming more common in urbanised areas and cause problems in people’s gardens, and threaten the lives of pets. To control foxes they are caught using live catch traps. These are humane traps and do not hurt the fox. Fox Traps must be checked regulary.

This familiar little moth occurs regularly inside buildings, and being continuously-brooded, can be found at any time of year indoors.

The larvae live on dried plant and animal debris, and the species has been accidentally introduced into many parts of the world with dried stored goods.

The larvae of these Brown House Moths can cause considerable damage to natural fibres such as wool, mohair, fur etc.

The female can lay up to 500 eggs which can hatch into larvae within 10 days!

Best control to get rid of this moth pest is to use a residual insecticide, an insect powder for cracks and crevices. Smoke generators/ULV Machine  can be effective for a total fumigation treatment.

Call the experts to get rid of your pest problem.

The larva, as its vernacular name suggests, feeds on woollen clothing, upholstery and carpets, as well as other animal-based material, such as hair or fur. It lives in a silken tube, and when gregarious this can develop into a dense matting.

The moths are more or less continuously brooded except during the winter months.

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Tomatoes, melons, squash, grapes and other perishable items brought in from the garden are often the cause of an infestation developing indoors. Fruit flies are also attracted to rotting bananas, potatoes, onions and other unrefrigerated produce purchased at the grocery store. This fact sheet will explain how infestations originate and how they can be prevented in your home or place of business.

Biology and Behavior

Fruit flies are common in homes, restaurants, supermarkets and wherever else food is allowed to rot and ferment. Adults are about 1/8 inch long and usually have red eyes. The front portion of the body is tan and the rear portion is black. Fruit flies lay their eggs near the surface of fermenting foods or other moist, organic materials. Upon emerging, the tiny larvae continue to feed near the surface of the fermenting mass. This surface-feeding characteristic of the larvae is significant in that damaged or over-ripened portions of fruits and vegetables can be cut away without having to discard the remainder for fear of retaining any developing larvae. The reproductive potential of fruit flies is enormous; given the opportunity, they will lay about 500 eggs. The entire lifecycle from egg to adult can be completed in about a week.

Fruit flies are especially attracted to ripened fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. But they also will breed in drains, garbage disposals, empty bottles and cans, trash containers, mops and cleaning rags. All that is needed for development is a moist film of fermenting material. Infestations can originate from over-ripened fruits or vegetables that were previously infested and brought into the home. The adults can also fly in from outside through inadequately screened windows and doors.

Fruit flies are primarily nuisance pests. However, they also have the potential to contaminate food with bacteria and other disease-producing organisms.

Prevention

The best way to avoid problems with fruit flies is to eliminate sources of attraction. Produce which has ripened should be eaten, discarded or refrigerated. Cracked or damaged portions of fruits and vegetables should be cut away and discarded in the event that eggs or larvae are present in the wounded area. A single rotting potato or onion forgotten at the back of a closet, or fruit juice spillage under a refrigerator can breed thousands of fruit flies. So can a recycling bin stored in the basement which is never emptied or cleaned.

Cluster Flies

These flies are commonly found throughout Europe and the UK the name refers to their habit of clustering together in large numbers and hibernating in buildings. There are several species found in the UK but they are often found in mixed swarms. The sizes vary between species from 3 to 8 mm, but the commonest species are 3 to 4mm long.

Life Cycle

Eggs are laid on damp soil or beneath dead and rotting leaves. The larvae of one species seek earthworms and bore through the body wall and are therefore more common in the country. When the earthworm dies the larvae bore out again and pupate in the soil. The adult flies feed on the nectar of garden and wild flowers.

As a free-living insect the length of the life cycle is weather dependent. In Britain two generations are common, but in hot summers up to four are possible. During the summer and early autumn cluster flies are of no importance. As the season cools they seek shelter in nooks and crannies in houses and other buildings.

When the temperature drops further they will seek greater protection and often form very large clusters in lofts or roof spaces. Often nuisance is caused by the presence of these large clusters outside buildings while they try to find a way in to hibernate. These masses may consist of several thousand flies clustered together. These large clusters produce a sickly smell. If the flies are warmed up during their hibernation they may emerge rather lazily and be a source of nuisance within the building.

It has been observed that a single building in a row of apparently identical buildings will be selected for clustering year after year. This is no indication of poor hygiene standards and no explanation for the phenomenon has been found.

Bird and Pigeon Netting services

This method comprises of nylon netting, fixed to a wire rope frame that is pre-tensioned. The result is net that all bird types can’t pass through. Birds also find the net very unpleasant for them to land or perch on. Nets are fixed to the ground using a multitude of methods, with masonry bolts and clamp systems mostly commonly used. Sometimes further support structures might need constructing for additional wiring. All components and fittings are either stainless steel or galvanised for guaranteed long life.

Bird and pigeon netting is very effective in preventing access to recesses, alcoves and balconies which are usually hard to protect effectively using other methods. The bird netting is inconspicuous when viewed from a head on angle.

Bird Proofing-Spikes

Bird Spikes are steel or projections, providing excellent bird proofing by making surfaces hard or unpleasant to land on, therefore preventing roosting. Usually made from a plastic basing, they comprise of metal spikes that stick outwards and upwards. Bird spikes are attached to a building, being glued to a surface or fixed directly by nails or screws. Bird and pigeon spikes come in a variety of sizes and strengths for a range of bird types. Total Bird Control can give advise on which system is suitable in your situation.

This method provides extremely effective bird proofing and protection. Bird and pigeon spikess are usually easily seen from a ground level. At Total Bird Control however we are conscious of this and so install bird spikes in an inconspicuous and clean style which lessens the aesthetic look significantly.. Being extremely flexible they are perfect for uneven and irregular areas, and areas where other bird deterrent systems are not possible.

Pigeon fouling removal & cleaning

If birds enter buildings and go unnoticed, large amounts of fouling and associated waste can build up. Heavy infestations on external areas of buildings create large amounts of fouling and make buildings look unsightly. The fouling is also very acidic and causes damage to the fabric of buildings, which in turn leads to higher cleaning and repair bills.

Total Bird Control’s teams decontaminate and treat fouling with insecticide and biocide prior to removal, thereby reducing the risk of disease transmission. This work is normally completed prior to installing bird proofing to the areas of infestation.

Removing bird droppings and decontamination is a job that should be carried out by a professional. Employing a reputable bird and pigeon control company like A1 Pest Service gives you peace of mind that you are hiring a professional company, that is fully compliant with all current legislation.

All pesticides used in the control/treatment of fouling are selective and applied to ensure safety. Method statements and risk assessments will be completed before work commences.

Avishock

Minimum visibility protection, effective against all species, at all infestation pressures, in almost any location over an extended lifetime… AVISHOCK™ is set to change the face of urban bird management in the UK.

AVISHOCK™, Electric Bird Deterrent System provides a hugely valuable new professional management option alongside traditional bird spikes, bird nets and bird wire – proven not to harm birds.

Things to think about before buying or using any unit are,
. What am I going to be needing a unit for ?
. What size/watt do I need ?
. Where is the best place to fit the unit ?
. What type of unit do I get, sticky board or electric grid ?
. What type of tubes can I use, standard or safety ?
. How often does the unit need servicing and tubes/sticky pads need changed ?
. Will I need more than one unit ?
. Do I get a cheap or expensive unit ?

These are only some thinks that you should think about before getting, or using a fly killer unit, but we are here to help.

Why Control Flies

If a cockroach were to walk across your table in a restaurant, you would leave immediately, however, if a fly were to land on your plate, you would probably just wave it away and carry on eating. Yet, flies carry as much disease potential as cockroaches.

Flying insects have been found to carry a wide range of dangerous microorganisms all over their bodies, in their saliva and excreta, including E.coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Campylobacter and many others. Even a tiny dose of any of these is enough to cause serious disease. At the very least, insect contamination reduces product quality, making it unsaleable.

By law, food that is sold must be wholesome and free from contamination. Companies are required to demonstrate ‘due diligence’ that they have taken every precaution against contamination from flying insect pests.

Flying insect pests are highly mobile and make no distinction between food prepared for our consumption and any other surface that they land on, walk over, defecate on or eat. Many insect species have particularly unsavory habits and therefore represent a high contamination risk to our food.

With this in mind, fly control becomes more than just hanging any unit where it can be seen. Its effectiveness, according to type and siting, has a real bearing on how much protection you and your customers receive. Poor quality or incorrectly sited units can just make matters worse by giving a false sense of security.

All fly control equipment needs regular servicing if it is to remain effective. Whilst the initial cost may be important, consider maintenance and running costs. To maintain maximum efficiency, change tubes ideally every 6 months but at least every 12 months.

For further advice on which fly killer units, please give us a call.

The cat flea is the most common flea, although the dog, human, and sticktight fleas are also quite common. Fleas commonly attach themselves to dogs, cats, humans, chickens, rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice and other domesticated or wild animals.

The female flea lays her eggs on the surface hair of the host. Eggs then drop from the host and can infest carpets, bedding and furniture, hatching into larvae within 14 days. Flea larvae avoid light and feed on organic matter found within cracks and crevices. Usually within 18 days, larvae enter the pupal stage by constructing small, cocoon-like structures around themselves. Approximately two weeks later, adult fleas emerge and begin to search for food sources. Fleas establish large populations where pets and other animals, such as livestock, are present.  Multiple treatment methods are often employed to eradicate a flea population.

Pets suffering from flea bites scratch themselves incessantly. Fleas also feed on humans and some people exhibit flea allergies. Fleas may also carry human diseases such as typhus and tularemia.

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