Some useful information regarding common pests in our homes or businesses.
Why are Wasps so aggressive?
Wasps are one of Britain's most feared and potentially aggressive pests, known for their nasty stings and seemingly unprovoked attacks. In reality, a Wasp will usually only attack if it feels threatened, but a Wasp in distress emits a pheromone that sends nearby colony members into a defensive, stinging frenzy.
How to treat Wasp stings?
Wasp stings are at best painful, and at worst fatal. If you’re sensitive to Wasp stings they can trigger a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, needing emergency medical attention. Children, elderly people, those with allergies, and household pets are the most at risk. If after being stung you have difficulties breathing, dizziness or a swollen face - you must seek immediate medical treatment, as these are signs of an allergic reaction. To treat a sting yourself, assuming you aren’t allergic, wash around the affected area with soap and water, apply a cold compress and elevate the affected area if possible. Apply an antihistamine cream to help relieve itching.
What are the signs of Wasps and how to tell if you have a Wasp nest?
A large number of Wasps in and around your home or work is a strong sign there’s probably a Wasp nest nearby. Wasps build their nests using chewed wood and saliva to make a paper mache type material. Nests are lightweight and surprisingly waterproof. You’re likely to find Wasps in sheltered spots, typically trees, bushes, cavity walls, loft spaces, under eaves, sheds and garages. To work out where a likely nest is, carefully follow the Wasps back to their nest entrance. In early spring, you might encounter a nest the size of a golf ball. But as the summer goes on, a growing nest can contain thousands of Wasps and reach the size of a small wheelie bin.
How to deal with Wasps in your shop cafe or restaurant
If you own a food business you need to take Wasp pest control seriously. Wasps in your premises can have a very negative impact as bad customer experiences will result in complaints and negative reviews. Either could result in a loss of future income.
What do Wasps eat?
Wasps are natural pest controllers and tend to eat other insects. They also thrive on sweet food and become a nuisance at BBQ's and within pub beer gardens.
When does the Wasp season end?
Wasp season comes to a close gradually when the colder air arrives. Food becomes scarce so they begin to starve or die of the cold. When the air temperature drops the Queen will rear more queens- often several hundred who will hibernate over Winter and look for new nesting sites in the following Spring.
How to repel and keep Wasps away?
Keeping doors and windows closed will stop Wasps entering. Fly screens can help stop Wasps whilst still allowing cool air in. Open bins will attract Wasps looking for a sweet meal.
Should all Wasp nests be treated?
Wasps can be beneficial in gardens as they feed their grubs on caterpillars and other insects, thereby reducing these pest populations. Wasps abandon their nests after the summer and won’t return to it the following year.
Wasps and how to get rid of a Wasp’s nest safely
Treating a Wasp nest can be very dangerous. You will see all sorts of DIY nest removal guides online, they can be very dangerous and not recommended, NEVER attempt to deal with a Wasp’s nest if you think you might be allergic to stings. Once disturbed, Wasps inside the nest will feel threatened and become very aggressive. Wasps sting multiple times when defending their nest, while being stung by one Wasp isn’t normally dangerous, 30 or 40 stings could be fatal. For this reason we strongly recommend you contact us to do the job safely.
Treating a Wasp Nest professionally
We have the expertise and equipment to do the job safely, we use a range of professional insecticides which are not available to the public. A typical Wasp nest treatment involves applying an insecticide near the entrance of the nest. The Wasps will then carry the chemical into the nest, killing them in two to three hours. We deal with countless Wasp nests in the Rugby, Coventry, Nuneaton, Leamington and surrounding areas.
We strongly recommend you to contact us for help.
What do Rats look like, is it a Rat or a Mouse?
Young Rats can look similar to an adult Mouse to the untrained eye. Typically Rats are between 16 and 40 cm long and Mice 3 to 10 cm. A Rat’s tail is shorter than its body whereas a Mouse is longer. Mice are usually light grey or brown in colour with a lighter shade on their bellies. Rats are social animals, if you see one then there are likely to be more nearby.
Are Rats Dangerous to Public Health?
Rats can carry many nasty diseases, spread through their urine or body coming into contact with food preparation areas. Rats communicate and mark their territory by urinating wherever they go, thus creating a significant public health risk.
Do Rats cause damage to Property?
Rats have to gnaw in order to keep their teeth in shape. Common “gnaw-spots” include cables, woodwork and pipes. This results in electrical problems, structural damage, water and gas leaks.
Rats in or around your business premises?
There is a legal requirement to keep premises Rodent free. Offenders can face legal action and significant fines for failing to comply. Environmental Health Officers can issue enforcement notices, possibly closing a business if deemed necessary. Contact us for advice, especially if you are dissatisfied with your current arrangements.
Where do Rats live?
Rats have amazing abilities to jump, climb and fall from height without injury, making many places accessible. Home is somewhere that provides food, water and shelter. Rats will live in roof spaces, lofts, cavity walls, attics, under floorboards, sewer systems, and anywhere sheltered. When outside or in gardens, they will gnaw and burrow into grassy banks or outbuildings.
How can I tell if I have a problem with Rats?
The most common sign is their faeces, which are dark and pellet-shaped. Another sign is gnawing marks on cables, woodwork, plastic, brick or pipes. Torn bags of foodstuffs may be evident. You may also hear Rats scratching, gnawing and scuttling around.
What do Rats eat?
Rats will eat almost anything - even other Rodents and small animals.
Why are Rats more common in autumn?
In late summer temperatures are warm and Rodents have plenty of food and vegetation, but as autumn turns to winter, Rats start to head indoors looking for food and shelter.
Other characteristics
Rats may not have the best eyesight, but they have a well-developed sense of smell, taste and touch. They also have an acute sense of hearing, frequently using ultrasound to communicate. Rats are social animals, so if you see one rat then there are likely to be more nearby.
Getting rid of Rats, and reasons why you should call us.
Rats are hard-wired to survive. They are adaptable, highly mobile and breed rapidly, making Rat control difficult for the untrained individual. Rats are wary, avoiding new objects such as traps or poisons. Care is needed to ensure they’re placed safely away from children, pets and wildlife. There is a growing problem with resistance, due to poor choice and use of rodenticides. We comply with CRRU (Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use) guidelines to minimise these issues. We have the expertise and experience, access to professional use rodenticides and tools, not available to the public. We will advise on the best course of action in terms of control, then recommend a proofing strategy for you. Feel free to call us for Rat control in Rugby Coventry Warwickshire & Daventry
Contact us to discuss your needs and see our Price List for guidance on charges.
How to get rid of Mice?
You should firstly try to eliminate the food source; you can do this by removing loose food products, and place food items in sealed containers away from Mice.
Secondly you need to get rid of the Mice; this can be done by trapping, or rodenticide. Legally you should use the least toxic methods first; this is designed to help protect other wildlife through the risk of secondary poisoning. You should also be very wary of DIY rodenticides as most of them are not as toxic as our professional products and therefore Mice are often resistant to them.
Finally the entry points need to be sealed to prevent future issues, these could be via next door if in a terraced property, it could be via a hole in the wall, or a broken air vent.
We regularly deal with Mice in Rugby, Coventry, Daventry and surrounding areas, so feel free to get in touch to book an appointment.
How dangerous are mouse droppings? Do Mice carry diseases?
Mice spread diseases such as Hantavirious, Salmonella, Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCMV), Plague (caused by fleas associated with Rats and Mice), Leptospirosis/Weil’s disease, Tularemia, and Bartonellosis. Mice spread diseases due to the fact that they mark their scent using urine wherever they go, meaning as they run over your furniture, kitchen worktops, and across the floor they are constantly urinating and spreading bacteria.
How to tell if I have Mice?
If you think you may have Mice or a Mouse but you are unsure then the typical signs to look out for are droppings, chewed food items, chewed wiring, and hearing scuttling noises in the loft or walls, or physically seeing a Mouse.
Scuttling Noises in the loft or walls?
If you are hearing scuttling or scratching in your loft or walls then this is more than likely a Rodent issue, Mice are more common for entering loft and wall cavities due to their small size and ability to squeeze into a pencil sized hole. However Rats and Squirrels also frequently enter lofts and wall cavities so it is important to investigate further as they can be rather destructive.
Can Mice get into kitchen cabinets?
Yes, most kitchen cabinets have holes drilled into the back of the cabinet to allow access for wiring or pipe work; the Mice use these holes as entry and exit points.
Mice around businesses
Mice can be even more devastating for businesses than domestic homes. Not only is there the risk to public health but also the possible damage to a business’s reputation and the risk of being temporarily shut down or facing prosecution due to a Mouse infestation. We offer routine pest control programmes designed to prevent and detect Mouse and Rat issues; providing peace of mind and ensuring compliance to commercial customers.
What do Mice hate the most? What scent will keep Mice away?
Mice are said to dislike peppermint oil, some past customers say it is effective while others say it isn’t.
How to get rid of Mice naturally/humanely?
We pride ourselves on carrying out pest control as humanely and as environmentally friendly as possible, we never use glue boards due to the suffering that they can create, and we also follow CRRU (Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use) to use least toxic methods first therefore minimising potential dangers to wildlife; if you are carrying out DIY pest control then you should also do the same. A simple way to stop Mice entering your home or business is to seal up any holes; however in some cases this can cause issues if you already have Mice inside your property as a trapped Mouse may try to chew its way out, this can be dangerous if the Mice chew on electrical wiring or water pipes. Humane methods include the use of sonar devices; however their effectiveness is very questionable. Live traps will also prevent the killing of Mice, however some studies show that the survival rate of a Mouse that has been released from a live trap is low; this is due to the fact that the Mouse will be unaware of the nearest food, water source and shelter.
How do I keep Mice out of my kitchen?
By removing or correctly sealing any food source and by making sure that there are no holes leading into your property or business you should prevent any Mouse issues from occurring.
How do I get a Mouse out of my house without killing it?
Live traps will prevent the death of a Mouse from rodenticide or a trap, however if you release a Mouse into an unfamiliar area then it will struggle to locate food, water,and shelter; Studies show that a large proportion of released rodents die in unfamiliar areas.
How many droppings does one Mouse leave?
One Mouse will produce between 50 and 80 droppings in one night.
Mating and lifespan
Mice rarely live longer than 1 year, however within that time they produce 6 to 16 young per litter and 7 or 8 litters a year.
What do Mice eat?
Mice tend to prefer cereal based food however they will eat just about anything; they need to eat roughly three grams per day to survive. Often they get enough moisture from their food to survive without the need to drink any water.
Contact RDB Pest Control to book an appointment or visit our Price Guide for pricing information on Mouse control in Rugby Coventry & Daventry
How to get rid of Bedbugs?
A typical Bedbug treatment involves insecticide spray treatment, great care is needed to ensure that every crack and crevice is treated as Bedbugs will live in gaps in the bed frame, the mattress, under the skirting boards, gaps in floor boards, behind wallpaper, behind pictures, door and wardrobe hinges, and behind radiators. Follow up visits may be required to eliminate the entire Bedbug population and eggs.
Why me? Why have I got Bedbugs? Where do Bedbugs come from?
There is no cause of Bedbugs as such; as long as they have a human to feed on then they will live virtually anywhere. Lots of people associate Bedbugs with dirt and poor hygiene however more often than not this is not the case. Often with Bedbug infestations it is a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There are several possibilities for the spread of Bedbugs, this can include going to a property that already has a Bedbug issue, visiting a hotel with an issue, visiting an airport as eggs or bugs could contaminate your luggage, or from neighboring properties as Bedbugs are known to walk in search of a food source.
What will kill Bedbugs? Is it hard to get rid of Bedbugs?
Bedbugs can be extremely hard to kill due to the fact that they can survive several months without food, they live in gaps in the bed frame, under skirting boards, gaps in floorboards, and behind wallpaper making them hard to gain access to in order to kill them. Bedbugs are also gaining a big resistance to both amateur and professional pest control products making control slightly more challenging at times.
Can you see Bedbugs? What do Bedbugs look like?
Yes you can see Bedbugs; they are roughly the size of a ladybird when fully grown. An adult Bedbug measures about 6mm, and looks like a small round, brown disk.
If I get rid of my bed will that get rid of the Bedbugs?
Bedbugs often live on the furniture around the bed as well as the bed frame and mattress, so often getting rid of the bed doesn’t help to solve the Bedbug issue, in fact by carrying the bed through the house or business you risk spreading the bugs and eggs into other rooms.
Can I treat Bedbugs myself?
It is not advisable to treat Bedbugs yourself because the shop brought chemicals for Bedbugs are less toxic than our professional product so by exposing them to weaker chemicals increases the current issue with Bedbug resistance.
Where do Bedbugs usually bite?
Bedbugs tend to bite around your shoulder or neck area whereas Fleas tend to bite ankles and lower legs.
How long does it take for Bedbug bites to show up?
Usually between 2 to 14 days.
Can I feel if a Bedbug has bitten me?
No, Bedbugs excrete a small amount of anesthetic which numbs the area before they bite.
What do Bedbugs eat? How long can they live without feeding?
Bedbugs feed solely on Human blood. And can survive for about 5 months without feeding.
How long do Bedbugs live?
The average Bedbug lives for between 6 to 12 months. Within their lifetime they will lay one to five eggs per day or up to 500 eggs.
It is recommended to seek professional help when dealing with Bedbugs. We deal with Bedbugs in Rugby Coventry & Daventry
Why do I have Ants?
Food – Ants usually invade houses or business premises purely for food, common places for Ant infestations tend to revolve around food sources, for example you may have Ants in a kitchen (commercial or domestic), or a bin yard. Sugary drinks can also be a favourite for Ants to feed on, you may have spilt a drink or if you are a Pub landlord you may be noticing Ant activity around your beer taps.
Where do Ants live or come from?
Assuming we are talking about Black Ants which are the most common species that we deal with then usually they will be coming in from outside, often you may be able to trace the Ants back to the entry point and back to the nest. Established Ant infestations commonly nest inside the building, this may be under the foundations or in cavity walls; you may see an increase in Ant activity near the entry point to the nest or a small pile of debris that the Ants have moved to create their tunnels and nest.
How to get rid of Ants?
To wipe out a colony of Ants the queen must be killed. DIY products are available for Ant control however they often lack the toxic power to kill the entire nest and they often cannot get deep enough into the Ant nest to kill the queen, meaning they kill a few Ants but not the entire nest. Our professional Ant control products are more powerful than DIY products and are designed to penetrate into the nest and kill the queen. We have sprays and gels available depending on the Ant nest location.
Do Ants come every year?
If not treated properly then Ants will come back year on year, they are active during the Summer months and lie dormant over the colder winter months.
What are flying Ants?
Flying Ants are fertile male and female Ants who leave the colony to reproduce and create new nesting sites. They appear towards the end of summer when the weather is warm and can create a real nuisance if in a home, kitchen or business.
How to I stop Ants coming back?
Trying to remove all potential food sources will help to prevent an Ant issue from occurring; sealing any potential entry points for Ants will also help. It is also advised to treat Ants as soon as possible to stop them from becoming established and harder to eradicate.
How to get rid of Fleas
Most of the time Fleas will originate from your pet, so the first step in solving a Flea infestation is to regularly bathe, flea comb and treat your pet/pets with a veterinary approved Flea product. Next the house will need treating because Fleas do not live solely on the pet, they also live in carpets, rugs, sofas, and bedding so treating the pet will not get rid of the Flea population. Professional pest control products have a residue effect meaning once Fleas come into contact with our chemical up to three or four weeks after treatment they will still die, this is vital with the control of Fleas.
How long does it take to get rid of Fleas?
We estimate that after our treatment the Fleas will be gone in about 2 weeks providing the relevant precautions are taken with regards treating any pets. See our Price List for information on how we guarantee our work. We have Flea treatments available in Rugby Coventry Warwickshire Northampton & Daventry
How long do Fleas live? How long do Fleas live without feeding?
Active adult Fleas that are regularly feeding on a host live for about 2 to 3 months, however before a Flea reaches its adult phase it can lie dormant for 6 months to a year without feeding. An adult Flea can lay 50 eggs per day.
Where do Fleas come from?
Usually Fleas are brought into the home or workplace via pets, however this is not always the case, you can become infested via local wildlife, Hedgehogs tend to carry fleas. If you have visited another house, place of work, or hotel with a Flea issue then it is quite possible to carry Fleas or eggs on your person or on your belongings.
Where do Fleas live?
Generally Fleas tend to live in animal bedding, on cushions or sofas, carpets, rugs, Human bedding, and on their host.
How do I know if I have been bitten by Fleas?
Flea bites are usually very itchy and can become sore from constant scratching; they tend to bite in clusters of two or three bites. Bites are usually located around your ankles and lower leg whereas Bedbug bites tend to be around your shoulders or neck.
Flea control will usually require professional help.