We can help with black garden ants.

Black garden ants are a nuisance pest, but not a risk to human health.

Signs of garden ants

• garden ants swarm every year as part of the colony flies away to find a new place to nest. This is natural, and should be over with 48 hours
• nests are always found in garden soil or under floors are likely to be visible inside and outside the property
• check paved areas outdoors – these make an ideal place for garden ants to live
• a trail of ants may be seen moving to and from the nest site
• they are often seen around food or spillage

Treating an infestation

Before requesting treatment, you may want to attempt to treat an infestation at home with aerosols, insecticidal dusts or powders from a garden centre or DIY store.

Bedbug bites cause redness, swelling and itching. Some people may be at risk of an allergic reaction to their bites.

Signs of bedbugs

• adult bedbugs are roughly the size of an apple pip, and after biting they will appear red or purple in colour
• they may be seen mattress seams, bedding, sockets and cracks in walls, on curtains or along skirting boards and carpet edges
• look for dark brown stains on bedding, especially around mattresses and bed frames, as bedbugs leave droppings after every meal
• any bites will be swollen, red and itchy, and may appear in clusters

Treating an infestation

Treatments for bedbugs can be complex. New control methods are being tested by professionals all the time.

For these reasons we do not recommend that you try and treat an infestation yourself. Treatments are extremely difficult and even professionals can struggle to control the problem completely.

These are not pests under the public health definition but nevertheless can cause distress and concern in some situations. It is common in late Spring for bees and wasps to swarm which can be intimidating as they can set up a temporary camp somewhere nearby, such as a tree branch, fence post and even on cars and motorbikes. In almost all cases the swarm will take off again within a day or two to occupy a most suitable permanent home elsewhere. Bees are a valuable insect and are endangered so we'd always recommend exploring all other avenues before considering eradication. Below is a step by step guide to assist you:

• Leave them alone - Bees don't cause any problems to your property, and nor are you in danger of being stung if they are left alone and unprovoked. After the summer season the bees will go away and not return to the nesting site the following year. Therefore if at all possible always leave bees nests alone to thrive as their presence is actually beneficial for gardeners and their crop.

• Relocation - If a bees nest is outside or underground then there shouldn't be a reason to really move it. In more conventional and accessible places such as bushes, trees and sheds, then we will try to relocate the nest. Only if the location of a nest is dangerous and removal not possible, should the next step be an option. Wasps due to their aggressive nature are difficult to relocate.
• Eradication – Only considered as a last resort and must be done by a trained professional pest controllers.

Every spring we receive calls from concerned persons who have sighted large hornets. Due to some alarmist and misinformed television programs they fear an invasion.

The largest hornet in the world is the Japanese or Asian Giant Hornet, Vespa mandarinia. This lives only in the far east and is not the “killer” one. It measures 45 millimetres, a wingspan of around 75 mm (3 in), and a stinger 6 mm long.

Smaller is the European hornet, Vespa crabro, also called Giant Hornet or the Brown Hornet is medium sized but even then is only 25 mm long. Though still alarmingly large with a yellow face, it is not aggressive but will defend nest if threatened and can sting without warning. Found in the area.

Smaller is Vespa velutina, the Asian Hornet which is also known as the Yellow-legged Hornet or Asian Predatory Hornet, indigenous to Southeast Asia. It is of concern as an invasive species in Central Europe because it affects Honey Bee colonies . The nearest it has been found to us is in Northern Spain and Portugal. It is not spreading south across Spain as the climate is too dry.

The Oriental Hornet, Vespa orientalis is found in Gibraltar, Southern Europe and Asia for the past couple of years. It is of no special concern though its appearance is quite striking.

Note that the Oriental Hornet is not the same as the Asian hornet. In any case the “killer” status is to honey bees, not humans. However all hornets and wasps can be aggressive if threatened and should be given a wide berth.

Cockroaches can be a risk to our health, as they can transfer bacteria onto food products and surfaces.

Signs of cockroaches

Cockroaches normally come out at night. However, if an infestation is large you may be able to see them at any time during the day. Watch for insects scuttling away to hide when you enter a room at night. Use a torch to check behind units, refrigerators and cookers to look for the insects, their faecal matter and egg cases.

Treating an infestation

We recommend that treatment is done professionally, as pesticides need to be used.

We will make a minimum of three visits during treatment, even for minor infestations. During these visits the contractor will lay insect monitors in the property and use insecticidal gels and sprays.

Flea infestations can spread quickly. Most eggs fall off pets and hatch wherever they are in the house, usually where the pet sleeps.

Signs of fleas

You may notice the following problems:

• you may see fleas in your home, on yourself or on your pets
• bites will show as a swollen itching spot with a single puncture point at the centre. They are usually found where clothes are in close contact with the body, for example: ankles. Bites often appear in clusters or lines of two bites, and can be itchy and inflamed for several weeks
• pets scratching more than usual, and on inspection you find fleas or small black flecks

Treating an infestation

You may be able to get rid of fleas yourself using flea treatments from your local vet or DIY centre.

In order to remove fleas completely, a professional treatment may be needed.

Signs of mice

• Droppings – mice produce up to 80 droppings a day and these resemble small black grains of rice, often the first sign of an infestation
• Damage – mice will gnaw food packaging
• Smell – there is usually a distinctive odour in areas where mice live in large numbers
• Nests – collections of gnawed materials built into a ball
• Noises – in voids such as wall cavities, in lofts or beneath the floor
• Smears – black greasy marks may be lefty by mice running over prominent objects over a long period of time

Signs of rats

If you see any of the following then rats may be present:

• Droppings - these are cigar shaped and around 1cm in length
• Damage - rats have to gnaw constantly and as a result may cause damage to belongings, structures, pipes and electric cables
• Smears - black greasy marks maybe left by rats running over prominent objects over a long period of time
• Holes – may be seen in the garden, 5-7cm wide with a smooth, shiny entry, indicating an active burrow

Preventing an infestation

To ensure a rat infestation in your garden does not enter your home, you should repair any external structural faults, including:

• gaps beneath external doors – draught excluding brush or bristle strips can be attached to the door or the threshold can be renewed or raised
• holes surrounding pipes – these can be blocked with wire wool and then filled with cement or expanding foam
• damaged or old air vents - vents with holes larger than 2.5cm should be replaced, repaired or covered with fine mesh – do not block the vents entirely