Where do fleas come from?

Adult fleas live as parasites on warm-blooded mammals. Eggs …

Continue reading »]]> The most common types of flea are cat fleas and dog fleas. Human fleas are becoming increasingly rare. They are external parasites, living off the blood of mammals and birds. Fleas are 1.5 to 3.3mm long, agile and usually dark coloured.

Where do fleas come from?

Adult fleas live as parasites on warm-blooded mammals. Eggs are laid in batches of around 20, usually on the host. Therefore, areas where the host rests and sleeps becomes one of the primary habitats for eggs and developing fleas. Cat fleas cause most infestations, and particular attention should be paid to cleaning their bedding. If your cat has fleas, there could be as many as ten times that number in other parts of the house. Wall to wall carpeting, bedding and central heating in a home create ideal conditions in which flea larvae can develop.

Do fleas do any harm?

In the UK, fleas are not often responsible for transmitting disease. However, they are not simply a source of annoyance. Some people and animals suffer allergic reactions to flea saliva resulting in rashes. Flea bites generally result in a slightly-raised swollen itching spot with a single puncture point at the centre. The bites often appear in clusters or lines of two bites, and can remain itchy and inflamed for up to several weeks afterwards. Although not all people are affected by flea bites, they can cause severe irritation. Anti-itch creams such as antihistamines have been shown to be effective for itching.

How do I know if I have fleas in my home?

• if your pet starts scratching more than usual
• if you find bites on your body (a tiny dark red spot surrounded by a reddened area) generally below the knee
• actual sightings of fleas in your home, on yourself or on your pets

Call Masons Pest Control now for free advice on fleas, or to book a qualified pest control technician to deal with your flea problem quickly and safely.

Continue reading »]]> Wasps are commonly found throughout the UK. They are social creatures, and form colonies consisting of workers (infertile females), males and a queen. Wasps are considered a beneficial insect, scavenging for the larvae of other insects, therefore controlling garden pests and clearing carcasses. They even act as pollinators as they obtain carbohydrates from fruits and the nectar of flowers.

Where do they live?

Wasp nests are typically found in trees, bushes, earth banks or buildings (roof spaces or cavities in walls). They build nests every year, with the colder months killing off workers and males. Only the young queens survive the winter to make new nests the following spring.

Why are wasps such a nuisance to humans?

It is the wasps’ ability to cause painful stings that concerns most people. Although wasps are not particularly hostile, they will sting if they are aggravated. Towards the end of the summer wasps will indulge in sweeter foods making them seem dopey, and as the cooler weather comes, become more irritable.

A wasp sting is caused by the injection of venom into the victim, causing redness and swelling. In some cases more serious effects occur, and you should seek medical advice if this happens. Stings can easily be treated with a cold compress and a suitable antiseptic cream.

Call Masons Pest Control now for free advice on wasps, or to book a qualified pest control technician to deal with your wasp problem quickly and safely.

Were do they live?

Grey squirrels mainly reside woodland areas but are a common resident of urban areas were it lives in parks and gardens and wherever there are trees and a source of food. Occasionally squirrels will enter roof spaces of houses and …

Continue reading »]]> The grey squirrel was introduced to this country between1876 and 1929.

Were do they live?

Grey squirrels mainly reside woodland areas but are a common resident of urban areas were it lives in parks and gardens and wherever there are trees and a source of food. Occasionally squirrels will enter roof spaces of houses and other buildings by climbing the walls or jumping from nearby trees.

Do squirrels cause harm?

Generally squirrels are not a threat to humans, but the damage caused by them once they have entered a roof space can be expensive to rectify. Squirrels are known to chew woodwork and ceilings, strip the insulation from electrical wires, and tear up loft insulation.

How do I know if I have squirrels?

Squirrels nesting in your attic will make scratching noises which can be heard during the day and at night time. Visible signs include torn loft insulation, chewed wires and squirrel droppings, which vary in shape and colour depending on the diet, and are spherical, similar to those of rats.

Call Masons Pest Control now for free advice on grey squirrels, or to book a qualified pest control technician to deal with your squirrel problem quickly and safely.

Where do they live?

Rats are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of rural and urban habitats, although …

Continue reading »]]> Rats are considered to be one of the most widespread British mammals, and usually live for around 18 months in the wild. Although typically nocturnal creatures, rats will forage for food in the day.

Where do they live?

Rats are highly adaptable and can be found in a variety of rural and urban habitats, although usually near human habituation. In homes, they will reside in loft spaces, wall cavities, cellars or under floorboards. Outside, they will burrow into grassy banks or compost heaps, or even underneath sheds. Rats live in colonies, consisting of either a mated pair or one male and several females. They will breed throughout the year, producing on average eight young per litter. Rats are distinguished from mice by their size: rats generally have bodies longer than 12cm (5 inches).

Do rats cause any real harm?

Most of the damage caused by a rat infestation will be by gnawing and ripping at food stuffs and belongings. Rats have also been known to gnaw through electric cables and can therefore pose a fire risk to your property.

How do I know if I have an infestation?

• footprints or tail swipes in muddy areas or dusty surfaces
• runs – rats follow the same routes when travelling and therefore leave trails
• gnaw marks on any food or non-food material
• sightings of live or dead rats
• presence of burrows or nests, or rat droppings
• unusual stale odours indoors.

Call Masons Pest Control now for free advice on rats, or to book a qualified pest control technician to deal with your rat problem quickly and safely.

Where do they live?

Pigeons feed on the ground in flocks or individually. In an urban environment they will roost together in buildings or on walls or statues. Pigeons breed at any time of …

Continue reading »]]> Descendents of the Rock Dove, feral pigeons are around 33cm in length and a common sight in town and city centres.

Where do they live?

Pigeons feed on the ground in flocks or individually. In an urban environment they will roost together in buildings or on walls or statues. Pigeons breed at any time of the year, but peak times are spring and summer. Two eggs are usually laid and incubation lasts around three weeks. Nesting sites can be found on artificial cliff faces created by buildings with accessible ledges or roof spaces.

Do pigeons cause harm?

An undisputed pigeon problem is the mess caused by their droppings. Fouling of buildings not only looks unsightly, but is also destructive due to its acidity. Droppings can block gutters and pipes, create slip hazards and also encourage insects to infect buildings. Dust spores from dried droppings can be inhaled and carried on the wind, and have been known to cause a flu-like illness in people. Bird fleas and mites can lead to further problems for humans.

How can I get rid of them?

Masons Pest Control will assess your pigeon problem and give you a fixed quote before starting work. An engineer will clear the area of pigeons and pigeon waste, put up spikes or netting to stop pigeons returning, and spray against mites and insects.

What is the difference between these moths?

Continue reading »]]> Three common species of moth that we see as pests in the home are the clothes moth, the brown house moth and the white-shouldered house moth. They feed on materials containing wool or woven fibres, fur and feathers, and even fertilisers, causing physical damage as well as contamination.

What is the difference between these moths?

The clothes moth is the smallest of the three moths, being pale beige or straw coloured. There are no spots or marks on the wings. Clothes moths do not often fly; they tend to move by running or occasionally jumping.

The brown house moths are mottled and darker than the clothes moths, commonly found in food stores and homes. They prefer kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and any place where adequate food supplies can be found.

The white shouldered house moth is paler than the brown house moth, but can be distinguished from the clothes moth by its obvious white head and “shoulders”. These moths do not often feed on fabrics, but they are attracted to dust and debris that is collected under carpets.

Do they cause any harm?

Moth larvae (caterpillars or grubs) can cause damage to clothes and carpets. The larvae are usually creamy white with a darker head. The mother has a four-stage life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The larval stage can last up to six months, but adult moths only live for two to three weeks. Adult female moths lay their eggs amongst fibres which will form the food for the larvae when they hatch before forming a pupa.

What attracts them?

Moths are attracted to woollen fabrics, and carpets stained with food, perspiration or urine.

Call Masons Pest Control now for free advice on moths, or to book a qualified pest control technician to deal with your moth problem quickly and safely.

Where do they live?

Mice live mainly in nests, which are often built inside houses, …

Continue reading »]]> Although mice are commonly found in a range of urban and rural buildings, they may live outdoors for part of the year. The average wild mouse will live to about 4 months, and range in size from 11cm-21cm in length.

Where do they live?

Mice live mainly in nests, which are often built inside houses, especially during the winter. Nests are built wherever there is access to a good source of food, and are generally built out of cloth, wool and paper. Spaces under the floor and lofts are also favoured nesting places. Mice are good climbers so nests may be situated at any level. Where no nesting place is available, mice tend to burrow outdoors in soil as they can easily adapt to different surroundings. They huddle together in colder climates, and can even squeeze through cracks as small as 5mm. Mouse holes are normally 2cm-3cm in diameter.

Do mice cause any real harm?

Most of the damage caused by a mouse infestation will be by gnawing and ripping at food stuffs and belongings. Mice have also been known to gnaw through electric cables and can therefore pose a fire risk to your property.

How do I know if I have an infestation?

• footprints or tail swipes in muddy areas or dusty surfaces
• gnaw marks on any food or non-food material
• sightings of live or dead mice
• presence of burrows or nests, or mice droppings
• unusual stale odours indoors.

Call Masons Pest Control now for free advice on mice, or to book a qualified pest control technician to deal with your mouse problem quickly and safely.

Where do they come from?

Eggs are laid in moist or rotting matter such as …

Continue reading »]]> Houseflies are commonly found where people work or live because of the warmer environment and ready supply of food. Bluebottles (sometimes called blow flies) are also often found in human environments, and are particularly attracted by meat and decaying materials.

Where do they come from?

Eggs are laid in moist or rotting matter such as household rubbish, compost or manure. Once hatched, the flies reach maturity in anything from two weeks in warmer weather. Common houseflies have a flight range of five miles or so, and can easily transfer from the breeding grounds to home. A sudden appearance of bluebottles in the home normally indicates that a small animal (maybe a mouse or shrew) has died – possibly under the floorboards or up a chimney. Female bluebottles are easily able to find sources of suitable food, and are often found in domestic kitchens.

Why do flies come indoors?

Houseflies and bluebottles come indoors looking for food. They are not fussy what sort of food they settle on, and are likely to be highly active once indoors.

Can they do harm?

Houseflies can transmit intestinal worms, and are also known to be carriers of particular diseases such as gastroenteritis. Bluebottles too, are known to spread diseases by contaminating food.

Call Masons Pest Control now for free advice on flies, or to book a qualified pest control technician to deal with your fly problem quickly and safely.

What do they look like?

Cockroaches are fairly large insects and they can range from 12mm up to around 30mm. They have two wings and long antennae. The German cockroach is brown …

Continue reading »]]> There are many different species of cockroaches. The two that are most commonly found in the United Kingdom are the German and Oriental cockroach.

What do they look like?

Cockroaches are fairly large insects and they can range from 12mm up to around 30mm. They have two wings and long antennae. The German cockroach is brown in colour and is also smaller than the Oriental cockroach, it is able to climb both rough and smooth surfaces. The Oriental cockroach is much larger in size and is dark brown almost black in colour, it is not able to climb smooth surfaces but can still climb rough surfaces.

Life cycle

The female cockroach produces up to 8 egg cases at monthly intervals. These cases can contain up to 30 eggs and nymphs hatch in 2-4 weeks for German cockroaches and 6-12 weeks for Oriental cockroach. Once the nymphs hatch they will look the same as an adult only smaller.

Where do they live?

The German cockroach likes to live in warm and humid places during the day as they are nocturnal insects such as:

• Sinks
• Back of cupboards
• Drains
• Refrigerator motors

The Oriental cockroach on the other had prefers cooler less humid areas such as:

• Drains
• Basements
• Buildings with service ducts

How do I know if I have an infestation?

You may notice a number of egg cases which tend to look like kidney beans and dark brown in colour.

Where do they live?

Bees’ nests are typically found in trees, bushes, earth banks or buildings (roof spaces, chimneys or cavities in walls). Honey …

Continue reading »]]> Bees are adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen, and play an important role in pollinating flowering plants. There are three main types of bee, the honey bee, bumblebee and the solitary bee.

Where do they live?

Bees’ nests are typically found in trees, bushes, earth banks or buildings (roof spaces, chimneys or cavities in walls). Honey bees usually nest in hollow trees or roof spaces, and the colony will consist of one queen, a fertile female and a few fertile males, and workers. Colonies are established by swarms. This group moves together to a nest site that has been scouted by worker bees beforehand. Once they arrive, they immediately construct a new nest.

Bumblebees prefer to nest underground, in grass mounds, compost heaps or old mouse holes. A single female will construct the nest, and the colony will generally only last one season. These nests will often hold fewer than 50 bees.

Solitary (mining and masonry) bees create nests in hollow twigs, holes in wood or in tunnels in the ground and consist of several cells, one for the female and one for the eggs. Solitary bees are either stingless or very unlikely to sting.

Why are bees such a nuisance to humans?

It is the bee’s ability to cause painful stings that concerns most people. Although bees are not particularly hostile, they will sting if they are aggravated. Recently, managed populations of bees have experienced substantial declines, mainly due to insecticide sprays being used on plants.

Do bees cause any harm?

The stinger of the honey bee is barbed and embeds into the skin. When the bee withdraws the stinger, the poison sac is left behind and the bee subsequently dies. Remove the stinger as soon as possible as some venom may be left. Stings can easily be treated with a cold compress and a suitable antiseptic cream. Localized swelling and pain are typical reactions to a sting by a bee.

Due to the important role that bees play, Masons Pest Control will only consider clearing a bee swarm in very exceptional circumstances. Occasionally, bees’ nests in chimneys or air bricks will need to be destroyed when they are a danger to the residents of the property or the general public.

Call Masons Pest Control now for free advice on bees, or to book a qualified pest control technician to assess and deal with your bee problem quickly and safely.