Frequently Asked Questions
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Ant Treatment
Q: What kind of ants are infesting my property?
A: There is around 33 different species of ant in the UK, but the common black garden ant, red ant and pharaoh are the most common and likely to be what’s infesting your home.
Q: Why is the treatment I’m using not working?
A: Pesticides that are available to the general public only contain a small amount of the active ingredient when compared to professional products. As a result they’re a lot less effective and only increase pesticide resistance.
Q: How are the ants getting into my property?
A: Ants are tiny creatures that can get through the tinniest of gaps, whether it’s through gaps in the pipework entering your property, through the air vents, beneath doors or through cracked brickwork, proofing your property from ant ingress is challenging.
Q: What I am seeing a steady stream of ants in my property?
A: Ants release several pheromones. The most common is the trail pheromone that allows other ants to quickly locate the food source discovered by the ant that initially found it. When they find a food source, an ant will leave behind this distinctive scent so the others can find it too.
Q: How can I minimise the likelihood of having an ant infestation?
A: Proofing your property to prevent ant ingress should be done wherever possible. Hygiene plays an important role. Denying ants from accessing a food souce is key. This means storing food on shelves and in sealable containers and cleaning all surfaces from spillages .
Bed Bug Treatment
Q: Do I have to prepare my property prior to the flea treatment being applied?
A: Yes. You will receive a detailed bed bug treatment prep sheet listing what is required at least 24 hrs before the treatment is scheduled to be applied.
Q: Do I have to vacate my property while the treatment is being applied?
A: Yes. Everyone but the pest control technician must vacate the property before the treatment is applied including pets. The only exception is aquatic pets. Details on how to prepare the fish tank/aquarium can be found in the prep sheet.
Q: How long must I vacate my property for?
A: At least 4 hours after the treatment has been applied.
Q: How long does the treatment take to apply?
A: It usually takes several hours and can depend on the size of the bedroom(s) and how many bedrooms need to be treated.
Q: What does it involve when applying the treatment?
A: A compression sprayer is used in conjuction with an insecticide to apply a fine spray of insecticide residue on the property’s floors and furnishings – excluding the mattresses. A specialsed professional bed bug steamer is used to eradicate the bed bugs on infected mattresses and bed frames.
Q: How long does the treatment remain active?
A: It depends on what insectide is used. Usually it lasts for 6-12 weeks on condition that it’s not removed (vacuumed or swept up.)
Q: Why am I still being bitten after the treatment has been applied?
A: Bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices, so it’s impossible to be able to directly target them. After the treatment has been applied the bed bugs will however be forced to emerge from their hiding places in order to get a blood meal from their host. This is when they will come into contact with the insecticide treatment and die.
Q: How did I get bed bugs?
A: Bed bugs can be brought into people’s properties on second-hand furniture, luggage or on people’s clothing.
Bee Treatment
Q: Do you provide a bee treatment service?
A: No. Bees are a protected species. They are pollinators so they play essential part of maintaining the natural habitat. Some pest controllers provide a bee extraction service if the bee hive is problematic and/or in an inaccessible location.
Q: I have a swarm of bees near my property, what should I do?
A: Do nothing. The swarm should move on in 24 to 48 hrs. If the swarm is an issue contact your local beekeeper and they will likely agree to rehouse the swarm to one of their hives.
Q: Do bees reuse their hive?
A: Yes. Unlike wasps who create their nests out of chewed wood and paper and only use their nests for one season, a bee hive is made of wax which is therefore more durable. Bees reuse their hives.
Bird Control
Q: What bird control services do you provide?
A: PestEx provides bird proofing, guano removal, bird hygiene services and humane dispatch.
Q: I have a bird nesting in or around my property. Can you remove it?
A: No. The nest can only be removed once the birds and their young have fled the nest, as all birds and their nests are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Q: Can you legally shoot feral pigeons?
A: Only if they are causing a health and safety issue, and only once all other methods of deterrents and trapping have been tried.
Clothes Moth Treatment
Q: Do I have to prepare my property prior to the clothes moth treatment being applied?
A: Yes. Please declutter your property. This will allow the technician to treat more of the affected areas.
Q: Do I have to vacate my property while the treatment is being applied?
A: Yes. Everyone but the pest control technician must vacate the property before the treatment is applied including pets. The only exception is aquatic pets. Details on how to prepare the fish tank/aquarium can be found in the prep sheet.
Q: How long must I vacate my property for?
A: At least 4 hours after the treatment has been applied.
Q: How long does the treatment take to apply?
A: It usually takes 1-2 hours and will depend on the size of the property.
Q: What does it involve when applying the treatment?
A: A compression sprayer is used in conjuction with an insecticide to apply a fine spray of insecticide residue on the property’s floors and furnishings – excluding the mattresses. A specialsed professional steamer is used to eradicate the larvae.
Q: How long does the treatment remain active?
A: It depends on what insectide is used. Usually it lasts for 6-12 weeks on condition that it’s not removed (vacuumed or swept up.)
Q: Why am I still seeing clothes moths after the treatment has been applied?
A: Clothes moths are a common pests, so it’s possible another moth has flown into your property since the treatment. It may have been hiding, or has hatched from its cacoon since the treatment. It will however come into contact with the treatment & die.
Q: How did I get clothes moths?
A: Clothes moths are a common pest that are pretty much everywhere. It’s just unfortunate that they found a food source and a place to breed in your property.
Cluster Fly Treatment
Q: Do I have to prepare my property prior to the flea treatment being applied?
A: No. Fly infestations are nearly always in your property’s loft spaces, so preparation is very rarely needed.
Q: Why do I get flies in my loft space?
A: If they’re cluster flies it will be because they seek refuge in the colder months in loft spaces to keep warm while they hibernate. If it’s blow flies it’ll be because a blow fly has laid its eggs on a dead animal carcass and the eggs have now developed into pupa which is pupating, releasing adult blow flies from their cacoons.
Cockroach Treatment
Q: Do I have to prepare my property prior to the cockroach treatment being applied?
A: No. The treatment is applied without the need of preparation.
Q: What does the treatment involve?
A: A gel bait insecticide is applied to the affected area(s) and cockroach monitors are installed to monitor the infestation.
Q: What species of coackroaches do I have?
A: It will likely either by the German cockroach or the Oriental cockroach
Q: Why am I getting cockroaches?
A: A cockroach infestation is more often than not caused by poor food hygiene and defective drainage.
Q: How can I reduce the risk of getting another infestation?
A: By exercising meticulous food hygiene and keeping all surfaces clean and free from food debris will dramatically reduce the risk of a reinfestation.
Flea Treatment
Q: Do I have to prepare my property prior to the flea treatment being applied?
A: Yes. You will receive a detailed flea treatment prep sheet listing what is required at least 24 hrs before the treatment is scheduled to be applied.
Q: Do I have to vacate my property while the treatment is being applied?
A: Yes. Everyone but the pest control technician must vacate the property before the treatment is applied including pets. The only exception is aquatic pets. Details on how to prepare the fish tank/aquarium can be found in the prep sheet.
Q: How long must I vacate my property?
A: At least 4 hours after the treatment has been applied.
Q: How long does the treatment take to apply?
A: It usually takes between 1 to 2 hours depending on the size of the propery.
Q: What does it involve when applying the treatment?
A: A compression sprayer is used in conjuction with an insecticide to apply a fine spray of insecticide residue on the property’s floors and furnishings – excluding the mattresses.
Q: How long does the treatment remain active?
A: It depends on what insectide is used. Usually it lasts for 6-12 weeks on condition that it’s not removed (vacuumed or swept up.)
Q: Why am I still being bitten after the treatment has been applied?
A: Fleas have to complete their life-cycle before they will come into contact with the insecticide treatment. This typically can take 10-12 days depending on the temperature.
Mouse Control
Q: How are mice getting into my property?
A: Mouse ingress can be from multiple points. Mice can enter your property from a gap or hole as small as 5mm. The rule of thumb is, if you can fit a pen or pencil through the hole, then a mouse can get through it.
Q: How do you eradicate a mouse infestation?
A: The preferred method is to lethal trap. Although a professional grade rodenticide is sometimes used, if lethal trapping is unviable. Cholecalciferol can be legally be used on both species of mouse.
Q: How long does it take to eradicate the mice in my property?
A: On average it takes 2-3 visits/weeks.
Q: How can I prevent mouse getting back into my property in the future once the mice have been eradicated?
A: Mouse ingress can be prevented once the ingress points have been identified and proofed.
Q: How do I proof my property against mice?
A: Proofing against mice ingress is extremely difficult. In older properties it can be virtually impossible. But ensuring all gaps and holes are sealed will help stop these tiny intruding getting back into your property
Q: If I have mice in my property, where will they be hiding?
A: Once mice have gained entry into your property, unfortunately they can be anywhere and everywhere.
Q: What type of mice do I have?
A: You will have either house mice (Mus musculus), or field mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). These are the two most common mouse species.
Q: What can mice gnaw through?
A: Simply put, mice can gnaw through almost through anything. The only thing mice can’t gnaw through is metal.
Mole Control
Q: How can I stop moles tunneling into my garden?
A: Unless you install a barrier deep beneath the soil throughout the perimeter of your property, you cannot.
Q: How do you control moles?
A: Using spring traps is the most common and preferred method used. Although Photoxin can be legally used, which is a poisonous gas used by pest control technicians who are trained to use this highly toxic gas.
Q: What type of moles do I have?
A: There is only one mole species here in the UK, which is (TalTalpa europaea).
Q: What far can moles dig a day?
A: Moles can tunnel upto approximately 25 meters a day. A lot will depend on the type of soil the mole is tunneling through.
Rat Control
Q: How are rats getting into my property?
A: Rat ingress can be from multiple points. Rats can enter your property from either the drainage system or from an external point of the property. An inspection will determine the ingress point(s).
Q: How do you eradicate an infestation?
A: The preferred method is to lethal trap. Although a professional grade rodenticide is sometimes used if lethal trapping is unviable.
Q: How long does it take to eradicate the rat in my property?
A: On average it takes at least three visits.
Q: How can I prevent rat ingress in the future once the rats have been eradicated?
A: Rat ingress can be prevented once the ingress points have been identified and proofed.
Q: How do I proof my property against rats?
A: If the rat ingress point is from faulty drainage, the defect must be rectified. This may involve having a fractured pipe sleeved, or simply an inspection chamber being repaired.
Q: If I have rats in my property where will they be hiding?
A: Once rats have gained entry into your property, unfortunately they can be anywhere and everywhere.
Q: What type of rats do I have?
A: You’re almost certaintly to have brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) also known as Norwegian rats. Although it has been known for properties to have black rats (Rattus rattus) also known as ship rats.
Q: What can rats gnaw through?
A: Simply put, rats can gnaw through almost through anything, including concrete. The only thing rats can’t gnaw through is metal.
Squirrel Control
Q: How are squirrels getting into my property?
A: Squirrel ingress can be from multiple points. Squirrels can enter your property from either gnawing through the soffit/fascia boards, or through a defective wet verge. An inspection will determine the ingress point(s).
Q: How do you eradicate an infestation?
A: The preferred method is to lethal trap. This is because it is illegal to live trap grey squirrels and then release them back into the wild.
Q: How long does it take to eradicate the squirrel infestation in my property?
A: On average it will takes at 2-3 visits.
Q: How can I prevent squirrel getting back into my property in the future once the squirrels have been eradicated?
A: Squirrel ingress can be prevented once the ingress points have been identified and proofed.
Q: How do I proof my property against squirrels?
A: If the squirrel ingress point is from a faulty roof, the defect must be rectified. This may involve repairing or replacing soffit/fascia boards, lead flashing, repairing defective wet verges or correctly a slipped roof tile.
Q: If I have squirrels in my property, where will they be hiding?
A: Once squirrels have gained entry into your property, they will remain in the loft space, whilst only venturing out to eat and drink.
Q: What type of squirrels do I have?
A: You’re almost certaintly to have grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). This is because the UK’s native Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has been absent in Gloucestershire for decades.
Q: What can squirrels gnaw through?
A: Simply put, squirrels can gnaw through almost through anything, including concrete. The only thing squirrels can’t gnaw through is metal.
Wasp Nest Treatment and Removal
Q: Do I have to prepare my property prior to the wasp nest treatment being applied?
A: No. All the technician needs to to know where the wasp nest is located and whether there is anything that could pose a risk to their health and safety.
Q: Do I need a ladder?
A: No. The technician will have ladders to access both the loft space and the property’s roof.
Q: What does wasp nest treatment involve?
A: The wasp nest when located is injected with a professional grade insecticide to ensure the queen and the workers are destroyed
Q: I’ve had my wasp nest treated but I still have wasps around where the wasp nest entrance was.
A: Even when the wasp nest has been treated and the queen and workers destroyed, it’s normal for a few stragglers to be around. They will either die or move on elsewhere.
Q: Is you wasp nest treatment guaranteed?
A: Yes. If a second treatment is required this will be done free of charge.
Q: Do you removal the wasp nests?
A: Normally the wasp nest is just treated because a wasp nest is never reused. It’s only used for one season. However, if you’d prefer the wasp nest to be completely removed this can be arranged for an additional fee.
Q: Can you proof against wasps to prevent future wasp nests being built?
A: Unfortunately no. Wasps will gain access through the tinnest of holes. Even new build houses cannot prevent wasps and flies from gaining access into a property’s loft space.