Hygiene, Pest Proofing and Cleaning

Cluster Flies are returning!

Unfortunately for many rural house dwellers the time of year has come to face the reoccurring demons that hide in the walls, cracks and voids wanting to use our homes as their winter resorts. The 'cluster fly' has arrived.

Cluster fly belong to the family 'Calliphoridae' these are associated with blowfly or blue bottle, the difference is they are not known as a health hazard and are in fact parasites of earthworms as opposed to association with dead and decaying animals or egg laying in human food stuffs as their counter parts the blue/green bottle fly would be best known for.

Cluster fly larvae will infest earthworms and then pupate and emerge as adults. This happens at the end of the summer leading into the colder weather. Often vast amounts of flies can be seen on South, South West facing walls in late September basking in the last warmth’s of summer.

Cluster flies will hibernate in lofts and voids over winter and often can be seen drowsy and dying around up stair window voids. Typically they are found in houses in rural locations or buildings that rise higher across landscapes.

Control is difficult as they can venture into any crack and crevice, the flies will hibernate in their thousands and when leaving in April and May will leave a pheromone that will attract others the following year to return.

 Treatment can be carried out by our skilled technicians and involves insecticidal chemicals being placed in lofts, voids and around window frames.

Filed Under: All Categories / Flies

Rodents Returning

Now that the colder weather is creeping upon us many of us may be finding unwanted visitors taking up residence within our properties.

Our technicians recently came across a small nest which included some young mice huddled together. A female can have around 5-6 litters a year with up to 5-8 young per litter.

This time of year Mice and Rats are coming off the fields now that the harvest is complete and will be looking for suitable areas to nest, normally within warm spots such as old barns, garages and roof spaces.

Filed Under: Rats and Mice / All Categories

Severe Bed Bugs

Bed Bugs are normally very difficult to identify and come across as they tend to hide away, coming out at night whilst we are sleeping to feed, however our Technician Dan had no problems identifying them within a property he recently treated.  

As you can see the signs of activity are unmissable and the live bedbugs can be seen scurrying around the mattress and bed frame.

We normally advise having two treatments carried out however in this case the clients will need to have several to ensure complete eradication.

Filed Under: Bed Bugs / All Categories