Insects

What do they look like?

• Yellow and black striped thorax and abdomen
• Around 2cm in length
• Life span April-October
• The much larger queens will be sighted in late February/March when they go in search of a suitable nest site.
• The queens will be seen again in late October when they look for warm dry areas for winter hibernation.

Facts about Wasps
The queen wasp will begin to build her nest in early spring time, the nest starts off life about the size of a golf ball and will eventually progress to the size of a football and even bigger:

• A single nest can house many thousands of wasps
• The nest is made up of layers of pulped wood 
• Creamy brownish in colour
• Wasps feed on insect larva and small insects
• Wasps are also able to sting repeatedly 
• If left alone the wasps will die off naturally during the onset of severe weather.

What do they look like?

• The adult flea is between 2mm and 8mm long
• The body is compressed with strong hind limbs adapted for jumping
• They can vary in colour from greyish through to a dark mahogany

Signs that you may have a flea infestation
The vast majority of fleas do not live on their host (eg. cat, dog, human) but live in the environment around them on surfaces such as carpets, furniture, bedding, etc. 

Although fleas have to feed on their host’s blood to be able to lay eggs, cat and dog fleas can also feed on human blood and will typically attack the lower portion of the leg, particularly at ankle level. You may first notice a flea infestation either by your pet scratching itself repeatedly or by noticing flea bites on the lower body/ankles of someone in your household.  The bites can give rise to the characteristic dark red spots around the area, which remain irritated for one or two days.  If the bites are around the waist and abdomen they are an indication of a human flea infestation.

One tip to help you spot fleas in the house is to place a sheet of white or light-coloured paper on the floor near where you think fleas may be present (most commonly where your pet sleeps).  Fleas are dark, so you may find it easier to spot them on a white background.

Pre-treatment Action

All floors and upholstered furniture should be vacuumed to remove animal hair, organic debris, flea eggs and pupae. Particular attention should be given to the areas where pets have been allowed to roam and rest, in any cracks and crevices in floors and along walls. The vacuum bag should be disposed of immediately in an outside waste bin. 

All articles such as clothes, linen and toys should be removed from the floor so the entire surface can be treated.

All tile and concrete floors should be swept and washed or vacuumed.

Pet bedding should be destroyed or washed in hot soapy water to destroy immature and adult fleas.

Post-treatment Action

Do not vacuum for at least 10-14 days after treatment. This will give the insecticide a chance to eliminate all stages of flea infestation and growth.

Fleas may be observed after treatment due to new hatching, and so elimination of fleas should not be expected for several days.

What do they look like?

• Dark brown/mahogany in colour
• Transparent if not fed for some time
• Adults are around 6mm long
• Oval in shape
• Very flat (except directly after a feed)
• Eggs are creamy white and normally found in clusters on the headboard and/or base of bed
• Young bed bugs (nymphs) are tiny in comparison to adults

Signs that you may have bed bugs

• Bites to upper part of the body 
• Blood spots on sheets/duvet
• Insects living around the headboard or base of the bed 
• Black marks (like black ink spots) around the headboard/base of bed and in bad cases around skirting boards/walls and bedroom furniture

How did I get bed bugs?

• They can already be living in any second-hand beds or bedroom furniture that you may have bought or obtained. 
• Staying in infested accommodation, such as a hotel/holiday home, where they will crawl into luggage, then crawl back out once you are home. 
• They can migrate from property to property.
• They can already be in your home if you have recently moved in. 
• Having someone stay at your home who has them in their luggage from their own home. 

What do they look like?
Two common types are the Oriental Cockroach and the German Cockroach, the Oriental being the larger of the two.

• Reddish brown in colour
• Long antennae at front
• Adult size up to 30mm long

Signs to look for
Cockroaches normally go in search of food at night, so are normally noticed when entering a dark room when lights are suddenly switched on cockroaches will be seen running for cover. 
Cockroach droppings in cupboards. 
Smell in bad infestations. 
Dead cockroaches. 

Prevention
Good hygiene is the key to keeping cockroaches out of your home. It denies a food source and makes them easier to spot.
All cracks, crevices and other building defects that could provide a dark enclosure for cockroaches should be repaired as quickly as possible. 

Treatment
Cockroach treatments are available from large DIY stores. If treating yourself, ensure you read the label first.  It is recommended that you use a professional pest control company for the treatment of a cockroach infestation. 

Facts about Ants
Ants are not classed as a public health risk but can cause great concern and annoyance when gaining access to your home. 
Ants collect nectar and seeds from flowers and small dead insects for food. 
Nests are made up of workers and one queen. 
In late summer winged males and large females emerge from the nest to reproduce. 
Ants prefer sandy soil to nest in. 
Ants are particularly attracted to sweet substances. 
During summer months flying ants can suddenly appear in large numbers, these are queens leaving their existing nest for mating and establishing new nests. 

Control in the home
Remove any food sources (particularly sweet sugary food) that may be attracting the ants. 
Seal any obvious faults in structure, eg. cracks or holes where ants are gaining entry. 
Treatments in the form of residual sprays/powders/gels are available from most large DIY stores (remember to always read the label first).  

What do they look like?

• 6mm long
• 10mm wingspan
• Large with distinctive bristly yellowish and black marked abdomen
• The thorax is covered with yellow-gold hairs
• Large reddish compound eyes

Habitat

Southwest and mainly south facing buildings are favoured.  The flies will invade cladded buildings and silos and will enter roof spaces and voices via small gaps and crevices in the fabric.  They will cluster on the exterior of buildings in huge numbers prior to crawling into the harbourages.  In the spring the warmth revives them and they start to leave buildings in numbers.