Who to contact if you need pests controlled?

You hear some intense buzzing around the back of the house and you find a wasp nest! Or you look in your garage and your tent has been eaten to shreds by mice! Or you went abroad and naively stroked a very cute-looking stray dog and bought home some stow-away fleas in your luggage! I say you, and I mean me because this has all happened to me in the past. So when life brings you a pest, it’s best to sort it properly with a pest control company.

If you have a pest you want to control, and I mean of the insect or animal variety, first check with your council to see if they can help out with the costs. If they can’t they may be able to put you in touch with reputable companies that can help, and then you can then start to seek recommendations.

Let’s discover the different kinds of pests that might inhabit your abode

• The common rat
• House mouse
• Pharaoh’s ant
• Bed bugs
• Bees
• Cockroaches
• Fleas
• Wasps
• Foxes

Free pest control for rats

Your local council may offer you help with rat activity if you’re in receipt of the following means-tested benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (not contribution-based ESA alone)
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (not contribution-based JSA alone)
• Guarantee Pension Credit (not Savings Pension Credit alone)
• Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit (where annual income for the purposes of the tax credits assessment was below £15,050)
• and/or Housing Benefit

If you don’t qualify for your local council’s free service, you will need to contact a private pest control company to arrange a rat treatment. That also goes for any other pests such as the following:

• House mice
• Pharaoh’s ant
• Bed bugs
• Bees
• Cockroaches
• Fleas
• Wasps

The common rat

The common rat is typically brownish with a grey underbelly but its colour can vary from white to black. If you have rats in your house you will notice little nibbles in your belongings and the rat’s droppings. Rats are controlled with poisons and traps; humane traps can be brought from your local DIY store.

House mouse

A mouse in your house is likely to be a field mouse that’s come in to raid your food cupboards or make a nest so you’ll see signs such as droppings, areas of shredded fibres or food packets being gnawed. Mice are controlled just like rats. You can call a mice pest control expert to help you on this matter.

Pharaoh’s ant

I didn’t know much about this specific type of ant until I wrote this post but this ant is not the usual black ant you find in your garden. Control of the Pharaoh’s ant is best left to the pet control professionals, as the treatment can take many weeks to complete.

Bed bugs

The bed bug is found on soft furnishings like mattresses and bedding and is an oval, flattened insect which measures 4 to 5mm in length. There are preventative measures you can take to stop bed bugs from taking hold but should you find this pesky insect (perhaps you are experiencing an unexplained skin rash) you should call a private bed bug pest control company for advice and treatment.

Bees

There are three main types of bees; honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees. If you find a bee’s nest you should call your local pest control service for advice and don’t try to sort it yourself.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are pretty rare pests in a home but the treatment of the cockroach needs professional cockroach removal as it varies between species and it’s essential to remove them as quickly as you find them.

Fleas

Fleas are parasites of warm-blooded animals and there are a number of species with the most common flea being the cat and dog flea. Fleas can be effectively prevented and controlled by treating pets regularly with treatments available from your vet.

Wasps

Wasp nests are dangerous and should only be removed by professionals who have the proper protective clothing and equipment. Even with this experience, it can still be dangerous. I recently found a wasp nest under my floorboards when I was having some new French doors in my lounge. I was a bit taken aback as to what to do for the best so I strongly advise you to consult the professionals as you don’t want to be poking one yourself!

The bottom line on pest control

In this article, I’ve outlined the different types of pests that you can experience and the best strategies to deal with them. The best thing to do if you’re not sure is to contact your local council first, and then depending on the outcome of that conversation, get the experts in. It’s not advisable to deal with the pests outlined here yourself.

Good luck!

Last Updated on June 30, 2023 by Lucy Clarke