Top household pests in the UK

Finding that your home has also become home to an infestation of pests can be an incredibly stressful experience. The shock of finding a large nest is often compounded by uncertainty about what to do. This article will highlight a few of the most common pests in the UK and when you need to be concerned.

Moths and Carpet Beetle

Moths and carpet beetle went through a period of being less of a pain, but they’ve come back. This is because of the increase in natural materials in our homes once again. The insects are fine; the problem is with the larvae. The larvae eat natural materials and fibres – the dirtier, the better. So that lovely woollen jumper you got – they’ll go for the neckline and armpits (where you sweat) and eat the material. They like dark, undisturbed places, so the back of the wardrobe is perfect. The solution is cleanliness – hoover your wardrobe and clothes storage every 6 months, and shake out clothing/blankets which are stored for long periods of time. You can also buy pheromone traps which will show you how bad the problem is.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are dramatically on the rise in London. Bed bugs feed on blood, so they tend to gravitate towards furniture and clothing – close to people. Beds are the best place as the mattress provides hidden spaces for them to remain undisturbed, and they are close to their source of food. You are likely to find yourself bitten and covered in raised spots before realising that you have an infestation. They’re irritating and unpleasant and are likely to disturb your sleep. Treat the bites like you would any other, keep them clean, and don’t scratch. Getting rid of bed bugs by yourself is extremely difficult; at the first sign, you should contact a professional company like bedbugspecialist.co.uk as they will be able to use chemicals harsh enough to deal with the problem.

Rodents

Rodents are incontinent – they pee as they walk. So as soon as they are in your home, every surface they touch is now contaminated. Rodents can flatten their skulls – basically, if you can push a pencil through a gap, a rodent could probably get through too. There is a lot of rodent-proofing equipment available, but you will need to determine where they are entering your home and then deal with the problem. You can discourage them from coming near your home by removing any nearby rubbish and cutting back any plant cover from your walls.

Wasps and Ants

Wasps and Ants are surprisingly common pests in the UK. Wasps can cause a lot of damage to materials when creating their nests and obviously can make certain areas of your home ‘off-limits’ while they are present. Removing a nest will need a professional with protective equipment, but you can stop them from coming back by sealing up any gaps in windows, removing any potential food sources, and regularly inspecting less used spaces. You can even get wasp-repellent plants to put into your garden.

Ants don’t hide from humans, so you can easily see when you have a problem. Mostly they’re annoying, but they can potentially bite and sting. In this climate, they don’t normally have problems finding a nest, so they don’t tend to cause structural damage. Again cleanliness is key – remove food sources and sterilise your floors (removing the trails). You can block up entry points, but laying ant powder or a similar deterrent around your doorway or at external entry points will help.