Complete Pest
Protection.

Mice originated from Central Asia and are now a worldwide pest of buildings. They are nocturnal creatures and are extremely inquisitive. Their eyesight is not very good, but they are highly active in buildings where food, shelter and warmth are available.

A mouse eats around 3–4g of food per day and can produce up to 80 droppings in 24 hours. Mice will drink water if it is available, but they can survive without drinking when the moisture content in their food is around 15–16%.

The common rat, also known as the Norway rat or brown rat, is a worldwide pest of commercial and domestic premises. It originated from Asia and, like mice, is mainly nocturnal.

Brown rats eat around 20–25g of dry food per day and cannot survive without drinking water. They show a behaviour called neophobia, which means they can be suspicious of new objects in their environment. Because of this, rat treatment may take longer than mouse treatment.

The black rat is also known as the ship rat or roof rat. It is found worldwide, but in the UK it is very limited and is normally found near ports. It has historically been a major pest of ships.

The black rat has large eyes, a slender body and a tail that is longer than the head and body. Historically, black rats were responsible for spreading the bubonic plague throughout Europe.

Bed bugs are nocturnal parasites that feed on mammalian blood, principally humans, but also cats, dogs and rodents. They hide during the day in crevices, beds, furniture, wallpaper, skirting boards and other harbourages. They emerge at night when hungry, usually every few days, to feed.

Bed bug infestations often occur through the transfer of second-hand furniture and bedding, or they may be carried in luggage.

Black ants, also known as garden ants, usually nest outdoors in flower beds, pots and beneath paving stones. Premises are usually invaded by worker ants foraging for food.

During summer, winged females, which are queens, and sexually mature males emerge from the nest in large numbers over a short period. This swarming often occurs in many nests at the same time during the afternoon. After mating, the males usually die quickly and a small number of mated females survive to form new colonies.

German cockroaches are primarily nocturnal and are pests of warm, humid conditions. They are found in heated buildings and prefer narrow harbourages close to food and water sources, especially kitchens and boiler rooms.

Oriental cockroaches, sometimes called black beetles, are also primarily nocturnal. They are pests of warm environments but are more tolerant of cooler conditions. They can be found indoors, in heated buildings, heating ducts, drains and refuse tips.

Adult fleas are external parasites of warm-blooded animals and birds. Adults are blood-sucking and parasitic, while flea larvae are not. Larvae live on dust, fluff and animal protein, including skin scales and blood-rich droppings from adult fleas.

Wasps are insects with two pairs of membranous wings and distinctive black and yellow patterning on the abdomen. They have a black coloured head and thorax.

The fertilised queen wasp emerges from hibernation around mid-April and searches for a suitable colony site. This may be underground, in cavities, in trees or in buildings. From chewed bark and dried timber mixed with saliva, she makes the first cells and lays around 10–20 eggs.

Honey bees are social insects forming complex colonies that can survive for several years and overwinter using stored honey as food. They are beneficial insects because they produce honey and beeswax and play an essential role as pollinators.

Moths belong to a well-known insect order. Eggs hatch into active larvae, known as caterpillars, which often pupate inside a silken cocoon. Adult moths usually feed harmlessly, if at all, on nectar from flowers. The larvae cause the damage to clothes, stored products and other materials.

Beetles are from one of the largest insect orders. Many environments have been colonised by beetles, and some species can cause serious damage to stored foods, building structures, fabrics and fibres.

Different fly species cause different issues. Some are nuisance pests, while others are associated with food contamination, decaying matter and disease risks.

Adult female mosquitoes feed on the blood of humans and animals. Male mosquitoes are harmless. Mosquitoes usually breed in still water.

Feral pigeons are found worldwide and throughout Britain. The feral or town pigeon can breed all year round, with peak breeding season between March and July. These birds descended from rock doves.

Feral pigeons build nests in or on buildings and other structures. Nesting on buildings and ledges can cause large amounts of fouling and damage to buildings, monuments and vehicles. Droppings can also make pavements and external fire escapes slippery.

Grey squirrels were deliberately introduced to Great Britain from North America and have spread throughout most of mainland England and Wales. They can be found in mixed woodland, hedgerows, gardens, lofts and wall cavities.

Grey squirrels build nests, known as dreys, from twigs and leaves in tree forks. They may also use tree hollows known as dens. Dreys and dens are used for shelter and breeding.

Silverfish are included in the client's pest control list alongside moths, ants, flies, beetles, fleas and other crawling or flying insects. Pest Line can identify the insect species present and recommend a suitable treatment based on the property, activity level and infestation source.