Further Information
Fleas
There are around 2,000 types of fleas in the world, of which 68 reside in the British Isles. The most common infestations (around 75%) in British homes and office blocks are of the cat flea which can be transported on human clothes and shopping bags, as well as on our pets. Dog fleas are also common and – like the cat flea – will feed on other animals and people if their preferred host is not available.
Although fleas can pass on diseases when they feed on human blood, this is rare in this country and the main problem they cause is discomfort from their bites. It is possible though that they may transmit tapeworm eggs – and of course they can cause our pets considerable problems.
Fleas breed by laying eggs which usually hatch after a week. But in cold conditions or where there is no host to provide the blood they need to survive, the eggs can take up to six months to hatch. The vibrations caused by nearby human or animal movement, or warmer conditions, will stimulate hatching – which is why infestations can become apparent when an empty property is newly occupied. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs in 1 day or 1,500 in a lifetime.
Fleas can be irritating and painful to pets and to humans, but they can also cause more serious problems in pets:
- Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) – an allergy to fleas’ saliva or faeces that needs to be diagnosed by a vet
- Transmission of tapeworm
- Blood loss and anaemia in puppies and kittens
- Transmission of other blood-borne diseases (some of which can affect humans but this is rare).
Fleas are a very common problem. They often spread by jumping onto your pet from infested environments such as someone else’s home, gardens and parks, but not usually from other infested pets as is often thought. Once a flea has found a suitable host it will tend to stay there.
If you have a cat or dog, the chances are they’ll experience a flea infestation at some time in their life.
A recent survey shows that nearly 1 in 10 dogs and over 1 in 5 cats may be suffering from fleas at any one time.
Spiders
Spiders are not strictly an 'insect' but belong to a separate species - the Arachnids.
Please see the separate section on Spiders for further information.
Ants
There are actually 36 species of ant living in the UK, but there are two kinds – the Black Ant and Pharaoh's Ant – which attract the most attention and are generally the two species we encounter (certainly in our homes).
In their own outdoor environment (which includes your garden) ants actually have an important part to play and should generally be left undisturbed. Certainly they do no harm to your garden and in fact far more good.
If ants invade your home however, they can be a real pest so that’s what we’ll deal with here.
Black Ants
Black Ants (also called Garden Ants) are about 4mm in length and are dark brown, almost black.
During the summer large numbers of both winged females and males are reared in the nest which is usually underground. On a few warm summer evenings they swarm from the nest entrances and take flight. During this brief flight they mate and on returning to the ground the males soon die.
The females then shed their wings and dig into the ground forming a small cell in which to lay the first of many eggs. They spend the winter in hibernation before starting in earnest the following spring. In favourable conditions the queen ant and her colony may survive for several years.
Pharoah's Ants
Pharaoh's Ants are only 1.5 - 2mm long and yellow-brown in colour.
They are thought to have originated in Africa and did not spread northwards until buildings became better heated. They first appeared in Britain in the 19th Century but are now widespread throughout the UK, although rarely encountered locally.
Unlike Black ants, flying swarms of Pharaoh's ants are never seen as mating takes place inside the nest. An interesting feature they do share is that the ones doing the foraging, nest building and rearing – the worker ants – are females. They are also excellent communicators when food is found.
Why Ants Invade
When ants invade your home it's for one reason only: food! They have a sweet tooth and are partial to syrups, jams, preserves and sugar.
Pharaoh's ants also like protein rich foods such as meat, cheese and fats. They will also forage for a source of water such as around sinks or where there is condensation.
Ants can be seen making a trail between their nest entrance and the food source as they transport food into the colony to nourish the workers and the queen inside.
Are they harmful?
Black ants do not transmit disease to humans but they do travel over dirty ground in their search for a food source and so could transfer bacteria, etc. to food and work surfaces.
Pharaoh's ants pose a greater risk to health as they are attracted to a wider range of food and sources such as drains and waste matter. Unless food is badly attacked by ants, the risk of infection is probably small, nevertheless most people find it unacceptable having ants indoors.
How to deal with an ant infestation
Where ants become an indoor pest, the only real method of control is to locate the nest or colony by following the trail of ants. The nest can then be treated with an insecticidal dust or spray which is carried into the colony.
Likely entrance points include holes in walls, possibly around drainage and waste pipes; air bricks; and beneath poorly finished work surfaces and kitchen units, baths and wash basins. These should be properly sealed with mortar or mastic.
If the nest cannot be located because it is beneath a concrete floor, for example, it may be impossible to completely destroy the colony and thus achieve effective eradication. In these situations, treating foraging ants will be largely ineffective although some insecticides are available which provide a residual barrier against them. These insecticides can be applied at points where ants are seen emerging into the building.
Pest-Stop electronic repellers such as the PS1000 and PS2000 are effective at deterring ants from indoor areas – please see the product section for more information.
Woodlice
Woodlice are not strictly an insect. Instead they are 'crustaceans', more closely related to crabs & shrimps. Please see the separate section on Woodlice for further information.
Cockroaches
The two main species of cockroach found in the UK are the German cockroach and the Oriental cockroach.
Identification
Cockroaches are quite large insects and their size vares between
10mm-23mm in length. They have long antennae and two sets of wings.
The German cockroach is much paler in colur than the
Oriental and is typically a sandy, copper colour. The Oriental
cockroach is dark brown to black in colour and very shiny. One other
way to tell them apart is that the Oriental cannot fly or climb smooth
surfaces, whereas the German can (in fact they’re very mobile generally
and can even swim).
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Oriental cockroach |
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German cockroach |
Where they live
The German cockroach favours warm, damp environments, and heating
systems in large buildings are a favorite. The Oriental cockroach is
generally found indoors (mainly in heated buildings), although
sometimes outdoors around dustbins etc.
General information
Cockroaches are nocturnal and generally seen only at night. In daylight hours, they hide in cracks around areas like sinks, drains and cookers. If you suspect their presence, then one way to confirm it is to turn the lights on at night. You’ll then see them as they scuttle into dark areas of the room. If cockroaches are present in large numbers, they often leave an unpleasant almond-like smell, so this is another way to detect their presence.
The female cockroach can produce up to eight purse-like egg cases each month, each of which can contain up to 30 eggs. German cockroach nymphs emerge from their eggs after 2-4 weeks, but it’s longer in the Oriental – up to 6-12 weeks. The nymphs look much like the adults, but are smaller and lighter in colour.
Cockroaches will feed on just about anything they can find.
The cockroach as a pest
Cockroaches can be a serious and dangerous pest as they can carry dysentry, gastro-enteritis, typhoid and food-poisoning organisms. They spread germs from their body and from their droppings, and contamination can occur if they come directly into contact with foodstuffs.
Preventing an infestation
Very good levels of hygiene are the key to keeping cockroaches out of your home, as it denies them an easy food source.
In addition, cracks and crevices and other places cockroaches can hide should be repaired or ‘made good’ as this gives them less places to hide.
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