Sponsorship: Leeds Rhinos. Methley Cricket Club. Great Preston Cricket Club.

You may have noticed that Key West Pest Control is keen to promote the interests of the environment, which we share with all creatures. We recognise that as man is the only animal that adapts his environment to suit his own needs, all other creatures which have evolved to adapt to their respective environments experience population peaks and troughs according to our needs. At Key West we are particularly interested in the monitoring of the world’s bee population.

This species of insect has experienced increasingly lower levels of propagation, which forms a daunting prospect for all life on the planet, including man. The entire food chain relies on the pollination of crops and plants as carried out by the bees. We would encourage our readers to install bee boxes in their gardens (in secluded areas) and discourage the removal dandelions from gardens at this time of year in order to stimulate the bee population.

Bees have a unique social structure with a Queen Bee being at the top of the hierarchy. Bees, like human beings, are social animals. An individual cannot survive alone without the entirety of their society. In the case of human beings enforced solitude is in fact considered to be a severe punishment, so necessary to human well-being is the company and co-operation of other individuals. Humans, of course, divide into manageable groups; whether that is by the operation of a unifying myth or ethos designed to bind together a nation state, a city, or a corporate enterprise.

An all-important unifier in the binding together and co-operation of a human society, no matter how small or large, is the common interest of a collective aim. Being part of a group with such an aim is an extremely important one to human beings, whether that group is a state, club, social group, choir, band or sports team. The American novelist Kurt Vonnegut famously said that ‘all arguments between couples amount them saying to each other: “you’re not enough people”. This is another reason why being a member of a group with a common interest and collective aim is so important.

At Key West Pest Control, we recognise the importance of group membership, common interest, collective aim, and co-operation. We are keen supporters and sponsors of: Leeds Rhinos; Methley Cricket Club; and Great Preston Cricket Club. As a sponsor of Leeds Rhinos we frequently attend corporate events organised by the club. Most people reading this will be aware of the location at which Leeds Rhinos play; that being Headingley Stadium for home games.

Here is the website for Leeds Rhinos: http://www.therhinos.co.uk/

Information on Methley Cricket Club can be read here: http://www.methleycricketclub.net/

Information about Great Preston Cricket Club can be read here: 

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/greatprestoncricketclub/

New Business Start-ups at the Beginning of the New Financial Year.

The new financial year has commenced and the financial wheels are in motion. An established business might look to respond to changes in the market by taking the business in a new direction. The executive decision to do so might reside with the managing director of the business; or the MD might look to appoint a finance director to advise on new directions of business propagation from the perspective of strategic innovation.

 

Many new businesses choose to start at this time of year, whether as a going concern or by the operation of a sole trader. For many new entrepreneurs (and entrepreneurs looking to take a step in a new direction) the hospitality industry is an attractive option. Restaurants, hotels and cafes, along with many other types of business and organisation in which food and beverages are served to the public, are required by law to maintain certain standards of hygiene. Part and parcel of the maintenance of such standards, in accordance with applicable legislative requirements, is the control and prevention of pests.

 

If you have recently set up a food-serving and public-facing business - whether you have purchased a franchise from a chain of restaurants, have set up a single concern, have set up a hotel, or you are arranging to manage a hotel that is part of group – there are certain legislative requirements that you ought to be aware of. In addition, it is essential that you comply with the legislation and adhere to the routine actions of vigilance necessary to continue as a business.

 

According to the 1990 Food Hygiene Regulations, the “walls, floors, doors, windows, ceiling, woodwork and all other parts of the structure of every food room shall be kept clean and shall be kept in good order, repair and condition as to prevent so far as reasonably practical the entry of birds, and any risk of infestation by rats, mice, insects and other pests”..

 

In short, in order to make sure that your business complies with requirements described by the Food Hygiene you need to do your utmost to uphold the highest food hygiene standards and prevent pest contamination.

 

Section 21 of the Food Safety Act 1990 allows anyone who may be facing legal action to use the defence of “due diligence” during the proceedings. Due diligence is taken into account and you can defend yourself by proving you have taken that all reasonable precautions to avoid the offence being committed.

Using professional pest control to remove insect infestations can be put forward as part of a due diligence defence. Key West Pest Control always advises clients that prevention is more effective than control, so making sure that your premises are immaculate will significantly decrease the chances of infestations being developed.

 

Other Legal Requirements concerning pest control and infestation – for businesses including those serving food and other businesses - include:

 

•The Environmental Protection Act 1990

•Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949

•The Protection of Animals Act 1911

•Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1927

•The Destructive Imported Animals Act 1932

•Public Health Act 1936

•Public Health Act 1961

•The Prevention of Damage by Rabbits Act 1939

•Agriculture Act 1947

•Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

•The Poisons Act 1972

•The Local Government Act 1972

•Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 and the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1968

•Pests Act 1954

•The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulation 1988

•The Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1985

•Animal Health Act 1981 Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and the dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (Modification) Order 1984.

If you need advice on these matters you need look no further than Key West Pest Control. It is our business to help your business to thrive from platform of legislative compliance in matters of pest control and prevention.

 

Moles: what to look out for....

European Garden Moles can be a very costly and time-consuming pest with which to deal. They are known to do considerable damage to turf, formal gardens, lawns, greens, sports grounds and fairways. The cause of such damage is their survival need to dig underground. Their ability to do so is impressive in itself: moles can dig up to four metres an hour in their aim to create complex systems of burrows. The rapidity of this behavioural tendency enables moles to establish themselves in your business premises or your home garden very quickly.

 

We are most likely to experience the effects of the behaviour of moles on our business or domestic property when they create extensive networks of feeding tunnels. It is very rare that we will see a garden mole – they rarely come above ground and they are solitary creatures for the majority of the year. A mole tunnel system can cover 100 – 1000 metres in length. The tunnelling of moles can damage the roots of young plants and can throw up stones and debris to the surface ground, which can damage machinery (such as gardening and farming machinery: i.e. lawn mowers and combine harvesters). For businesses that rely on the external environment – i.e. businesses that that employ lawns, grounds, gardens and greens – this nuisance behaviour can be very costly. Also, livestock may injure their legs when walking on ground that has been affected by the tunnelling of moles.

 

The European Garden Mole has slate-grey, velvet-like fur and shortish hand-like front feet, which are used for the digging. They are around 15cm in length and weigh between 75g and 130g.. As has been mentioned, they are solitary creatures except during the breeding season, which takes place between February and June. They bare one litter per year of 3-4 young. Moles tend to feed on earthworms, insect larvae and slugs.

 

Fresh mounds of earth that spring up overnight on lawns and other similar areas are called ‘molehills’. It is advisable that you take prompt action at this, the first sign of moles on your business or domestic property. Another sign of moles is the distinctive raised ridges that can be seen on lawns and other similar areas. These indicate the presence of tunnels.

 

If you have found molehills or ridges in the grounds of your business premises of domestic property it is important to remember that the largest molehill is not always the newest, and that moles can build up to six new molehills within 24 hours. If you find many molehills, it might not necessarily translate that many moles are present in the system.

 

If you have identified the signs it is time to call in Key West Pest Control before they can do any more damage. We will use the latest techniques to eliminate the problem in order that you can restore the grounds of your business premises or domestic property to their proper state.

 

Silverfish can be a real pain: what are they?

Silverfish

What are silverfish? - They are serpentine insects. In order to survive they require humid and damp conditions. They can therefore thrive in areas of your business premises or home where the conditions are both damp and humid. Silverfish can often be found in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements and attics. Silvery-blue in colour, they are characterised by their tiny scales and wiggling movements similar to those of a fish. Silverfish are also known as carpet sharks and fish moths.

 

They are an unsightly nuisance that can exist in most environments. More than that, silverfish are a pest because of their destructive feeding habits; and in large numbers silverfish can present a serious, destructive force in your business premises or domestic dwelling. In sufficiently large numbers, which would categorised as an infestation, they typically damage work and household items containing starch and cellulose. In circumstances where it is judged that an infestation has taken root silverfish will damage paintings, plaster, books and photographs.

 

As has been mentioned, ark isolated areas of your business premises or home, where the conditions are sufficiently damp and humid, are potential areas in which silverfish may thrive. Certain preventative measures can therefore be taken towards avoiding this pest:

 

1.       Fixing leaks in pipework helps to reduce the risk of encouraging silverfish

2.       Improving ventilation helps by decreasing humidity and dampness

3.       Installing and using dehumidifiers can also help

 

Silverfish feed on starch, cellulose and sugar. Consequently, in your business premises or home they might be found in pasta, sugar, coffee, food debris, fabric, paintings, wallpaper, books and carpets. If the silverfish are denied such sustenance – for example by reducing the amount of dust and debris produced day-to-day; sealing food containers with tightly sealed lids; vacuuming rarely disturbed areas in the home or business premises – then the risk of infestation is reduced.

 

Silverfish can be controlled with home DIY products such as sprays. If, however, such methods are ineffective, then a professional service ought to be employed in order to eliminate the infestation. This is where Key West Pest Control comes in. We will identify the problem and advise our clients on how best to contain and prevent any pest typically found in the UK. We are trained in the latest extermination techniques and we are registered to comply under the most recent waste management legislation.

New Changes in Legislation for Producers of Hazardous Waste

New Information for Producers of Hazardous Waste

 

From the 1st April 2016 there will be two important changes, below is a summary of the changes:

•Producers of hazardous waste in England will no longer need to notify the Environment Agency of their premises.

•The format of the unique consignment note code, which appears on every consignment note, will change.

 

Registration

•Customers who produce or store 500kg or more of hazardous waste per year will NO LONGER need to register their premises with the Environment Agency.

•These changes only apply to England. It does not affect premises in Wales, who should continue to register with Natural Resources Wales.

 

Consignment Note Code Format

 

A completed consignment note must accompany hazardous waste when moved from any premises. The consignment note and the way it is completed will change:

•To accommodate the removal of premises registration, the format of the consignment note code will change regardless of the amount of hazardous waste produced, stored or handled.

•If waste is produced in England, the first six characters of the consignment note code (currently the premises registration number) must be replaced by the first six letters or numbers (not symbols) of the business name, for example: Rat Pest Control could be RATPES. This format must be consistently used on each consignment note.

•‘EXEMPT’ will no longer be used.

•The second set of characters will continue to be five numbers or letters of the waste producer/holder’s choosing. E.g. 00001 and sequenced to increase numerically for each subsequent consignment note. This may, on a few specified occasions, be followed by an additional letter.

•If waste is moved from Wales into England, the consignment note code will not be changed. Welsh producers will still be required to register their premises with Natural Resources Wales and use this in their consignment note code. If the waste is moved from England into Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland the consignment note code will need to use the new format.

•There will be further guidance on Gov.uk from 1 April 2016.

 

SIC code

 

The requirement for the SIC code on the consignment note will change. The Environment Agency currently accept SIC 2003, SIC 2007 or NACE (Nomenciature of Economic Activities) on the consignment note. The change in the Regulations from 1 April 2016, specifying SIC 2007, will match the requirements for non-hazardous waste. The Environment Agency currently have a Regulatory Position to allow different SIC publications and the use of NACE codes to be used; they will continue

At this time of year it is worth being vigilant about Cluster Flies

Across the world taken as a whole there are over 120 000 species of flies. Flies are considered pests for good reason: they can pose a serious health risk to humans, pets and livestock. If you were to notice a few flies in your business premises or your home, it may not mean that you have an infestation of flies. We are all familiar with the irritation of the odd two or three flies buzzing around our homes in the warmer months of the year. If, however, a small fly problem is ignored or left uncontrolled, it has the potential to turn into a serious infestation. A fly problem has the potential to develop rapidly: some species of fly are able to mature from eggs to adults in just seven days.

Flies have the potential to infest your home or business and transmit diseases such as Salmonella and E. coli. A few species may even bite humans and animals. Salmonella is a group of bacteria that causes typhoid fever, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, enteric fever and other illnesses. People become infected mostly through contaminated water or foods, especially meat, poultry and eggs. E. coli is a type of bacteria that normally live in the intestines of people and animals. However, some types of E. coli, particularly E. coli 0157:H7, can cause intestinal infection. Symptoms of intestinal infection include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fever.

The potential harm caused by flies includes, as mentioned, the spread of diseases; the contamination of food; and even bites – some species will bite humans and animals.

There are simple ways in which you can identify the signs of a fly infestation and reduce the need for fly control. A proactive approach involving deterrent measures will also help you avoid costly treatments.

Common signs that you might have a fly infestation in your business premises or home include:

1.       Small dark clusters of spots – the spots would be the around the size of a pinhead. You would be most likely to identify this sign in lighter areas

2.       The presence of maggots. Maggots are flies in their larval stage of development. The presence of maggots in your business presence or home might be an indication of a potential breeding site.

3.       Regular sightings – if you see and hear flies around your home or business premises, around food or bins, you might have a problem

If you have discovered any of these sign in your business premises or home you could choose to install some deterrent measures such as fly products, like light traps, around your property. Such measures might reduce the number of adult flies but are unlikely to affect a potential breeding site.

The removal of a breeding site is essential for long-term fly control. That’s where Key West Pest Control comes in. We’re here to help, advise and install the necessary deterrent measures in your home or business such that it shouldn’t be necessary to remove a breeding site. At Key West we’re eminently flexible whether acting reacting to an existing problem or taking proactive measures to prevent potential pest problems.

Do you have a problem with mice?

 

Mice

 

An infestation of mice can occur at any time of year. They happily seek out leftover food on work surfaces such as worktops, tables and cupboards. They are by no means particularly fussy about what food stuffs they will consume. This is why your businesses and homes can act as havens for mice in accommodating their needs.

 

A danger that arises with an infestation of mice is the spreading of diseases. They potentially may spread pathogens and diseases such as Salmonella, Leptospirosis and Hantavirus.  Salmonella is a group of bacteria that causes typhoid fever, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, enteric fever and other illnesses. People become infected mostly through contaminated water or foods, especially meat, poultry and eggs. Leptospirosis is caused by a strain of bacteria called leptospira, which is found in certain animals and can spread to humans. Many different kinds of animals can carry the bacteria, but it is most commonly associated with rats and mice, dogs and some farm animals. Hantaviruses are single-stranded, enveloped, negative sense RNA viruses in the Bunyaviridae family. They normally infect rodents and do not cause disease in these hosts. Humans may become infected with hantaviruses through contact with rodent urine, saliva, or faeces.

 

Mice seek to find easy access to our properties for food and shelter – and any type of property will be sufficient. They look for abundant sources of food and undisturbed areas in which to nest. The removal of readily available and easily accessible food sources will make your property less attractive to mice. Doing this will also reduce the risk of spreading disease by decreasing the possibility of food contamination.

 

An infestation of mice can make us feel uncomfortable, concerned and even distressed. It is, however, a very common problem and there is no need to become unduly worried. At Key West Pest Control, we can solve problems such as mice infestation with quick, safe and effective solutions. Every infestation is different; but we can deal with that.

 

Signs that you might have such an infestation include an ammonia-like aroma and droppings. If you suspect that you have an infestation of mice, contact us. We will investigate the situation and identify the species and the extent of the problem. This will ensure that we will be able to deal with and eradicate the infestation effectively, employing the most latest techniques and technologies

Rats: do you have them?

Rats

 

The discovery of an infestation of rats can be very distressing whether it is found in your business premises or in your home. For a significant number of people the presence of rats is a cause of fear as a phobia of rats is a fairly common one. Rats can transmit very serious diseases and can, in fact, be a cause of fire – these rodents have a tendency to chew through electrical wiring. Rats have incisor teeth and are capable of chewing through wood, plastics and mild steel in order to gain access to a building

 

Rats are extremely persistent pests and if they gain access to your business premises or your home they can spread disease, contaminate food and cause physical damage to the fabric of your property. One pair of rats sheds more than one million body hairs each year and an individual rat can leave up to 25 000 droppings. If you suspect that you have an infestation of rats in your business premises or your home prompt action at the first sign of it will ensure that your problem can be quickly remedied.

 

Rats tend to be at their most active between dusk and dawn; it is therefore easier to spot the signs of a rat problem rather than an actual rodent. The most important signs indicating that you have a rat infestation or rat problem can be quickly learned. The signs to look out for are as follows:

1.       Rat droppings – the droppings of the brown rat are dark brown in colour; they are spindle-shaped, somewhat like a grain of rice

2.       Scratching noises – black rats are notoriously agile climbers therefore you might hear scratching noises at night when they are in your loft

3.       Rat nests – rats typically shred whatever materials are available to them in order to make their nests such cardboards and materials used in loft insulation

4.       Footprints – footprints and tail marks are sometimes left by rats in dusty, infrequently used areas of buildings

5.       Rat holes – a tendency typically found in brown rats is the digging extensive systems of burrows, which they use for food storage, shelter and nesting

6.       Rub marks – rats often leave smudges on surfaces made by grease and dirt on their bodies

 

As mentioned, a danger that arises with an infestation of rats is the spreading of diseases. They potentially may spread pathogens and diseases such as Salmonella, Leptospirosis and Hantavirus.  Salmonella is a group of bacteria that causes typhoid fever, food poisoning, gastroenteritis, enteric fever and other illnesses. People become infected mostly through contaminated water or foods, especially meat, poultry and eggs. Leptospirosis is caused by a strain of bacteria called leptospira, which is found in certain animals and can spread to humans. Many different kinds of animals can carry the bacteria, but it is most commonly associated with rats and mice, dogs and some farm animals. Hantaviruses are single-stranded, enveloped, negative sense RNA viruses in the Bunyaviridae family. They normally infect rodents and do not cause disease in these hosts. Humans may become infected with hantaviruses through contact with rodent urine, saliva, or faeces.

 

At Key West, we recommend quick action as rats are well known to spread diseases, damage property, contaminate food stuffs and also introduce parasites like fleas, lice and ticks into your business premises or home. If you suspect that you have a rat problem, contact Key West Pest Control.