Cluster Flies in the Autumn Months

 

 

The ambient temperature is decreasing in the UK because it is autumn. It is well worth, therefore, being vigilant about the problem of cluster flies. During the summer, cluster flies inhabit and breed in fields, largely in rural areas, and do not pose a significant problem to home owners and business proprietors. These flies are parasitic on earthworms; their larvae live within the soil. The larvae emerge as adults at the end of summer.

 

 

Cluster Flies are commonly so-called because of their habit of forming clusters, or multiplicities, when they are in a state of hibernation. They are found throughout the UK; although they can be found predominantly in rural areas. The eponymous clusters form during the autumn months and are found in the upper rooms, attics and roof spaces of domestic and business premises. Under natural conditions, without the human interference in conditioning the environment according to our needs, the cluster flies would hibernate in dry, sheltered, secluded areas such as under loose bark or within the main trunk and branches of hollow trees. It is quite possible to encounter mixed populations of species of cluster flies within the same premises. While there is a specific species of cluster fly (Polleniarudis), business proprietors and home owners may experience problems with four other species. These vary in size and colouration. It is important to stress to those experiencing problems with cluster flies that the cause of the problem is by no means one of poor hygiene. In addition, it is far from practicable to attempt to control cluster flies outdoors or, indeed, to control the areas in which they breed.

 

 

Following their period of cluster fly hibernation during the winter, the survivors of the winter, under natural, non-synthetic conditions, would emerge the following spring in order to return to grassy fields such that they might continue their life cycle. Owing, however, to the reshaping of the environment by man and the consequent construction of business and domestic dwellings within close proximity of open spaces and fields, they tend to congregate, or cluster, on these buildings. The cluster flies especially prefer sunlit, south-east facing, light coloured walls. When temperatures begin to fall in the afternoon the cluster flies tend to manoeuvre themselves into crevices in order to obtain shelter. Such crevices can include those found within window frames and those under the eaves within the roof space. They emerge the following day when the temperatures rise again. As autumn approaches and the general ambient temperature decreases they remain inside the building, and in large numbers.

 

The overall tendency of the cluster flies from year to year is to return to the same building: why? – we do not know; it is something of a mystery. There is little point in affixing fly screens to windows and doors as a preventative measure: this specie of fly will generally squeeze into small cracks in window frames and between roof tiles. The annual return to the same building may be the result of preferred wall colour, of the detection of remaining pheromones, or some other reason; but it is not because of poor hygiene.

 

Little can be done to prevent the infestations – even repointing and sealing is largely ineffective. If they want to get in, they will get in. A simple aerosol insecticide spray is all that is required to kill all of the cluster flies with which it makes contact. This method, however, will not kill those hibernating in cracks and crevices: it will not be sufficiently penetrative. Small infestations of cluster flies in your business or domestic premises can be dealt with in the use of a vacuum cleaner, that is, if you do not wish to use a spray. Again, this will not get to those flies hibernating in the hidden areas this autumn. For large-scale cluster fly control, call Key West Pest Control. Our operatives are furnished with the latest techniques and technologies contrived towards the control and elimination of cluster flies and other pests.

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.

 

Do you have a problem with 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?

 

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.

Spiders Are Coming Indoors

Spider season - the time of year when spiders creep indoors - is beginning early this year owing to unseasonable warmth. Around this time each year arachnophobes dread the start of the season when male spiders go in search of a mate and venture inside our domestic and commercial premises. You may have already found a spider in your bath, running underneath your sofa or hiding in dark corners of your house.

 

Globally, there are literally thousands of species of spider in existence; it is likely that many species have yet to be discovered. In the UK there are approximately 650 species. Only a handful of these might be encountered within your business or domestic premises. The vast majority of spiders to be found within the UK are harmless, including those that you are most likely to find in your home and workplace. These spiders – those fund in the UK – are not considered to be pests; indeed, it is worth taking into consideration that we treat them as being quite the reverse. Spiders, as is commonly known, spin webs in order to catch insects on which to feed. The insects that spiders are most likely to catch in their webs are, in most cases, considered to be pests. All manner and species of fly are caught by spiders, and sometimes wasps. The advice of Key West Pest Control, therefore, is to avoid destroying spiders’ webs and to avoid killing spiders. Spiders can rightly be considered to be nature’s own form of pest control.

 

The spider species that you are most likely to encounter around and about you domestic and business premises are: the Zebra Jumping Spider; the Cellar Spider; the European Garden Spider; the Giant House Spider; the False Widow Spider; the Wolf Spider. Here follow some facts about these species of spider, which are worth considering the next time you encounter one with a mind to preserving it.

Zebra Jumping Spiders (Salticus Scenicus) are named for their black and white markings and can be found all over Britain and Europe. The adult body length, excluding the legs, varies from 5-9mm for females and 5-6mm for males. The distinctive black and white stripes are formed from black and white body hair. The power of their vision is remarkable: they have eight eyes. The two forward eyes are the largest.

 

The Cellar Spider (Pholcidae) is colloquially known as the daddy longlegs spider. Its proper name is given owing to the fact that it is primarily found on the ceilings of rooms or cellars. Adults are 2.5cm in length and have four pairs of long legs and two body parts. The cellar spider will rapidly shake its body on the web when it is disturbed. The legs are very long and thin.

 

Wolf Spiders (Trochose ruricola) hunt at night but spend the day concealed, usually amongst moss and decaying matters. The adult female is approximately 8 mm in length and the male - 6 mm. They are generally between brown and grey in colour.

European Garden Spiders (Araneus diadematus) are found across the UK and all over Europe. They are colloquially known as the ‘cross spider’ because of a distinctive white marking on the abdomen.

The adult body length, excluding the legs for females varies from 6 -20 mm and from 5 - 13 mm for males. Colouring can range from light yellow to a very dark grey. All European garden spiders have the distinctive, mottled white markings across the abdomen resembling a cross.

 

The Giant House Spider (Tegenaria gigantea) has an adult body length ranging between 11-18mm for females excluding legs and for males from 10 - 14mm. They are mainly brown in colour on the body with conspicuously hairy legs, palps and abdomen. They are generally found during the Autumn months scampering across the floors of your business or domestic premises in search of a mate

 

False Widow Spiders (Steatoda) have a brown bulbous abdomen with pale markings. The females grow to 15mm. False Widow spiders will only bite in defence if they feel threatened.