Warmer weather not only brings us all outdoors - it also invites a tsunami of pesky pests to join the party!
These aggravating critters can not only cause untold damage to your property but are also capable of posing a threat to your health. As such, it’s important to recognise you have a pest problem as soon as possible. And if you're quick enough off the mark, you can limit potential damage to your home and largely avoid the possibility of becoming ill.
Joshua Houston, pest control expert at Household Quotes, says: "After a long wet winter season, the UK is due a sustained period of warm weather. We all want to finish work and relax in our outdoor space facing the sunshine. However, a hindrance to this are those irritating pests. You must keep on your toes to ensure your home is clear of them. They can be dangerous to yourself and your family."
To make the job of identifying these nuisances easier for you, Joshua has revealed the not-so-magnificent seven garden menaces you should look out for this summer...
Mosquitos
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Mosquitos are an irritating nuisance, most of the time you won’t even notice their presence until you wake up the next morning covered in bites. They increase in volume during the summer and can be identified through the small raised red bumps that they leave on your skin.
Disease can be spread by mosquitoes as they are 'vectors' - meaning they carry diseases between animals and humans. The diseases they cause include; Chikungunya, Dengue, West Nile virus and Malaria. They are most commonly found around places that contain water such as lakes, ponds, marshes, pools and birdbaths.
Rats
When someone mentions pests, it won’t be long until rats come to mind. They can live in wall cavities, roof spaces and under floorboards so can become a real nuisance if not addressed. You might also find them under your shed, or grass banks and in burrows that they have created. To discover whether or not you have rats in or around your home, a key sign to look out for is droppings. If you can’t find any droppings but still suspect rats then listen carefully for movement inside your walls and roof.
Rats often carry bacteria that can make a human seriously unwell if ingested. As rats like to eat your food, there is a strong possibility that if you don’t deal with the infestation immediately then they could gain access to your food storage areas.
Seagulls
According to Blue Health, more than 170 million people visit the British coastline each year. This is welcome news not only to local business owners but also to seagulls. Seagulls are noticeable due to their relatively large size, orange feet and loud squawking calls. You have to be on the ball around them as they’ll have no problem stealing food out of your hand. This is what makes them one of the most disliked birds among the general public.
Despite popular belief, they aren’t only found near the coast. Seagulls will travel to anywhere a large amount of food is dropped regularly. This can be schools, country parks or theme parks due to the large gathering of people, and therefore a significant amount of potential food.
Ants
Ants nests are a common site in UK homes over the summer months, they favour the cracks and crevices around your home. They should be one of the more obvious pests to spot as - although small - they always appear in big numbers. Despite being one of the less harmful pests to humans, you will still want to remove them from your home. Bites can be irritating and due to the vast amount of them, the critters can get anywhere and everywhere.
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To get rid of ants, an ant killer is your best option. It acts quickly destroying the nest in just a few days, and is cost-effective being readily available for less than £10.
Wasps
estimates that there are more than 9,000 species of wasps in the UK, but only a small percentage of the nation's general population will be able to identify the differences. To most, each wasp will be seen as annoying as the next, with a slight worry of being stung at any given moment. Unlike bees, wasps don’t die after they sting, so they are more aggressive to humans. People often struggle to relax with wasps around them, so having a nest close to your home can be a real nightmare.
Wasp nests can normally be found in sheds, garages, bird boxes, wall cavities and roof spaces, and can become very dangerous if disturbed. When it comes to the removal of wasp nests, it’s always best to call in the professionals. They will have the protective equipment to make sure the job is done as safely and ethically as possible. Doing it yourself without proper safety protections could seriously injure you - or make the problem worse.
House flies
House flies are a more common pest in your home, they gain access through open windows and can be a real nightmare to get out. Most people tend to give up and allow them free roam as they don’t sting or bite like wasps or mosquitoes. However, house flies can carry dangerous diseases like E. coli, typhoid fever and salmonella which can result in vomiting, diarrhoea and nausea.
To find out if you have house flies in your home, listen out to a light buzz sound, or keep your eyes peeled as they tend to make themselves known. A home remedy for getting rid of house flies is filling a bowl with both vinegar and soap water, before placing a plastic wrap with punctured holes over the top. The smell will attract the flies and get them stuck within the liquid.
Mice
Mice like areas where there aren't many people around, so in your home that might be your loft, garage, voids and crawl spaces. They live in burrows and venture out to look for food that they can bring back. This becomes a real problem for the homeowner, as mice might nibble on any food they have that isn’t secure. Due to mice potentially carrying bacterial and viral infections, this can be a real danger for people living in the home.
Ways to spot if you have a mouse infestation is to search for droppings, as well as bite marks on furniture and different items in your home. To avoid attracting mice in the first place, make sure to seal all entry points to your home so that there’s no chance of entry. Mice only need a space the size of a diameter of a pencil to enter your home. Live traps are an effective way to get rid of a mouse problem, they are also the most ethical because they do not kill the mouse like other solutions.
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