Apogeo, commercial theme by Consorzio Creativo

Description:
The Beetles are robust, black and nearly 18mm long, resembling many ground beetles in size, shape and colour. The larvae are distinct, being honey yellow in colour with a smooth, highly polished, hard, cylindrical (wormlike) body about 3mm thick and up to 28mm long at maturity.

Biology:
Adult beetles are attracted to night-lights, are strong fliers, and are found in dark places. Each female lays about 275 eggs, which hatch into larvae in 4 to 14 days. Eggs are laid singly or in clusters during the spring over a period of 22 to 137 days. Larvae may spend up to two years in this stage depending on the environment. Individual larvae may wander far from the food source to pupate, making it difficult for homeowners to locate the source of infestation. Common sources are cornmeal, flour, cake mixes, cereals, meat scraps, dead insects, bran, litter from chicken houses and birds’ nests.

Control:
To control these pests, the infested area should be thoroughly cleaned to remove the debris on which the larvae fed (bird nests, food etc). Application of a broad spectrum residual insecticide will then normally control the problem.

Description:
Slightly larger than the House Mouse with a proportionally longer tail -on average the same length as the body. The Wood mouse has light brown fur with a distinctive pale belly and characteristic large ears and bulging eyes. Also known as the long-tailed field mouse

Biology:
Wood mice have similar life-cycle and nutritional needs to the House Mouse. Generally the Wood mice are found outdoors, entering houses and outbuildings for shelter and food but nesting in the open for much of the time whereas the House Mouse, given sufficient resources, will more readily complete full generations without leaving the house or building that it’s living in. The Wood mouse is similar to another typically outdoor mouse, the yellow-neck mouse which can be distinguished by a band of yellowish fur around the neck.

Control:
As the Wood mouse is largely an outdoor pest, we would only advise control if the mice are entering buildings or causing damage. Control of the Wood mouse is the same as that of the House Mouse and a combination of traps and chronic (slow working) baits such as anticoagulants should be effective. Again proofing of gaps to deny entry should be considered to try to prevent or restrict infestations

Description:
A small moth, the caterpillars of which cause considerable damage to stored food products. As the name suggests it commonly attacks tobacco and cocoa, as well as grains, nuts, dried fruit and many other stored products. Adults are up to 10mm in length with greyish-brown wings and have dark double bands at the top and base of the wings (although these are frequently rubbed off). Similar in appearance to the Tropical Warehouse Moth where the wing markings are often less distinct (and the adults are less tolerant to temperature variances).

Biology:
Up to 200 eggs are laid. There is usually only one generation per year, although under ideal conditions the lifecycle can be as brief as 12 weeks.

Control:
Controlling this pest requires careful inspection of all stored cereal foods and machinery, discarding the heavily infested material and cleaning away any debris. Where the infestation is extensive; a residual insecticide can be applied to the cracks and crevices around wall/floor and ceiling/floor junctions. Infestations of this moth in food processing facilities can be controlled by removing and destroying infested products and by using intensive cleaning and fumigation as required.

Description:
Adults are 2 – 4 mm long and variable black or brown with mottled yellow or white markings. A pest primarily in the home, food and museum sectors (the latter causing a significant threat to collections).

Biology:
Mating occurs immediately after emergence. The female produces up to 100 eggs over a period of two weeks. Larval development lasts for 10-30 days. Larval forms (known as the “Woolly Bear”) can reach 4 – 5 mm in size before pupation and can cause considerable damage to products such as wool, fur, leather, silk and animal skins, and occasionally cereal based food products. Adult carpet beetles usually live outdoors on pollen and nectar, and thrive in situations where they remain undisturbed, such as under carpets, bird and rodent nests and animal remains.

Control:
Before treatment can begin, the first step is to trace the source of infestation such as old birds’ nests in lofts or rodent nests under floorboards. Where appropriate, treat and remove old nests in lofts and under floorboards with an insecticide dust. Lift and treat underside of carpets, around skirting boards, window frames, pipes from roof spaces and disused fireplaces, and other areas likely to be contacted by invading adult insects with a residual insecticide

Description:
About 2.5 mm in length, the adult beetles are oval and covered with small hairs which give them a silky, yellowish-brown colour. Adults are strong fliers and prefer subdued light and temperatures over 65 degrees F.

Biology:
The larval stages of the beetle can feed on a variety of stored products including tobacco, grain, cereal products, ginger, raisins, dates, pepper, dried fish, drugs, and seeds. The female produces about 100 eggs and the entire life cycle can be completed in 45-50 days.

Control:
The first step in control of the tobacco and biscuit beetles is to find the source of the infestation. This means inspecting all of the dried foods in the infested cabinets or drawers. Once the infested material is found, it should be destroyed. Insect Monitors are essential in commercial situations to highlight infestations. Infested commodities can be treated (usually be fumigation) or destroyed, whilst the building fabric can be treated with residual insecticides.

Description:
The adult is a small, active, brown beetle, 2-3mm long, with a flattened body and six saw-toothed projections on each side of the thorax. Similar in appearance is the Merchant Grain Beetle which has a slightly different shape to the head and thorax.

Biology:
The females live from 6 to 10 months and deposit upwards of 250 eggs in foodstuffs. Several generations may occur each year, as the life cycle requires only 3 to 4 weeks during the summer, when conditions are at their most favourable.

Control:
Controlling this pest requires careful inspection of all stored cereal foods, discarding the heavily infested material. Building fabric, machinery etc can then be sprayed using a residual insecticide.

Description:
The insects are about 3-4mm and reddish-brown in colour. The confused flour beetle and the red flour beetle are similar in appearance and habits. Adult confused flour beetles have the antennae gradually enlarged toward the tip; the antennae of the red flour beetle have the last three segments abruptly enlarged. Confused Flour Beetle (Tribolium confusum) cannot fly, but Rust Red Flour Beetle (Tribolium castaneum) may fly. In addition, the eyes (when viewed underneath) of the T. confusum are separated by a space equivalent to 3 times the diameter of the eye, whereas in the T. castaneum, this gap is less than 2 times the diameter.

Biology:
Beetles attack milled grain products such as flour and cereals. These beetles often hitchhike into the house in infested flour and can build up into large populations on food accumulations in cabinet cracks and crevices and in furniture. The life cycle requires one to four months when temperatures are favourable and the female may live for as long as 2 years.

Control:
Control of these pests begins with the location and destruction of the infested food. Within commercial situations, the use of insect monitors is key to help pinpoint the infestations. A thorough clean up is advised, using a vacuum cleaner to get into the cracks and crevices followed by a treatment using a broad spectrum residual insecticide.

Description:
The rabbit was thought to have been introduced to Britain by the Normans, although early remains show that some may date back to Roman times. The rabbit is now found across almost all of Western Europe. Each individual can grow up to 40 cm in length. Rabbits are distinguished from the Hare by size (the Hare is bigger), and the rabbit has a white tail when running, smaller hind legs and lacks the characteristic black tips found on the hare’s ears.

Biology:
Rabbits can reach sexual maturity in 2-3 months and have a gestation period of just 28 days. Up to 5 litters per year are possible with the average litter size being about 5.

Control:
If after conducting an assessment, control is deemed necessary, there are a number of options available. Fencing (electric and wire) can be effective although can also be costly. Gassing using Aluminum Phosphide (Professional trained staff only) is an option as is shooting, snaring (free running noose), spring traps, ferreting, cage traps and drop traps.

Description:
Adult mites are about 0.8 mm long and 0.4 mm wide. The colour can vary from grey to white but they often appear to be red, depending upon their blood content. Engorged adults are about 1 mm long. Red mites feed on the host bird at night for up to 2 hours before returning to the cracks and crevices that they inhabit. High numbers can not only decrease the value and number of eggs etc., they can also cause birds to become anaemic and in severe cases, the birds can die.

Biology:
The females lay their eggs after a blood feed- hatching into 6 legged larvae after 3 days and an 8 legged nymphal stage which takes a further 4-5 days.

Control:
Mite control is a major challenge as they can survive many months without a feed, are difficult to treat with the poultry present and will survive cleaning and disinfectants. Ideally the poultry sheds need to be thoroughly cleaned when empty and a residual insecticide applied which has been approved for use in this area. If treatment is needed whilst birds are present, use of desiccant products, such as pesticide-free desiccant sprays can be used (ensure the birds are not sprayed and always read the label).

Description:
Small reddish or black beetles often found weakly flying in homes during late summer. Plaster Beetles are from 1.5- 2.5 mm in length with ridged, wide wingcases.

Biology:
Plaster beetles feed on mould or mildews and are attracted to anything that is musty smelling with newly constructed homes, damp areas in basements, bathrooms and damp commodities (such as grain), often affected. Eggs are laid singly and take approximately 5 weeks to complete the lifecycle.

Control:
Insecticidal treatments may not provide a total solution against this pest. Flying insect sprays will kill the adults and a residual insecticide spray should be applied to walls and floors. For longer term control running dehumidifiers or checking vents for proper screening will help reduce migration.