Wasp Nest Removal

When you first discover the presence of a wasp nest in the home or business premises, it can be something of a traumatic experience. The initial thoughts are likely to be focused on the safety of the family or the workforce, and that’s why we offer a service that’s geared towards complete peace of mind.
If there are children in the vicinity, or people with dangerous allergies, you will want to know that the situation is being handled by an experienced, knowledgeable professional, and that’s exactly what you will get with Pestaxe’s wasp nest removal service.
When we arrive at your property first thing we do is to locate the wasps nest. Usually you will see a constant flow of wasps coming from a hole in brickwork, air vent or fascia boards however you may also find them nesting in sheds, compost heaps, roof spaces and have been seen under the bases of children’s playhouses. Our wasp nest removal team will select the most appropriate form of treatment for the individual circumstances. We carry out a risk assessment before proceeding, with an emphasis on the safest strategy.

In most cases we treat the wasp nest by applying a strong insecticide to the entrance to the nest. Wasps which have been outside will return to the nest bringing the insecticide in with them, an activity that will continue for only few hours. This fast, effective treatment is safe to pets and children inside the home.

Activity in and around the nest will gradually die out to the point where there will be no sign of activity at all. That’s normally achieved within 24 hrs. This is a quick, clean method which has been used by our experts for many years. Once the nest’s inhabitants have all been killed, it will not be re-used by any wasps in the future and can be safely removed if needed at a later day.

Bedbugs

Bed bugs have become an epidemic in some cities in recent years. Bed bugs are the size of an apple seed or smaller. They hide in the cracks of beds during the day until the night-time when they feast on sleeping humans. It’s hard to tell if your bed is infested because sometimes people don’t exhibit any signs of bites. Small, red, itchy spots around your head and limbs might mean you have bed bugs.

• The female bed bug lays hundreds of eggs during her lifetime. The newly hatched eggs are tiny and are harder to spot than adult bedbug.
• They feed off on humans and other animals such as dogs, cats, mice, rats, birds. They normally feed at night.
• Eggs are laid in mattresses, bed frames and divan bases. Eggs can be found on rough surfaces as well. The average life span is 6-12 months.
• They feed every 10 days when mature.
• They hide in bedding, mattresses, blankets, cracks and crevices during daylight hours. They can also hide in upholstery on chairs and sofas.
• Bed bugs don’t carry disease
• They do suck blood but the actual bite is painless
• They do not live under your skin or
• Bed bugs or their eggs are hitch-hikers. They typically enter your home with new pieces of furniture, like beds, chairs and couches. They are also picked up in hotels and brought home in your luggage. Carefully inspect your hotel room for bed bugs when you arrive with a focus on the bed and furnishings remember they can hide in tiny cracks and may be on hard surfaces between the walls and the headboard. If you find them alert the hotel management and find a new place to stay.

If you find bed bugs in your home it is best to call a professional exterminator to eliminate the problem as trying to solve the problem yourself might give them more time to multiply.

Fleas

Fleas are a frequent problem in homes, particularly where cats and dogs are present. People may also encounter a flea infestation when moving into a house where pets previously lived. Common signs are the experience of bites, often on the lower leg. Fleas are a nuisance to animals and humans, and also cause medical problems such as flea allergy, tapeworms, skin irritations and in some extreme cases anaemia. Flea eggs are laid on carpets or fabrics. The flea eggs hatch into larvae that then pupate. They can wait dormant before emerging as adult fleas. If conditions are favourable e.g. vibration and warmth, they will hatch into adults fleas This takes about 2 weeks in mild weather. Flea eggs can lie dormant for up to 18 months, usually in empty properties.

As fleas can travel very easily around a property we would spray all rooms within the house, with an emphasis placed on those with carpets as they will be the areas where they will tend to thrive. Depending on the level and stage of infestation more than one visit may be required. Treatment will result in the residents needing to be out of the property for approximately 3 hours after treatment.

To prevent further infestation it is advisable to have any pets within the property treated for fleas and ticks. Also ensure that stray animals are not allowed to enter the property.

Moths

There are three kinds of moth commonly found as pests in the home, The Clothes moth, The Brown House moth and the White-Shouldered House moth – which cause damage to clothes, carpets and soft furnishings made from natural fibers.

The smallest of the three, the adult clothes moth is a uniform pale gold colour and has a noticeable reluctance to fly, tending to scurry rather than take to the wing. This kind is the main culprit when it comes to ruined fabrics. The white shouldered house moth can be told apart from the clothes moth by the white head and shoulders which give it its common name, while the brown house moth is mottled and darker and is frequently found in kitchen cupboards and bedrooms.

Moths can be a serious pest especially in large numbers, when they can be very destructive. Although the adults have a very short lifespan, typically only living for two or three weeks, the caterpillar stage can last for up to six months – and it is these hungry, growing grubs that do the damage. Protecting your clothes, upholstery and fabrics may often involve a mixture of prevention and cure.

The eggs are laid amongst suitable fibres, subsequently hatching into white-bodied caterpillars with brown heads – and healthy appetites! Fully grown and having eaten their fill, they form a pupae within a silk cocoon, from which the adult will eventually emerge. Generally only one generation is produced each year, but where conditions are favourable the moths may breed more frequently.

Flies

Flies can transmit a wide range of diseases including Salmonella, Dysentery, Tuberculosis, Cholera and Parasitic Worms due to them eating decaying matter (rotting food and excrement) and transferring this to food sources we consume.
Whilst there are thousands of species of flies the most common problems arise from the Common House Fly, Blow Flies, Cluster Flies and Mosquitoes.
Warning signs for Fly infestations include clusters of insects (live or dead), spottings and droppings on pipes and light fittings and the appearance of Maggots (flies in their larval stage).

Infestations of flies are usually treated with fly killer machines, insecticidal sprays and/or smoke generators. Fly-proofing can also be carried out by using screens to block windows and doors. When treating fly infestations, we endeavor to use the most environmentally friendly products.

We are experts with experience in controlling flies and our discreet fly control service offers a range of innovative measures, including…

• The design and fitting of fly screens
• Supply and service of fly control units
• Advanced insecticide treatments
• Specialist monitors and fly killers
• Advice on future fly control and prevention

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are an extremely common household and commercial pest, they are known to hold and transfer diseases for example dysentery, poliomyelitis, gastroenteritis & typhoid. Cockroaches are usually associated with dirt and poor housekeeping however we often find cockroaches will travel from adjoining properties in search for new suitable expansion sites. Cockroaches generally will eat anything, anything that has nutritional value, this includes excrement, their own and other animals- this accounts for the reason why they are known to spread disease and are known to be such a disgusting pest. Their diet often consists of grease build up, leftover food, rubbish, and anything they can get basically, this also includes other dead cockroaches as well as your stored food! Once cockroaches infest your food cupboards they are likely to contaminate anything they come in to contact with, usually by laying eggs and droppings everywhere they go, and they are prone to dying anywhere- not uncommonly in stored grains, cereals and other produce.

People can also be allergic to cockroaches, especially asthmatics.
There are maily two types of cockroaches in this country, German cockroaches and Oriental Cockroaches. The most common one we see is the German. Adult German cockroaches are light brown in colour and the nymphs may seem black.

It takes 10 weeks for a cockroach from egg stage to reach sexual maturity and each egg case will hold 30-40 eggs, this is an extremely quick rate of reproduction, it is usual to assume that if you see a cockroach that is the tip of the iceberg- effectively they lay eggs constantly.
Cockroaches are notoriously difficult to get rid of, however being a cockroach pest control specialist our service is guaranteed. A professional treatment is the only way to eradicate a cockroach problem, cockroaches are extremely good at finding cracks and crevices and naturally incredibly reproductive so DIY methods will often fail.

Pestaxe provide a treatment that combines the latest methods and treatments including the use of sprays, fogging, powders and extremely effective professional food substitute gels. This makes the treatments extremely effective. All our technicians are trained to these new methods and all hold relevant certifications so you can rest assured you have the right people for the job.

Ants

Ants are common everywhere and you are as likely to find them in your workplace. Ants become pests once they come into homes searching for food. They are most commonly attracted to sweet, high sugar foods. When garden ants are foraging for food they can become a real nuisance, often walking over unpleasant and dirty surfaces while they are searching for food sources. Most people are not willing to accept this in their homes and want to get rid of this pest.

Ants are easily recognisable although most people are not aware that it is only the worker ants they usually see. Male and female ants are produced at particular times of the year. Winged ants, often called flying ants, are commonly seen during the summer. Worker ants are usually 2 to 5mm long and are a black or brown colour. Female and male ants are generally larger in body size than the worker ants with the females around 6.5 to 10mm and the male ants 3.5 to 4.5 mm. You can usually find the nests for garden ants outdoors in sandy soils, often under loose paving slabs.

Ant Treatments are often quite straight forward. Residual insecticides, usually sprays and dusts are the normal treatment for Black Garden Ants. In houses we normally need to treat the kitchen and the garden areas where the ants may have originally found their way in.

As with all our treatments, the pest control technician will leave a report with you with details of any treatments and recommendations. If a follow up visit is likely to be needed, our technician will arrange a suitable date and time with you. Generally this will be about a week or two later and sometimes a second treatment is required.