Q1. I have really tiny insects in my food cupboards. What could they be?
Q2. I think I have a wasps’ nest. What can I do?
Q3. I think I have a bees’ nest. What can I do?
Q4. I have a problem with flies. What can I do?
Q5. I have a problem with grey squirrels. What can I do?
Q6. I have a problem with woodlice / slaters. What can I do?
Q7. I have a problem with moths. What can I do?
Q8. I seem to find a lot of spiders. What can I do?
Q9. I’m sure I saw a scorpion in my garden. Can this be?
10. I get a lot of garden insects in my house. What can I do?
A1. These may be 'psocids' otherwise known as booklice. They are not associated with poor hygiene but rather dark, warm, humid conditions. For example these conditions can be created in kitchen cabinets by having an electric kettle, washing machine dishwasher or tumble drier. This can encourage the growth of mould which is what these insects feed on.
Always keep dry foodstuffs, such as cereals, in a cool, dry, well ventilated area and clean the storage area regularly.
If you find that you have these insects, remove all affected foodstuffs and dispose of them outside. Food in containers like cans and bottles will be o.k. but check that no insects are hiding under the labels.
Treat the affected area with a proprietary pesticide, suitable for use near food, but make sure that you read, understand and follow all the instructions that come with the product.
When you have done this try to identify the cause of the humid conditions and see if there is anything you can do to control them
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A2. The Pest Control Section of Land and Environmental Services can treat wasps for you. You can contact us on 0845 270 1558 and then selecting option 4 when prompted. There is a charge for this service, currently £41.50 plus VAT (£48.76) irrespective of how many nests are treated at the same visit or how many treatments are needed to solve the problem. Alternatively, if you check the Yellow Pages, under “Pest Control”, you will find numerous contractors who will carry out a treatment for you. We would recommend that, if you decide to do this, you choose a contractor who is a member of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). This contractor will also charge for this treatment. If you live in rented accommodation your landlord may be prepared to help you with this.
If you wish to treat the problem yourself you can buy suitable pesticides from garden centres and DIY stores. Make sure that you read, understand and follow all the instructions that come with the product
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A3. Bees are not legally protected but we would not recommend that you carry out any treatment that would harm them. They are beneficial insects and some species are now considered to be endangered. If you need further information, a helpful site is that of the British Beekeepers’ Association which can be found at www.bbka.org.uk/
Glasgow City Council does not provide a service for bees and, if you still feel you require a treatment for their removal, suitable contractors can be found in the Yellow Pages under 'Pest Control'. We would recommend that you choose a contractor who is a member of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA).
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A4. There are such a variety of flies which can create a nuisance, such as bluebottles, houseflies, fruit flies and filter flies that, if the problem is not resolved by using a fly spray in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, you will need to get the flies professionally identified to find out what the underlying cause is. Suitable contractors can be found in the Yellow Pages under the heading “Pest Control”. We would recommend that you choose a contractor who is a member of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). If you live in rented accommodation your landlord may be prepared to assist you with this.
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A5. There is no treatment available to control the general level of the grey squirrel populations in gardens. However if a squirrel gets into your property it can cause some damage. The first thing you must do is to identify how the squirrels are getting in and out of your property and seal these points. More often than not this resolves the problem. If you live in rented accommodation your landlord may be prepared to assist you with this. If you are unfortunate and seal a squirrel within your property then the Pest Control Section will trap and remove it for you at no charge. Please note that daily access will be required by the Pest Control Section if a trap is installed within your property. You can contact us on 0845 270 1558 then select option 4 when prompted.
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A6. Woodlice / slaters are not insects. They are land dwelling crustaceans, which is why they like cool, damp dark situations and they feed on decaying wood and other vegetation. Their presence is usually an indication of dampness somewhere nearby and the most effective control is to identify and remove the cause of the dampness
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A7. There are such a variety of moths that if you are unable to control them, using proprietary products, used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, you will need to have the moths professionally identified to find out what the underlying cause is. Suitable contractors can be found in the Yellow Pages under the heading “Pest Control). We would recommend that you choose a contractor who is a member of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA). If you live in rented accommodation your landlord may be prepared to assist you with this.
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A8. Spiders are generally considered as beneficial as they can help to control the numbers of other insects. Spiders are solitary creatures so there is no question of there being a “spiders’ nest” However conditions that suit one spider may suit many. Some people have a very real dread of them and the best advice would be to treat them using a crawling insect aerosol spray. This can be bought at most garden centres and DIY stores. Make sure that you read, understand and follow all instructions that come with the product
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A9. We certainly hope not. What you have seen is a garden rove beetle called a devil’s coach- horse (Latin name Staphylinus olens).
This insect, when it feels threatened, has a habit of raising its tail just like a scorpion. It cannot sting and feeds on other insects
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A10. Garden insects such as earwigs, ladybirds, shield bugs, millipedes, ground beetles, clover mites etc are all insects found out doors but which can occasionally make a nuisance of themselves by coming into the home in some numbers. The numbers of these insects will vary from year to year depending on such things as weather conditions. So if the conditions are suitable there will be more of them about and so you may be aware of seeing more of them. These insects generally do not want to be in your home, as it is too dry and warm for them. It is therefore difficult to stop an insect from doing something that it did not want to do in the first place. However, if your home has a garden, you may wish to create a strip around your house that is cleared of vegetation. You could slab this area or cover it with chippings. This will act as a natural barrier to stop these insects from inadvertently coming into your home.
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