Wasps Ipswich – Tackling the Problem Effectively

Wasps can be a nuisance anywhere, whether you have an Ipswich town centre business or a company in the Essex or Suffolk countryside. In mid-summer, the feeding habits of wasps change and they are attracted to sugary substances such as food and drink, and unfortunately these are where people are likely to be.

Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions provide wasp control in the Woodbridge, Ipswich, Felixstowe, Colchester, Manningtree and Braintree areas.  We receive the majority of our callouts for wasp nest removal from the general public (where wasps affect homes), but we also receive callouts to tackle wasps at Ipswich businesses and organisations further afield: with farms and food related companies among the establishments hardest hit during the wasp season.

Wasps Ipswich –  contact us now for friendly, effective service.

Agricultural Organisations – How to Ensure Effective Wasp Control

It is estimated that there are several hundred wasp nests every square mile and, with wasps attracted to many human food sources, you can see just how vital it is to have effective wasp control. In the farming industry, fruit crops are particularly attractive to wasps and, in addition to orchards, strawberry and raspberry fields make excellent nesting sites. 

In the farming industry, wasps are a pest to customers and staff at farm shops and cafes. For successful wasp control in Woodbridge, and elsewhere in the East Anglian region, it is always best to bring in the experts. One of the vital pieces of equipment we recommend at any eating establishment is an electric fly killer unit (or fly zapper unit), which we sell or hire at Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions. In addition to this, we also recommend screens with anti-insect mesh and would advise on the installation of wasp traps around the perimeter of premises.

Wasp Nests - On treating a nest in an agricultural site, Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions take a number of things into consideration. We ask for the removal of animals, pets and people near the wasp nest and we cordon off the area to be treated when necessary. The next step is to ensure all water sources (e.g. water butts) and human and animal foodstuffs are not contaminated by the pesticide. We would usually disconnect water sources such as guttering (if the nest is on a roof, or on the eaves of a farmhouse) to prevent any contamination of water entering a water butt.  We would not, however, treat a nest with pesticide if it is above a watercourse (such as a river or stream). As well as paying special attention to water sources, any plants/vegetables/fruit and other food sources nearby also need to be covered before wasp nest treatment is carried out.

The Hospitality Industry – Dealing with Wasps

Wasps can present a real problem in Ipswich, Suffolk, and Essex bars, restaurants, tea rooms and hotels, as they annoy consumers and, at worst, prevent customers from returning and give a business a bad reputation.

Working with the hospitality business is very complex and, here at Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions, we take a proactive approach and work with our clients to put various measures in place to prevent wasps becoming a problem.

If a large nest is close to an eating establishment - and down-wind - wasps can be attracted by the smell of food and drink in increasingly large numbers. If a nest is near to people, and visible, we would advise on destroying the nest; however, this may need to happen out of hours when customers and staff are not around, a service that Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions is happy to provide.

If the nest can’t be found, then good hygiene is needed to minimise the problem. Wasp traps should be sited in the right places, but these are unlikely to work without good hygiene practices. This is because the bait in the wasp traps would be in competition with the smells from other food and drink sources.

So we offer the following advice:

• Regularly wipe tables in between customers, or use table cloths.
• Use metal, rather than wooden, tables if possible, so that food and drink residues do not become ingrained in the table.
• Make sure food is covered.
• Site waste bins well away from food service areas.
• Regularly clean and empty waste bins.
• Avoid flip top bins as they can get sticky and attract more wasps, or other pests such as ants.
• Offer straws to customers if you are selling drinks in cans or bottles.

For any of our pest control services, including wasp control, we provide unmarked vehicles on request.

Wasp Control at Supermarkets, Warehouses and Factories

In addition to outside eating areas, wasps are also a problem at supermarkets, factories and warehouses. Here they pose more of a threat to staff, rather than drive away customers. However, on the plus side, wasps are unlikely to damage packaged food or produce.

Automatic doors are always a help to prevent wasps from entering warehouse and factory premises as are insect mesh curtains (strip/chain curtains).  One of the biggest problems are wasps surrounding waste bins. We encourage staff in these areas to clean bins and waste areas, and to pressure wash daily. It is also important to seal or tie all waste inside plastic bags and ensure that all rubbish is placed in bins with lids.

Electric fly killer units  are also a great help and, at Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions, we sell and hire these out. In addition to this, we also offer customers advice on where to site these units so they are positioned in the most appropriate and effective area of their business.

At Essex & Suffolk Pest Solutions, we offer pest control contracts to tackle the issue of wasps in Ipswich, Suffolk and Essex, as well as a host of others pests including mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, pigeons and ants. For more information on wasp control or any of our other services, just click on the link below.

Wasp Control Woodbridge –  contact us now for friendly, effective service.

Rat In Operating Theatre

Operations at a hospital were cancelled after a rate was found in an operating theatre.  Rat control experts were called into the hospital and as a result, about 40 operations had to be cancelled. 

'Eradicate the problem' - Director of Operations at the hospital said she was shocked to learn evidence that a rodent had been found in an operating theatre.  She said 'As soon as we became aware of this fact the following morning, we immediately too steps to thoroughly clean the area and called in external pest control experts to eradicate the problem'. 

Rats can spread salmonella and carry the potentially fatal Weil's disease, so it is vital to call a rat control expert promptly whenever they are seen inside homes or businesses.

'Rat Control'   - Click here to view our main website

Wasps Washed Out?

There were a fraction of wasp nests around Essex and Suffolk last year leading to a drop in demand for wasp nest removal to around 10% of those treated in 2011.

The mild weather of the very early spring period encouraged Queen wasps to emerge early from hibernation.  This followed by a very wet and cold April and May had a detrimental effect on the Queen wasps that had commenced their nest building, and may also have affected many Queen wasps still in their hibernation cocoons.  The consequence has been that the wasp population in terms of the number of wasp nests was very small of the summer of 2012 and we saw far fewer requests for wasp nest removal as a result. 

Read the rest of this article here

Wasp Nest Removal    Click here to view our main website

Get Ready for the Wasp Season with Effective Wasp Control

Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions offer successful pest control services to homes and businesses in Manningtree, Ipswich, Woodbridge, Colchester, Braintree, Harwich and elsewhere in the Suffolk and Essex region. We receive an escalating number of inquires about wasps in the summer and offer effective methods to tackle the problem and prevent pests driving sales down, causing a nuisance and threatening public health. If you need effective pest control in the Manningtree area, including wasp control, just read on to find out how we can help or follow the link below.

Pest Control Manningtree – contact us now for friendly, effective service.

Why are Wasps a Pest?

Many people enjoy an outside meal in summer. But there is nothing more off-putting than tucking into a restaurant meal only to find a swarm of wasps circling your food and drink. The ‘wasp season’ falls in July and August time when the feeding habits of these pests change and they seek out sweet carbohydrates. Businesses most at risk of attracting wasps are not only farms, factories and supermarkets, but also those with outdoor eating areas such as pubs, hotels and restaurants, where wasps in large numbers can potentially drive away customers.

However, it is not just wasps getting at food and drink that causes a problem; wasps also pose a threat to public health. As well as the discomfort caused by a wasp sting, thousands of people in the UK receive medical attention as a result of allergic reactions from wasp stings – and the worst affected are often the most vulnerable sections of society such as children and the elderly.

In extreme cases a wasp sting can cause a fatality. Anaphylactic Shock, for example, is a life threatening allergic reaction that can be attributed to wasp stings. In addition to this, hundreds of people die a year as a result of heart attacks brought on by a wasp sting.

Wasps can target rural areas and towns in equal measures, which is why pest control services, are vital in Manningtree, Colchester, Ipswich and further afield.

When is the Wasp Season?

Up to the time of mid-summer, the adult worker wasps prey on other insects to feed their young. At this time, it’s quite rare for humans to get stung by a wasp, as wasp stings are mainly down to either disturbing nests or by accidently standing barefoot on wasps that are hunting in the grass.

However, the habits of wasps change from mid to late July, when they seek out sweeter food sources. This is when they really become a nuisance as these sources are mainly found where humans are likely be – such as by outside eating areas, in orchards or in and around waste bins or other disposal units.  

Where do Wasps Build their Nests?

Wasps nests are found in a variety of places: in banks, hedges, shrubs, in the ground and in and around buildings such as lofts, soffits and under tiles.  In particular, they will be anywhere where that is sheltered and warm. 

Will Wasps Go Back to the Same Nests?

If you do find yourself with a wasp nest near your home or business, wasps won’t return to the same nests. Although the worker wasps die, the queens will hibernate in safe, sheltered areas, such as buildings, and emerge to build a new nest, the following spring.

The average number of wasps in a nest can be vast. In the UK a mature colony could have up to 20,000 wasps. However, at Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions, we normally find an average of 2,000 – 5,000 wasps per nest.

Which Species of Wasps are the Biggest Pests in the UK?

The biggest pests are the common wasps (Vespula Vulgaris) and the European wasp (Vespula Germanica). Populations change from year to year. Last year (2012), however, saw a relatively low number of wasps, which was mainly down to the variable wet weather in the spring. 

Can I Get Rid of a Wasp Infestation Myself?

Various products are available from garden centres, or DIY stores that claim to offer some form of wasp control. However, this is risky; there are various dos and don’ts that are essential.

For instance, DO wear protective clothing, DO apply pest control solutions at the right time of day, and DON’T apply pest control in confined spaces or where other people are around and may be stung.

Bringing in the Professionals

Not only is tackling the problem of wasps yourself risky, but there is also no guarantee of success, so the best bet is to bring in the professionals.

Professional pest controllers use various ways to tackle the issue of wasps including the use of insecticidal dust that works over 48 hours to eliminate the whole colony. This can be applied with a dust stick or DR5 which allows fully trained staff to treat the wasps from a distance.

If a nest needs to be removed instantly, for example because it is a public health risk (e.g. next to a footpath) then a spray treatment can be used to remove the whole nests if it is accessible. Full protective clothing would need to be worn to do this.

Wasp traps can be an effective way of dealing with nuisance wasps.  These are very popular for use by food retailers with outside eating areas, such as pubs with beer gardens.  Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions attend client premises to survey and advise on Wasp Management programmes.  We carry out a full survey and then supply and strategically install wasp traps considering such things as wind direction, how sunny an area is and the whereabouts of other food sources (eg. drink or food remnants, orchards etc).  We use Waspbane wasp traps as they do not cause the wasps to swarm and the wasps rarely escape.

About Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions

If you have a wasp problem, contact Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions. We are fully insured for all our pest control services in Manningtree, Essex, Ipswich, Suffolk, and further afield. We also guarantee our work so you can be assured of effective results.

Pest Control Felixstowe: A Guide to Cluster Flies: What They Are and How to Combat Them

Cluster flies are a substantial problem in Essex and Suffolk because rural counties like these are more prone to infestation. The flies return to the same site every year, often in greater numbers, so it is vital that you call in the experts in pest control in Felixstowe, and further afield, to tackle current and future infestations.

Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions provide effective pest control in Felixstowe, Ipswich, Colchester, Clacton, Harwich and the surrounding areas. In addition to cluster fly extermination, we also provide effective solutions for a wide range of other pests that pose a threat to your home or business, including: mice, fleas, rats, wasps, pigeons, moles, cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas and ants. To find out more, contact us on the link below.

Pest Control Felixstowe -contact us now for friendly and effective assistance.

What Are Cluster Flies?

Cluster flies don’t pose a health risk to humans, but they are a major nuisance and start to swarm in the upper areas of buildings when the weather turns cooler. They are so called as they infest buildings in vast numbers, sometimes several thousand at a time. They enter properties via small gaps or roof cavities in autumn (around September) and leave in spring (March or April time) when the weather warms up again. The most common type of cluster flies are 3 – 4 mm long, but some species are longer and have a wing span of up to a centimetre long.

Cluster flies look similar to a house fly but there are some fundamental differences between them; their appearance for a start. They are dark in colour with yellow bristly hair. They also don’t move as fast as a house fly, and the wings of a cluster fly overlap when it is not flying.

What Industries do They Effect?

Cluster flies can settle anywhere: in homes, offices, factories and empty buildings. Although it is shocking to find cluster flies in a property because of their sheer numbers, it’s important to note that this is not an indication of poor hygiene, they are attracted by the warmth of the building.

When they group together in large numbers, cluster flies give off a sickly sweet smell and this odour is thought to attract other flies to settle in a building. As cluster flies get in through nooks and crannies, the structure of a property also attracts cluster flies and they will hibernate in roof spaces, wall cavities, or window frames (loft or sash windows are a particular favourite for cluster flies).

Homes that have external shaded areas, such as a large tree close to a property, are rarely the target of cluster flies and this is most likely because of the temperature drop on the outside of the building.

What Harm Can Cluster Flies Cause?

As mentioned earlier, cluster flies are more of a nuisance than anything else. For businesses, they are unsightly and present a bad image to visitors. Once inside a building, the flies congregate at windows, or around lights, and their constant buzzing annoys householders or staff.

Although they are not a direct health hazard, cluster flies are an unwelcome presence in any building, but especially in food premises such as factories, restaurants, bakeries or supermarkets. An infestation of cluster flies is off-putting for staff and customers and suggests poor hygiene. And the flies – whether dead or alive – will attract more insects to the premises. This is why it is important to call in pest control in Felixstowe and other rural villages.

How Our Pest Control Experts Tackle Cluster Flies

If you need pest control in Felixstowe, Ipswich, Suffolk or Essex, it is vital to call in the experts at Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions.

It is difficult to tackle a cluster fly infestation yourself because of the nature of where they hibernate – these places are often difficult to get to. Proofing the building and sealing window frames can help, but this is not 100 per cent effective. It is also not advisable to apply external treatments to window frames, roof edging etc., as the external conditions (weather etc.) will stop this having any effect.

When we are called out to deal with cluster flies, the first step in our treatment is to carry out a survey in the loft or roof space to check if bats are present in the premises. This is because it is against the law to harm or disturb an area that bats inhabit. If we do find bats at your premises, our options are more limited, but there are still ways to deal with cluster flies and it is important to seek advice first.

The ways we tackle cluster flies are as follows:

• Screening openings such as windows, vents etc. with fine mesh. Proofing has limited effectiveness but can reduce numbers.

• Use of fly traps for fly control (link to http://www.eandspestsolutions.co.uk/fly-control.html)

• Residual spray insecticide – this works for weeks afterwards across the entire area of infestation

• ULV (Ultra Low Volume) – Involves the use of a special machine to create a mist that penetrates cracks and spaces in a building or roof space. It is effective at eliminating an infestation and, a few hours after use, it’s safe to go back into the area where the machine has been used.

• Electric Fly Killer Units – this eliminates the need for an insecticide. However, you will need a very large tray (several inches deep) or the sheer number of flies will mount up, and this can cause a fire risk. It is important to choose the right Electric Fly Killer Units (link to http://www.eandspestsolutions.co.uk/fly-killer-units.html) and seek advice before buying.

To tackle cluster flies, contact Essex and Suffolk Pest Control Solution who operate in Felixstowe, Ipswich, Woodbridge, Manningtree, Colchester, Harlow, Braintree, and surrounding areas.

Pest Control Felixstowe - contact us now for friendly and effective assistance.