1. |
What are flying ants? |
In late summer winged female(queen) ants and male ants (drones) take flight. The sole purpose of this flight is to enable
the queens to mate with the swarming males. After mating the males die and the females move on to find their own nesting
sites. The fertilised queens start to lay eggs immediately, which develop into sterile worker ants who immediately begin
working toward the expansion of the new ant colony.
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2. |
How do I know if I've got bed bugs? |
Bed bug bites cause unpleasant skin irritations, and can sometimes cause severe allergic reactions, resulting in marked
swellings and discomfort..the best way to be sure of the presence of bed bugs is to find the insects themselves, or to find
their characteristic black droppings (semi-digested blood). If you are still unsure, contact a reputable pest controller such as
Pest Patrol.
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3. |
Can Pest Patrol control bed bugs anywhere in the uk? |
Yes, we are a national company, with highly trained experienced technicians in your area.
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4. |
How long does a wasps nest live for? |
Wasps' nests will only last for a single season, beginning in spring, and dying off in late autumn. The old nests are never
re-used, but sometimes a new nest is built on the side of an old one.
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5. |
When am I most likely to see cockroaches, and what damage do they cause? |
Cockroaches are invariably nocturnal, and any sudden light will send them running for cover. It is rare for cockroaches to
cause damage to buildings, the chief concern being the diseases they can transmit to humans.
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6. |
At what time of year are moles most active? |
Moles can be a nuisance at any time of the year, but seem to be most active between autumn and spring. At this time, they
are actively digging new tunnels, looking for mates, and foraging extensively for food. Mole control exercised at this time can
be most effective as populations are reduced before the breeding season.
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7. |
What methods are used to control moles? |
If there is a demonstrable need to control moles, treatments include trapping and poisoning by gassing using a gas called
phosphine. A professional Pest Control contractor, such as pest patrol, will advise on which approach is appropriate.
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8. |
Do rabbits cause disease? |
Surprisingly, yes! There are well documented cases of wild rabbits carrying E.coli into gardens, having picked up the
organism from cattle dung in nearby fields. Defra now routinely investigate rabbit activity when there is an outbreak of
E. coli 0157.
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9. |
Can you get rid of the bats in my loft? |
No, bats are a protected by laws such as the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, and it is an offence to interfere with bats or
their roosts. Bat droppings are sometimes confused with mouse droppings, but a professional pest control technician can
easily differentiate between the two types.
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10. |
Why do I have a problem with fruit flies? |
Fruit flies breed very rapidly in areas of poor hygiene. Eggs are laid in rotting vegetables, soured milk, beer residues, rotting
fruit etc. In most cases fruit fly infestations are solved when the hygiene issues on site are resolved.
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11. |
What should I do if my pet has fleas? |
Responsible pest control contractors would never treat pets for fleas. Treatment of pets should ideally be undertaken under
veterinary supervision, but certain products are available from pet shops and supermarkets. If you do try to use these
products, always follow the instructions for use carefully.
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12. |
What do rats and mice eat? |
Rats and mice eat most commodities, although they tend to prefer cereal based products. They usually eat at night, and
generally need to eat approximately 10% of their body weight each day. Rats need to drink every day, whereas mice can
obtain all the moisture they need from the food they eat.
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13. |
How soon after my house has been treated for fleas can I go back in? |
Generally, after about three hours. However, the period does depend upon the treatment conducted, so ask the technician
and follow his instructions to the letter for least risk.
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14. |
After treatment, how long does it take for a wasps' nest to die? |
The time taken to die off completely depends on access to the nest. If we can treat the nest directly, then it may be less than
an hour to die. If access is difficult, then it could take a couple of days to die off completely.
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15. |
How can I tell if I have rats at home? |
Evidence of rats may be quite hard to find. Rats often hide their droppings away, and footprints, tail sweeps and damage
caused by chewing are often hard to see. If you suspect you have rats, always call in a professional, better be safe than
sorry!
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16. |
How quickly can you solve my mouse problem? |
It depends upon the nature of the infestation, the numbers of mice, and the property infested, but a rule of thumb would be
2 - 3 weeks.
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17. |
How often do squirrels breed? |
Squirrels have 2 breeding seasons per year, with litters born feb/march and june/july. Each litter averages 3 - 4 young.
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18. |
Do your technicians carry identification? |
Yes. They will also wear company uniform. If in doubt, always call the relevant office for confirmation. The genuine
technician will be pleased to wait.
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19. |
What is the biggest rat you have ever seen? |
Imagination & fear plays a large part in estimating sizes of rats. We have seen some pretty well fed rats in London sewers,
in train tunnels and in grain stores, but (unfortunately) have never seen 'rats as big as cats'
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20. |
I have bed bugs at home, could I pass them on if I stay at a friends? |
Yes, it seems that bed bugs are spread by people, particularly within luggage
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