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Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council

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Pest Control

Category Items

  • Bed Bugs

    Bed Bugs are a small, flat, reddish coloured insect about 6mm in length. They hide in in crevices in furniture, bed frames, skirting boards etc during the day, and come out to feed at night. Unfortunately Bed Bugs feed on human blood, although they will also attack pet animals.

  • Bees

    Bees are one of the most useful insects found in the garden. As they move from plant to plant they pick up and transfer pollen, and this is vital to the fertilisation and growth of plants. Although other insects also help fertilise plants, the work of bees is essential and without them the variety and yield of the plants we grow for food and pleasure would be much reduced. They honey bee also produces honey in hives, either in the wild, or in specially built hives.

  • Black Ants

    Black Ants (also known as Garden Ants) are very common, and are mostly harmless, although they can be a nuisance if they come into houses.

  • Carpet Beetles

    In recent years, carpet beetles have become increasingly common, especially in southern England where they seem to thrive in suburban conditions. They are responsible for damaging clothes and other linen.

  • Cockroaches

    Cockroaches found indoors in the UK have been introduced from the tropics during the last 200 years, and most of them can only survive in heated buildings.

  • Fleas

    The most common fleas found in British houses are the cat flea and the dog flea. The human flea is now extremely rare and is largely found in piggeries.

  • Flies

    Flies are a very common pest, which live outside and feed on nectar from flowers.

  • Foxes

    The fox is an opportunist which has adapted perfectly to urban and suburban environments. It is a small member of the canine family, an omnivore that will eat practically anything. Its diet includes worms, beetles, berries, carrion, small rodents, rabbits and birds. Although an efficient predator, it is basically lazy and will not bother with elusive prey where scavenging might produce an easier meal. Larger items it will take and bury to insure against future hard times when food may be sparse.

  • Fur Beetle

    This species is found widely throughout Europe and is both widespread and quite common in the UK. It naturally lives in dry birds' nests where the larvae feed on a diet high in animal protein (feathers, droppings etc). The fur beetle is frequently found indoors.

  • In receipt of Benefit

    If you are in receipt of benefit you may be able to qualify for a discount for pest control services.

  • Mites

    Mites are found in most countries of the world and some species are widely distributed throughout Britain and Europe. They are almost always associated with dry dust and debris in domestic dwellings although some species also occur in the nests and homes of birds and some animals.

  • Moles

    Moles, like our little cartoon picture, have the image of a loveable industrious little animal. Most of the time they do little harm, but they can be a nuisance, and sometimes they do harm.

  • Moths

    Moths are another household pest and like the carpet beetle their larvae or caterpillars can do a great deal of damage to clothes, carpets and soft furnishings. Described below are the three most common clothes moths.

  • Pest Control Charges

    These charges are in effect from 2 April 2007 and will be subject to review.

  • Pests we do not treat

    The council does not treat for the following pests. Details of other contractors that do are provided here for further advice on managing the listed pests.

  • Pests we do treat

  • Pharaoh Ant

    Pharaoh Ants are much smaller than the common black ant; they are found inside and often infest hospitals, where they are capable of spreading infections.

  • Rats and Mice

    Mice and rats have lived with man for thousands of years. Our homes and food are very attractive to them but they are unwelcome guests as they cause damage, spoil food and spread disease.

  • Squirrels (grey)

    Squirrels are active during the day and regularly visit gardens looking for food. Signs of their presence include stripped pine cones, nuts that have been chewed, bark stripped from trees and their droppings which may be round or elongated. Often squirrels will take their food to a particular place to eat it and the remains will be scattered on the ground below.

  • Wasps

    The queen wasp emerges from hibernation in the spring and looks for a site for a new nest. She does not use the old nest from a previous year.

Environment