Matthew Green rentokil.co.uk

I’m a laboratory-based entomologist who works at Rentokil’s European Technical Centre. I joined Rentokil in 2008 to set up and run research projects on the control of urban insect pests. Before Rentokil I worked for a consultancy that specialised in diagnosing timber defects in historic buildings, including wood-boring insect infestations and fungal decay. I own far too many books on urban insects and timber pests. When I’m not working you can usually find me playing board games and card games or fencing, occasionally.

Can Bed Bugs Live For A Year Without Feeding?

Matt for rentokil.co.uk | March 13, 2013
Adult bed bugs can live for up to a year without feeding. This ‘fact’ is quoted pretty often around the internet and even Rentokil’s own pages quote it. Even the National Health Service has signed up to it. There is an important caveat with this fact: the temperature. Adult bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are only capable [...]

The Camberley Beetle

Matt for rentokil.co.uk | July 4, 2012
We’ve recently had a shake-up here at the UK end of deBugged. The fun-time social media and marketing folks have moved to a new office complex near Camberley whilst I remain secured in my darkened laboratory. They have a new ‘innovation wall’ and ‘quiet room’: I have a beige wall and a fly culturing room. [...]

Do you want flies with that?

Matt for rentokil.co.uk | May 11, 2012
ZZZZzzzzzzzt! It’s strangely reassuring, when queuing at a butcher’s or baker’s counter, to hear the noise of an insect meeting its doom on an ultra-violet light trap. It makes you feel safe in the knowledge that a fly isn’t going to land on the food you are about to buy. Would you feel the same [...]

Can Cockroaches Survive a Nuclear Blast?

Matt for rentokil.co.uk | March 6, 2012
Welcome to another instalment of urban [pest] myths with Matt. This time I’m looking into the history of the oldest chestnut in the book: ‘roaches versus bombs’. This one is quite tricky and needs to be broken down a bit to be investigated. First question is: Why cockroaches? Why not locusts or wasps for example? [...]

Pest Board Games

Matt for rentokil.co.uk | December 5, 2011
Christmas shopping is upon us. It’s the time of year when newspapers and magazines fill Christmas pull-out specials with gift ideas. Board games are often touted as the ideal way to spend some quality time over the festive season with your family. If you’ve ever played Monopoly by the actual rules you’ll know this is [...]