Much of this cost is negated with the next generation of animal detectors – Insects. To be more precise wasps!

Yes, that’s right, scientists in America have successfully trained wasps to sniff out such substances as explosives, drugs and even bed bugs. Scientists say that they can now train a wasp in as little as 5 minutes - so some day in the not too distant future, man’s best friend could be replaced by wasps.

I guess there are many other insects which have an acute sense of smell which may be used in the future such as ants. So remember, next time you feel the urge to swat a wasp which looks to be on its own, beware – it could be on duty!

Sniffer Dogs Could Be Replaced By Wasps is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

For me, summer is when pest control comes to life. Within the pest control world there is the inevitable banter, modelled on fisherman’s tales, of who treated the biggest wasp nest etc.. The pest controller will once again be faced with the task of explaining that flying ants are the same as garden ants and not a mutated species and other such pest urban myths that are common belief to the untrained.

Summer is when our technicians can use all facets of their training, especially the ability to turn into Sherlock Holmes at short notice and informing the clients why the pests have shown up in the first place. Many a summers day will be spent on a clients premises meticulously tracing ants back to their nest in order to carry out an effective treatment rather than just spraying poison carelessly around.

Of course when the sun shines there is also the risk of an exotic pest species or two making its way from the European mainland to liven thing up as we have seen in previous years with the Oak Processionary Moth.

These non indigenous species keep me on my toes with adapting / extending our control techniques so we are ready for their invasion. Lets hope the sun puts in a prolonged appearance!

Summer Starts Now And So Does The Fun For A Pest Controller is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

Very shortly, it is thought that the industry will lose all concentrates due to the Biocidal Products Directive. Before if we were faced with a stubborn infestation, then we could look at using an active ingredient concentrate such as calciferol (which is now illegal in the UK due to the BPD) mixed with an attractive bait base to gain control.

In the last couple of years, we find ourselves as pest controllers with a new generation of baits that concentrate on attractiveness rather than active ingredients.

Now, the professional pest controller can chose from delights such as aniseed flavored bait or chocolate smelling grain, all of which claim to be the ‘caviar’ of the rodent world and irresistible to rodents! As of yet, these claims still remain, on the whole, unfounded.

Lately it is not just the flavour of the bait that the manufacturers are playing with. They are experimenting with the consistency and formulation of the bait base. There is strong evidence to suggest that mice in many cities have developed a liking for baits containing high levels of carbohydrate or protein hence the latest introduction of pasta based baits to the ever developing arsenal of attractive rodent baits.

It is my opinion that none of these new baits will ever be able to match up to the freedom that concentrates gave the professional pest controller to experiment with bait bases and show their creativity.

Are Mice Getting Fussy? is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog

Arctic mice

Arctic mice is a post from: deBugged - The Rentokil Blog