Glossary of Pests
Ants
These will sometimes invade the house in search of food, such as meat or sugar, then establish a trail to the source. Ants are harmless. Store food where they can't get to it. Draw a chalk line across their entrance point to the house to deter them. To exterminate ants, pour boiling water on their nest. If this fails, or the nest is out of sight, use branded chemical treatments, brushing powder into crevices with a small paintbrush. In late summer, newly hatched queen ants swarm from the nest and may enter the house. Vacuum them up.
Bedbugs
These insects need warmth, darkness, and a supply of blood from humans or animals to survive. They thrive around the buttons of mattresses and in the crevices of sofas and armchairs, and may also nest behind wallpaper. Their bite does not carry disease but can be extremely irritating, and can cause persistent loss of sleep, resulting in lack of energy, especially in children. Infestations should be treated by a specialist.
Bees
Never harm a bee - they will not sting unless provoked. Some bees are protected by law, and it's illegal to kill them. If a bee is trapped in your house, catch it in a loosely balled tea towel and gently shake free outside. Alternatively catch it in an upended tumbler and slide a piece of paper or card across the bottom. Very rarely, a swarm may settle in a garden away from the hive or even enter a house. Keep children and pets away and phone the police or your local authority. They will contact a registered bee-keeper to come and remove the swarm.
Booklice
These live on moulds, so attack damp plaster and books, but may also contaminate dry goods such as flour, chocolate, milk powder, and cereals. They are most active between April and November and may come into the house via birds' nests, thatch, or firewood. Treat with a branded insecticide. You will have to throw away all contaminated material. Generally, try to store books in a dry, well-aired room.
Carpet Beetles
These beetles feed on soiled carpet fibres and may also attack wool, silk, and leather. They thrive indoors in warm, dry conditions. Their larvae may dig long galleries in wood in which to pupate. Vacuum carpets and the floor beneath, paying attention to cracks, crevices, and skirting boards. Check out wardrobes and furniture that has not been moved for a while, too. Spray insecticide into cracks. The eggs are difficult to kill, except by dry-cleaning. If the problem persists, call a professional.
Cockroaches
A potential source of serious food poisoning, an infestation of cockroaches can be treated with branded cockroach-killer, but is best treated professionally. Several treatments may be necessary, as the eggs are very resilient and reinfestation is likely. Cockroaches spread bacteria when they walk and excrete. They live in warm, dark places, such as behind a stove or under the floor near central-heating pipes, and also congregate around drains and toilets. They emerge at night to feed on leftovers of human food. If you see cockroaches regularly, in daylight, the infestation will be quite severe. Cockroaches need water, which is why you may find them drowned in a toilet bowl or sink. After eradication, seal cracks where these insects live. You may be asked to leave treated surfaces for a week, without cleaning, but after that you should clean all surfaces near the infestation, regularly, even those that are out of sight.
Fleas
Usually brought into the house by cats and dogs, fleas breed fast and their bites can make life a misery for humans. Their eggs, laid in cracks and crevices, are long-lived and difficult to kill. Flea larvae feed on dirt and dust, and the adults feed on blood. Fleas sense their victims' approach by vibrations on the floor, and can jump 30 cm (12 in) to land on them. Among the many flea treatments for pets are powders and sprays, dog shampoos, herbal remedies, combing with a flea comb, or using a flea collar. The most effective treatment, available from your vet, is one that is dripped on to the back of the neck. This kills fleas after they bite the animal. Use in conjunction with regular vacuuming. To treat a serious infestation, call a professional.
Flies
Houseflies feed indiscriminately on excreta and human food, and can transmit diseases and cause diarrhoea. They emerge from their pupae in the warmer weather and breed prolifically, laying eggs in foodstuffs, especially on meat. The eggs hatch into maggots and start to feed. Flies are attracted by the smell of humans and food, and by lower light intensity. Fit fly screens or hang bead or bamboo curtains over open doors. Lace or muslin at open windows will also keep them out. Be scrupulous about food hygiene. Mesh domes used to cover meat are no protection - flies can lay their eggs through the mesh. Uneaten cat or dog food is a prime breeding site. Swatting is healthier than fly spray, as is old-fashioned flypaper.
Flour Beetles
These beetles are occasionally found in flour, cereals, and other dried food stored or bought in unsealed or damaged packaging. Throw out the contaminated food, clean the cupboard thoroughly, and start again, storing food in airtight containers.
Head Lice
An infestation of head lice can spread quickly through a family, and through a whole class or school. Head lice live on the scalp, biting it and causing inflammation and itching, and laying their tiny pale eggs (nits) near the roots of the hair and behind the ears. Both lice and eggs will die once deprived of the warmth of the scalp. The whole family of a sufferer should use a nit comb and a dedicated non-toxic shampoo, available from chemists and health-food shops. You might want to avoid shampoos containing organophosphates, over which there is some controversy.
Mites
Not insects but arachnids (spider family), scabies mites live on blood, burrowing into the skin, usually on the hands. This causes scabies, an extremely itchy rash. The mites are passed on by close contact with a sufferer. Treat with a prescription cream or try tea-tree natural antiseptic oil or ointment. Furniture mites or dust mites, which are harmless in themselves, live in mattresses and elsewhere in the house on flakes of human skin. Their 'dust' or droppings may exacerbate asthma. Vacuum mattresses and upholstery regularly.
Mosquitoes
Male mosquitoes live on nectar, but the females bite and suck blood from humans and animals. In the tropics, they can transmit malaria and other diseases. In cooler climes, victims may suffer a painful swelling. Mosquitoes are active after sundown, their flight detected by an annoying whine, which stops as they land to feed. Females have lower-pitched whines than males. They lay their eggs on still water - ponds, water butts, even puddles may be breeding-sites. Cover water butts, site ponds away from the house. Be prepared for mosquitoes if you holiday next to a swimming pool. Burn mosquito coils or use plug-in devices with replaceable deterrents. Sleeping with a mosquito net over the bed is more pleasant than using a repellent on the skin. Consider fly screens at the windows.
Moths
Clothes moths lay eggs on wool, then their larvae hatch out and eat it. They will also attack other natural and mixed fibres, especially when soiled with sweat or food. They can damage carpets, bedding, and upholstery, as well as clothes. Brush clothes well to remove eggs and larvae, air them in the sun, and put them away clean in sealed bags or a clean cupboard with sachets of lavender, rosemary, and bay. Camphor mint is a stronger-smelling repellent, but preferable to mothballs - no one wants to smell of naphthalene.
Silverfish
These are harmless. They are attracted to damp and can sometimes be found in kitchens and bathrooms, where they feed on cereal crumbs and wallpaper paste. Vacuum them up. Keep food sealed and clean out cupboards. Use an insecticide if necessary. Eliminate damp and they will not return.
Ticks
Ticks are arachnid parasites that fasten their mouthparts into the skin of cats, dogs, humans, and other animals. They suck blood and can transmit infections, including Lyme disease, which is rare in the UK, but on the increase. Lyme disease can be serious and even fatal. A red rash of tiny circles is followed by flu-like symptoms. Treatment is with antibiotics. Cover limbs on country walks, and check children's skin and clothing. To remove a tick, grip it with tweezers at the base and twist as you pull. It's important to remove the mouthparts - the old remedy of burning a tick with a lighted cigarette is not recommended. Treat the bite with tea-tree cream or antibiotic cream.
Wasps & Hornets
Wasps and hornets can give a powerful sting and should be treated with wariness, as their behaviour is unpredictable. Remove as for bees. Alternatively, swat or spray individuals, and remove them carefully once dead. Hornets are rare and their presence probably indicates a nearby nest. Wasp and hornet nests should be destroyed by professionals - don't attempt this yourself. On picnics keep fruit and sweet drinks covered. A glass with a little beer or honeyed water makes an effective wasp trap.
Woodworm
Recognize an attack of woodworm by a peppering of tiny holes on the surface of wood - only if there is dust around them are there live woodworm inside. Check secondhand furniture before you buy. Treat a small outbreak with dedicated insecticide. Burn an item you're discarding. Call in professionals if the timbers of the house are infected.
