Case Studies...
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A Who's Who of Kids' Pest Problems
Pests make few concessions for age, but there are some which if not exclusively a kid’s problem, are at least largely so. Here’s our who’s who of the worst offenders....
A Who's Who of Pet Pest Problems
Knowing what you are up against is the key to making sure that your pet isn’t too bothered by unwanted guests....
Ant Invasion: Dealing With Ants
Introducing the black ant, the most common ant pest in the UK; brief description of its habits, the reason for house invasion and various means to deal with it....
Are Pesticides Harmful to Pets?
A simple guide to keeping pets safe around pesticides, including simple precautions and selected examples of some of the specific risks posed by certain chemicals to particular animals...
Are Pesticides Safe to Use in the Home?
Guidelines for the safe handling, storage, use and disposal of pesticides in the home and garden, suggesting a few common sense precautions aimed at non-professional users....
Avoiding Botrytis: Fungal Infection
Botrytis is a common fungus affecting a wide range of plants; difficult to treat once established, a few simple precautions can help you avoid the problem in the first place....
Avoiding Pest Problems
Many pest problems are far easier to avoid than to treat once they’ve become well and truly established, so here are a few simple tips to give you the edge....
Avoiding the Dangers of Pesticides
Suggestions on avoiding pesticide dangers by the use of natural, non-chemical controls, the safe handling of pesticides when necessary and eating organic or home-grown food....
Badger Bother: A Case Study
How one family learnt to manage their visiting badgers, and turn a once bothersome problem into a welcome window on local wildlife....
Badgers as a Pest
The foraging activities of badgers, one of Britain’s best-loved wild animals, can cause some serious damage in the garden; how to avoid the problem without harming this legally protected species....
Bats in Britain
A basic guide to the legal status and protection of British bats, why they enter houses and how to stay on the right side of the law as a householder....
Bed Bugs and How to Deal With Them
A brief introduction to bed bugs, their life cycle, history and tell-tale signs of infestation described; their modern resurgence, together with suggestions for treatment regimes and prevention are di...
Bed Bugs: A Case Study
When the Frazers bought an antique chaise-longue, a colony of bed bugs came too; fortunately a professional pest control company sorted out their problem in a discrete and effective way....
Bees and Wasps
Wasps and bees, including their similarities and differences, their benefits, how they may become a pest and the measures available to control them....
Beetles and Cockroaches
Introducing cockroaches and a few of the common beetle pests of house and garden, their life-cycles and some of the means to control them....
Beware the Blood-suckers!
It is undeniably horrible to know that something is just waiting to suck your blood; here’s our guide to some of the most blood-thirsty small creatures around....
Biological Control: Frequently Asked Questions
Biological control isn’t for everyone, or for every pest, but it can provide the gardener with a very valuable and effective alternative to the wholesale use of pesticides....
Biotech Pest Control
Over recent decades, biotechnology has developed an increasing role in pest control, ranging from simple, low-tech approaches to much more complex ways of keeping nuisance species in check....
Can Pest Control be Natural?
A discussion of some of the natural pest repellents, biological controls and similar non-chemical methods available to deal with a variety of common pest problems....
Can You Spot the Signs of Pests?
If your plants are being munched or your food gnawed, do you instantly know who’s to blame? Try our quiz to see if you can spot the signs of pests....
Common Fruit Tree Pests
Fruit tree pests can pose a serious challenge to gardeners; recognising the tale-tale signs of infestation early and taking appropriate action swiftly are key to keeping them under control....
Common Home for Pests: Nooks and Crannies
How an awareness of the use made by many common pests of nooks and crannies in and around our homes can help in their prevention and control....
Common Leaf Pests
The queue of creatures looking for a free feed can sometimes seem endless but most common leaf pests can be controlled, if you know what to look for....
Common Questions About Weed Killers
Weed killers are a familiar part of gardening, but they can sometimes seem a bit confusing; here’s our attempt to answer a few of the most common questions....
Common Questions on Pets and Pests
Keeping pets free from pests can be a headache for owners; here are some answers to a few of the most commonly asked questions about dealing with the problem....
Common Soft Fruit Pests
Soft fruits make an attractive meal for a whole host of insects and other pests; vigilance and prompt treatment should help ensure they don’t become too much of a problem....
Controlling and Preventing Damp
How damp arises, three main causes, their symptoms, some of the simple remedies which often apply and suggestions for when the problem is not a DIY job....
Controlling Common Weeds
Common annual and perennial garden weeds, the differences between them, how each kind spreads and the different methods necessary to control them....
Controlling Garden Weeds Without Chemicals
Weed killers have their place in the gardener’s armoury, but there are ways of controlling weeds without the use of chemicals which can be just as effective....
Controlling Nuisance Birds
Seagulls, starlings and house sparrows - the nuisance they cause, the threat to public health and the simple preventative measures available to help the householder to minimise the problem....
Dealing With a Mice Infestation: A Case Study
Traps and poison will help control mice, but you’ll also need to stop them getting in and ensure they can’t breed undisturbed – and getting a cat can’t hurt!...
Dealing With Plant Viruses
Many viruses affect garden plants, and once they have become established, there is no cure; controlling them relies on hygiene, prevention and the ruthless destruction of infected material....
Developing an 'Eco-Friendly' Pesticide: A Case Study
How British scientists are starting to use some of a pest insect’s own natural chemicals against itself, to produce a new kind of eco-friendly and low cost pesticide....
Different Pesticides and Their Uses
An introduction to the importance of different pesticides and their uses, covering selection factors, application methods, modes of action and their efficacy, with reference to horticulture and the ho...
Do Rabbit Droppings Attract Mice or Rats?
Rats are master scavengers, always on the look-out for a free meal; if you keep rabbits or other pets, you’ll need to stay vigilant and remember some simple precautions....
Earwigs, Cockchafers and Other Occasional Invaders
A simple introduction to lesser known insect pests, including beetles, firebrats and crickets together with some of the appropriate methods to help control them....
Eelworms and How to Tackle Them
A number of plants are susceptible to attack by eelworms – and controlling these persistent pests calls for good management, careful plant selection and the ruthless eradication of infected material....
Effective Pest Control For Moths and Gnats
Moths and gnats are two of the most irritating of common pests; fortunately, despite the irritation they cause, there are a number of effective ways to control them....
Encouraging 'Good' Bugs
Hints and tips on which insects are beneficial, how they can help, the types of pest they eat and what steps the gardener can take to encourage them....
Encouraging the Gardener's Allies
Garden plants are liable to attack from a large number of insect and other pests, but fortunately the gardener has a few allies which can be relied on to help....
FAQ: Garden Pest
As every gardener knows, where there are plants, there are pests; with vigilance and swift action, however, they needn’t spoil your enjoyment of your garden too much....
FAQ: Pesticide Safety
'Better safe than sorry' most definitely applies around pesticides; here’s our selection of top FAQs on the topic to help you avoid some of the potential pitfalls....
FAQ: Wildlife Gardens And Pest Control
Pest control in a wildlife garden was never destined to be easy. How to keep the ‘bad guys’ at bay without killing off the best of Britian’s flora and fauna....
Fascinating Facts About Pests
A collection of facts about three of our least favourite pests - fleas, rats and wasps. You probably won’t like them more, but you might see them in a different light!...
Finding the Right Professional Pest Control
Hints and tips for getting the right professional help for home or business, including general points to consider, professional memberships to look out for and useful questions to ask....
Five Great Gadgets for Pest Control
There’s no shortage of ingenious and effective gadgets available to help you deal with problem pests; here’s a quick guide to five of our favourite gizmos....
Flies: Houseflies and Bluebottles
A quick guide to bluebottles and houseflies, their differences and how to tell them apart, why they enter our homes and some of the measures available to control them....
Getting Rid of Aphids
An introduction to aphids and some of the methods available to eliminate them in the garden, including a variety of natural, chemical-free ways as well as pesticides....
Grey Squirrels
Why Grey Squirrels are considered pests, the damage they can do in homes and gardens and some of the measures available to prevent and control them....
Head, Body and Pubic Lice Explained
Lice and the three forms commonly encountered in humans, their characteristic symptoms, diagnosis and the over-the-counter measures available to deal with them....
Home Repairs: Keeping Pests at Bay
How simple, timely repairs to the structure of your house can prevent it becoming over-run with a variety of pest and problems, including insects, rodents and damp....
Household Pests: Frequently Asked Questions
Our houses can make attractive places to stay for a variety of unwanted guests, but there are ways to make your home far less welcoming to them....
How I Dealt With a Plague of Slugs: A Case Study
Dealing with a plague of slugs is never easy, but with two small children and a dog to consider, Karen Driver needed something other than pellets to do the job....
How to Combat Vine Weevils
How an understanding of the life cycle of the vine weevil and how to identify an adult species as well as the eggs and the larvae will help to prevent them from causing damage in the first place. Ways...
How to Deter Moles from Your Garden
Moles and a selection of the methods available to control them in the garden, including modern and traditional means of deterrence, poisoning and trapping....
How to Tackle Booklice
A guide to the problems of booklice and the practical steps to eradicate them from the house and prevent re-infestation, largely without the use of insecticides....
How Ultrasonic Devices Deter Pests
An introduction to ultrasonic pest control devices, covering their principles of operation, the claims, criticisms and evidence for their effectiveness against a range of pest species...
Invaded by Ants: A Case Study
How one family with a young toddler in the household dealt with a nest of ants that had found a ready supply of food in their kitchen....
Is it Legal to Leave Food For Animals On a Public Path?
When one person’s desire to feed wildlife begins to attract pests, the situation needs careful handling to avoid sparking a major dispute between neighbours....
Is it Time to Call in the Professionals?
Nobody likes to admit to having a serious pest problem - but how do you know when it's time to call for professional help? Our quick questionnaire will help you decide....
Keeping Your Home Hygienic
How and where to concentrate your efforts to ensure that your house is hygienic while still remaining a home; a short, practical guide to avoiding pests and disease....
Keeping Your Pets Pest-Free
Owning a pet is one of life’s great joys, but it needs a little vigilance and a few simple precautions to make sure your pet stay pest-free....
Living With Foxes: A Case Study
If your youngster keeps rabbits, co-existing with foxes can be a challenge. But as one single-mum found out, with a bit of effort, it can be done....
Memories of a Rat Man: Case Study
Becoming a rat man by accident after his time in the army, Bill Percox shares some of the changes he’s seen over 40 years in the job....
Mould and Mildew
An overview of mould and mildew problems in the home, how condensation promotes infestation, the measures to control the problem and the health risks associated with it....
Natural Pest Control You May Have in Your Cupboard
A description of some of the potential pest control products to be commonly found in kitchen cupboards presented for historical reference and general information...
Organic Pest Control in an Overgrown Garden: Case Study
Taking on any neglected garden is hard work, especially if you opt to use only natural methods of pest control; however, as one family’s experience shows, it can pay off....
Organic Pest Control: Frequently Asked Questions
The organic gardener doesn’t have to put up with chewed leaves and damaged flowers; there’s a range of natural methods of pest control to help keep the garden problem-free....
Outdoor Eating Without Pests
Some hints and tips to reduce the annoyance of common insect pests at picnics and barbeques, including a few simple practical measures to keep them from ruining the day....
Pheromones for Pollution-free Pest Control: A Case Study
How a solution inspired by nature is helping Indian farmers protect their crops, slash their pesticide use, cut pollution and protect their local water supplies....
Plant-eating Caterpillars
Although butterflies are a welcome sight in most people’s gardens, some of their caterpillars can be destructive pests; recognising the more common caterpillar pests is the key to controlling them....
Problems With Feral Pigeons
Feral pigeon problems, including the risk to human health and the damage to buildings, with discussions of deterrent devices and the importance of restricting food availability in reducing breeding....
Professional Pest Control: Frequently Asked Questions
A wisely chosen pest control company can take a weight off your mind; how to decide if you need help, who you should call and what to tell the neighbours!...
Protecting Your Garden Against Rabbits and Moles
The differences between these two types of pests, the methods available to protect the garden, including deterrent measures, chemical repellents, modern electronic devices and the importance of preven...
Protecting Your Pets from Foxes
Hints and tips on protecting your pets, including how to discourage foxes from the garden, deterrent devices and suggestions to keep animals safe from foxes and fox-borne diseases....
Questionnaire: Are You Safe Around Pesticides?
In the end, pesticide safety comes down to the user - so the question is, are you safe around them? Try this quick questionnaire to find out....
Questionnaire: Insect Friend or Enemy?
There’s a war raging outside your back-door as helpful bugs battle the pests lurking in your garden, but do you know friend from foe? Find out with our quick quiz....
Questionnaire: Is Natural Pest Control Right for You?
Thinking about turning to natural pest control? Before you finally make up your mind, try our quick questionnaire to help you find out if it’s the right choice for you....
Rats and Mice
Rats and mice, the problems of food spoilage, structural damage and to human health they can cause, together with common control measures including ultrasonic devices, trapping and poisoning....
Recognising the Signs of Underground Pests
Roots, bulbs, tubers and corms offer tempting meals to a number of pests; spotting the signs early and taking appropriate action can help keep them under control....
Signs of Leaf and Stem Pests
There’s no shortage of pests ready to feast on the leaves and stems of our garden plants; recognising the signs of a problem early makes controlling it so much easier....
Signs That Your Plant has a Pest Problem
A what-to-look-for guide to the symptoms of pest infestation, including feeding damage, eggs and larvae and the benefits to knowing the specific pests of particular plants....
Slug Pellets and the Problems
Slug pellets and the risks to children, pets and wildlife, including problems of 'over-dosing' and the potential for accumulated poison, together with brief suggested alternatives for slug control....
Snails and Slugs
A discussion of the various methods available to the gardener to combat slugs and snails, covering chemical and non-chemical approaches, physical barriers and biological controls....
Store Cupboard Pests
Introducing some of the commoner types of pests to infest larders and store cupboards, together with a simple, practical approach to controlling them in the home....
Telling Good Pests From the Bad
A discussion of good and bad pests, examining the importance of personal perception and point of view and some of the factors in making that distinction....
Ten Top Tips for Avoiding Pest Problems
The best way to deal with pests is to avoid problems in the first place; our top 10 tips won’t guarantee you’ll stay entirely pest-free, but they’ll certainly help!...
Ten Warning Signs to Look Out For
Very few pest problems erupt without warning, but you need to know what to look for; here’s our guide to the top 10 signs of impending problems....
The Best Forms of Natural Pest Control
A discussion of common approaches to natural pest control, including physical barriers, natural repellents, companion planting, beneficial insects, pest predators and methods of biological control...
Thrips and Their Allies
Thrips are a pest which can affect almost all kinds of plants; how to recognise the signs of infestation and deal with them promptly to avoid a serious problem....
Treating and Preventing Fleas
The flea and how its extraordinary egg-laying ability make it such a pest, together with suggestions for approaches to control an existing infestation and avoid another....
Types of Moths and Control Methods
A guide to the clothes moth and its kin, the importance of good housekeeping to prevent infestation and the types of measures available for eradication and control....
Types of Textile Pests
A brief guide to recognising some lesser known textile pests, why they infest houses and what measures can be taken to prevent or control them....
Understanding Pesticide Labels
The benefits of understanding the information on pesticide labels, including the statutory information, regulation, approvals, general warnings and guidelines and their relevance to choosing the righ...
Understanding the Different Kinds of Insecticides
All insecticides are not the same; picking the right one for the job calls for a little understanding of the way they work – and a careful read of the label!...
Unexpected Benefits of a Wildlife Pond: Case Study
How a 9-year old’s efforts to save some tadpoles led to some unexpected and welcome free help with pest control for her keen gardener mum....
Urban Foxes: How to Minimise Their Visits
Why red foxes enter gardens and some suggested measures to minimise the nuisance caused while allowing their antics to be enjoyed by those householders who welcome their visits....
Useful Methods to Control Mites
Types of mites likely to be encountered in a domestic setting, their individual peculiarities and some of the methods useful in controlling them....
Using Weed Killers Safely
A general guide to choosing and using weed killers safely, to avoid harm to the user, wanted garden plants or the environment while ensuring effective weed control....
Vine Weevils Tamed With Biological Control: A Case Study
How one couple discovered all about the damage that vine weevils can cause, and then dealt with this serious pest using one of the latest treatments available - biological control....
Vulnerable Plants in Your Garden
A quick guide to a few of the popular varieties of plants and their susceptibilities to particular pests to help gardeners recognise the warning signs before it’s too late....
What are These White Larvae on My Fruit Trees?
The soil-living larvae of vine weevils can cause untold damage if left to their own devices; vigilance and appropriate treatment can save the day, but it’s essential to act quickly....
What are Ticks?
Globally, ticks are the second most important vector of disease and although they pose less risk in Britain, avoiding their unwelcome attentions remains a wise thing to do....
What Do You Know About Pets and Pests?
A quick quiz to help you find out how well you know the common pests that are most likely to bother your pets....
What to Expect from Professional Pest Control?
A discussion of the general aspects of professional pest control, the importance of good business practice, safety, communication and discretion in achieving a satisfactory outcome....
What's Eating You?
When pests start taking bites out of you, your kids, pets or plants, do you know what’s doing it? Try our quick quiz to find out....
When does a Pest Become a Problem?
A discussion of some of the ways we know when a pest poses a problem and the underlying ideas that let us make this judgement for ourselves....
When to Call In Professional Pest Control
Selected deciding factors in calling professional help, including issues of legality, severity and experience, together with some of the limits of DIY pest control and the benefit of training....
Woodlice and Silverfish
The similarities and differences between these two creatures, their reasons for entering our homes, the nuisance each poses and some of the measures available to control them....