HAPPENING
NOW!
Pests costing your Business money ?
For your Free Pest Survey Call :
0800 6785029
Click here for more info
Our Call Out Service offers professional, convenient solutions to get rid of your flea problems fast:
For more information on how to keep fleas out of your property please see below.
Fleas are a common problem in homes especially for those with cats or dogs. They are also frequently found when moving into a home that previously had pets.
While fleas can transmit disease, in this country it is very rare. Instead, the primary concern is the distress that flea bites cause to people and pets.
There are many species of flea, but most are 2-3mm long and red or brown in colour.
Adult fleas pierce the skin of mammals or birds to feed on blood. However, flea larvae feed on organic matter in carpets or bedding and so high levels of hygiene can slow the life-cycle.
Flea cocoons can remain dormant for two years or more and are awoken by the vibration of footsteps. It is very common for a flea infestation to remain dormant in an empty home but to awaken when people move in.
Human Fleas have evolved to specialise on different animals, but the human flea that lives on people (and some animals with similar skin) is now uncommon in this country. The exception is around farms where human fleas are found on pigs and these can jump to humans. Human fleas will bite anywhere on the body and are associated with itchiness as fleas crawl over the skin.
Cat fleas will bite humans, but they do not live on the human body. They will bite the hands and body when handling pets or pet bedding, but the most common place for flea bites are the feet and lower legs. There are usually many more fleas living on carpets and pet bedding than on the pets themselves; they will jump up and bite people as they come close.
Flea bites are marked by a tiny dark spot surrounded by a reddened area, but the swelling is less pronounced than with other insect bites. A single flea will often bite two or three times in the same area in search of blood.
The flea bite is usually felt immediately, but it does not particularly hurt. It is the itchiness that results from the body’s reaction that causes discomfort. Please refer to our section on treating insect bites for further advice.
Infants are at higher risk from being bitten by fleas particularly when playing on the floor. They also tend to be more sensitive than adults to flea bites.
After several flea bites, some people develop an allergic sensitivity to the being bitten leading to an itchy rash or eczema. Consult a pharmacist for advice and treatment.
While fleas cause humans distress, pets are often much more affected by flea bites.
Even with the best care, it is difficult to protect fully against the risk of your dog or cat catching fleas.
When your pet has fleas, it is likely that it will scratch more often or try to bite the fleas in its fur. A flea comb and frequent grooming may be sufficient to prevent fleas establishing themselves, but your vet or pet shop will offer treatments to protect your pet from fleas.
Consult your vet if there are signs of irritation such as reddening of the skin or if there are thin patches in the coat of your pet.
If you have pets, it is essential to prevent fleas becoming established in carpets and bedding:
A range of DIY insect products is available for amateur use from Whelan Pest Prevention to help get rid of fleas quickly and efficiently. The range includes sprays and powders, which can be used in the house.
Try the Insect Killer Spray, which offers lasting protection against fleas and other household crawling insects. As with all pest control products, please read the instructions carefully before use.
Pest control products from Whelan Pest Prevention are available to buy from all leading supermarkets, DIY stores, garden centres and hardware stores.
Whilst DIY pest control products can be very effective in getting rid of fleas, more established flea infestations may require professional treatment.
Whelan Pest Prevention offers a call-out service to treat fleas and other pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.
If you would like further advice or to arrange a range a visit from one of our service technicians to deal with a problem with fleas, call us free on 08456 80 80 98.
Sharing your home with any one of the thousands of insect species found in this country is never fun. Not only can the spread of diseases be attributed to some ‘Creepy Crawlies’ and ‘Casual Intruders’ but they can also damage your home and possessions, not to mention the real distress they can cause to the many Herpetophobics – a fear of Creepy Crawlies! – in this country.
There are thousands of different species of ‘Creepy Crawlies’ or ‘Casual Intruder’ but a few of the more common ones are:
Carpet Beetle – This species comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colour but generally they resemble a ladybird in shape with their colour ranging from black to brown and even white and yellow. Adults generally 2-3mm long.
Adults are not a pest in your home as they tend to live outside and eat nectar and pollen. However, towards late summer they are extremely likely to enter your home and lay up to 40 eggs at a time in any natural fibres, such as curtains and carpets, in your home.
The eggs hatch as larvae within 2 to 3 weeks and it is these larvae – sometimes called Woolly Bears – that do so much damage, because their diet consists of any natural fibre such as carpets, soft furnishings and clothes.
Silverfish – Adults are 10-12mm long, silver grey in colour and torpedo shaped with three bristles on the end of the Abdomen. Silverfish need moist, warm conditions and are often found in bathrooms and kitchens. They feed on food debris and, although prefer a starchy diet, have evolved to be able to digest cellulose and can cause real damage if allowed to get in to your paintings or book collections.
Earwigs – Adults are 14-23mm long, dark brown in colour and have forceps at the hind end. The forceps, which are curved in the male and straight in the female, are not poisonous and will simply give you a small nip. The female lays about 40 eggs a year and then rears the young herself, which is unusual in the insect world. Earwigs feed on green vegetation and other plants, so are more of a nuisance in the garden than in the home.
Sealing entry points can help casual intruders from entering the home. Key risks are gaps under doors or around pipes to the exterior, or neighbouring properties.
Also seal gaps where these insects can harbour. Many of these insects, such as Earwigs and Carpet Beetles, are nocturnal and hide during the day in cracks and crevices in the walls, around skirting boards or behind electrical sockets.
Regularly hoover carpets and rugs to eradicate any eggs that Carpet Beetles may have laid and use insecticidal carpet shampoos at regular intervals.
Silverfish require a moist but warm atmosphere to live in so ensure that rooms are dry and well ventilated.
The most common reason any insect enters your home is in it’s search for food and water, so ensure there is none available by taking the following measures:
If untreated, some casual intruders will quickly establish themselves in high numbers and will spread to adjoining properties.
In the case of an infestation of Carpet Beetle we would recommend thorough vacuuming of all carpets and shampooing with an insecticidal carpet cleaner. Any clothes, curtains or soft furnishings showing signs of infestation or damage from the larvae of the Carpet Beetle should be dry cleaned.
A wide range of DIY pest control products are available on the market that can be used effectively to get rid of household insects. The range of products include sprays and powders, which can be used indoors and outdoors. Please follow the instructions to ensure safe and effective use.
Pest control products from Whelan Pest Prevention are available to buy from all leading supermarkets, DIY stores, garden centres and hardware stores.
However, it may be difficult for you to reach all the corners, cracks and crevices that some of these insects will use to hide, especially with amateur products. An established pest problem will often require professional pest control to ensure that it will not reoccur.
Most Creepy Crawlies or Casual Intruders are more of a pest in the garden than in the home. However, this is not always the case and some of these pests will prove extremely difficult to control. While DIY products can deal with the immediate problem, treatment by a qualified pest control technician is often necessary to deal with some Creepy Crawlies over the long-term.
Whelan Pest Prevention technicians have a range of powerful insecticides to deal with Creepy Crawlies and Casual Intruders.
We also minimise the risk of insecticides in the home with proprietary products such as non-toxic RID (Whelan Pest Prevention Insecticide Dust).
Whelan Pest Prevention offers a call-out service to deal with pest problems in the home. Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.
If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a Whelan Pest Prevention technician, call us free on 08456 80 80 98.
At Whelan Environmental we believe that good environmental standards are essential for all businesses. Our aim is to protect people and premises from the harmful influences of badly maintained environmental areas, by presenting them with a choice of high-quality services and to ensure that our customers reap the greater benefits of partnership with Whelan Group.