Ref. TPC-N00
Pest control advice
Case notes · Practical advice
Plain answers to the questions we're asked most: how to tell what you've got, what to do straight away and what to avoid. If you'd rather talk it through, call us.
01 Index
Pest advice articles
- N.01
Signs of rats in your loft, and what to do next
Scratching or scurrying overhead at night, dark droppings about 1–2 cm long, gnawed cables or insulation and a stale smell are the usual signs of rats in a loft. Act quickly: rats breed fast and gnawed wiring is a fire risk.Filed under Rats · 4 min read - N.02
Mice or rats? How to tell which you have
Droppings are the quickest clue: mouse droppings are rice-grain sized (3–6 mm), rat droppings are 1–2 cm. Mice are smaller, quieter and tend to stay indoors near food. Rats are heavier, louder and often come in from drains or gardens.Filed under Mice · 3 min read - N.03
How to check for bed bugs
Check mattress seams, the bed frame and headboard for small dark spots, tiny blood marks on sheets, pale shed skins and the bugs themselves (adults are about 5 mm, the size of an apple seed). Bites in lines or clusters after sleeping are a common first clue.Filed under Bed bugs · 4 min read - N.04
Found a wasp nest? What to do (and what not to)
A steady stream of wasps flying in and out of one spot, such as a gap in the eaves, an air brick or a hole in the ground, usually means a nest. Keep people and pets away, don't block the entrance or try to knock it down, and get it treated if it's near doors, windows or play areas.Filed under Wasps · 3 min read - N.05
Ants in the kitchen: why they come in and how to stop them
Ants in a kitchen are usually black garden ants following a scent trail from a nest outside to a food source inside. Clean the trail, store food sealed and find the entry point. Small, pale ants in a heated building may be pharaoh ants, which need professional treatment.Filed under Ants · 3 min read - N.06
Cockroaches: the signs, the risks and what to do
Cockroaches hide during the day and come out at night, so the first signs are often droppings like ground pepper, brown egg cases, shed skins and a musty smell around kitchens, boilers and appliances. Seeing one in daylight can mean a larger infestation.Filed under Cockroaches · 3 min read - N.07
Renting with pests: who deals with it, landlord or tenant?
It depends on the cause and the tenancy agreement. Pests caused by disrepair, such as rats getting in through broken drains or gaps in the structure, are generally the landlord's responsibility. Pests that arrive because of how the home is used may fall to the tenant. Report problems early and in writing.Filed under Rats · 4 min read
02 Pest calendar
What to watch for, month by month
The pest year in Essex
Most calls follow the seasons: rodents come indoors in autumn, wasp nests are at their biggest in late summer and flying ants appear on warm, humid days. The highlighted column is this month.
| Pest | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rats | January: Peak | February: Peak | March: Moderate | April: Low | May: Low | June: Low | July: Low | August: Low | September: Moderate | October: Peak | November: Peak | December: Peak |
| Mice | January: Peak | February: Peak | March: Moderate | April: Low | May: Low | June: Low | July: Low | August: Low | September: Moderate | October: Peak | November: Peak | December: Peak |
| Bed bugs | January: Moderate | February: Moderate | March: Moderate | April: Moderate | May: Moderate | June: Peak | July: Peak | August: Peak | September: Peak | October: Moderate | November: Moderate | December: Moderate |
| Wasps | January: Inactive | February: Inactive | March: Inactive | April: Low | May: Low | June: Moderate | July: Peak | August: Peak | September: Peak | October: Low | November: Inactive | December: Inactive |
| Cockroaches | January: Moderate | February: Moderate | March: Moderate | April: Moderate | May: Moderate | June: Peak | July: Peak | August: Peak | September: Moderate | October: Moderate | November: Moderate | December: Moderate |
| Ants | January: Inactive | February: Inactive | March: Low | April: Moderate | May: Peak | June: Peak | July: Peak | August: Peak | September: Moderate | October: Low | November: Inactive | December: Inactive |