Moths Are On The Increase

Moths Are On The Increase

Infestations of the common clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella have risen sharply in the past six months. That we have more clothes now & these are not laundered as often or as thouroughly as they were in the past, the decline in the use of mothballs & rise in room temperature due to central heating & even global warming have been blamed for the increase. The larvae can live for upto 2 years.

Read More at The Independent

For all you clothes moth pest problem visit our web store, www.capy.co.uk

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Clothes Moths!

Now's the time of year where we normally take fall clothes out of storage...only to find that our sweaters now sport a constellation of small holes. Moths love nothing more than to chomp on cashmere, winnowing a collection of cardigans down to a small handful.
Moths seem to be a hit-or-miss issue with most people. Some toss their woolens aside for a season without any special consideration for storage and never have an issue. Others painstakingly dry clean and pack away their cold weather clothing and find the tell-tale holes. Can you guess what camp we're in?
Which leads to the question: Are we using moth balls? No. They might keep moths away, but the smell also has a repellent effect on the world around us. But we have tried the go-to natural repellent (cedar) products and came up...well, still hole-y.

Capybara recommends the exceptionally strong, odourless, clothes moth pads!

http://www.capy.co.uk/Clothes_Moth_Pads_10/p747937_3656100.aspx

The attractant in these glue pads is pheromone based, using the same slow release matrix technology as the crawling insect glue pad, no need for fiddly attractant tablets.

An excellent clothes moth pad! The best we can find and the best value for money. Easy to use, simply peel back and place in room.

Perfect product to place in wardrobes to protect clothing.

Will catch for up to 3 months!
Simply the best clothes moth pad on the market!

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How bedbug insecticides are 'more dangerous than the bloodsucking themselves'

Bedbugs don't make you sick, but the poisons used to kill them can.

Dozens of Americans have fallen ill from the insecticides, and a North Carolina woman died after using 18 cans of chemical fogger to attack the tiny blood suckers, a government report revealed.

Because many of the cases, including the lone death, were do-it-yourselfers who misused the chemicals or applied the wrong product, federal health officials are warning consumers to be careful and urging them to call professionals.

FILE - In this Wednesday, March 30, 2011 file photo, a bed bug is displayed at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington. A government study counted one death and 80 illnesses linked to bedbug-targeting insecticides used from 2008 through 2010. Many were do-it-yourselfers who misused the chemicals or used the wrong product. Most of the cases were in New York City, the apparent epicenter of a recent U.S. bedbug comeback. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counted 80 illnesses and one death linked to the insecticides over three years.

Most of the cases were in New York City, the apparent epicenter of a recent U.S. bedbug comeback.

The CDC was able to get data from 12 states, and only seven had reports of such illnesses.

One was New York, where bedbugs have become a highly publicized problem and where health officials have also been extra vigilant about reporting unusual chemical poisonings.

Investigators were relieved to find a relatively small number of cases.

'At this point, it's not a major public health problem,' said Dr. Geoff Calvert, a CDC investigator who co-authored the study.

Bedbugs are wingless, reddish-brown insects that bite people and animals to draw blood for their meals.

Though their bites can cause itching and welts, they are not known to spread disease.

'There's nothing inherently dangerous about bedbugs,' said Dr. Susi Vassallo, an emergency medicine doctor who works at New York City's Bellevue Hospital Center and occasionally treats patients who report bedbug problems.

Danger: Incorrect use of insecticides have killed one person and made 80 sick in the past three years

But the insects are a major hassle. In recent national surveys of exterminators, bedbugs were named the toughest pest to get rid of.

They can hide for months, only come out at night and can be hard to spot with the human eye.

They are also creepy, provoking intense fear in the minds of many people unnerved by the threat that an almost invisible insect could emerge at night to drink their blood.

'Sometimes people get hysterical,' said Theresa Braine, a New York City journalist who lived with bedbugs in her apartment for a year and now writes a weekly Internet column about the pests.

The CDC study was the first to look at the dangers of bedbug insecticides.

Researchers reviewed reports from California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Texas and Washington.

They counted 111 cases from 2003 through 2010.

Most occurred in the last few years, when bedbug reports rose across the country. More than half were in New York City.

People suffered headaches, dizziness, breathing problems and nausea and vomiting.
More than 80 per cent of the illnesses were considered mild.

The one death was a 65-year-old woman from Rocky Mount, North Carolina, who had a history of heart trouble and other ailments.

In 2010, she and her husband used nine cans of insecticide fogger one day, then the same amount two days later, without opening doors and windows to air out their home afterward.

She also covered her body and hair with another bedbug product, and covered her hair with a plastic shower cap.

Two other illnesses were carpet cleaners who had not been told the apartment had recently been treated with pesticides.

Two more were emergency medical technicians who responded to a scene and were exposed to a white powder believed to be a pesticide.

CDC officials said they could not be absolutely certain that the insecticides caused every problem.

For example, there was no record of an autopsy on the North Carolina woman.

It's possible that some of the illnesses were coincidental to the insecticide exposure.

But it's also likely these kinds of illnesses are under-reported, Calvert said.

About 90 per cent of the cases were linked to pyrethroids or pyrethrins, insecticides commonly used against bedbugs.

Such products are not a health risk to most people but should still be applied by a trained exterminator, said Vassallo, who is also a toxicologist and a clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center.

But in some cases, an improper and more dangerous product was used.

That happened in 2010 in Ohio, where an uncertified exterminator used malathion to rid an apartment of bedbugs, even though the chemical is never supposed to be used indoors. A couple and their six-year-old child got sick.

'It would be helpful if the labels were easier to read, understand, and better conveyed the message that the insecticide can be toxic'

CDC officials suggested people trying to rid their homes of bedbugs should first thoroughly vacuum all floors and furniture and wash linens.

If it doesn't work, call an exterminator to apply the chemicals, and then carefully follow their directions about re-entering the room and airing it out, they said.

Exterminators can be expensive. Braine said it cost her more than $1,000 for one treatment of her small Brooklyn apartment, which was only briefly successful.

She has since moved to another place.

For products that are sold to the public, labelling could be a little better.

'We think it would be helpful if they were easier to read, understand, and better conveyed the message that the insecticide can be toxic and should be used with great care,' Calvert said.

A spokeswoman for the National Pest Management Association, a trade group, said the industry is continually looking at improving its labeling. But some people just don't read labels.

For example, foggers are not recommended for bedbugs, she noted. And it appears some people use much more than is recommended.

'We live in a society where people believe that if a little bit is good, more is better,' said the spokeswoman, Missy Henriksen. But sometimes more is dangerous, she added.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2040786/Bedbug-insecticides-dangerous-bedbugs-says-new-report.html#ixzz1YrWccflQ

Capybara says: If you are going to perform the DIY treatment yourself, please use a reputable company and seek professional advice, before purchasing the goods. They are certain products that do certain jobs, Capybara customer service will explain and help you choose which products are best and also the quantities required. For example, aerosols are pointless against bed bugs are they leave no residual insecticide down. Bed bugs are clever, so please, if you decide to combat the problem yourself, contact us on help@capy.co.uk or 01905 35 45 49.

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Flies close operating theatre!

Published: 27/06/2011 14:35 - Updated: 27/06/2011 15:05

Infestation of flies forces closure of Belford theatre

Belford Hospital

THE operating theatre at the Belford Hospital in Fort William has been closed temporarily following an infestation of flies in the adjoining rooms, NHS Highland announced today.
Pest control experts have been called in and, due to the chemicals being used in the area, it has been agreed that the safest thing to do is close the theatres until the issue has been resolved.
The pest control work is expected to last for at least one week.
An NHS Highland spokeswoman said the source of the infestation has not yet been identified but is being "investigated thoroughly".
Patients requiring minor surgery under local anaesthetic can still be treated in Fort William but arrangements have been made to treat patients requiring more major surgery and those in need of observation before their procedure in another hospital within Highland, either Raigmore Hospital in Inverness or the Lorn and Islands Hospital in Oban.
Gill McVicar, general manager for the Mid Highland Community Health Partnership, was keen to stress the move is a temporary measure and that normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.
She said: “Following a report by pest control and following advice from our clinical experts, it has been agreed that temporary closure of the facility to allow action to be taken is in the best interests of everyone involved.
“The work being done by pest control will take at least a week and, while we always try to keep any disruption to our patients at a minimum, it is necessary that we have these temporary measures in place.
"The situation is being closely monitored."
Mrs McVicar added: "Patient safety is of the utmost priority to us and while it is certainly not ideal to have patients having their operations elsewhere it is the safest decision given the circumstances, we would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Fly pest control, DIY pest control, electronic fly killers, fly bombs

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Rubbish attracts rats in Gloucester....

Rat fear as the waste piles up alongside residents' bin

Friday, June 24, 2011

Gloucestershire Echo

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RESIDENTS of a block of flats fear having a rat infestation after struggling to cope with just one shared metal bin.
Elmfield Flats, on Overton Road, Cheltenham, has just one large, metal wheelie bin to cater for waste produced by residents of 16 flats and one house.

1. ​
   CONCERNED: Chris Bon (second from right) and other residents of Elmfield Flats by the piles of rubbish

Fed-up occupants of the sheltered accommodation say the bin could just about cope with weekly collections before Cheltenham Borough Council introduced its new waste scheme in April. But since the changeover to a fortnightly collection, the last three months has seen bags of rubbish pile up for days on end.
Chris Bon, 58, who moved into one of the flats just over a year ago, says that despite repeated requests for help from Bromford Housing Association and the borough council, nothing has been done.
"It looks a disgrace," he said. "The bin is full already and we aren't due to be emptied again until next week.
"It's an embarrassment. It looks filthy and we aren't happy at all. If we get some warm weather the smell will be atrocious. We do as much recycling as we can, but it's still a problem as there are 17 households."
Mr Bon added that a pest controller was recently sent out by Bromford to lay rat traps in the area surrounding the flats.
"The bait has been taken from the traps," he said.
Helen Kidd, 70, has lived in her flat for the last two years.
She said: "It has been quite a problem for the last three months – once a fortnight is not frequent enough. The council has been saying it is going to bring another bin, but it has been weeks and weeks.
"There's such a build-up of rubbish it's been a horror. Our neighbours say they are being plagued by foxes and rats because of the rubbish."
Councillor Roger Whyborn, the borough's cabinet member for sustainability, said: "We understand that some residents have concerns about waste storage and an extra bin is on its way, which will hopefully help."
A Bromford spokesman said: "We have been waiting for the extra rubbish and recycling bins promised by the council and now understand they are on their way."

Capybara says:

Any rubbish that isn't cleared will attract rats and no doubt flies. Rubbish does need to be cleared from sites so not to cause a public health nuisance. If bins overspil and collects are not frequent enough people can either be more aware when purchasing products at the supermarket or alternatively, they could install a rodent box with poison around the bin area.

Further information about rat pest control click www.capy.co.uk

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Housing boss faces jail over ants in flat block

Benedict Moore-Bridger
1 Jun 2011

 

A housing chief has been threatened with jail after failing to get rid of an ant infestation at a block of flats.

Sue Foster, Lambeth council's director of housing, regeneration and environment, is accused of breaking a court order that demanded the infestation be removed.
A judge ruled in November that the council had to deal with the huge numbers of pharaoh ants in a flat in Camberwell following a complaint.
But after five months, the court demanded to know why Ms Foster had failed to deal with the infestation and issued a further order which states: "You must obey the directions contained in this order. If you do not, you will be guilty of contempt of court and you may be sent to prison."
She is due at Lambeth county court on June 10 to explain what has gone wrong. A Lambeth spokeswoman said they were hoping to complete the work "in the very near future".

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23955412-housing-boss-faces-jail-over-ants-in-flat-block.do

Pest control in Worcester, DIY Pest control, pest control, ant killer, ant pest control

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Hygiene horror cafe owner still owes £12k fines

Julian Makey

Evidence of rat droppings and dirty fittings were shown to magistrates in January

The owner of an equestrian centre where the rat-infested café area was described as one of the worst hygiene inspectors had ever seen, still owes thousands of pounds in fines and costs, a court has heard.
Edward Maguire told magistrates at Huntingdon that an attempt to refinance the New Manor Farm centre Wyton had fallen through and he had been forced to sell up.
Magistrates ordered him to pay the outstanding £12,477 by July 22 in full from the proceeds of the sale.
In January, Maguire, from the centre, was fined £10,500 with £3,262.38 prosecution costs by the magistrates after he admitted seven hygiene offences.
The court heard that rat droppings were strewn across the Gallery Café at the equestrian centre, a rat’s nest was found and there were dead mice under one of the refrigerators.
Magistrates were given a bag of samples to sniff so they could understand the “really quite unpleasant” smell from the building.
Maguire told the latest hearing that income from the centre had dropped by thousands of pounds and that he had no personal income from it last month.
He said he had been unsuccessful in trying to refinance the centre and had now accepted a cash offer for the premises which faced repossession.
The earlier hearing was told that there had been an equestrian event at the centre the day before inspectors visited following a complaint, but that Maguire had been aware of a rodent problem for two months.
Vicki Stevens, who prosecuted for Huntingdonshire District Council, said: “It was one of the worst cases they have seen.
“It was one of the worst cases I have ever prosecuted. The pest control officer said it was the worst he had seen in 20 years of pest control work.”
She said the pest officer had been “amazed” at the amount of rat droppings and had seen two live rats between walls.
Fittings were also dirty.
The court was told at the time that the centre was losing money and that Maguire, who had carried out repairs, was facing possible eviction











http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Huntingdon-St-Ives-St-Neots/Hygiene-horror-caf-owner-still-owes-12k-fines-13062011.htm

Rat treatment, mice treatment, pest control contract, pest control commericial is available from as little as £200 per year with Capybara Pest Control.

It isn't the law to have a pest control contract, but it is your 'duty of care' to make sure no infestation breaks out. If an infestation does break out, your business will suffer by fine, closure and a ruined reputation.

You can save money by performing your own pest control!

Purchase a DIY pest control products at www.capy.co.uk

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