Cockroaches were once thought of as a pest we might encounter while holidaying abroad, but Britain’s changing climate means that these insects are becoming more of a problem here too. In recent years, the need for pest control for cockroaches has increased, and we see many cases where a big problem could have been resolved much earlier – if it had been spotted in time.

With that in mind, we’ve put together this guide to help you tell if you have cockroaches in your home or business premises.

3 Signs of a Cockroach Problem

Cockroaches are nocturnal – so it’s no surprise that many people can live or work alongside these secretive pests for long periods before noticing them. That said, there are several key signs of a cockroach problem – here are the top 3:

Noticing a Smell

If cockroaches build up in large numbers, you might begin to notice an odd, musty smell around the cracks and crevices they live in, or the routes they commonly move along.

Seeing Tell-Tale Signs

A cockroach has a complex lifecycle, which progresses through up-to eight separate stages. At the end of each stage of growth, the cockroach casts off its tough exoskeleton, and this ‘shed skin’ may be spotted.

Other signs of a cockroach problem include oval egg cases, and faeces – small, dark-brown droppings that look a little like coffee grounds.

Seeing a Cockroach Itself

It’s not common to see a live cockroach. These creatures come out after dark and seek shelter if they’re exposed to light. You might just spot one moving back to a nearby crack or crevice, especially if you turn a light on suddenly during the night.

DIY Solutions vs Professional Pest Control

Once you’ve established that you have cockroaches, it’s important to take steps to resolve the problem. That’s because cockroaches are carriers of a variety of bugs – including pathogens like salmonella and E Coli that cause food poisoning.

Unfortunately, cockroaches are famed for their hardiness – and they resist many over-the-counter DIY solutions that are available on the market. There are two main reasons for this – the use of low-grade products, and incorrect application.

It’s very rarely possible to apply an insecticide directly to the cockroaches themselves. Instead, the insecticide must be applied to areas where the cockroaches live, or the routes they regularly move along. It’s vital that this insecticide has a high residual strength, and is applied in the right places, at the correct dose.

Unfortunately, many people fail in their initial attempts to resolve a cockroach problem. Unless you have experience in eliminating cockroaches, and are comfortable handling insecticides and applying these around your home, then calling in a local pest control technician may be a better option.

Barnsley Pest Control – Cockroaches

At Arnie’s Pest Management, we’re experienced in dealing with the widest possible variety of insect pests. We’re used to the challenges presented by entrenched cockroach infestations, and we’ve supported many Yorkshire home and business owners by providing a professional, effective solution. If you’ve identified the signs of a cockroach problem in your property, then get in touch as soon as possible to schedule a pest control call out.

Like many towns and cities across the UK, Barnsley has a growing problem with rats. But what’s causing this spike in the numbers of rats in Barnsley? And which rat control solutions are available for local home and business owners?

Barnsley’s Rat Problem Explained

Rats live on six of the seven continents – and wherever people have gone, rats have soon followed. Problems start when the populations of these rodents build up to unacceptable levels – which leads to regular infestations of domestic and commercial buildings, posing a threat to public health.

In recent years, there have been many local media reports about Barnsley’s rat problems, and this attention reflects the fact that the problem’s a growing one. There are two main factors driving this increase in local rat populations.

Reduced Bin Collections

Like many councils across Britain, Barnsley’s council has made a worthwhile attempt to increase recycling rates, and reduce landfill. The downside of this is a reduction in the collection of non-recyclable rubbish – including food waste.

This type of waste is a natural magnet for mice and rats, and the problem becomes worse if residents are unable to fit all their waste into their wheelie bins. Rodents are easily able to chew through plastic bin liners and access this ready source of food. Not only does this extra food support larger rat populations, but it also attracts them closer to our homes.

Discarded litter is also an issue – and one that could be set to worsen, after the council announced this month that it will be removing nearly 300 of the 1800 litter bins throughout the borough. These problems aren’t unique to our town, and councils up and down the country are struggling to balance the need to recycle more and save money, with the need to protect public health.

Rodenticide Resistance

The use of rodenticides is the commonest form of pest control for rats in Barnsley. Unfortunately, in recent years there have been growing signs of rats becoming resistant to common rodenticides. This is likely to become more severe as time goes by.

All rodents breed prolifically, and have short gestation periods and large litters. Just a year or two is enough for several new generations of rats to be born, and to go on to produce multiple litters of their own. This rapid breeding allows rodent populations to adapt quickly, as natural selection favours the animals with the highest resistance to poisons.

Barnsley Rodent Control

With Barnsley’s rat problem becoming more extreme, it’s vital for individuals to take action at the first sign of an infestation. Professional rat control measures can be broken down into three main forms: rodenticides, trapping and preventative pest control. The appropriate solution depends on the individual circumstances.

Broadly speaking, rodenticides remain effective in most cases, but they’re not always the silver bullet they once were, and they should be deployed by a professional pest control technician to ensure the best results. A professional will also be able to advise you whether alternative measures are needed. Preventative pest control is especially valuable on top of immediate rodent treatments – since it eliminates the risk of a future rat problem, before it occurs.

At Arnie’s Pest Management, we provide fast, effective pest treatments for rats. In addition to solving your rat problem, we can also advise you on the appropriate preventative steps that you can take to make your home or work environment less inviting and accessible to rodents in the future.

Book a call out today to get the professional support you need.

At Arnie’s Pest Management, we provide professional pest control in Barnsley and surrounding areas. Unfortunately, one of the most common things we come across is the situation where a home or business owner hasn’t responded to a pest problem quickly enough, allowing the issue to become entrenched. Many people do this in the belief that they can save money by avoiding the cost of a pest control call out – only to find that the eventual cost is actually higher as a result of waiting.

In this blog post, we look at 4 reasons why it’s best to use a professional pest control service sooner, rather than later.

Pests Multiply Fast

Many pest species produce large numbers of offspring, and can fall pregnant again soon after giving birth. Coupled with their short gestation periods, this creates a situation where two pests can soon become many.

Rodents are a classic example of this, and mice, rats, and other rodent species can multiply fast and potentially spread through whole terraces of houses if left unchecked.

Pests Cause Damage

Some pests live relatively peacefully side-by-side with the homeowners whose properties they occupy. But others can cause significant damage to the contents or even the structure of our buildings.

Moths are notorious for their habit of feeding on stored clothes, and many people have lost treasured items like wedding dresses to these silent vandals. The majority of moths don’t actually feed on fabric, but those that do can target clothes, upholstery, curtains, and even leather.

Pests Spread Diseases

Pests can spread a disturbing range of bugs. Many pest species are highly resilient to the effects of germs, meaning they can act as carriers for disease, without falling ill themselves. Cockroaches are an example of this, and if they come into contact with food or surfaces used for food prep, then they can transmit these germs to us.

Rodents and birds are also known carriers of a range of bugs such as E. coli and salmonella – both of which can cause severe food poisoning.

Pests Don’t Leave!

If a pest has entered your property, then it’s unlikely to leave again without the intervention of a local pest control technician. It’s worth thinking about why the pest entered the building initially – in most cases, pests invade our buildings in search of warmth, shelter, or food. In many cases they quickly find all three of these.

Provided the conditions remain favourable, then the pest is likely to stick around, so taking the view that a pest problem could resolve itself given time is rarely smart – more often than not, the problem becomes more serious, and therefore more expensive to deal with.

Book a Barnsley Pest Control Call Out

If you have a problem with pests, or even suspect that you may have, then contact us to schedule a pest control call out in Barnsley or nearby. When you do so, you can be confident that we’ll come out to you fast and perform the most efficient form of pest control possible, in order to resolve the problem at minimal cost to you.