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Bees
- There are many species of bee in the UK. Not all species are producers of honey. Some species live in colonies whilst others do not, and not all bee species can sting.
The White -Tailed Bee
- Bees will only rarely be considered a pest. However, they can swarm in areas where they can come into close contact with man, such as in chimneys, or wall/floor cavities.
Control of Bees
- Control may be required in such circumstances where they are in close contact to humans. Your local council should have a list of registered beekeepers, from whom advice should be sought.
- After the removal of the bees, the nest should be removed to prevent bees from other hives invading the empty nest.
- Access to the nest should be blocked if possible.
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Booklice
- Booklice are small, fast moving light-brown insects. The do not have any wings, and appear up to 1mm in length. They are not related to the Headlice.
Booklouse
- They are believed to feed upon microscopic moulds in any part of abuilding where there may be some dampness.
- They can be found on damp foods, plaster, leather, wood or even the glue bindings of a book.
Control of Booklice
- They can be controlled by removing the damp conditions in which they are found.
- See our recommended Amateur use products for Crawling Insects in the ONLINE SHOP.
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Carpet Beetles
- The larvae (also known as ‘wooly bears’) of the Carpet beetle are known to cause damage to natural fibres, such as wool, found in many textiles.
- The larvae are small (up to 4mm long), and covered in long brown hairs.
- The adult Carpet beetle is 2-4mm long.
 
Carpet Beetle Larvae The adult Carpet Beetle
- There are 3 species: the Variegated Carpet beetle looks like a small ladybird, is grey/cream coloured and has mottled brown markings on the wing cases. The related Fur Carpet beetle has a black spot on each wing and a third rare Black Carpet beetle can be found.
- The adult beetle actually feeds on pollen in the garden, but will enter premises to lay their eggs in fabric or even ‘fluff’.
- The larvae which hatch are then responsible for the damage caused to textiles.
Control of Carpet Beetles
- They can be controlled using a general purpose insecticide or dust.
- See our recommended Amateur use products for Crawling Insects in the ONLINE SHOP.
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Clothes Moths
- There are several species of Clothes Moths in the UK.
- They are all characterised by folding their wings over their bodies in a ‘tent-like’ fashion.
- The Common Clothes Moth is 6-7mm long and has long pale-golden wings.
The Common Clothes Moth
- The rarer Case Bearing Clothes Moth has 3 dark brown spots on each wing.
- The adults do not cause any damage to the clothes.
- The caterpillars are responsiblle for damaging natural textiles, as they chew their way thrugh many fabrics. The caterpillars, when found, are white and have a golden-brown head.
Control of Clothes Moths
- Control can be achieved via a number of methods. Good housekeeping and the sealed storage of clothes containg natural fibre helps to prevent Clothes Moth activity.
- The use of modern repellents which do not smell of naphthalene can be used in affected areas.
- Clothes Moth Pheromone-based Traps can be placed in drawers and cupboards to catch the adult Clothes Moths in active areas.
- See our recommended Amateur use products for Clothes Moths in the ONLINE SHOP.
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Crickets
- Crickets are closely related to cockroaches. However, they are not associated with the carrying of diseases unlike the Cockroaches.
- The only species associated with entering a building is the House Cricket. This species can live throughout the year inside a building, where it favours warm, dark and humid locations.
- The adult House Cricket reaches up to 16mm in length, has long antennae, long hind legs (similar to a grasshoppers in stance) and is a yellow colour with a dark brown head.
Adult House Crickets
- Unlike the cockroaches, the male House Cricket will use its wings to make a chirping sound which can often be heard a specific times of the night and early morning. It is this which often causes the insect to become a pest. They may also cause damage to dried foodstuffs and vegtables upon which they will feed.
Control of Crickets
- A genral purpose insecticidal spray and dust can be used, in conjunction with a trap, to control the House Crickets.
- See our recommended Amateur use products for Crawling Insects in the ONLINE SHOP.
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Flour Beetles
- Flour beetles are small (3-4mm length), reddish brown beetles that can be found feeding on flour and cereal.
Flour Beetle
- They lay eggs in the food in which they feed, which can than hatch in to small brown larvae.
- They are usually introduced into kitchens via the products themselves.
- They are not known tocarry any diseases.
Control of Flour Beetles
- Control can be achieved by removing the goods in which they have been found, and cleaning and treating the affected area.
- See our recommended products for Crawling Insects in the ONLINE SHOP.
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Headlice
- The Headlice are small (adults reach up to 3mm), pale brown ‘blood-sucking’ insects found near to the scalp or in the hair of human host. They are not related to Booklice.
Adult Headlouse
- The tiny pearl couloured eggs are cemented to the hair (‘nits), which hatch as ‘micr-adults’, after about 8 days. The whole life-cycle of the headloice takes about 18 days.
- Their presence is often indicated by continuous scratching and itching in the scalp, which can lead to secondary infections.
Control of Headlice
- Treatment advice should be sought from your local pharmacist or GP.
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Larder Beetles
- Larder Beetles are fairly large beetles (up to 10mm in length), which are almost entirely black. They lay eggs which hatch in larvae, that grow up to 12mm in lenght. The Larvae are often a pale brown colour, look segmented, have long hairs and legs near the front of the body.
Adult Larder Beetle
- The larvae will feed on dead or decvaying organic matter, such as meat, chees or dead animals.
Control of Larder Beetles
- The control of Larder Beetles can be achieved via a number of methods.
- Deep cleaning the affected area can be undertaken.
- The use of a suitable insectacidal spray and or dust can be used.
- See our recommended products for Crawling Insects in the ONLINE SHOP.
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Silverfish
- Silverfish are silver-grey insects that are wingless. they grwo up to 12mm in length, and have three long bristles on the end of the tail.
Silverfish
- They are often found in damp places such as the kitchen or bathroom.
- They are nocturnal animals and can often get trapped in baths and basins.
- They feed glues, wallpaper and other carbohydrate foodstuffs.
- They are always associated with damp areas.
Control of Silverfish
- They can be controlled by removing the damp conditions in which they are found.
See our recommended products for Crawling Insects in the ONLINE SHOP.
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Weevils
- Weevils are a group of beetles which have long pointed snouts. They are usually only found in the garden. However, there are some species of weevils which use theri snouts to bore into dried goods, such as rice and pasta.
The Rice Weevil
- If they are found in these types of items, they will usually have been introduced via the product itself.
Control of Weevils
The products and their packaging should be returned to the shop they were purchased from, and the affected area should be thoroghly cleaned and treated.
See our recommended products for Crawling Insects in the ONLINE SHOP.
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