Spring weather has finally arrived, but sadly, the sunshine brings some unwanted guests.
You will be plagued by wasps, ants, fruit flies, etc. House When the temperature rises.
But there's no need to worry. Natalie Bungay from the British Pest Control Association tells us how to get rid of pests. spring Drive pests out of your home.
Natalie says: “Prevention is always the best approach, and there are many things you can do to protect your home.”
She teaches Nikki Watkins how to keep the bugs at bay and we share some top self-help tips.
- A list of specialist pest control companies can be found at bpca.org.uk/find.
Read more about pest control
wasp
Natalie says: “Queens emerge in the spring and begin building new nests, and you don't want your home to become a stronghold for wasps.
“Make sure the bin lid is tightly closed, as an open bin will attract them.
“Check sheds, outbuildings and attics for wasp nests. nest The more you get, the more problems you will have.
“Never try to handle the nest yourself, even if it’s the size of a nest. golf Keep the ball safe, as wasp stings can be dangerous. Be sure to consult a professional. ”
budget bug buster: Speaking of wasp extermination, peppermint oil£1.40, Asda is your friend because wasps don't like the smell of mint.
Soak an old cloth or cotton ball in it and place it in areas where the wasps are likely to enter your home. This will prevent them from building nests.
Ali
Natalie says: “Ants are often found in homes during the warmer months as they look for sweet food to feed their larvae and nymphs.” queen.
“Cleaning behind large appliances in the kitchen and wiping down all the insides of cupboards will prevent ants from picking up food particles.
“To get rid of them, you need to find the entrance to their nest. Look for a small pile earthOr you can track ants to see where they take their food.
“You can get rid of them by pouring a kettle of boiling water over the nest area, but prevention is more effective.”
budget bug buster: You may have an ant repellent in the form of black pepper sitting in your kitchen cupboard.
Ants don't like this (or cayenne pepper) at all, so sprinkle it around problem areas or mix it with water and spray it.
It won't kill them, but it can prevent them from coming back.
silver fish
Natalie says: “Silverfish are not fish but carrot-shaped insects with a body length of about 12mm.
“They are nocturnal and feed on starchy substances like wallpaper paste and food scraps.
“So please make sure there is no food spilled in the cupboard.”
budget bug buster: Paper is one of the staple foods of silverfish. Before going to bed, take an old newspaper, roll it lengthwise, secure it with a rubber band, and soak it in water until it's damp but not mushy.
Leave some of these “traps” around your house in areas where you have seen silverfish.
Insects are attracted to the trap and must take shelter in it overnight.
In the morning, throw away the newspaper and repeat the process until you run out.
fruit fly
Natalie says: “These pests are attracted to ripe fruits and vegetables. To prevent fruit flies from entering your home, close garbage cans, clean up sugar spills, remove rotting fruit from trees in your garden, and Avoid leaving food outside.
“Installing insect screens such as Flyzzz Fly Screen Insect Mesh Window Net (Amazon, £6.99) on your windows and doors can also prevent flying insects from entering your home.”
budget bug buster:If there is a drop of red wine Pour what's left at the bottom of last night's bottle into an empty container with a little detergent added.
Stir and cover the container with plastic wrap. movie Then make a small hole there.
The odor attracts fruit flies to the container. They enter through the holes in the adhesive film, but are difficult to get out again.
moth
Natalie says: “Moth larvae are attracted to sweat and food stains, so be sure to wash all items made of natural fibers before putting away your winter clothes.
“If you have clothing that has been damaged by moths, store it in a plastic bag in a -18°C freezer for at least two weeks to kill the eggs.”
budget bug buster: Place dried rosemary, thyme, cloves, lavender or bay leaves in a small cloth bag (a clean sock will do) and hang it in your wardrobe as moths don't like the smell.
Alternatively, Trichogramma parasitic wasp, which can be purchased from sites such as dragonfli.co.uk (£14.99), will kill moth eggs on clothing.
These wasps are small parasites that attack moth eggs, are harmless to humans, and only exist as long as the moth eggs are present.
slug
Natalie says: “Right now is peak slug season, and these slimy pests can find their way into your home, usually in damp areas like hallways. If your home is damp, try to prevent slugs from entering. Please do the following.
“It also helps to remove vegetation and debris near the affected area.”
budget bug buster: Slugs love Weetabix, so crush up some cheap own-brand Weetabix-type cereal, such as Aldi's Wheatbisque (£1.99), and check where you've seen slugs coming in from outside and where they're coming from. Place it between the areas you want to block. For example, backdoor steps.
Slugs love this cereal, so it will distract them and deter them from entering your home.
You can also try scattering crushed eggshells or nut shells around your plants.
The shell acts like a shard of glass, keeping slugs away.
bed bugs
Natalie says: “Bed bugs are nearly impossible to prevent, but the sooner you act once you spot them, the less severe the infestation will be.
“Regularly check the edges of your mattress and headboard for signs of bed bugs.
“If you find evidence, wash everything at at least 60 degrees Celsius, tumble dry on a high temperature setting for at least 30 minutes, dry clean everything, or bag it and put it in the freezer for at least three days.”
Budget bug busters: Poundland sells a 1-pound product that may help get rid of bed bugs in the form of tea tree oil. This not only kills bed bugs, but also masks the human odor that attracts bed bugs.
Dilute 20 drops of the oil in 200ml of water and spray on the affected area.
MICE
Natalie says: “Rats can enter your home through a gap as small as 6 mm, so if you have a rodent infestation, look for entry points and seal them with wire mesh and quick-setting cement.
“To prevent rodent infestation, food should only be stored in airtight containers.
“If you find evidence of a rat infestation, you can set up a humane trap at right angles to the wall so you can activate the lever from either direction.
“However, keep traps out of reach of children and pets.”
budget bug buster: People on internet forums are finding plug-in air fresheners to be effective in preventing mice.
Mice dislike the smell of cinnamon and peppermint, so they may be turned off by these scents.