Aggressive daytime feeder, Asian tiger mosquito is a unique invasive species that poses a great threat to human and other organism populations. The Asian tiger mosquito started spreading to many countries with transport of goods and international travel. Successful invasion is due to several factors including globalisation (increase of trade of goods and travel), lack of awareness and control, ecological plasticity. The mosquito is already showing signs of adaptation to different climates because of its high plasticity. This may result in an increase of disease transmission to new geographies.

Forest mosquitoes are usually found in subtropical areas and the Asian tiger mosquito originates from tropical forests of South-East Asia. They are characterised by white stripes on the body and leg similar to that of a tiger. The spread of the evolution of this invasive species in Europe is concerning due to reports of climate change and rising temperatures.

Asian tiger mosquito selecting hosts

The Asian tiger mosquito has a broad range of hosts including humans, domesticated animals and birds. Unlike common mosquitos they do not make noise and may take a bite and fly away without being detected.

Females have a blood diet to develop eggs and they also, like the males, feed on sweet plant juice. They like humidity and identify their host by chemicals like carbon dioxide, which naturally occur in human skin.

Protecting yourself from Asian tiger mosquito

• Eliminate stagnant water in your backyard to prevent breeding; mosquito eggs need water to hatch
• Remove any containers holding water from your garden or inside your house; this is a perfect breeding spot for them
• Screen windows and doors to reduce access into your home
• Clean gutter and drains 
• Protect yourself with natural repellents

Author:

Prime Pest Control Team

Asian hornets are non-native species in the UK and believed to have been introduced to the UK from East Asia. As a predator of honey bees, the Asian hornet poses a huge threat to wildlife by hunting pollinating bees which contribute to a well-functioning native ecosystem. The Asian hornet is also known as the yellow-legged wasp that was introduced to Europe in 2014 when they arrived in France, thought to have been unknowingly transported from east Asia in a cargo transport and has since rapidly spread across Western Europe.

Approximately 43 sightings have been reported in the UK since 2016 and this increased to 73 reported sightings in 2023 reported by the Government publications (Gov.uk), as well as 71 sightings and 24 nests have been reported by The National Bee Unit (NBU) in 2024. We can expect the sightings to be higher if we consider the unreported cases where the locals might not have information to identify and report the predatory wasp as they are most commonly confused for European hornets. A large nest can accommodate more than 500 individuals and produce over 300 queens a year which has a detrimental impact on the local insect population.

Who is responsible for the Asian hornet control in the UK

The British Pest Controllers are not yet given responsibility to treat Asian Hornet nests, but they can be trained to identify them and take responsibility to report or guide customers on how they should be reporting sightings on non-native species. Awareness can protect our environments and reduce fear of the unknown, which is a case we see most often with insects we don’t know much about.

The British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) has called on the public to help fight a major threat to honey bees and other pollinators – Asian hornets. The Asian Hornet nests in the trees Sighting of Asian Hornets in the UK should be reported to the authorities.

References: 

Osterloff, E (2022) Why Asian hornets are bad news for the British Bees, Natural History Museum; nhm.ac.uk/discover/why-asian-hornets-are-bad-news-for-british-bees.html

Non Native Species (2022) https://www.nonnativespecies.org/non-native-species/species-alerts/#Species_53

British Beekeepers Association

https://www.bbka.org.uk/appeal/donate?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhomtBhDgARIsABcaYykhL70jSO6bioE7P75MkpWLvMfeFAPRMByXMQewef7koVJlZd_D_gsaAohvEALw_wcB

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asian-hornet-uk-sightings/asian-hornet-sightings-recorded-since-2016

Author:

Prime Pest Control Team

The grey squirrel was first introduced to the UK from North America in 1876. They were seen as ornamental species for the home until the damage they caused was recognised in the 1940s and were banned from being released into the wild. The rapid increase of the grey squirrel has pushed out the red squirrels for a number of reasons. When the grey squirrel is introduced to the territory of the red squirrel, it becomes nearly impossible for the red squirrel to survive due to the grey squirrel feeding off from a wider variety of food to survive and depriving its rival relative from resources.

They damage trees by stripping the bark at the bottom of the trees and cause extended damage to the wild forest and our environment. They cause extended potential damage to your home, and health, destruction to the forest life and impact on native wildlife, especially the red squirrel. In 2018, The Guardian shared a study revealing grey squirrels stealing million pounds of bird seed a year. The so-called ‘cute invaders’ are also known for feeding on birds’ nests for eggs and chicks.

Author:

Prime Pest Control Team

Sustainable repellent plants in the UK

Insects in general are necessary for the ecosystem but when the weather starts to warm up you may find they settle into your garden and create havoc. Some insects are considered pests and you may be looking for ways to maintain the beauty of your outdoor space by repelling them from your personal space.

Below are some of the most preferred, in the UK, natural repellents you can use.

Mint leaves are natural repellents that will keep spiders and ants away from your other plants. Mint plants multiply and spread very quickly, so it’s advised to place leaves or pots of mint strategically around your garden instead of planting them. Unless of course you like to enjoy refreshment drinks and add them to your summer drinks often and wouldn’t mind maintaining your plant from spreading around quickly.

Lavender is from the mint family and does a great job for repelling spiders, bugs and flies. Lavender thrives in the sun and they love the spring and summer seasons. Why not have a few lavender pots in your garden and you can even dry them and take them inside your home for a soft soothing scent.

Citronella grass is great to have around the seating area to keep mosquitoes away. Lemongrass also belongs to the same family, and the natural oils are used in most of the candles for repelling unwanted bugs.

Rosemary adds amazing flavour to dishes as well as repelling bugs from your garden and protecting other plants in your outdoor space. You can place rosemary in pots near other plants to prevent bugs and insects from being attracted to your garden for a snack.

Garden and outdoor space provides a peaceful and a great way to indulge in nature, relax and create the ambience for you, your family and loved ones. We hope this article was useful in providing you with some information on natural plants you can use for your outdoor space to repel unwanted insects and bugs. Please feel free to contact our team of experts for more advice and information.

Author:

Prime Pest Control Team

Bed bugs have nothing to do with cleanliness

The bed bug problem could be complex and indeed influence our relationships and various activities in everyday life. The reality is that it is sometimes a flatmate or a family member that has unknowingly introduced the insect, suddenly affecting the other people living in the property. One thing is for sure – bed bugs have nothing to do with cleanliness. Our technicians try to joke sometimes, saying that “bed bugs do not discriminate”, knowing from experience that the bloodsuckers would take any chance to get a bite or free transport. It is actually true that bed bugs do not choose their hosts when ‘hitchhiking’ luggage, clothes or furniture, hence nobody should be ashamed or feel embarrassed because of the problem. 

Author:

Blago Manov

Managing Director of

Bed Bug Hunters & Prime Pest Control

How are we keeping the public and our technicians safe

In our company, we pay meticulous attention to the smallest detail, especially where it concerns health and safety. One of our top priorities as professionals is to eliminate or reduce all work-related risks, whilst continually working to improve pest control success rates and efficacy. We take extra precautions in terms of personal protective equipment (PPE), wearing our gear before we enter the property, maintaining social distancing of at least 2 meters, safely disposing of all used PPE when our tasks are completed. The technicians issue a detailed generic and specific risk assessment after each survey, before commencing any treatment, bearing in mind that they will be unable to work further in case of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case within 72 hours of their visit onsite. We constantly monitor the health and well-being of our technicians, ensuring that they keep abreast of the latest updates on the all social and environmental concerns and issues. We conduct regular training of our technicians to equip them with the know-how to educate and handle every customer and treatment with the utmost care and diligence.

Many thanks to every individual who are working hard everyday to contribute to our society and care for our community. We are also grateful to our association – the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), for supporting the industry and the nation’s professional pest controllers in many ways than one. We wish to recognise their special efforts for lobbying our Government’s recognition of pest management work as a critical industry amid this pandemic and global crisis.

Author:

Prime Pest Control

Bed bugs travel with our luggage in nearly all cases of introduction

However, in more than ninety percent of cases bed bugs spread with luggage. The little bloodsuckers have an uncanny knack of hitching a lift in suitcases, handbags and lap-top cases.

Once introduced into your property, the bugs conceal themselves in the smallest of cracks and crevices and await a chance to feed. They detect human presence by our carbon dioxide emissions, odour and body heat. They will follow us anywhere in the property to get a bite and typically do not hibernate in the presence of people, quite the opposite, they do not seem to be the slightest bit shy. Another interesting fact that should be considered is that twenty percent of all people do not react to bed bug bites so infestations can go unnoticed for some time.

Since bed bugs travel most frequently in our luggage let us look at typical scenarios in regard to their introduction:

- The most common cause that we uncover is bed bug infestations after recent travel, often abroad.

- Following this is the popular occurrence of bed bugs introduced after a stay at commercial premises or shared accommodation, such as hotels and hostels.

- We have sometimes found bed bugs transferred from schools, homes for the elderly, offices, from the lockers at work, and public transport including planes, trains and buses.

How do bed bugs recognise our luggage and how to reduce the risk

The species has evolved significantly in the last century, bed bugs have seemingly adapted to modern life and seem to be able to recognise our luggage by the human odour. Also, since our luggage does not release heat or carbon dioxide, the bugs to choose our personal belongings as a means of transport, not as a permanent home. Very rarely do they travel on our clothes, as they sense that we are awake or moving, so try to avoid our awake state and instead get into our luggage. Our advice is to travel with properly sealed or zipped piece of luggage. Once you return back home from a trip, inspect visually the suitcase or shake the travel bag on a surface where you could potentially spot the hitchhikers falling off the luggage.

Author:

Blago Manov

Managing Director of

Bed Bug Hunters & Prime Pest Control

Edited by:

Peter M. Cherry

BSc. (Hons) Biology

Director. Pests Birds and Bugs Ltd.

The professional pesticides in general are more toxic to the pests, compared to the toxicity of commercial products. Their efficiency is greater due to the level of toxicity but also the active ingredients are different. Professional-use-only actives achieve a quicker knockdown effect, while preventing reproduction, eggs hatching and moulting with insect growth regulators (IGRs). The professional equipment in combination with those advanced insecticides in the hands of an experienced and thorough technician is by far superior in comparison to the DIY methods. The application process is much more thorough, the residual effect and the longevity of the professional actives are greater.

With bed bugs, for example, in the majority of cases the commercial bed bug sprays and smoke bombs result in spreading this evolved insect throughout the property. Do-it-yourself methods and products encourage bed bugs to hide deeply in difficult to reach places, where there is not enough residue to completely poison them. Generally speaking, even the most efficient active ingredients applied through residual spray work slowly over time. In bed bug cases, the waiting period in-between professional treatments is usually 2-3 weeks, while the insects are getting slowly poisoned through their nervous system, after getting in contact with the residue. There are products that may work instantly when you spray directly on some pest insects, but others like bed bugs have evolved mechanisms to persist active ingredients or evade the treatment, hidden deeply in a crack or crevice.

Author:

Blago Manov

Managing Director

Bed Bug Hunters & Prime Pest Control

Unqualified pest control

Prime Pest Control London

This article is written from the position of a company which recognises the importance having a professional approach in the control, eradication and prevention of pests from the very first point of contact with our customers to the post-treatment feedback that we always seek to ensure the treatment has been successful and the customer is satisfied with our services. We are accredited by the BPCA, the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA), CHAS safe contractor scheme in the UK and the Confederation of European Pest Management Associations (CEPA). During the years of experience in the pest control industry, we have seen cases of customers, who have suffered the consequences of improper use of insecticides in cases of pregnancy and allergy.

Incorrect approach to treatments, which had led to complication of the infestation and unnecessary additional costs, as well as overpriced and often failing treatments. This is why we would encourage everyone, who is on the hunt for a pest controller, to do their research first and ask questions regarding the treatment and the service. This would not only save you money but it will guarantee you that the service you pay for is reliable, safe and does not cause any harm to the wildlife and the environment.

Author:

Blago Manov

Managing Director

Bed Bug Hunters & Prime Pest Control

A rare sighting of the ‘cow killer’ wasp in the UK

We are very excited as the most recent sighting of the wasp has been reported by one of our website users! Being unable to identify the female wasp, which was crawling undisturbed in the garden of her residential property in Waterloo, Liverpool. Unfortunately, she could not take an image of the wasp, but the sighting was very real, judging by the detailed description provided. She thought it is the most unusual ant she had ever seen and we cannot blame her. For everyone’s relief, this amazing creature was not aggressive and nobody got hurt as we had to cover our eyes when watching the agonising video of Coyote Peterson, a brave lad who didn’t mind getting stung by the ‘cute’ wasp in the name of science.

The female ‘velvet ant’ is wingless, unlike the male, and only the female is armed with an inch-long stinger, which serves as egg-laying organ, called the ovipositor. They are also parasitoids, as the mated female usually digs into a bee or wasp nest on the ground level to lay the eggs on or near the larva of the insect host. The newly hatched ‘velvet ant’ larvae will feed on the bee or wasp larvae, eventually killing them. The adult ‘cow killer wasp’ feeds on nectar and is attracted by flowers and plants.

An interesting fact is that when being threatened, ‘velvet ants’ produce a squeaking noise with different sections of their abdomen, by moving them in and out. As well, they release smelly chemicals to discourage any potential predators by manipulating their behaviour. These sophisticated predatory wasps are very powerful and agile, armoured by an exoskeleton so tough, that it is almost impossible to crush them. Very often they escape from the jaws of much bigger predators and survive.

Author:

Blago Manov

Managing Director

Bed Bug Hunters & Prime Pest Control

References:

Richa Malhotra, BBC Earth (2015). ‘Superpowers of the near invincible velvet ant’.

Jody Green, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, US. ‘Velvet ant (cow killer ant)’.

Mark Macaskill, The Sunday Times, UK (2017). ‘Cow killer wasp causing a buzz’.