Specialists provide nationwide service in pest control & Nuisance prevention.

Environmentally sensitive fumigation is available to deal with both insect and rodent infestations, ultra-violet electronic fly-killers are widely employed, mice can be detected and trapped using infra-red devices and birds can be scared off sites using sophisticated digitally recorded alarm calls.

The services offered by one of the big players in the pest control sector, Rentokil Pest Control, illustrate the contemporary approach to pest prevention and treatment. The range of services includes the Sentinel Service, providing comprehensive protection with the minimum use of pesticides, and Pestguard, a pest control service tailored to clients individual needs. This includes a thorough inspection and in-depth reporting.

The company’s bird control services cover netting, the Avistrand repellent system, sonic control and flock reduction.

Aiming to provide “pest control without pesticides” as its ultimate objective, the company says that, while it cannot offer a totally pesticide-free service immediately, its biologists, entomologists, zoologists and chemists and working continually on new ways to tackle pests and protect the environment.

Examples of this approach are “Mouse Alert”, Rentokil’s electronic mouse detection system and the “Fumigation Bubble.”

The company cites a notable application of its Controlled-Atmosphere Technology (CAT) “bubble” treatment which involves pumping nitrogen into huge plastic bubbles. This reduces oxygen to minute levels, effectively suffocating all stages of insect life. This techniques has been used to deal with woodworm that were munching through precious manuscripts and rare documents, including the deeds of the City of Bruges, which were kept in the Bruges Central Library.

“What could have been a potentially disastrous infestation has been averted,” said Colin Smith, Project Development Manager. “The artefacts are placed in huge, plastic bubbles into which pure nitrogen gas is then released, reducing the oxygen to minute levels. The Bubbles are then left for 30 days, effectively suffocating all life stages of the insects.”

Pest business merger

Also in the news has been the significant merger of two leading pest control majors with the acquisition towards the end of last year by Terminix Peter Cox Ltd of the pest prevention business of National Britannia Ltd.

The two operations are merging under the Terminix brand with a combined annual revenue exceeding £30 million. Expansion is Terminix Europe will continue, with the backing of Terminix in the USA.

In welcoming National Britannia’s 320 staff and 13,000 clients, Dr Peter Cottee, Managing Director of Terminix Peter Cox and Terminix Europe, said he believed that new opportunities in the joint organisation through marketing initiatives in the food, retail, property, insurance and domestic sectors.

Terminix services already extend to all regions of the UK. Environmental Services cover pest prevention and eradication, including fumigation.

Also available is No Perch Bird Control, designed to protect buildings from unsightly and damaging defacement. A new Wildlife Management service, for owners of agricultural, estate, amenity and public land, offers consultancy, management and training for the control of wildlife such as rabbits, moles, geese and deer.

The company also provides Insect-O-Cutor fly killer units equipped with green UV lamps, to attract, kill and collect flying insects safely. Flyscreens are available in a range of custom-made aluminium frames.

For landfill sites Terminix Peter Cox offers a Flying Insect Control service designed especially for use on landfill sites.

The range of pests that have to be dealt with by EHOs and private sector specialists is underlined by figures published in the most recent Environmental Health Report from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). A survey of councils showed that over 200,000 premises were treated for rats and over 130,000 for mice. Others pests still being treated in large numbers include cockroaches, Pharaoh’s ants and fleas, let alone wasps and bees, pigeons and gulls – offering plenty of opportunities for pest prevention and control specialists to exercise their ingenuity and develop effective new solutions which pay due regard to the environment.