Top 5 Summer Pests to Watch in Hampshire

Summer is here, just about. With warmer weather sporadically making an appearance, combined with wetter and more turbulent air, the British Summertime looks to be as predictable as ever!Hampshire Bird & Pest Solutions have a combined experience of over 30 years! Over this timeframe, we've come to expect certain pests around particular times of the year. We've put together a list of our top 5 pests to look out for this Summer!

Wasps

Wasps, as you may well know, are hugely prominent in the summer months. The most common wasps found in the UK, and indeed Hampshire are the Common Wasp & the German Wasp. These are the wasps that cause painful stings. The most common nesting areas include hollow trees and bushes, however they tend to prefer sheltered locations, so lofts, garages and wall cavities often present an attractive nesting location.

It's important you do not try and move a nest without professional help! Nests often provide a home to an average of around 3000 to 6000 individual wasps and once interfered with, can cause retaliation in their swarms. If you notice a number of wasps flocking to a single location, whether it's near your roof, or in your garden, there's a good chance a wasp's nest is nearby.

Moths

During summer, moths slowly flutter into our homes. Moths are the primary cause of damaged fur, slik & woolen textiles including suits, jumpers and jackets to name a few. Generally adult moths don't cause damage to clothing and textiles, however their larvae do! This makes spotting a moth related problem a little more difficult as it sometimes isn't until winter when you find your jumpers full of holes that you realise there's a problem!

There are signs that you may have a moth issue, apart from obvious damage to clothing. If you notice larvae, which are small maggots similar to caterpillars, this may indicate a moth problem. Look out for silk cocoons which is where larvae emerge as moths, and if you notice adult moths crawling rather than flying, this is another indication of an infestation.

Flies

Flies come out in vast numbers during summer. They cause a real problem to residents and businesses as they spread diseases and contaminate food. Most flies can be deterred by taking steps to limit attractions to them, whether that's cleaning up food waste quickly (human and pet), or preventing standing water being left. If you find maggots however, this could be a sign that you've got a breeding area, as maggots are flies in their larval stage.

If you notice a large number of flies that are causing a real problem at home or at your business, get in touch with us using the form below for a free estimate.

Ants

This is one that we will all know well, as ants are a very common household pest in summer. You don't know where they have been rummaging, so you'll want to do your best to prevent them from going through your food. If you notice ants, try and follow them to see where they are entering your home. If necessary, make repairs to prevent them entering in the future. Other steps to prevent ants include limiting the amount of foodstuff you leave out, especially sweet food, and ensuring any spillages are cleaned up promptly.

If you believe you have an ant infestation problem inside your home, albeit a flying ants or unwinged. Get in touch to arrange a free estimate using the form below.

Birds

Birds are much more active in summer. The biggest concern with pest birds is the disease infested faeces they drop from wherever they perch. If they are finding their way into your home's facias and under solar panels or other fixtures, you'l find that those faeces will remain around the area and create a health risk.

Birds will also create some damage and irritate families and businesses with their incessant chirping. If you have a problem with birds creating a mess around your property or business, get in touch to arrange a free estimate using the form below.