28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Starlings

Although a native to this country, our permanently resident starling population is swelled every autumn by migrants arriving from the Continent. Starlings may roost in their thousands on ledges on buildings and in trees in city centres. Their dropp

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Termites

Social insects which may live in communities of many millions of individuals. In tropical and sub-tropical countries they are major pests of timber buildings. Not presently found in the UK but global warming may allow them to establish in the south

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Thrips

Also known as “thunder-flies”, tiny (1.5mm) insects, black with narrow, hairy wings. They feed on plant sap and on humid summer days they may occur in huge numbers on window sills and get into clothing and hair. Mainly an agric

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Ticks

Closely related to the mites, but much larger and reliant on vertebrate blood. They are occasionally brought into the house on domestic animals and can be picked up by humans after walking through long grass in an infested area. Ticks are implicate

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Voles

Usually confused with Brown Rats, these small, blunt-nosed rodents can occasionally enter buildings, but normally live in outdoor burrows. Not regarded as a household pest, and in fact, some species such as the water vole are a protected species an

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Wasps

Are you worried about wasp stings? Have you found a wasps’ nest? Learn all about wasp nest treatments in our ultimate wasp pest control guide. Get rid of wasps for good. If you’ve spotted lots of wasps and you’re worried abo

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Weevils

A term frequently misused to describe beetles in general, but is applicable only to a distinctive group of beetles with long, pointed “snouts” which they use for boring into whole grains, hard processed cereals such as pasta, and timber

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Wharf Borer

A brown beetle, about 1cm long, with pronounced antennae and a tendency to emerge from damp basements and fly about near rivers or estuaries in early summer. The grubs live in very decayed wet timber such as old jetties or wooden piles. These beetl

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Woodworm

A term used for the destructive larvae of the Common Furniture Beetle. The first sign of woodworm is the appearance of neat round holes, 2mm across, in wooden surfaces, often accompanied by tiny piles of wood dust beneath them. Fresh holes show c

28 November 2017

Pest Advice for controlling Woolly Bears

The small hairy larvae of the carpet or fur beetles are known as "woolly bears". These small, oval beetles have outstripped the clothes moths as the major British textile pest. The larvae are small (about 4mm long), covered in brown hairs, and tend

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Worms

Parasitic worms are a veterinary or medical problem but they are included here because some may be transmitted by rats, mice or certain insects. Threadworms are relatively common in dogs, cats and children. They are thin whitish wrigglers about 5mm

28 November 2017

Pest Advice for controlling Woodlice

Woodlice are one of the few land crustaceans. They have oval, grey, segmented bodies 10-15mm long, with 14 legs and prominent antennae. Common names include ‘slaters’, ‘sow-bugs’ and ‘pill-bugs’. There a

28 November 2017

Pest advice for controlling Yellow Swarming Fly

One of the species collectively known as Cluster Fly family. A small yellowish fly with black stripes on its back which sometimes invades attics or rarely-used rooms to hibernate in autumn. For more information, including control technique

29 November 2017

Pest Advice for controlling Ants

The commonest species that invades houses is the Black Garden Ant, which is actually very dark brown. All ants have the main divisions of the body (head, thorax, abdomen) distinctly separated by very narrow waists and have a sharp elbow joint in th

20 November 2017

PPC89 out now

Professional Pest Controller issue 89 is out now. The BPCA member and industry magazine is packed full of all the latest pest control news and features (November 2017). PPC magazine is made for our members, pest control professionals and c

20 November 2017

Everything changes but you

President foreword | PPC89 November 2017 What a year for BPCA! I guess this is why they say the only real constant is change.  The biggest ever PestEx, the first-ever industry awards (complete with our 75th year celebrations)

20 November 2017

Some final words, and a new chapter for BPCA

Cheid Exec viewpoint | PPC89 November 2017 Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you will know I’m leaving BPCA and the sector early in 2018 to take up a role with the National Association of Jewellers. (In answer to the two most

20 November 2017

Seven years of Simon

Interview feature | PPC89 November 2017 After a hugely successful tenure as Chief Executive of the British Pest Control Association, Simon Forrester will be leaving his role with the Association in January of next year. We thought we

17 November 2017

Recruit a pest controller: From posting a job to hiring a new employee

Your business feature | PPC89 November 2017 Looking at bringing a new pest management technician on board but don’t know where to start? We’ll go through the whole process and tell you all about the tools we offer to help you fi

17 November 2017

New York Rat Safari

Urban environment feature | PPC89 November 2017 Andy Beckmann organises one of the largest pest management trade shows in Europe, Pest-Protect. While researching other trade-shows around the world, Andy has seen many weird and wonderful thi

17 November 2017

Don’t get replaced by a robot pest controller!

Technology feature | PPC89 November 2017 We’ve been talking about new technology in pest management lots over the last few issues. BPCA Technical Manager,  Dee Ward-Thompson investigates how we best protect our profession wit

17 November 2017

The death of the Yellow Pages and the rise of Shirley Temple

Marketing and promotions feature | PPC89 November 2017 Telephone, telephone table, family address book, pen pot (complete with an assortment of random pens) and The Yellow Pages. These are what greeted most people entering their house

17 November 2017

New member benefit: Printshop

UPDATE The print shop is now open. Visit it here (main contact login required).  Marketing and promotions feature | PPC89 November 2017 Print is very much alive, but it has to be used in the right way. Print is potent in

17 November 2017

Quick marketing audits for every pest management company

Marketing and promotions feature | PPC89 November 2017 We get a lot of questions about how to market your pest control business. Content and Communications Officer, Scott Johnstone, spends more time looking at BPCA member’s websit

16 November 2017

Controlling reputation – we can’t help if we don’t know!

Marketing and promotions feature | PPC89 November 2017 A first lesson of public relations is to take control of potentially bad press. Being part of a trade association is a useful, but often forgotten, mechanism to help preserve repu