Pest Control on the Isle of Wight

What is and Asian Hornet it? An invasive non-native hornet originally from Asia. Suspected records should be reported immediately. A highly aggressive predator of native insects, posing a significant threat to honey bees and other pollinators. Accidentally introduced to France in 2004 where it spread rapidly. A number of sightings have been recorded in the UK since 2016. What does an Asian Hornet look like? Distinctive hornet, smaller than our native species. A key feature is the almost entirely dark abdomen, except for the 4th segment which is yellow. Slightly smaller than native hornet Dark abdomen, 4th segment yellow Bright yellow tips to legs (native hornet dark) Entirely brown or black thorax (native hornet more orange) To report any sighting, please either give us a call on 01983 406999, or post the sighting to the  Isle of Wight – Asian Hornet Watch Facebook page  Information on this post was taken from Beeebase, the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) National Bee Unit website where you can find out more information on the Asian Hornet and download posters  

Did you know that cockroaches are an ancient group, dating back at least as far as the Carboniferous period, some 320 million years ago. They may be ancient but in reality, they are a very modern pest!  What are cockroaches? Cockroaches come from the order Blattodea and are common and hardy insects that can tolerate a wide range of environments from Arctic cold to tropical heat. They considered to be are amongst the hardiest insects on earth: some species are capable of remaining active for a month without food and are able to survive on limited resources whilst some can go without air for 45 minutes. Cockroaches and live for up to a year, and the female may produce up to eight egg cases in a lifetime which can produce as many as 300 to 400 offspring. Homes, catering premises and hospitals are all place where cockroaches can be found. They carry diseases like salmonella, typhoid and dysentery and are also linked to allergies and skin disorders like asthma and eczema. Their presence in homes and hospitals can prove particularly harmful to young children and the elderly. How do I know if I have cockroaches in my home or premises? […]

Rats Rats are absolutely not welcome in your home or business and are destructive and disease spreading. Read on to find out why you need to employ the professionals.  What are rats? Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus Rattus. They are typically active at night, so if you see one during the day, you probably have a rat problem. Rats reproduce rapidly, as is generally the case with small prey animals. Their relatively short life spans, short gestational periods and rapid sexual maturity make effective rodent control critical. The reproductive cycle and number of rodents off-spring increases with adequate food, water and a safe place to reproduce. What are the signs that rats are present? Because rats are largely nocturnal you will have to look for other signs that you have a problem. You may hear rats gnawing in your attic or walls and may see gnaw marks in your loft on wires, cables and anything that you might have stored. There are also droppings which are brown and raisin sized and you may also see rub marks from grease and dirt on […]

Hillbans Pest Control always strives to ensure that we use products and practices that are strictly within industry guidelines and government legislation. We would never knowingly use a product that was unlicensed, unapproved or deemed unethical by our industry. We also do our very best to consider our environment and the effect that some pest control products may have particularly in rural settings here on the Island. More and more of our customers agree with our thinking and are requesting a treatment programme which aligns itself with this ethos of being as harmless as possible to the land and to nature. Hillbans has always prided itself on its ability to evolve and diversify and we have now introduced the use of ‘Good Nature’ rodent traps, a product that is poison free, humane and non-toxic. The traps are approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and we adhere to the British Pest Control Association’s code of best practice for spring loaded traps when installing and using the product, as well as following the manufacturer’s instructions. We do not supply this product to customers to install themselves. The use of these traps eliminates the possibility of secondary poisoning […]