Do you want your workplace to be pest free? Worried about the impact of going without commercial pest control in place, but not sure quite what it could involve?

Without proper pest control, business owners and managers have a lot to lose. Maybe even more than you’ve considered.

So we can help put your mind at ease, here is our infographic with top 10 reasons why your business could benefit from commercial pest control…

Good Reviews & Ratings

Any business has to maintain certain standards in order to keep a good health rating. Those standards include having a pest free environment. By hiring a pest control service, you are also helping to ensure that your business keeps its customer reviews positive.

Employee Health

While health ratings and reviews are mainly aimed at keeping your customers happy, your employees need to remain healthy too. So, by keeping your London business pest free, you are taking steps to ensure that happens.

Safeguard Your Reputation

People see pests and they immediately want to leave your premises. It doesn’t matter if that business sells food or not. Pests are a sign of a business that doesn’t care about its products, its reputation, its clients, or much of anything. By ensuring a pest free business, you are ensuring that people have a positive view of your business and your brand.

Prevent Property Damage

Pests aren’t just bad for people. While they can be pretty dangerous health wise, pests can be bad for your property too. Pests can weaken building structures, chew holes in furnishing and walls, and stain materials. They can also pose a serious fire and flood hazard due to the fact that they chew through wires and piping.

Stress Free Workplace

Having pests can build up stress in a workplace. Staff will worry about potential health risks and the stress of trying to explain the pests away. You will be stressed about how to address the problem and worry about the consequences.

Commercial Pest Control Is Hard On Your Own

Some businesses try to perform pest control on their own. A good portion of those businesses still get pests because they don’t have the expertise. Commercial pest control is a very difficult task, and because experts spend a good amount of time learning what threats are likely in an industry, they are better equipped to know how best to combat them. The internet is full of myths, so using the internet to  your own pest control can be sketchy. In the wrong hands, pest control chemicals can be dangerous.

Prevention Over Cure

Pest control isn’t just about chemicals, traps and baits. It is also about removing potential sources of the problem, from damp to clutter to food hygiene. Pest experts work with you to educate you on preventing workplace pests. For instance, they can show you ways to prevent them from entering, and help to remove attractants.

Stop Infestations Early

Once a pest problem has taken hold, it is much harder to resolve the situation. This is because pests have a way of becoming entrenched fast. It is better to get help in stopping them before they become a full blown infestation.

Protect Your Revenue

Being closed down by health inspectors following a pest incident can cost your business a fortune. This is not only because you lose trade, but cleaning up after an infestation can be expensive and time consuming too. It can make or break a firm.

Peace Of Mind

While pest control is an essential part of running a successful business, it is often overlooked. However, regular monitoring and treatments give peace of mind. For many businesses, commercial pest control contracts offer a flexible solution due to the fact they work around your schedule.

Ah yes, the good old British summer. If the recent spate of good weather that most of the country has experienced recently continues, we might still have a summer worthy of enjoying some alfresco eating.

Whether you enjoy a picnic, a BBQ, or a bit of both, the last thing you want ruining the fun are annoying outdoor pests.

Flies, bees, wasps and mosquitos all buzz around all that tasty grub. While ants and other crawling insects can make outdoor eating a lot harder. Does that mean you should just give up all hope of an enjoyable time with friends and family eating at a local park or in your back garden? Not at all! Read on…

Choose the Right Location

Before you need to do anything else, you can greatly reduce the problem – and protect against outdoor pests – by choosing a sensible location for your BBQ or picnic. For starters, try to avoid setting up too near any body of water as this is an attractive place for pests to congregate. And if they catch a waft of your food, they’ll come and bug you. Pardon the pun!

Now, we know picnics are hard to resist. Especially if you are waiting to tuck into those cakes and sarnies. But just calm yourself for a moment before you set down your blanket. Look around, and just make sure there are no ant hills, wasp nests or any other signs of outdoor pests. If not, you’re good to go. If there are, move somewhere else.

It should also go without saying that you want to set up where you are going to eat away from the bin areas.

Keep All Food Packed and Protected…Until You Eat

The best way to keep those eager and nosy pests at bay, is to keep your food and drinks packed up until it’s time to serve it. Invest in some food covers so you can cover snacks when they are left unattended. For instance, when you are playing around with the kids or are taking a break from munching.

Where possible, avoid sweet and sugary drinks. There are plenty of tasty alternatives that don’t attract outdoor pests as readily. Keep any sweet BBQ treats in resealable containers.

Other Ideas to Keep Those Outdoor Pests Away

Flying insects are not too fond of displaced air, so invest in a small battery-operated fan. This is a great way of circulating air around your food, and should disturb pests enough to move along.

Finally, avoid wearing bright colours or strong perfume. Pests find them very attractive, so give your family a head start by leaving these items at home!

We are at that time of the year when clothes moths are most active. They are, in fact, active all year round, thanks to modern central heating. But Spring through to Summer is when they pose the biggest threat. Although they are harmless enough when it comes to us as humans, it’s our clothes and that are at risk.

If you are interested in learning some clothes moth prevention tips for the summer months, you’ve come to the right place.

Before we talk about some sure-fire moth prevention tips, though, there are a few things you should know about moths and their habits.

There are Different Types of Moth Problems

Unlike the other type of moths – the ones that are attracted to lights – clothes moths are the exact opposite. Preferring the undisturbed and darker parts of your home, like your cupboards and wardrobes. The curious thing is that adult moths don’t have developed mouths. So, it is not the moth itself, but  the moth larvae, that make holes in clothes.

Holes in clothes are just one sign that you’ve got a moth problem. Others to look out for include cocoons and webbing around the corners of your cupboards and wardrobes. Also look out for moth-eaten carpet and rugs, or holes in soft furnishings.

So, what is Effective for Moth Prevention?

The number one things that clothes moths are attracted to are human body oil, hair and sweat. Once they’ve been left on our clothing, that is. This is especially true if they are made from natural fibres such as silk, fur, feathers and wool.

• Wash Clothes

The first thing would be to make sure to wash clothes before storing them away. If possible, it’s best to store clothes in plastic containers or airtight bags. Carboard boxes are easy work for moths

• Utilise the Power of Cedar

One thing clothes moths don’t like is cedar, meaning this is the perfect repellent for these destructive insects. Hang all-natural fibre garments on cedar hangers and use cedar wood items in pockets.

• Regularly Vacuum

Remember, clothes moths will also lay their eggs in carpets, so it’s a good idea to make it a habit to regularly hoover, if you don’t already.

• Ventilate Your Wardrobes

We’ve already noted that clothes moths love dark and warm places, therefore it’s important to ensure your wardrobe has adequate ventilation.

Contact a Pest Control Specialist

If you are finding it difficult to get rid of clothes moths, even using our moth prevention tips, it may be time to call in a professional. Diamond are experienced and have a successful track record with moths of any kind. Call us fast before they become a full on infestation.

It could be their alien-like eyes, needle-like legs or the sensation of them crawling over you. Whatever triggers it, many people are afraid of spiders.

However, the fear people have for spiders is often based upon misconceptions and half-truths about these creatures.

As fear often stems from the unknown, let’s learn more about them by looking at the 10 most common UK spiders.

Money Spider

Associated with good fortune, the Money Spider is the smallest in the country, reaching sizes of 5mm or less.

They have black or grey bodies, and are normally found among leaves or vegetation growing close to the ground. Occasionally they are found indoors.

Giant House Spider

These spiders can reach widths of 12cm and have brown bodies. They sometimes live in houses as the name suggests, but are more likely to be found in gardens and sheds. Although they can bite, they’re not particularly aggressive to humans.

Zebra Jumping Spider

Distinctively white with black marks, Zebra Jumping Spiders can reach sizes of just 8mm and although they do bite, it’s very rare.

False Widow Spider

If you gasped when you saw the name, we’re not surprised given the similarity in looks to their infamous cousin the Black Widow Spider. Although False Widow females have been known to bite humans, they’re not aggressive, and this only happens rarely.

Look for them in conservatories, garages, lofts and window frames. They have dark brown bodies with big round abdomens.

Cupboard Spider

The creepy sounding name is given to this spider because they are found in cupboards. They can reach sizes of 10mm and are either black, brown or dark purple. Although they bite, they are not considered aggressive and their bites aren’t dangerous.

Tube Web Spiders

They can reach sizes of 23mm and have three groups of 2 eyes and a stunning green jaw. Of all the common UK spiders in this post, these are the most dangerous, with a strong bite the effects of which can last for a few hours.

Daddy Long Legs

Another spider there are some misconceptions about. However, there is no evidence to suggest they are dangerous to humans.

They have extraordinary long legs and have small oval/round bodes. Occasionally, you may see one as big as 45mm.

Lace Web Spider

Along with the Tube Web Spider, these can grow to 12mm and are found more in the southern half of the country. Look out for yellow markings on a brown abdomen. And be careful, because they can bite, and it may be sore for at least 12 hours.

Cardinal Spiders – Largest of the Common UK Spiders

Reaching sizes of 14cm, these have a reddish-brown colouring and live in walls of buildings. They only bite on rare occasions with painless results.

Missing Sector Orb Spider

With a strange silver-grey abdomen and brown leaf pattern on their back, these curious creatures are found on windowsills, and are not a threat.

It’s obviously important to look after your children while using pest control solutions in your home. What about your pets though? Some people don’t even think about the risks, and others just forget to take precautions.

While most household pest control methods are safe to use around pets, some issues should be taken into consideration.

Dogs and cats – who are very inquisitive and explore with their noses – can easily ingest, absorb or inhale something they shouldn’t. That’s why it is important to have the right pest control safety measures in place.

Talk to the Experts About Pest Control Safety

If you are hiring a professional pest control team to solve the problem of your unwanted guests, talk to them beforehand. Let them know you have pets, what kind, and how many. This will help them to plan out their pest removal strategy. And  give them time to implement a pet-friendly option. They will also give you advice on the best pest control safety actions you can take to protect your pets.

Remove Pets Before Treatment

It’s always a good idea to be safe rather than sorry.  So, remove all pets from the area your pest control professional is going to use chemicals or poisons.

Make sure to include caged animals like birds, hamsters and anything else that could inhale fumes.

Pets are often a law unto themselves. So you need to be vigilant. It might even mean taking them to stay with a neighbour or at a relative’s house until treatment is completed.

Be Careful with Placement and Poisons

When using baits and poisons for rodents or insects, always put them somewhere away from prying eyes, noses and tongues. Obviously, you want to place traps and bait so they will be most effective at capturing or killing the pests. But not anywhere that might put your pets in harms way.

Another important step is to dispose of dead pests correctly. If your dog or cat gets hold of the carcass of a poisoned rat or other creature, and eats it, your pet will be ingesting the poison too.  The consequences can be serious or even fatal.

Always Read Labels and Instructions

If you are going to take care of your own pest control and removal, don’t just go at it gung-ho. Take the time to read the labels and instructions fully. There is normally a section devoted to the pest control safety necessary for households with children and/or pets.

Pests can have a devastating effect on a business, which is why you must act fast when you notice any of the signs of an infestation.

Better still, a professional pest control contract can include pest proofing to help prevent them in the first place.

While a professional pest control company will be able to eradicate business premises pests, there will still be a chance of re-infestation. That’s one of the reasons why many business owners are investing in a pest control contract rather than paying for a series of one-off treatments.

If you are unsure whether you could benefit from a pest control contract or not, this post is for you. We are going to look at 8 good reasons to sign up for a contract with your pest control company.

Pest Control Contract Benefits

It’s cost effective

Rather than paying out every few months for treating large, more extensive infestations, with a contract, you benefit from help when you need it.

A member of the team will be sent out to appropriately handle the job at the first signs of trouble. Saving you a lot of money in the process.

Regular maintenance

With the support of a contracted pest control expert, you will get regular advice regarding any maintenance and repairs you should carry out. This will further help to prevent problems with pests.

Maintained surveillance

Pest control is often an ongoing necessity in the workplace. Especially in businesses and service areas that are particularly rife with rodents, insects or some other threat. With a pest control contract, you get the benefit of around the clock monitoring.

Catch the early signs of infestations

When you have contracted pest control work, you are in regular contact with experts.

This means that you are better positioned to identify infestations before they become a major problem.

Regularly updated procedures

With a contract, you will also benefit from regular consultations with pest control experts. They will assess how well the control methods are working, and then fine-tune or change them as required.

Good for business

It may not seem the case, but, by having a robust contract in place for handling all your pest needs, you’ll improve confidence in your business. If your customers and clients know pest control is something you take seriously, they are more likely to continue doing business with you.

Continuous Help and Support

When you opt for a contract with a professional and experienced company like Diamond Pest Control, you benefit from our continual help and support. We are at your service, day or night, 24 hours a day.

Technology is important to our lives in so many different areas, from communication and entertainment, to how we control things like heating and security in our homes and businesses.

It makes sense that even in the world of pest control and extermination, innovative technology will be used.

There are many tried and tested methods and techniques available to deal with pests in the conventional way. However, cutting edge pest control technology has helped to improve the effectiveness of combatting pests even more.

In the following post, we are going to highlight some noteworthy innovations in pest control.

Electronic and Intelligent Bait Stations for Rodents

No one is going to argue with the effectiveness of old school bait stations. However, because they use poison, the more traditional rodent trap poses a threat to protected species of birds and other wildlife. If these birds and animals catch a rodent that had ingested poison, it will kill them too. The strict rules about protecting falcons, owls and kestrels, means the pest control industry has had to come up with an alternative.

That alternative came in the form of a cutting-edge pest control technology called the electronic bait station. They are powered by batteries. When rodents enter these stations and stand on the metallic plate, they form an electric circuit and are electrocuted. Not only are they safer for other wildlife, they are also more humane for the pests themselves, as death is almost instant.

Thermal Imaging Technology

Thermal imaging is incredibly useful. This technology is more a way of locating and identifying pest problems than directly solving them. Thermal detecting instruments pick up heat sources. And in this way, they can be used to find hidden infestations and nests – even through walls and other surfaces.

Because rodents love using cavity insulation for their nests, pest technicians can also use a thermal imaging device to spot areas where insulation has been removed. You can use them to detect all kinds of pests, including wasp nests in wall cavities and roofs.

Drone Pest Control Technology

Although they are often seen as either a dangerous problem for airlines or an expensive toy, drones are effectively used in the pest control sector. They are especially good to use when pest exterminators need to check harder to reach places. They can take a camera on board – or even a thermal imagining device. The pest removal specialist can then check out areas like roofs without having to climb. This reduces many issues surrounding safety. It allows the pest controller to assess the situation, and formulate a lasting and effective extermination plan.

Are you a keen gardener? Do you tend to grow a lot of your own fruit and vegetables, as well as pretty flowers and plants? Then you probably know there are many pests out there looking to undo all that hard work.

There are quite a few contenders for garden pest of the year prize, but which ones are generally the worst culprits?

Read on to find out more about 5 of the most badly behaved common garden pests.

Vine Weevils

Most people have seen vine weevils at some point, even if they don’t really know what they are. These little beetles love eating plants, and have a penchant for potted varieties. These insects are more common garden pests than you’d think. It’s often the case that weevil grubs will have already caused a lot of damage before the plants even start to bloom.

Snails and Slugs

We all know what slugs and snails look like. And even though they come in a variety of different sizes and colours, they all want the same thing in life. That is, they want to eat your plants.

Snails and slugs both consume a range of greenery. However, in UK gardens, they will particularly target Hostas, Clematis, Cabbage, Lettuce and Potato Tubers.

Aphids

Very small and incredibly annoying, aphids are known for their appetite for flowers, fruit and vegetables. They normally attack the stems, foliage and leaves. They coat the plant in a sticky residue, effectively bringing its growth to a standstill. They are often known by the more familiar names of blackfly and greenfly.

Box Tree Caterpillar

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of box tree caterpillars in London gardens. As a result, these are becoming more common garden pests. Obviously, as the name suggests, they target Buxus plants (commonly referred to as Box).

Keep an eye out for these crafty caterpillars. They have dazzling black stripes and measure around 4cm. You’ll find them underneath leaves where they cluster in white coloured and very fine webbing. They can cause your Box to suffer damaged foliage and cause them to die back.

One of the Most Common Garden Pests – Foxes

When we think of garden pests, our minds invariably go to insects. However, certain mammals are as much if not more of a pest than insects.

Although foxes are a marvel to behold in the wild. But, that’s not usually the case when they’re digging up your garden and flowerbeds, or rummaging through your bins. Let’s not even mention the smell they make when they mark territory. And they will answer the call of nature just about anywhere!

If you’ve discovered you have a pest problem in your property, you need to deal with it quickly. Hiring a professional pest company like Diamond is usually the best solution. But with so many companies around the London area, how do you know who to trust?

One way to find the right firm, is by asking the right pest control questions.

In the following post we suggest 8 of the most useful questions you can ask a pest control company to help you in your assessment…

What pest control questions are the best to ask?

• How long have you been in business? This is important to ask as it helps you to establish how much experience they have. It might not be best to trust your pest control needs to a brand new company.
• Do you have customer references? You should check what kind of experience previous customers have had. These are often on the company’s website, but don’t be afraid to ask. A company that is apprehensive about sharing previous customers’ feedback is suspicious.

• How much training do your exterminators receive? Pest control is always evolving. Therefore, it’s important to find a pest control agency that stays on top of the latest developments and ensures their staff receive regular training.
• Are you fully insured? It’s important that a pest control company has appropriate insurance coverage. You want to know they are covered for carrying out the work.
• Are your treatments safe for people and pets? Obviously, you want to get rid of the pests plaguing your property. However, you don’t want that at the expense of the wellbeing of the animals and people who live there.

• What aftercare do you supply? Pest control is not just about getting rid of pests, it’s about ensuring they don’t come back. You need to know you will be supported, even after work is completed.
• What is involved in the price? You need to know exactly what you are paying for with any proposed quote. And whether the cost is all inclusive or will entail further future payments.
• How do you identify the right treatments to use? You want to know the technicians know what they are doing and have a clear plan of action. Be cautious of any company who is vague about their methods.

Not all pests are gruesome and unattractive. Take the grey squirrel as an example. In the wild, squirrels are considered cute. Squirrels that have gained access to your home, on the other hand, are less appealing. The truth is, they tend to chew through just about anything.

If you’re trying to determine whether squirrels could be a problem in your own house, one of the questions you may be looking to answer is: “where do squirrels nest?“

In the following post, we’re going to discuss this and other habitat facts. We will also explore some important things you should know about having squirrels in your home.

So, Where Do Squirrels Nest?

Squirrels build nests called dreys. These are spherically-shaped, compact structures, and are a little bigger than a football. They are normally made from twigs that the squirrels have woven together, and feature a comfy lining made from fur, feathers, grass, leaves, moss and other soft materials.

Generally speaking, squirrels make their dreys inside holes in tree trunks or amongst tree branches. Sometimes though, if they manage to gain access to your roof space or loft, they are happy to set up home there too.

Highly Adaptable

Unlike red squirrels, grey squirrels do not hibernate. They are fully active for the whole year.  Since their introduction into the UK, they have managed to adapt well to living in Britain’s mixed array of broad-leaved woodlands. These areas provide them with a diverse and plentiful diet. Although they are vulnerable to foxes, their woodland habitats keep them well protected from most of their natural predators.

The simple answer to where do squirrels nest, is this. As well as parks and woodlands, they are also able to live on farms, and in urban residential areas.

Stubborn Residents

Once they’ve settled, squirrels are known to be very stubborn. Especially if they have a family of their own in the place they’ve chosen to nest. They don’t have the same fear of loud noises, flashing noises and scarecrows that other pests do, either. And because they have sharp incisors that can gnaw through everything. From frameworks and insulation to electrical cables, squirrels pose a really serious threat.

In fact, their incisors don’t ever stop growing, because they need them to maintain a healthy diet of seeds and nuts. You can clearly see why the danger posed by fire and flood risk, plus structural building damage, would be an ongoing problem if they take up residence.

Knowing where squirrels nest is vitally important. If they choose to make a home in your home, you need to deal with them as soon as you spot any signs them. If a squirrel and its family makes a home for itself in your property, it is incredibly hard to get rid of them without the help of an experienced pest control professional like Diamond. Luckily, our technicians are on call 24 hours a day to assist.