Have you noticed every autumn there is an alarming number of spiders in your home? Okay, this may only be alarming if you’re not a fan of these hairy little eight-legged creatures.

Many people have serious phobias. So, alarming seems like the best way to describe it.

Why does there always seem to be a UK spider invasion at this time of year? Why do they choose your house?

If you’re worried that it may be because they are finding a way into your home to deliberate scare you, think again. The real reasons why there is a surge of those ugly, big and hairy spiders running around your house are far more…interesting?

They Don’t Come From Outside

That’s right, they don’t search for ways to get inside your home. The UK spider invasion involves spiders that are already in your home.

Those spiders you see scuttling across the carpet as you’re trying to enjoy your dinner, or some Netflix are male house spiders that were born and bred in your home during springtime.

They’ve been waiting around, hiding in the dark, eating and preparing themselves to pounce. Don’t worry – not on you!

UK Spider Invasion – Why?

In fact, it’s fair to say that like most male animals, those big house spiders are only after one thing. A female to sire some offspring with. They tend to be more mobile than their female counterparts, who are decidedly more sedentary.

Why Do They Like Our Homes So Much?

Another reason why they tend to stay in our homes is because of the ideal indoor climate. They crave the warmth and dry environment of our homes.

You are unlikely to see them out and about creating webs in the garden. This is because the house spiders we have all come into contact with at some point, are actually descended from North African and Mediterranean species. This is why t

There are some huge ones that may be lurking in your garden, but there’s no need to worry about those. Those big garden spiders don’t want to come in your house. They are happy to stay out in the cool breeze of the British autumn.

So, next time you are wondering why there seems to be a UK spider invasion during autumn, you‘ll know why. If you come across them, remember they are not out for your blood, but are looking for a cold-blooded mate.

When choosing a mice exterminator, London residents may find themselves at a loss for where to start.

Proper mice control in London should not only eliminate the mice on the property, but also prevent future infestations.

Here are our top tips on how to choose the right London mice exterminator for you.

Mice Exterminator London Qualifications

A mice exterminator should have all of the right training to deal with the issue. When looking for a mice exterminator, London dwellers should check that all training is up to date. A pest controller should be able to provide proof of this upon asking. With a fully trained mice exterminator, London homes will benefit from the latest mice prevention methods, safety laws and products.

Look At Online Reviews

Friends and family may have some great recommendations when it comes to choosing the right mice exterminator. Don’t just look at the pest control adverts for information.

Look online and research the company properly, reading their recent reviews. For example, Diamond has years’ worth of 5 star reviews from happy customers. You can also ask us to show you past customer references.

The Mice Exterminator‘s Experience

Londoners should also be looking at how long the company has been in business. A lot of years behind a business like Diamond will usually equate to the best option on the market. Plus, it does give you some peace of mind on how we treat our customers. Feel free to ask us what training we give our exterminators. Also, remember to ask how much experience a company has in handling your specific pest problem.

Check Out Pricing

One of the best things you can do is get estimates from London mice exterminators. As with Diamond, a quote shouldn’t cost you anything.

Compare the costs across the board to see how you can get the most bang for your buck. Diamond, for example, are very cost effective. It’s also a good idea to find out if the company you want to go with will offer you a guarantee as part of the deal.

How’s The Customer Service?

Mice exterminators should be attentive to your needs, as having a mouse problem can be stressful. A company that has shoddy customer service isn’t going to deliver the best results. You want a mice exterminator that is more than willing to go through the entire treatment plan, as well as detailing the products they’ll use. Diamond are prepared to do just that. Employees of any good pest control business should also be able to give advice and guidance in a friendly and understandable way.

Have you ever pulled an old book off the shelf – or moved something in the bathroom – and have silverfish dart out? Just the presence of silverfish in your home is less than pleasant.

But it can be even more stressful when you don’t know if they’re harmful.

Are silverfish harmful to you or your pets? Let‘s learn more about these pests, and see what you can do to prevent them.

Can Silverfish Harm You?

Are silverfish harmful to humans if we find them in our homes? There’s currently no evidence that suggests silverfish are poisonous or dangerous to humans. They are also not known to carry any disease causing pathogens.

That being said, there are certain situations where the answer to the question are silverfish harmful is yes. Some people can be allergic to silverfish. The presence of silverfish in the home can trigger a reaction. Silverfish shed their skin, leaving behind their scales. This is the dust that people can be allergic to.

Are Silverfish Harmful To Pets?

Silverfish have an alarming appearance. However, if your pet swallows one, they are not poisonous. Having said that, it is suggested that you don’t allow pets to do this. Generally speaking, silverfish cause damage to household items rather than causing harm to your pets. So, are silverfish harmful to pets? The answer is not especially.

What Will Silverfish Damage?

It’s great news that your health and the health of your pets is relatively safe from silverfish. However, they do still pose a risk in your home. Silverfish will damage your household items. They stick to a diet made up of carbs and sugar, so things like clothes, wallpaper and books are all at risk from silverfish damage.

Preventing Silverfish

Nobody wants their belongings chewed on by pests. Here are some tips you can use to keep silverfish out of your home.

• Take away their food sources – Dry goods like cereals and pet foods should be stored in airtight containers.
• Dehumidify damp rooms – Silverfish love the damp. Removing this moisture will help keep silverfish away.
• Get proper ventilation – If you do have a home prone to damp, make sure it’s properly ventilated. This could be having vents fitted or opening windows and doors.

Getting Rid Of Silverfish

If you are already experiencing a silverfish problem it can be tough to treat them alone. The best thing to do in this situation is call Diamond to consult one of our trained pest controllers. DIY methods aren’t effective against a proper silverfish infestation. Call us on 020 8889 1036 for expert advice.

Having any kind of pest infestation in your home is incredibly stressful. But when it comes to a rented home, it can be confusing as to what to do about it.

Knowing who is responsible for the cost and arrangement of pest control is a problem tenants face every day.

In any kind of pest situation – do landlords pay for pest control?

When Do Landlords Pay For Pest Control?

Ultimately, knowing when landlords pay for pest control comes down to two specific factors. These factors are: whether the pests were present prior to you moving in. And if the infestation has been caused due to disrepair or damage to the property. When you rent a property, a landlord has an obligation to deliver the home in a state that is inhabitable. This means that it must be clean, in good working order and condition – and free from any pests.

If the property has been left with an active pest infestation, landlords absolutely have to pay to have it treated. So, do landlords pay for pest control in this situation? Yes, they do. To be able to protect yourself from any liability when it comes to prior pest infestations, do a thorough property check before you move in. Take notes and photos of any disrepair that could provide access to pests. If you spot any pests, again, document the evidence. Then notify your landlord or letting agent immediately.

When Do Tenants Pay For Pest Control?

Being a tenant means you have to ensure the property is kept clean and not cause any damage. There will always be wear and tear to any property. And this should be something your landlord expects. However, when a tenant allows a property to fall into disrepair, or improperly disposes of rubbish, pest control costs fall onto them.

Do landlords pay for pest control problems caused by tenants? No, they don’t. In this situation, you should always seek the help of an expert pest controller yourself to come and treat the infestation. Just remember that you will be liable for any costs.

Council Pest Control

Whoever’s responsibility it is to carry out pest control, it’s important to know when the council will step in. Regardless of who’s fault it is that the infestation has occurred, the council is under no obligation to treat the problem. This is true even if you are in receipt of benefits. The council might step, but only in if your landlord has not treated an infestation that they are liable for.

Pigeons are an integral part of London, and indeed, British life and culture. Most people just consider them to be a nuisance because they raid bins. They scavenge for food scraps, whether its bread, or chips thrown to them by tourists or locals. They also poo everywhere, which gives everything an unsightly sticky white look and feel. However, this means more than this just creating a lot of work involved in clearing it up.

There are several pigeon droppings health and safety risks too.

To help keep you more informed, we are going to look at some of these in the following post.

Bird Droppings Can Carry Serious Diseases

No-one would think of poo as particularly sanitary. Especially when it comes from a wild bird. Therefore, the concept that there are pigeon droppings health and safety risks should be easy enough to grasp. However, you may not realise just how dangerous bird droppings are.

Without wishing to put you off ever leaving the house, it does help to know the risks. Then you can protect yourself against exposure. Bird droppings can carry the following diseases:

• Psittacosis – this can lead to complications including inflammation of the heart or brain. It can be treated with antibiotics.
• Histoplasmosis – commonly, this infection is contracted when the spores of a fungus are airborne and breathed in when dry bird droppings are disturbed
• Extrinsic allergic alveolitis – a lung disease that caused when you are exposed to excessive levels of airborne avian antigens that cause hypersensitivity.
• Salmonellosis – related to Salmonella, this can cause various symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever and diarrhoea.
• Campylobacter – people more commonly contract this infection by drinking and eating produce that contains these bacteria. However, it can infect people who come into close contact with animals (such as pigeons) who are also infected. It can attack the large and small intestines lining.

Insects and Pigeon Droppings Health and Safety

As well as the above diseases, pigeon droppings health and safety risks also include the fact it can attract various unpleasant bugs and insects. Such as:

• Common bird mite
• Cheese mite
• Blowflies
• Lesser house fly
• White shouldered house moth
• Brown house moth
• Case-bearing clothes moth
• Spider Beetles
• Biscuit Beetle
• Varied Carpet Beetle

So, rather than seeing pigeon droppings as merely just a messy nuisance, it’s wise to remember the above and protect yourself, your family – or business and employees – from infections and infestations caused by them.

There are many animals we readily perceive as being pests. Rats, wasps, cockroaches and ants are all easily accepted as pests. Some cause damage your property, some steal food and some sting. Some also carry and spread nasty bacterial infections and diseases.

Even though squirrels are a wild animal, they are not often considered to be pests.

In fact, most people think that until they suffer a visit to their home from a squirrel. All the things we love about squirrels when they are out in the wild turn into our worst nightmare. Their usually adorable traits make them a real pest when they infiltrate our homes and gardens. If you remain unconvinced, check out some of the damage they can cause below. And after each point, ask yourself this: are squirrels pests?

Getting Into Your Loft

Squirrels are well-known for their flexibility and acrobatic skills. They are excellent at scaling steep surfaces. They nimbly run across cables and beams, and even take perilously huge leaps. These skills are all well and good – until they use them to break into your home. Houses are like the Holy Grail to a squirrel looking for something to eat and drink. Plus somewhere to find shelter and set up a nest.

Therefore, if they come across even the smallest of opening in your property – even if it is impossibly high, in the roof, for instance – they will use their skills like a cat burglar. Peeling siding, shingles, uncapped chimneys and damaged vents are some of the other ways they can gain access. What if the opening isn’t big enough? Not a problem, they’ll chew and make it bigger.

Nest Building

Why are squirrels pests during the nesting season? Well, it is when they are making nests that squirrels are particularly damaging. They will take just about anything they can find in your loft or other parts of your property for nest materials. They will literally break things and rip apart your home and belongings to make their nests. This includes fabrics, linens, paper products, insulation and structural components. The more their comfy nests expand and grow, the more your dwelling will deteriorate.

They Chew Through Cables

As squirrels are from the rodent family, their teeth continue to grow. Because of this, they need to keep gnawing and chewing on things to help keep their teeth at manageable lengths.

That’s fine when they are in the wild. But when they are in your home, they will chew at just about anything. That includes, unfortunately, cables and wires. This will of course cause immediate damage to the wires and cables. In addition – depending where the squirrels are – this damage could potentially cause electrical fires. Or, at the very least, annoying disruptions.

So…Are Squirrels Loft Pests?

With the above in mind, we’re sure you’re no longer surprised that the answer to the question “are squirrels pests?“ is yes, they are. We know exactly how to deal with the problem of squirrels here at Diamond. Give us a call on 020 8889 1036 for a quote.

Do you ever find fruit flies in your home and wonder if they came from nowhere? Perhaps you are under the impression they simply materialised by magic from inside rotting fruit? You’re not alone in thinking those things. Due to a persistent old wives’ tale, that’s what many people have historically believed.

Of course, there is no evidence to support the theory that fruit flies are the result of some kind of spontaneous generation.

So, you might wonder, exactly what causes fruit flies in the house?

What Causes Fruit Flies?

Fruit flies have incredible olfactory systems. They can sniff out rotting fruit from some miles away. Rather than coming from inside the fruit to the outside world, they come into the house as your fruit starts to age past the ripe stage. Now, don’t worry, that doesn’t mean that gone off fruit in your fridge will attract them. Their sense of smell isn’t that good!

Basically, any past-its-best fruit – or veg for that matter – you have on your worktops in the kitchen are all the invitation fruit flies need.

When Doors and Windows are Closed

But what about if you’re sitting indoors, thinking you are protected? Your windows and doors were closed and you still managed to get fruit flies. What causes fruit flies in that situation? Well, as you’ve probably noticed, fruit flies are not particularly big. It’s one of the many qualities that makes them so annoying. This is also how they gain access to your home. Even when you’ve been careful to keep your doors and windows closed.

They can fly in through the smallest of gaps and holes in your building. Window screens are also generally no match for fruit flies.

Fruit Flies Go Mad for Rotting Fruit

Fruit doesn’t have to go too overripe before it starts attracting fruit flies. As the fruit ferments and produces alcohol, fruit flies catch the scent and seek it out. Once they find it, they start eating it. And while doing so, they lay many hundreds of eggs at a time. These hatch into new larvae within hours.

You’ll have seen this in action if you have ever gone away for a few days leaving a full fruit bowl in your kitchen. No doubt you have come home to a fruit fly infestation.

It’s not just the fruit or veg you already have in your home that naturally goes off and attracts them. If the fruit you pick up from the supermarket has already began rotting at the shop, it may already have fruit flies.

As you are probably aware, the UK is home to various pests during the summer months. Both big and small. Some, it must be said, are more annoying than others.

While some are mildly infuriating, other summer pests – with their incessant perseverance and irritating characteristics – can drive you mad!

Which are the worst though? Below we have put together our list of the most irritating – and why they’ve made the list. See if you agree.

Wasps – Beware of Stingers

Above all other summer pests, the most pervasive and madness-inducing must be wasps. Okay, they do help with pollination. But they are nothing short of incredibly annoying when you are trying to enjoy a nice pint or fresh summer cocktail in a beer garden. Or a BBQ or picnic. It does rather spoil the mood when they are buzzing around the place.

Wasps don’t seem to take the hint. Even when you are frantically batting your hand to tell them to leave you alone. Being on edge of your seat from the threat of being stung does not a relaxing afternoon make.

Seagulls – Ruin Your Holiday

If you were expecting pigeons to feature somewhere in this list of infuriating summer pests, we can see why, because they are. But, in our opinion, seagulls are more irritating in summer.

Their scavenger nature can lead to more than a bag of chips of two being lost when you’re at the seaside. You may well find yourself trying to protect yourself from a nip from their ferocious beaks.

Flies – The Worst Summer Pests?

It’s fair to say that flies are not as instantly dangerous to us as wasps. However, they do seem to have it in their makeup to be the most annoying insect in the world.

Like wasps, they hover around food and get up in our faces and land on our skin. And, like they’ve got some invisible bungee cord attached to them, returning to the same spot almost as quickly as we chase them away.

Squirrels – Not So Cute

Squirrels are so cute and cuddly, aren’t they? On Countryfile or the opening credits of The Great British Bake Off, certainly they are. However, when they are looking to make themselves a cosy nest in your roof, and chewing through everything from your insulation to your electrical cables, they are a real pain. It’s not just their ability to chew through just about anything. It’s their stubborn attitude of being unmovable without some serious pest control strategy that really makes them a menace. A menace that can quite often lead to insanity!

If you are being pestered and provoked by any of these or more, give Diamond a call. We deal with infestations of all shapes and sizes. We also help out with sound telephone advice on 020 8889 1036.

To be perfectly fair to ants, they are incredible creatures. They play a major part in organic and natural recycling and help with soil aeration. However, that doesn’t mean they are welcome in your house.

For such clever little creatures, you may wonder – why are ants in my house?

Although food plays a part in enticing them into our humble abodes, there are other reasons why too.

Ants Are on the Look for Food

We figured we’d best start with the main reason ants enter your home – on the search for food. Ants are not particularly fussy. They love sugary sweet things though, and all they need is a few scraps. Any crumbs on the worktop in your kitchen could be enough to entice a hungry scout ant in.

They will then leave a trail of pheromones and a tell the rest of their colony. So, it’s important to clean properly. Not just the worktops, but everywhere.

Why Are Ants in My House? It Was Easy To Access

Ants have a sterling reputation of being highly industrious creatures. While this is true, they will make the most of a shortcut and are opportunistic. Just like most other animals and living things.

Take the fact that ants won’t try to access your home with any amount of effort. If you have ants, it’s likely you have an accidental access point you didn’t know about. Remember, they are tiny, and even the smallest, most insignificant little gap is enough for them to enter.

They Are Looking for Water

Does your home have any damp or wet areas? This could be another answer to the question why are ants in my house. Like most living things, they need water.

Any standing water that’s left on your floor or worktops – or other areas of your property – could attract nearby ants into your home. Particularly during extreme weather conditions. This is both when it’s very hot and icy cold, as its harder for them to find water outside.

Ants are also attracted to leaks, slightly damp rugs and carpets, and just about anything wet. So, you really need to be vigilant in making sure your home is dry if you want to keep ants out.

So, if you’ve been wondering why are ants in my house, we hope you have a better idea after reading this post. In order to find a solution to the problem of ants in your house, you need to tackle the points above for prevention. And contact a professional pest removal team like Diamond to tackle the infestation itself.

We are now in the midst of quite a lovely, hot summer in the UK. That means picnics and long lazy afternoons. It means shorts and t-shirts instead of the seven layers we normally wear in the UK. It also means we get a fair share of insects – including wasps.

You may even be unfortunate enough to have a wasp nest on your property, and find yourself in even more direct contact with these buzzing insects than usual.  

But, before you wage war on the family of yellowjackets living on your property, we thought it might be a good idea to give you some wasp nest facts. These will help you avoid getting yourself stung…potentially many times.

Smacking it with a Baseball Bat

You’ve probably seen people – mostly in movies – try to attack a wasp nest on their property with a baseball bat. If you have, and it’s a comedy, you probably know what comes next. The actors get swarmed and run around swatting themselves and the air.

In real life it is not so funny. Wasp nest facts level one: wasp nests consist of many hundreds of wasps ready to defend their home. If you hit it with a bat, you are going to get stung!

Dowsing it with Water

Another thing many people consider to be the most effective way of removing a wasp nest is pouring a whole lot of water over it. This is with a view to drowning the wasps inside. However, this is not such a good idea.

For one thing, although nests are made from a papery substance, the water won’t kill off all the wasps. What it will do though is anger them – and guess what? You get stung.

In some cases, water could also damage your property or your belongings. All for the sake of a strategy that won’t work anyway:

Burning it with Fire

As well as being ineffective, using fire could be very dangerous. It is not a recommended way to try and rid your property of a wasp nest and its inhabitants. Although extremely flammable, burning a nest will not kill all the wasps. You’ll have a lot of distressed wasps who’ve just seen their home burnt to a crisp. And they will be quite aggressive.  

Even if you don’t get stung multiple times, the fire could so easily get out of control. It could then spread, and you could get yourself or your property burned in the process.

What Do Our Wasp Nest Facts Tell You?

The main message here is if you are going to try and tackle them yourself, don’t. The best and most guaranteed way to get rid of wasp nests is with help from the professionals. Experts like Diamond know the most appropriate and safest methods to do the job successfully.