Pests Through the Ages

As far back as prehistoric times, pests have caused humans a problem. During this period humans were fewer and, with no homes or possessions or crops, pests were more likely to be those which caused physical discomfort such as lice, fleas, flies and mosquitoes.

Pest control back in those times was most likely to have been limited to picking; swatting, slapping and squashing! Some of these measures continue to be used today!

There are historical accounts of woollen clothing and feathers in centurion’s helmets being eaten during Roman times.

In medieval times the plague or “black death” spread throughout Europe and Asia killing millions of people. Rats have long been cited as the cause of the black death although recently more controversial studies have pointed the finger at fleas and body lice with the implication that actually humans were the cause of the spread of the disease.

The black death wiped out a third of Europe’s population in the mid-1300s. Whether or not this theory is true, rats have still played a significant role in spreading disease in modern plagues.

In Tudor times, the monarchy used to employ people to beat carpets to get rid of moths and used cedar wood chests to try and keep pests at bay.

In Victorian times, new species of pests were introduced into the UK with an increase in trade around the world

And, in the late 20th and 21st century we have seen a rise in other pests due to climate change.

The fact that some pests have been around far longer than man gives an indication of the problems that are faced by pest control in the current century. Pests, like humans, evolve. They adapt quickly to their environment and they can become resistant to some control measures over time.

Some interesting pest control measures throughout history

Roman agricultural text of 50 A.D. (De re Rustica) suggests the following for protection from caterpillars: "a woman ungirded and with flying hair must run barefoot around the garden, or a crayfish must be nailed up in different places in the garden." Fortunately, at PGM & Son Pest Control we’ve never encountered these DIY methods on our rounds!

After the fall of the Roman Empire Europeans relied increasingly on religious faith, superstition, and legalistic pronouncements, and less on biological knowledge.

A few examples (from Dethier, 1976) illustrate this:

Year / Period	Location	Event / Practice	Pest(s) Involved	Method / Outcome
666 A.D.	Flussen	St. Magnus, Abbot of Flussen, repulsed pests using the staff of St. Columbia.	Locusts and other pests	Religious/spiritual intervention
1476 A.D.	Berne, Switzerland	Cutworms were taken to court, declared guilty, excommunicated, and banished.	Cutworms	Legal and religious punishment
Eighteenth century	Europe	People wore flea trap necklaces designed to capture fleas.	Fleas	Mechanical trap with sticky tube; effectiveness unknown
1841	—	T. W. Harris’s Treatise on Some of the Insects Injurious to Vegetation advised paying children to collect caterpillars.	Caterpillars	Manual collection for payment (“by the quart”)

Fortunately, pest control has improved throughout history and is based much more on scientific fact.

---

If you’re experiencing a pest problem in Herefordshire or Worcestershire, give PGM & Son Pest Control Services a call on 01981 540088.

Our award-winning pest control team are experts in Rats, mice, wasps, flies, fleas, bed bugs, cockroaches, ants, silverfish, squirrels, moles, moths, carpet beetles – or any other pest, we’ve got it covered!

If you prefer, you can email us contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or you can use the AI Pest Assist facility at the bottom of your screen.