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Ensure a Bed Bug-Free Stay for Every Guest with Our Swab Service! As a holiday let provider, you understand that guest satisfaction and their safety are your top priorities. Our Bed Bug Swab Service offers peace of mind for you and your guests. We’ll come in between bookings, perform a rapid swab test to detect any early signs of bed bug activity, and provide immediate eradication if needed.   Benefits of Our Bed Bug Swab Service Peace of Mind for you and your Guests Fast and Accurate Testing Immediate Action and Treatment Protect your Reputation Cost-Effective Management Fast and Discreet Testing Protection Against Negative Reviews Support for all Accommodation Types Reliable Bed Bug Detection Services across Herefordshire and Worcestershire What We Offer: Fast, Accurate Testing : Our swab test is discreet and thorough, ensuring no signs of pests go undetected. Immediate Action : If any signs of bed bug activity are found, our team is ready to provide a comprehensive treatment, keeping your property pest-free and guest-ready. Protect Your Reputation : Bed bug incidents can hurt guest reviews and reputation—our service helps prevent this. Supporting the Hospitality Industry: Bed Bug Testing for All Accommodation Our Clients rely on us for a pest-free business: Hotels, B&Bs, Social Housing and Holiday Rental Properties. For businesses that cater to guests frequently and rely on clean, pest-free accommodations to maintain their reputation. Holiday Rental Companies & Property Managers Managing multiple properties requires a commitment to guest satisfaction. Frequent bed bug swab testing is essential for these businesses to prevent infestations that can lead to negative reviews and lost revenue. By ensuring a pest-free environment, property managers can enhance their reputation and attract more guests. Boutique Hotels and Inns For smaller establishments that pride themselves on high cleanliness standards, our proactive bed bug detection services are invaluable. Boutique hotels and inns face heightened scrutiny from guests who expect immaculate conditions. Regular testing helps mitigate risks, ensuring that these properties maintain their reputation for excellence and guest comfort. B&Bs and Guesthouses Family-owned or independent B&Bs often rely on local services for quick responses to pest issues. Our reliable bed bug swab testing provides peace of mind, allowing these businesses to focus on delivering a warm, welcoming experience for their guests without the worry of infestations disrupting their operations. High-Traffic Holiday Rental Homes Properties with frequent bookings and rapid turnover are at increased risk for bed bug transfer. Our testing service is crucial for these high-traffic rentals to catch any potential infestations early, minimising disruption and ensuring that every guest enjoys a comfortable stay. Luxury and Premium Holiday Let Providers Luxury accommodations have elevated expectations regarding guest satisfaction. Our proactive bed bug testing service is essential for maintaining the high standards that discerning guests demand. By preventing infestations before they occur, these providers can uphold their reputation and ensure repeat business. Corporate Housing and Short-Term Rentals Companies offering accommodations for business travelers must guarantee a clean, pest-free environment. Our bed bug swab testing service helps these businesses provide assurance to their guests, fostering trust and encouraging positive experiences that lead to repeat bookings. Social Housing and Council-Owned Properties We support social housing initiatives by providing effective bed bug testing services to ensure safe living conditions for residents. Addressing pest issues promptly not only enhances the quality of life for tenants but also upholds the integrity of the housing authority's commitment to community welfare. Ensure a Pest-Free Environment for Your Business! Our Bed-Bug Swab Affordable Pricing Packages Single Swab Service (Pay-Per-Visit) Ideal for properties with lower turnover rates or those looking to try the service before committing. ✔ Single swab test with report, plus any recommendations for preventive steps. (Reduced treatment rate if eradication is needed after a positive result.) Monthly/Seasonal Package (Pay for multiple short-term visits) Perfect for properties with frequent guest turnover during peak seasons, such as summer holidays. ✔ Monthly or bi-weekly swabs, prioritised booking slots, and discounted rates on treatment if needed. Annual Subscription (Best Value) For properties looking to maintain high standards year-round and want peace of mind without the hassle of frequent bookings. ✔ Regular monthly swabs with unlimited emergency checks if requested, priority response for any positive findings, and discounted rates on any bed bug treatments. Bed bugs are on the rise, with reports indicating a significant increase in infestations across the UK. Join us for an insightful discussion on bed bugs with Phil Martin, owner of PGM and Son Pest Control, as featured on BBC Radio Hereford and Worcester. In this video, we delve into the rising concerns surrounding bed bug infestations in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, particularly in light of recent reports warning of a potential surge in cases across Europe. CALL FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION PRICE QUOTE BASED ON YOUR PREFERRED PACKAGE AND TAILORED TO YOUR BUSINESS PREMISES SIZE AND REQUIREMENTS. 📞 01981 540088 In today’s competitive hospitality industry, ensuring a bed bug-free environment is not just a luxury—it's a necessity . Our Bed Bug Swab Service offers you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your property is protected against these unwelcome pests. By choosing our proactive bed bug testing and treatment solutions, you can enhance guest satisfaction, protect the reputation of your hospitality business , and ultimately drive more bookings. Avoid letting a bed bug incident damage your establishment’s reputation. Protect your guests' comfort and your hospitality business’s success by investing in our dependable and efficient bed bug swab testing service. Bed Bugs Can Cost You More Than You Think! - Contact PGM Pest Control today to schedule your free bed bug swab testing consultation on 01981 540088 or e mail us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk  or use the live chat facility on our website . 7 Days a week Emergency Bed Bug Removal: We’re Here When You Need Us!

This week we’re blogging about fleas in Hereford again and why?! Well, because, pest controllers are being inundated with calls from the public about fleas and at PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford we’re no different – calls about flea problems are up significantly from last year. The press recently reported that flea complaints across the UK have increased by 415% in 2019. Why Are We Seeing an Increase in Fleas? Record heat temperatures combined with the usual British rain has combined to make very humid conditions which are the perfect environment for fleas. Fleas thrive in these conditions and this accelerates their life cycle – they can grow from an egg to a fully-grown adult flea in just two weeks. July was the hottest month on record for the Earth since records started in 1880. The other contributory factor is the UK's love of cats and dogs! Around a quarter of UK households own at least one dog and almost 20% a cat so fleas have an abundance of hosts in the UK. Although fleas love the host animal, they are more likely to be found in bedding, furniture, carpets and rugs. And, a small flea problem can quickly become a problem – some flea species lay up to 40 eggs per day. Spot the Signs you May Have Fleas, which include: Your pets are scratching. You can see fleas or flea droppings in the coat of your cat or dog (try back brushing your pets or brush them over a piece of paper to more easily spot the signs of fleas). You or your family experience bites – usually around the ankles or legs. Typically, flea bites are a small red spot about 5mm in diameter. You can see fleas jumping in your carpets or on your furniture if you have an active infestation. So, as a reminder, be vigilant; checks your pets regularly including their bedding. Flea Top Tip for Herefordshire Tenents When you move into a new property check for signs of fleas . And, ask your landlord whether the previous tenants had pets and whether a flea fumigation was undertaken prior to your occupation. If you have a flea problem in Herefordshire  or Worcestershire  call PGM and Son Flea Control Services , for all your flea control needs and flea advice. About PGM Pest Control PGM Pest Control  is an award-winning pest control company based in the UK, offering trusted, effective, and environmentally responsible services for homes and businesses. Known for our expert knowledge, educational resources, and excellent customer service, we go beyond treatments — we help our clients understand pests and prevent future problems. 👉 Visit us at   www.pgmpestcontrol.co.uk  for professional pest control, insect identification, and free downloads.

Bees around your property and business are very important and beneficial. Bees are pollinators and critical to our fragile ecosystem. Gooden's Nomad bee (Nomada goodeniana) Bees do not normally exhibit aggressive behaviours towards humans and therefore leaving them to complete their full seasonal cycle is vital to our ecosystem. Bees do not cause any problems to your property, and nor are you in danger of being stung, if they are left alone and unprovoked. After the summer season the bees will go away and not return to the nesting site the following year. Read more here >> The protection and preservation of bees in the UK is crucial. And as responsible pest management professionals we’ve pledged to educate our customers on the benefits of bees, taking any eradication action as a last resort. Our mission remains to Leave them Bee! If we didn’t treat your bees for you, it’s because we deemed them to be low risk to you or your customers. However, if the threat of bees changes you can always contact us for advice and guidance. Having a problem with Bees? PGM & SON Pest Control will not treat bees unless there is a serious risk to public health. Bees are great for the environment and, as they are beneficial, we do not consider them to be a pest. Bees will not normally sting unless provoked so we encourage you to try to live in harmony with your bees. ​ If, however, your bees are causing a nuisance we can suggest that you contact your local beekeeper who may be able to remove the swarm. Visit: www.bbka.org.uk/swarm. Enter your postcode at the foot of the page to find your local beekeeper. Alternatively, you can contact the British Beekeepers Association on 0871 362 0138 (please note calls to this number cost 24p for the first minute and 9p per minute thereafter plus your phone company's access charge). They should be able to point you in the direction of the nearest beekeeper. If there is a risk to public health in Herefordshire or Worcestershire, you should contact PGM & SON Pest Control via the following methods: Telephone 01981 540088 or if you have an emergency call our 24/hr helpline on 07964 370480 Email: contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or use our live chat facility on the right hand side of your screen.

Introducing The Honeybee! PGM & SON Pest Control Services are proud to announce our new series of 'Pest Trumps'! Today we launch the first of many of our information cards about pests so you can understand more about our work and how pests have a place in our world. You can download each file for free to use at your workplace to help identify pests for the safety of your staff and visitors. The collection of the PGM 'Pest Control Trump' information cards are produced to help with pest-related problems within UK. << DOWNLOAD FOR FREE >> PGM & SON are compiling a comprehensive range of 'Pest Trump' publications available for the pest management sector and the general public to download for free to help with pest-related problems in the UK. If you wish to keep updated with our latest updates in the Pest Trump range please subscribe to our blog and never miss an update!

Here's how our trained pest controllers helped rescue wild bees! What should I do if I find a wild bee colony in my house, garden or property? Bees are a valuable pollinators and pest control companies will not destroy bee nests. If it is a honey bee hive then you should get in contact with your local bee keeper association and they will put you in contact with local beekeepers who may be able to remove the colony for you or advise you on what to do. There are over 200 types of Bees in the UK, including 25 types of bumblebees! Different types of bee may require different treatment methods. Note: pest controllers do not apply bee treatments unless there's a serious threat to human life, 25% of all bee types are endangered. Advice about Relocating Bees If a nest is outside or underground then there shouldn't be a reason to move it. In more conventional and accessible places such as bushes, trees and sheds, then contacting a local beekeeper or pest controller to relocate the nest is an option. If you suspect you have honeybees and they are causing you problems then we would recommend you use a swarm collector from the British Bee Keepers Association or getting in touch with the Tree Bee Society. In most cases, they will come and collect the swarm free of charge. Relocating a colony or a swarm of Bees in Hereford & Worcester When moving a beehive from one place to another a few things need to be taken into consideration, reducing stress on the bees and avoiding unpleasant surprises. If you follow some rules it can be quite simple. Not knowing the rules or not following them can have disastrous effects. Everything valid about relocating a beehive is also applicable when relocating a feral bee colony after the nest has been transferred into a hive. Relocating a captured bee swarm is much simpler. A bee swarm has "forgotten" were it came from and the bees of a swarm reset their navigation system's home location once they have found a new home. Therefore, having captured a swarm, no rules apply for the new location - provided the swarm is relocated within a day from the time of capture. A swarm can be placed close to the home it emerged from; the bees accept the new hive location as their home and will not get disoriented or confused being near to their original location, even if it is only a meter away. What should you do if a swarm of bees takes up residence in your home or garden? It's the time of year when bees are at their most active and numerous reports have been coming in of swarms in gardens and even getting into properties. Most beekeepers may make a charge for removal of a swarm from your garden depending on travelling distances to cover costs of petrol etc. Swarms of honey bees can usually be safely removed by a suitably qualified beekeeper if they are contacted in time. If the honey bees have left their post swarming clustering place and taken up residence in the fabric of a building, that can be more difficult (if not impossible) to be safely dealt with by a beekeeper. Professional pest control personnel will be required to undertake the work either solely or in conjunction with a beekeeper. If the honey bees are not causing a nuisance or a threat, they can be left alone. Some properties are known to have had honey bee colonies within their fabric for many years without causing any disturbance or problems to the property owner. Beekeepers are unable to help remove bumblebees, wasps, solitary bees or hornets so it is best to call in a pest control professional to help you solve the problem. Get in touch with PGM & SON today for bee nest removal help, support and guidance across Herefordshire and Worcestershire on 01981 540088 or 07964 370480.

This week we’re reporting on the high numbers of call outs we’re getting about bees. Bees are vitally important to our ecosystem. They are beneficial and should be protected where possible. Why do we love bees at PGM & Son Pest Control? 1. Bees are pollinators – they help plants to grow, breed and produce food. 2. The vast majority of plants we need for food rely on pollination, especially by bees. 3. Bees also pollinate the beautiful wild flowers across the countryside Thanks to bees we enjoy a range of foods from apples to pears to coffee and vanilla. And if you are wearing cotton, that’s because the cotton plant your threads came from was pollinated. Bees are not the only pollinators, but they are specialists – call them the subject matter experts of pollination! And contrary to popular belief – bees are not normally aggressive towards humans. If left alone to do their important job, they won’t bother you. Damage to our environment has been a hot topic in the news recently. Most of us care about the environment and the future for the next generations and the animal and insect kingdom so it’s very important we work together to protect species, particularly those on the decline such as the vitally important bee. What can you do if you have bees? • Keep away from them. • Don’t panic if your bees are more active on warm days – this is entirely normal. • Enjoy watching them from a distance – bees are fascinating creatures! • Educate your children on the benefits of bees and keep your children and pets away from them to allow them to do their important work. • Make sure you carry out routine maintenance on your home to avoid bees entering your property or business. • Leave them alone – they will naturally go towards the end of summer so enjoy your bees while you can! CHECK OUT THE PHOTO OF THIS FASCINATING BEES’ NEST WE RECENTLY HELPED RELOCATE!! What can you expect if you call PGM & SON about a bee problem? Firstly, we’ll ask you a bit more about your bees, what they look like, where you’ve seen them and also a bit about you and your family and pets. We do this to see whether there is an immediate risk to public health. If we believe there’s no immediate threat then we won’t treat bees; there’s no need to be alarmed about this. Bees won’t usually cause you any problems and we’ll normally advise you to leave them alone to carry on their important work of fulfilling their seasonal cycle which benefits the ecosystem around your home or business. You can also expect advice from us – we’ll give you advice over the ‘phone and we’ll often follow this up by sending you a copy of our guidance for bees. This document explains why we don’t treat bees as a pest and how you can contact local beekeepers who may be able to remove the swarm. When are bees considered a public health risk? We may treat a bees’ nest if the location of a bees’ nest is dangerous and removal is not possible. Or, if there are people with allergies living in the property or working on the premises. These are normally rare situations and so usually we will leave a bees’ nest alone. Learn more about bee nest removal advice here. If you have a bee problem you need help with in Herefordshire or Worcestershire, give PGM & Son Pest Control a call so we can discuss a range of solutions with you, which enable us to live in harmony with our friends the bees. Email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or call us on 01981 540088 / 07964 370480 or use our contact us page on the website to ask us for a copy of our guidance on bees.

Got Bees? Let them bee! The UK saw a lovely warm sunny weather over the weekend and with that weather set to continue, we have already enjoyed seeing the bee population starting their important job of pollinating. Why we should love and protect our bees • Bees are critical to the ecosystem across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. • Bees pollinate around a third of all our crops, including those we use to feed our livestock. • Around a quarter of all bee types are endangered Bees are the key workers of the insect kingdom. Bees are critical to our ecosystem and it is essential that they are protected. At PGM & Son Pest Control WE LOVE OUR BEES! #leavethebeesalone! Top 5 Tips for dealing with Bees 1. Topping the bee tip chart our key advice is, if you can, LEAVE THEM BEE! Our advice is always leave bees alone wherever possible and let the bees go about their very important ecological business. 2. Coming in at number 2 is to encourage children to watch the bees going about their work. Bees are fascinating insects, and it is a real education observing them. The good news is that bees are not usually aggressive but as with any insect or animal they must be respected. Remind children to socially distance with the bees whilst watching them pollinate. 3. As the weather starts to hot up, bees will become more active. This is entirely normally so no need to panic! Importantly, remember that bees will go away and not return to the nesting site after the summer. In fact, by the time most people notice a colony, the activity will be naturally declining. 4. If your bees are causing a problem because of their location then call in a local beekeeper to see whether they can relocate the nest for you (but only if it’s necessary and you are unable to leave it where it is). 5. If you are worried about bees, give us a call at PGM & Son Hereford as we can talk to you about why bees are important and set your mind at rest about the risk to you. In most cases, the risk of being stung will be extremely low. In rare situations bees can be hazardous and, where there is a threat to the public, you can contact a pest controller to address the problem. Examples are where someone in a household has a severe allergy or bees are in a location easily accessible to vulnerable children and adults who may not understand the importance of leaving them bee. If a pest controller doesn’t risk assess your situation – bee-ware! If you have a bee problem you need help with, give PGM & Son Pest Control a call so we can discuss a range of solutions with you, which enable us to live in harmony with our friends the bees. Check our our bee nest removal page for guidance. Email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or call us on 01981 540088 / 07964 370480 or use our our live chat facility at the bottom of your screen.

This week we’re looking at the subject of mice. Did you know each part of the mouse breeding cycle takes typically around 21 days? That’s around 3 weeks for gestation, around 3 weeks for weaning and a further 3 to 3 and a half weeks for developing to maturity. Mouse fact number 1: Mice typically survive for less than a year in the wild. How many babies do mice produce? On average between 5 and 7 pups but it can be up to 12. A female can become pregnant almost immediately after giving birth which is one reason why an infestation of mice can rapidly become out of control. That means females can produce between 5 and 10 litters a year. 120 mice from one female is a lot of mice! Mouse fact number 2: Mice are colour blind. Their other senses make up for this though – they have an acute sense of hearing and they use their whiskers to sense temperature changes and surface textures. Mouse fact number 3: Mice are nocturnal and are great at climbing, jumping and swimming – contenders for the rodent Olympics! Mouse fact number 4: Mice can squeeze through any gap into which they can fit their head – around 5mm . And the reason they can do this is that they have flexible ribs! Unlike rats, mice make multiple trips at night to various food sources which can make it difficult to control them with toxic bait. This differs from rats who will gobble up one food source. How can I prevent Mice? Proof, proof, proof! Seal your entry points. This can be quite difficult with mice – remember how we said they can squeeze through a hole 5mm in diameter? That’s equivalent to the end of a bic biro! Start with low level gaps first and then move to higher entry points. Take particular care around areas like pipes, windows, doors and cellars or basements as we often find these are common entry points for mice. If you gap under a door is larger than 4mm then install a door brush strip. Take a good look around the exterior of your property for potential nesting sites. This means cutting back any overgrown areas and clearing debris. Keep your garden clean and tidy. Do the same in your cellar, basement and loft! Check household waste is tidied away into sealed bins and that your rubbish is collected or removed regularly. Don’t forget about your compost heap either – make sure you have a suitable cover. Clear and wipe down surfaces in your house – don’t give mice a food source. Put unused food away into sealed containers. Encourage your teenagers to clean their rooms regularly and to empty their bins. A teenager’s room is often the place that used crockery and food crumbs are found so important to try to train your teenager! As the British Pest Control Association says, “Whilst good hygiene won’t eliminate a mouse problem, poor practices will attract them.” How to get rid of Mice If you do have a mouse problem, we recommend contacting a professional fully qualified pest controller. You can adopt some DIY mouse control methods but, in our experience, these rarely work effectively. If you do want to have a go at your DIY mouse control, then make sure you read the label on any amateur use poisons and traps you buy. And, when placing traps or poison make sure that you place them in a safe and secure place out of the reach of children and pets and any other non-target species. However, the best way to deal with a mouse problem is to find your local BPCA Pest Controller . PGM & Son Pest Control is fully trained in handling mice infestations . We have access to a range of professional mice control treatments that are not available to the general public. PGM & Son Pest Control technicians are trained to know how much, where and when to use mouse control treatments. And, we have access to monitoring equipment to enable us to determine possible entry points, size of infestation and to track mice to their nest. At PGM & Son Pest Control, we operate an Integrated Pest Management approach meaning that we will work with you to advise you on how to reduce your risk of attracting mice in future. For all your pest control needs, give PGM & Son Pest Control Herefordshire and Worcestershire a call on 01981 540088 or 07964 370480 for a free no-obligation chat. If you prefer, you can email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or you can use the live chat facility on the right side of your screen.

Introducing The Rat! This week we are excited to carry on with our series of "Pest Trumps" at PGM & SON Pest Control Services with The Rat . Each file is available for free download , and you may use them at work to help identify pests for the protection of your workers and customers. The PGM "Pest Control Trumps" set of information cards were created to assist with pest-related issues in the UK and to ensure the public are armed with the correct information about each pest we highlight in our pest trump series. By proactively promoting an integrated pest management approach, we can protect people and food as well as wildlife and the environment. We all have an important part to play in educating the public and business that prevention is better than cure. At PGM & SON we know stewardship and sustainability are critical both to the survival of the pest control industry and to our planet. THE RAT - FACTS 101 FACT FILE Aside from the wasp, probably the most well-known pest in the UK – the Rat! There are two main rat species in the UK, the most common is Rattus Norvegicus also known as the brown rat. The other is Rattus Rattus which is commonly known as the black rat or ship rat although these are now rarely seen in the UK. Rats are disease carriers and spreaders and so considered a public health risk. DID YOU KNOW Historically, the harsh winter climate in the UK was a natural way of culling the rodent population but with milder climates the rat population in the UK has grown. There are an estimated 150 million rats in the UK so if you haven’t seen one, you’re in the minority. If you own a property, you have a legal obligation to keep premises rodent free, or if there is a threat to health or property, to report it to the local authority. A RATS STRENGTH - 9 The rat’s greatest strength is in their teeth. They can gnaw through just about anything – wood, glass, metal, bone – you name it they can chew it! This means they can cause significant damage to property with their gnawing which can result in structural damage and other significant issues such as fire and flood risk when they chew through electrical cables and pipes. BREEDING OF RATS - 10 Rats score very highly in the breeding category. In fact, the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) awards them a gold medal when it comes to breeding! A female rat can reproduce every 6 weeks and her litters can produce 6-8 babies. Each part of the cycle takes an average of 21 days. A rat can become pregnant very quickly after giving birth so a rat infestation can very rapidly grow out of control. New-borns sexually mature after just 5 weeks when they can also start to produce babies. This means that a pair of brown rats could produce up to 200 babies and 2,000 descendants in just one year or more! NUISANCE FACTOR OF RATS - 10 Rats are a major nuisance both in the house, business premises and garden. They burrow, gnaw, urinate, defecate, nest and generally make a mess. Their urine also produces a very nasty strong, distinctive smell which isn’t easy to get rid of. More than being a nuisance, rats carry and spread serious disease to humans such as Weil’s disease, Salmonella and Listeria. They can also cause significant structural damage to property. All things considered; the rat is up there as one of the UK’s most problematic pests. AGILITY OF RATS - 9 Rats are also agile. Gardeners and allotment holders often report sightings of rats climbing nimbly up bird tables to reach food. They also shimmy up drainpipes and scurry through sewers and squeeze through small holes to get into places. They are good swimmers too. If the rat was entering the Olympics, it would be up for a silver medal in the triathlon! ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE RAT POPULATION - 2 Although not as essential as other pests we’ve reviewed in this series, nevertheless rats are an important part of balancing our ecosystem. They provide a food source for other predatory animals. Also, they are opportunistic scavengers and will happily clear up the food we throw away. RATS SUPERPOWER - Highly Advanced Rats are highly adaptable and developed. They have a well-developed sense of smell and touch and an acute sense of hearing, frequently using ultrasound to communicate. They are neophobic meaning that they are wary of new objects, and they are highly mobile. All these traits how shown that rats are also capable of being trained. So, all in all, the rat is a highly developed creature. Overall PGM Rating 2/10 The rat scores impressively in pretty much every category and we must give them credit for that. But we’ve given them an overall low rating due to their risk to public health. The rat is widely regarded as the UK’s most problematic pest, most often described as vermin and has been seen as this throughout history. Even going back to the 14th and 17th centuries rats were blamed for the Black Death plague that swept Europe although recent studies suggest that they might not have been responsible.

Introducing The Mouse! This week we are excited to carry on with our series of "Pest Trumps" at PGM & SON Pest Control Services with The Mouse 101. Each pest trump file is available to download for free so you may use them at your business to help identify pests for the protection of your workers and customers. The PGM "Pest Control Trump" set of information cards is created to assist with pest-related issues in the UK. The Mouse 101 FACT FILE Coming alongside the Wasp and the Rat, another of the UK’s most common pests includes mice. Mice are a part of British wildlife and are active all year round. Field mice mainly live outdoors so are not normally a cause for concern. The house mouse on the other hand is a public health issue and can cause serious harm and damage. Mice are disease carriers and have been known to spread nasty diseases such as Listeria and Salmonella to humans through droppings, urine and bedding. They mark their territory with urine and build nests near to food sources putting humans at risk of food poisoning. Did you know this about Mice? Mice are sporadic feeders; on average they eat between 15-20 times a day despite their tiny size. Researchers have found that mice populations are increasing due to milder climates. The Mouse Strength Mice are small but their teeth are sharp. They are voracious gnawers and chew through wood, metal, pipes and cables to keep their teeth sharp. In fact, their gnawing through cables and pipework can cause electrical fires and flooding so the tiny mouse has super strength teeth. The Breeding of Mice Mice breed super quickly so they score highly in this category. On average, there are usually six pups in a litter, so 12 young in two months with the original breeding pair. Those first six young will take a while to become sexually mature, maybe six weeks. They could all then have a litter themselves, then the numbers really start adding up. One female can have five to ten litters per year. So, by the end of a year, it’s easy to end up with 2,000 mice, scurrying around transmitting dirt and bacteria over work surfaces. Mice, Nuisance Factor Due to the fact they can cause damage to property such as electrical fires and flooding along with their ability to spread disease and their rapid breeding cycle, the mouse is up there with wasps and rats for their nuisance factor. Mice Agility Mice are pretty agile, they can squeeze through a gap of only 5mm to gain entry – that’s roughly the size of the end of a pencil! That makes proofing extremely difficult. They are also great jumpers, climbers and swimmers. All round athletes! Their Environmental Impact Mice are an essential part of our ecosystem. Mice are a food source to large numbers of predators such as foxes, weasels, hawks, owls, shrews and more. Superpower: Nifty Ninjas These tiny mice can cause significant damage to property and to public health. Their ability to gain access through the smallest of gaps and their sharp teeth make them nifty ninjas! Overall Mouse Rating 4/10 Along with the rat, mice score highly most categories. However, similarly, we’ve given them an overall low rating due to their risk to public health and property. Mice are particularly problematic because of their ability to breed rapidly meaning you can have a large mice infestation in a relatively short period of time. To aid with pest-related issues in the UK, PGM & SON are creating a complete variety of "Pest Trump" documents that are available for the pest management industry and the general public to download for free . Please subscribe to our blog if you want to stay up to date with all of our current developments on the Pest Trump line. If you have a mouse or any pest problem, it’s usually best to call in the professionals. Find your local trusted BPCA pest controller here. For all your pest problems throughout Herefordshire and Worcestershire give PGM & Son Pest Control a call on 01981 540088 or 07964 370480 for a free no-obligation chat. If you prefer, you can email us at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk or use the live chat facility on the right hand side of your screen, and if we’re not available on the live chat for any reason then there’s a handy message service for you to leave your details so we can call you back.

This week we’re giving a heads up on wasps as the wasp season looms. We want people to know that wasps aren’t all bad despite their reputation as a fierce pest! Wasps are early pollinators which means that they are good for the environment. Wasps are particularly beneficial in gardens, they feed their grubs on caterpillars and other insects and this reduces other pest populations. The wasp is therefore a predator which plays a vital ecological role controlling the numbers of pests such as greenfly. Our shout out in the month of May is to leave the wasps to continue to do their work where at all possible. If you can’t live with a wasp nest, it’s in an inconvenient location or is a public health issue (for example, because someone in your home suffers from allergic reactions) then call PGM & Son Pest Control Hereford for help. We can treat wasps’ nests for you. Queen wasps emerge from hibernation from March through to May normally so you may be seeing them in your garden at this time of year. Queen wasps get their sweet sugary liquids as nectar from flowers making them valuable pollinators. Lots of people mistakenly assume that they must have a nest when queens emerge in spring and sadly many of the queens are killed off. Two simple things you can do if you have queen wasps: Open windows and allow the queens to escape Seal up entry points into your property from the outside effectively “wasp proofing” your property Once the wasp season is well underway, wasps’ nests tend to increase in size, and this is when wasps may become an issue. Apart from being a nuisance they often present a serious risk to public health. However, there’s some simple things you can do though to prevent wasps invading your home or business, such as: Securing your home – keeping windows and doors shut or installing fly screens Keeping your bins away from the house or your business and making sure they are regularly emptied, cleaned and have tight fitting lids Check your property or business for wasps’ nests – if you arm yourself with the knowledge of where your problem is and how big a problem you have, you’ll find it easier to live with or to deal with. Checking for nests early can often stop a problem getting worse – once you think you have a wasp nest, call PGM & SON Hereford for advice or help. If you do have a wasps’ nest, it’s best not to treat it yourself. Treating wasps’ nests can be very dangerous as wasps can become extremely aggressive if threatened. Unlike bees, wasps don’t die after one sting and multiple stings from multiple wasps can be extremely painful and, in severe cases, fatal. To keep yourself and your family and customers from harm, always call in the professionals. We have access to a range of solutions not available to the general public. We also wear protective clothing to avoid being stung ourselves and we’re trained to deal with wasps’ nests. So let your wasps, especially the Queens, do their early pollination work and keep an eye out for nests in your home or business.If you do have a problem, give PGM & Son Hereford a call – we offer a fast, reliable, local wasp nest removal service across Herefordshire and Worcestershire .

Have you noticed the evenings starting to draw in and the mornings feeling colder when you wake up? If you’ve got a house mouse this may well be because of the Summer end; mice are often found in properties as they look for warmth and shelter, nesting sites and food sources. Mice may look cute, but they can carry some very serious diseases which spread to humans such as Salmonella and Listeria which cause food poisoning. Mice can also cause significant damage to buildings as they are capable of gnawing through electric cables, woodwork, pipes and packaging. Mice have been known to cause electrical fires and flooding in properties so early intervention is critical. For those running a business, particularly a food business, mice can cause irreparable damage to reputation. Customers don’t like sharing their lunch with mice! Don’t panic if you’ve seen mice in your house or business, at PGM & Son Mice Control Hereford we can help eradicate your mouse problem. How do you know if you have a mouse problem? Droppings! Mice droppings are usually black, 3-6mm long and rod shaped. You may find these under kitchen units and in roof spaces. Mice can lay lots of droppings, around 80 per day, and when freshly laid they are soft and moist. Nests – in lofts or under floorboards. Nests are made of wool, cloth and paper. Gnaw marks on skirting boards, pipes, cables and furniture. Dark grey smear marks left by their oily fur. It’s important to mouse proof your home or business – however, this can prove particularly tricky in older properties. Mice can squeeze through holes the size of the end of a bic biro! Mice breed rapidly so once you’ve seen one mouse you can be sure you’ll have a large family of them very soon if you don’t deal with the problem. This is why DIY remedies aren’t usually effective – mice adapt quickly and they are very mobile so a trained pest professional will be able to deal with your mouse problem far quicker and more effectively. If you spot the signs of mice, give us a call as soon as possible. Don’t let mice run riot in your home, garden or business. Give us a call at PGM & Son Pest Control Herefordshire and Worcestershire for help with mice control services . Give us a call on 01981 540088 or for emergency 24-hour call out 07964 370480 Or, drop us an email at contact@pgmpestcontrol.co.uk