Identifying pests

Although Prokill will identify specific risks and infestations, together with recommending the solutions to their control; it might help you to identify your specific concerns by clicking on the images of the pests below to better understand the potential problems they can generate.

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Vermin

Rat
The two rats are distinguished from each other by body size, shape of nose and ears, length of tail, lifestyle habits, and the shape of droppings. However, despite their common names, surprisingly, colour is not a useful distinguishing feature.
Moles
These mammals are classified as insectivores and their principal diet consists of live earthworms, grubs, beetles, ants and other insect larvae. Their appetite is voracious, and they generally eat in excess of their own weight in food every day.
Mice
Although the UK is home to over six varieties of Mouse, the greatest damage by far is caused by the most common - the 'house mouse'.

Birds

Gulls (Fam. Laridae)
Almost every town in the UK now has a growing population of roof-nesting gulls and claims by national papers say "Gulls may become a greater pest than rats"
Starlings (Sturmus vulgaris)
These birds are able to defecate one-third of their body weight during roosting. Solitary birds are no problem, however, starlings live in pairs during the early summer months and in the late summer.
Feral pigeons (Columba livia)
Feral pigeons have been found to carry more detrimental diseases to man than rats, and are one of the largest causes of internal biting insect problems within offices and homes.

Insects

Bed Bugs
The common bedbug (Cimex lectularius) is the best adapted to human environments. It is now found throughout the world and lives off the blood of humans. Adult bedbugs are a reddish-brown, flattened, oval, and wingless.
Stored Product Pests
Import and export laws to different countries are now complex and stringent so as to limit/attempt to eradicate the transference of this classification of pest due to the catastrophic detrimental effect they can have on such a wide variety of food products.
Cockroach
Unacceptable pests of homes, restaurants, commercial and industrial premises, often introduced into buildings through the transportation of goods and equipment - even next door neighbours.
Flies
Fly control is an important aspect of everyday life for all of us, never more so for many commercial and industrial businesses, as it is a requirement of law.
Fleas
Fleas are small 1.5 to 3.3 mm long, agile, usually dark coloured, wingless insects with tube-like mouthparts adapted to feeding on the blood of their hosts.
Ants
All ants belong to the order of insects known as Hymenoptera, which include some of the most highly evolved insects known to man.
Moth
All species have four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. In all species the larva is the most destructive stage. Extensive and costly damage can be caused to carpets and household furnishings by these pests.
Beetle
Most common of all is perhaps the Varied Carpet Beetle, also know as 'Woolly Bear'. This has been recognised as a major pest of economic importance and despite thorough cleaning and treatment processes, is very difficult to control.
The Common Wasp
Wasps belong to the same order of insects as ants and are some of the most highly evolved insects known to man They have a cast system by which nest building, nursing the young and foraging for food is undertaken by the workers (sterile females).
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