Flying Insects

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These picnic bandits might  be the UK's most unpopular invertebrate.

 Wasps can be a nuisance in and around buildings. They can carry disease and contaminate food. Stings are painful and can sometimes cause anaphylaxis. Wasps build their nests in many locations. Trees, sheds, roof spaces, attics, wall cavities, holes in the ground. 

 Common British wasps. If you see a wasp in Britain, it will most likely be either the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) or the German wasp (Vespula germanica). These species are very similar in size and colour - predominantly yellow with black markings. 

 The Common wasp has a black-and yellow-striped body, with an obvious 'waist' between the thorax and abdomen. It has a characteristic black 'anchor' mark on its face. There are several species of social wasp in the UK that can only be distinguished by their face patterns - if you fancy getting that close! 

In my opinion bees are utterly fantastic creatures. However, when they come in contact or share the same space as humans it can cause problems. Stings can be painful and cause anaphylaxis. Their nest or hives can cause blockages and other issues.

If the bees are honeybees, I will do my best to relocate them and give them to my many beekeeping friends.

Flies can be a big problem around homes and businesses. They are a major carrier of diseases. The species dictates how much of a risk they are. They tend to cause more issues in summertime when conditions are more favourable to their breading conditions.

Fruit Flies

A small fly that is attracted to rotting fruit or vegetation. they are very small and are sometimes known as a beer fly. This is due to them liking to ferment fruit or vegetation.

Blue Bottles

They are generally quite big and blue in colour, as their name suggests. They are attracted to rotting food, animal carcasses and animal faeces. They are major disease carriers.

Cluster flies

often found in clusters that reside near windows, or attics. They are attracted to bright colours as such white or brightly painted buildings can attract them. They pose less of a health risk due to their breading habits. They lay their eggs on earth worm colonies, rather than waste food or dead animals.

Carpet beetles are small, oval-shaped insects that can cause severe damage to bedding, clothes, carpets and upholstered furniture if left unattended.

Clothes moths are pests that can destroy fabric and other materials. They feed exclusively on animal fibres, especially wool, fur, silk, feathers, felt, and leather. These materials contain keratin, a fibrous protein that the worm-like larvae of the clothes moth can digest. (In nature, the larvae feed on the nesting materials or carcasses of birds and mammals.) Cotton and synthetic fabrics such as polyester and rayon are rarely attacked unless blended with wool, or heavily soiled with food stains or body oils. Serious infestations of clothes moths can develop undetected in dwellings, causing irreparable harm to vulnerable materials. 

Flying insects can be a huge problem in the home and business. 

Depending on the species, flying insects can cause pain through a sting, or even anaphylaxis can occur as a result of a sting.

Damage to food, plants, and livestock

Disease

Some flying insects can carry diseases such as:

E. coli

Some house flies have been known to transmit E. coli, a  nasty disease which can cause diarrhoea, blood in stool, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever. 

 Tularemia 

Is an illness which can manifest in a few forms, tularemia is usually ulceroglandular, that is, it appears in the form of an ulcer near the affected area. This ulcer will be accompanied swollen and red lymph glands too, which usually appear at the armpit.

 Conjunctivitis

Is a swelling of  tissue which lines the inside surface of the eyelid.

Typhoid is an  illness associated with the Salmonella, it's main symptom is a nasty fever. It’s highly contagious and can be caught by eating food or drinking water which has been contaminated. House flies have been known to carry the relevant pathogens and can easily transmit the illness.

To treat flying insects we can use various methods depending on the situation to ensure a safe resolution. These methods are as follows:

Insecticides applied in various methods including:

• Spraying
• Fogging
• Dusting
• Bait traps and other trapping methods
• Installation of preventative measures to reduce the risk of re-occurrence