Common Pests

Queen wasps hibernate throughout the winter months and come out of hibernation in spring. They tend to nest in areas free from frost such as lofts, sheds and garages.

When the queen emerges from hibernation she builds a small nest, about the size of a golf ball, made of a papery substance derived from chewed wood fibres.

Please visit our dedicated wasp nest removal page for more information about wasps and how we control them.

The only mole species present in the UK is the European Mole. It is silvery grey to black in colour, has a short tail which is covered in fur and weighs around 70 – 100g.

Moles are productive diggers and can create over 20 metres of underground tunnel per day. It's often the mounds of earth that moles leave on our lawns and grassland that draws attention.

Please visit our dedicated mole control page for more information on mole control and removal.

Rabbits originated from the western Mediterranean, particularly Morocco and Spain. They were introduced into Britain during the twelfth century AD.

Today, the most densely populated areas are in the south and south-east of England. The key characteristics of the rabbit is long back legs, a flat body for fast running and long mobile ears.

Please visit our dedicated rabbit control page for more information about rabbits and how they are controlled.

Adult bed bugs are around 4-5 mm long and 1.5 to 3 mm wide. They are reddish-brown in colour and oval, ‘flattened’ insects in shape. The size of the bed bug can vary depending on weather it has fed.

Bed bugs cannot fly they can only crawl, however they can easily be brought into the home in luggage or on furniture which in many cases is the core reason for new infestations, especially in the domestic environment.

Please visit our bed bug removal page for more information.

The grey squirrel is a common resident of parks and gardens, mixed woodland and, typically, anywhere where there are trees. The grey squirrel was introduced from the US to the UK between 1876 and 1929.

Squirrels are common throughout England and Wales, south of Cumbria and locally in Scotland.

Please visit our dedicated page about pest control for squirrels for more information.

Rats have lived in association with man for thousands of years due to our homes and food supplies being attractive to them for warmth and food. However, these rodents are unwelcome guests as they can cause damage, spoil foods and spread disease.

The most common rat found in the UK is the brown rat. It is thought that this rodent originated from Asia and China.

Please visit our dedicated page to read more about pest control for rats and rat removal.

Mice have lived in association with man for thousands of years due to our homes and food supplies being very attractive for food and warmth. However, uncontrolled these rodents can cause damage, spoil food and spread disease.

House mice live and breed in houses, buildings and other structures such as garden sheds and garages which give them protection from cold and wet weather.

Please visit our dedicated page to read more about pest control for mice and mouse removal.

There are several different types of fleas found in the UK. The most common form of flea includes the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) and the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis).

Cat and Dog fleas are reddish brown in colour, about 2 – 3.25 mm long and 1mm high, and flattened laterally.

Please visit our dedicated flea removal page for more information about fleas and flea control.

The case bearing clothes moth has a body length of between 3.5 and 4 mm and a wingspan of 10 to 15 mm.

The upper side of the fore wings are a pale brown colour, and the lower wings have 3 dark spots, although these are often hard to see. Both pairs of wings have fringed margins. In appearance it is quite similar to the common clothes moth.

Please visit our dedicated page to find out more about pest control for moths.

Cluster flies can be found throughout Europe and the UK and their name refers to their habit of clustering together in large numbers and hibernating in buildings.

The adult is a large fly up to 10 cm in length with a wingspan of up to 20 mm. The thorax is a distinctive dark greyish / olive colour and is covered in golden hairs. The abdomen has a checkered pattern.

To find out more about fly prevention and control please visit our dedicated pest control for flies page.

Feral pigeons are common in the UK. Whilst they are often associated more with urban areas like towns and cities, they are also seen around rural environments such as farms.

Historically, the pigeon is a descendent of the Rock Dove, which is now only found in remote cliffs, which could explain why they are often found nesting on buildings and around other structures, on ledges, under eaves or on girders.

Please visit our pest control for pigeons page for more information on pigeon control.

There are over 4,000 different species of cockroach in the world with many having lived alongside man for hundreds of years. Cockroaches are classified as pests and originated in tropical climates.

Cockroaches have now become more common worldwide, as they are easily spread by ongoing developing commerce. The Oriental Cockroach is considered the most common in the UK.

Please visit our pest control for cockroaches page for more information on cockroach removal.

The Edible Dormouse (glis glis), also known as the fat dormouse, is similar in appearance to the grey squirrel. Its head and body are around 150mm long and bushy tail about 125mm. Their fur is a silvery grey fading to a lighter shade underneath and they have a ring of black hair around each eye.

Edible Dormice are native to Europe and were introduced in the UK in 1902 by Walter Rothschild as part of a wildlife collection at his Tring Park home in Hertfordshire.

Please see our dedicated edible dormice page for more info.

The fox originated some 45 million years ago in the Eocene period and over the years has adapted to fit in with the changing environment of both rural and urban surroundings.

Today, foxes are a common in both urban and rural areas, and whilst some people love them, others see them as a pest, or nuisance. Foxes are part of the natural wildlife habitat and it is thought that the fox is the most widespread and abundant carnivore in the world.

Visit our dedicated fox control page for more information.

Black Ants, or Garden Ants as they are also known are one of the most common varieties in the UK.

Ants tend to live outdoors in grass, wall cavities or under paving and are generally a quite harmless and useful garden insect to have around. However, they do travel in search of sugary food which can cause problems in homes and commercial environments.

Please visit our dedicated page to find out more about pest control for ants.