While Australia, Africa, and South America can boast of having some of the most “popular” pests in the world, the United Kingdom also has its fair share of pesky invaders. Especially with the change in climate, which allows many previously unknown critters to come to the UK and establish colonies over winter.
However, “fame” (or rather, infamy) goes only to a handful of the most dangerous pests who are currently in the UK. Some of them are quite common, while others have just gained a foothold on the island and are gaining popularity as we speak.
Here they are for your consideration.
Bed Bugs
Let’s kick off our list with these critters, which are gaining both numbers and popularity.
While for some time, the world thought they had dealt with them, and for the large part, they were right. During the 60s and the 70s, their numbers dwindled thanks to advances in pest control technologies.
Nowadays, their numbers are surging once more. Especially in the United Kingdom. The most worrying statistic is that hotels are seeing over 273% compared to recent years. This is all quite worrisome, to say the least.
One of the main reasons for that is due to tourism and travelling. However, they’re also becoming more and more resistant to chemicals. This makes pest management quite difficult.
Moreover, they are also notoriously hard to spot. They’re primarily night creatures, who spend most of the day in hiding. They can lurk in the smallest of crevices, under the bed, or any other locations which offer invisibility, yet proximity to food sources.
What’s even worse is that they multiply fast and can spread from room to room. That makes practising safe travelling habits of utmost importance.
If you’re staying in a hotel, you ought to check your room first. Leave your luggage in the tub or the bathroom, where it’s least likely you’ll find bed bugs present. Then, begin to look for signs of a pest infestation within the room.
If you notice any, you should leave the room and inform the hotel staff immediately. Controlling these little bloodsuckers proves to be quite difficult. It also puts strain on smaller hotels in the UK. All these problems exacerbate the problem of bed bugs and make self-protection your number one priority.
Rats
Stories about the surging numbers of rats during the pandemic and the scary implications of that can rival the plot of any classic Stephen King story.
Rats carry numerous diseases and pathogens, which pose danger to humans. Some of them are rat bite fever, hantavirus and even leptospirosis, if we’re to name a few. Moreover, rats spread them through either having contact with our food, through contaminated surfaces, or through a bite.
On top of that, these animals have been linked to causing at least 20% of all house fires. That’s some scary statistics. The main reason for that is that they chew through electrical cables. The exposed wires then become the cause of electrical fire.
These small mammals also reproduce quickly. One female can have around 12 litters per year, with each one resulting in up to 14 little ones. This means a rat nest can quickly become not only a nuisance but quite dangerous.
However, the scariest fact is that no one knows their number exactly. And that because of the pandemic times, they have somehow lost the fear of humans. This makes them even more opportunistic.
All this makes contacting pest control services near you of utmost importance as soon as you notice signs of rat infestation.
Asian Giant Hornet
This is an invasive and dangerous species. Lately, it’s gaining traction due to invading Britain and trying to establish a permanent presence. That’s really bad news for anyone living nearby, but also to the local fauna.
One of the main victims of Asian Hornets is bees. Yes, they feed on these pollinators, which can pose significant problems down the line. Especially if the invaders settle in and begin growing in numbers.
The Asian Giant Hornet, much like other hornets, is very territorial and aggressive. It’s highly recommended to contact pest control near you. Do not attempt to deal with the hornets on your own, as that can have dire consequences.
Citizens of the UK should keep an eye out for Asian Giant Hornets. Ultimately, if this invasive species successfully establishes itself on the island, it can cause great disruption. The local ecosystems and even food supply are in danger, as plants depend on pollinators.
The best course of action is to remain vigilant. Especially if you live in an area where there are sightings of the Asian Giant Hornet. If you notice a nest near your home, it’s best to contact the local authorities. You can do that easily by using the UK’s Asian Hornet Watch app.
German & Oriental Cockroaches
Everyone knows this pest species has been around for a long, long time. Much longer than mammals. As a result, they’ve developed lots of survival skills. They are quite difficult to kill and to control.
The species most commonly found in the UK are the German & Oriental cockroaches.
The German cockroach prefers warm and moist environments. They can be found primarily around heating systems in large buildings. Oriental cockroaches prefer heated buildings. Occasionally, they can be found outdoors, predominantly around dustbins.
Cockroaches are nocturnal, and they’re masters at hiding during the day. They usually hide in cracks around sinks, drains and cookers. Sometimes, they can be found in the back of service ducts.
Both species spread many diseases and pathogens. Usually, infection occurs when they have contact with our food.
Lastly, cockroaches are notoriously difficult to get rid of. Especially if they establish a foothold in your home. In that case, it’s highly recommended you contact local pest control services to handle the matter.
Conclusion
As you see, the UK holds its fair share of popular (and even some exotic) pests. Climate change, as well as other human actions, are the main reasons for the surging number of many of these critters.
This makes timely pest control an important action that should not be underestimated.
