Closely resembles the Housefly, but this fellow bites. Uncommon indoors but breeds in long grass, straw or grass cuttings where there are horses or other animals.
PEST CONTROL GUIDE
Starlings
Although a native to this country, our permanently resident starling population is swelled every autumn by migrants arriving from the Continent. Starlings may roost in their thousands on ledges on buildings and in trees in city centres. Their droppings deface and erode stonework and make pavements slippery. In domestic lofts their nesting activities can build large piles of twigs, leaves and associated fouling. Insect and mite pests can find their way from this into the house.
Super-Mice
A favourite media term. These rodents are generally described as resistant to all known poisons, larger, more voracious and generally more intelligent than their controllable relatives.
In reality, tolerance of some anti-coagulant rodenticides does exist in both rats and mice but does not, as yet, present a serious problem in control.
Termites
Social insects which may live in communities of many millions of individuals. In tropical and sub-tropical countries they are major pests of timber buildings.
Not presently a significant problem in the UK but global warming may allow them to establish in the south of England.
Thrips
Also known as “thunder-flies”, very small (1.5mm) insects, black with narrow hairy wings. They feed on plant sap and on humid summer days they may occur in huge numbers on window sills and getting into clothing and hair.
An agricultural pest, they are only a nuisance in domestic premises. They have been known to trigger fire alarms by collecting in large numbers inside smoke detectors.
Ticks
Closely related to the mites, but much larger and reliant on vertebrate blood. They are occasionally brought into the house on domestic animals and can be picked up by humans after walking through long grass in an infested area.
Ticks are implicated in the transmission of Lyme disease and medical advice should be sought if a rash appears at the site of a bite. Remove them with a twist to avoid leaving the mouthparts in the skin.
