Pest control - commercial customers - Print version

Coventry City Council Commercial Pest Control

We are a local authority business holding over 25 years of commercial pest control experience. From this experience we have seen first-hand the devastating effect a pest infestation can have on a business. Large infestations of rodents and insects can attack stock, compromise the infrastructure of a building and produce health hazards which in turn could directly affect staff and customers.

As well as offering businesses tailor-made pest management programs, which are often the most cost effective way to keep a pest free premises all year round, we can also perform one-off treatments when necessary and as always are on hand to give advice on pest proofing and prevention.

We are a growing business within Coventry City Council. We currently have eleven BPCA (British Pest Control Association) Level 2 Qualified Pest Controllers all enhanced fully DBS checked. Our pest controllers are professional and reliable and as a valued customer of ours you can rely on our Commercial Support Team for a prompt response and support when required. Our large team means we can respond to all our customers within 24 hours of a call out with a visit.

We cover a wide area of the West Midlands including: Coventry, Nuneaton, Bedworth, Leamington Spa, Rugby, Solihull, Birmingham, North Warwickshire, Kenilworth and Warwick.

Download our latest Commercial Pest Control flyer [/downloads/file/27525/commercial_pest_control_flyer].

How we can help your business

If you run a business or organisation such as a school, care home, restaurant, pub, shop or factory, it’s inevitable that at some point you will need to act against pest infestations at your premises. Whether it’s rodents, insects or problematic seasonal pests such as wasps and ants, depending on your business type, it is your responsibility to adhere to health and safety legislation and the wellbeing of your staff and customers.

Our advice to business owners is simple; prevention is key. We encourage businesses to have pest control management in place to keep on top of the risk of infestations which could potentially damage stock and in extreme cases, the infrastructure of a building.

If you would like the opportunity to talk through your site requirements with one of our expert pest controllers, we would advise booking a pest control survey today [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/262/pest_control/3191/pest_control_-_commercial_customers/4]. The survey is completely free of charge and would take around 30 minutes. From this a no-obligation quote can be emailed across the same day for you to consider.

Why use Coventry City Council?

Being the second largest Local Authority in the region, we offer trusted impartial and ethical advice.

Our pest controllers are highly experienced at dealing with pest issues within the commercial sector and are on hand to answer any questions you may have. We have vast experience of supplying pest control to many different types of businesses and premises throughout Coventry and the West Midlands.

We have a team of 11 pest controllers and a new Commercial Support Team ready to respond quickly and efficiently should you require a call out.

As part of an agreement with us, your business will receive routine pest control inspections at regular intervals throughout the year for rats and mice, plus permanent bait and placebo monitoring stations laid in high-risk areas of your site. The external areas of the premises will also be monitored for rats. Our agreements are tailor-made to suit your business with the option of added extras such as fly zapper machine installation and maintenance and visits for seasonal pests such as wasps and ants. We also supply ad hoc treatments, an example being a recent treatment for a large spider infestation at a premises. So if you are having issues with a pest that is unlisted, do give our Support Team a call and we'll be happy to help. 

Book a free no-obligation pest control survey

To book your free no-obligation pest control survey, contact our Commercial Support Team on 024 7697 1271 or 024 7697 1805 or email pest.control@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:pest.control@coventry.gov.uk] or fill out a contact form today [http://myaccount.coventry.gov.uk/service/contact_the_commercial_support_officer] and a member of the team will be in contact with you.

Once a survey of your premises has been completed, we can create a program to suit your business requirements and budget. This can include treatment and prevention from future infestations of rats, mice, cockroaches, fleas, wasps, garden ants, squirrels, moles, foxes, pigeons and bedbugs.

Information for existing commercial customers

Health & Safety information

For information regarding the poisons used by our pest controllers on your commercial premises, download our insecticide [/downloads/file/28399/insecticides] and rodenticide [/downloads/file/28400/rodenticides] information sheets. You will also have this information in your Pest Management File kept on site, as well as information regarding each of your pest control inspections.

National Poison Centre Number (for cases of accidental poisoning): 0870 600 6266

Commercial Support Team

Our Commercial Support Team are available during office hours (Monday - Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 9am - 4.30pm) to answer any queries regarding your current contract.

You can contact the team on 024 7697 1271 or 024 7697 1805 should you require information or a call out from your designated Pest Controller. You can also email any requests to pestcontrolcommercial@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:pestcontrolcommercial@coventry.gov.uk].

Rats

There are two types of rat in the UK.  The most common rat (Rattus norvegicus) also known as the brown rat, or sewer rat is found all over the country. The smaller and rarer black rat, or ship rat (Rattus rattus), is largely confined to the major dockyards and cities on the coast.

Biology

The common rat can vary in size and colour, typically though the common rat is brownish grey on the back and grey underneath. Their weight varies between 100 grams to 500 grams with the average weight being around 335 grams, with a combined head and body length of anywhere between 200 mm – 270mm.

Rats pick up clues about their surroundings using their senses, without these the rat's survival would be threatened. 

Behaviour

Gnawing is part of the main behaviour of rodents and is not normally associated with a search for food. Gnawed material is rarely swallowed or tasted and if gnawing is not carried out then the teeth will deform leaving the rat unable to feed normally resulting in death.

Burrowing plays a major part in a rat’s life and the rat has several reasons for doing this. Firstly, it acts as an escape and can be used for resting and nest purposes and they are quick to exploit holes and cavities in buildings for these purposes along with stockpiling food in them.

Rats are very good climbers and can climb vertically if the surface is rough enough, rats also find swimming easy and do live in banks in rivers, canals and ditches.

Signs you could have an infestation

The most common signs of infestations are actually seeing rats themselves and noises in loft spaces and roof spaces. Other signs are droppings, urine and its smell, dark smears and rub marks on all types of wall and floor junctions, gnaw marks, rat runs on the floor and top of walls, paw marks and tail swipes in powder etc, holes up to the size of a golf ball.

Reasons for control

The rat is considered to be a pest due to its effect upon humans. One of these reasons is its ability to transmit disease to humans and livestock, with its ability for damage foodstuffs and structures being another. Many people find the mere mention of rats abhorrent and frightening, this alone can be a reason for control.

Rats carry a number of diseases, in and on them, that can be harmful to people. For example Leptospirosis (Weils Disease) and Salmonellosis (food poisoning).

Food loss is another reason for control. Rats are responsible for the contamination of food products that can result in foodstuffs becoming a total loss, or it being downgraded for animal purposes only.

Structural damage from burrowing and fires is also a problem. Electrical wiring is a common "gnawing target", which may lead to fires and a risk to people's lives. Burrowing in and around sewers can lead to water escape, which may, ultimately lead to structural damage to buildings from subsidence.

Information about rats is also available to download for reference [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5394/rats].

Mice

There are several types of mouse in the UK. There is the more common mouse (Mus domesticus), which you are most liable to come in contact with and the slightly bigger wood mouse that prefers to live outside.

Biology

The mouse can vary in size and colour and can appear to be black brown, grey or even sandy coloured, typically though the mouse is brownish grey on the back and can vary from white to grey underneath. They weigh usually up to 28 grams with the average weight being around 15 grams with a combined head and body length of anywhere between 70 mm – 90mm commonly.

Mice pick up clues about their surroundings using their senses, without these the mouse's survival would be threatened. Out of the five senses sight is the minor sense that they use the less.

Mice have the ability to reproduce at an alarming rate every 4-6 weeks; they can produce a litter capable of reproduction in just 12 weeks.

Behaviour

Gnawing is part of the main behaviour of rodents and is not normally associated with a search for subsidence, gnawed material is rarely swallowed or tasted and if gnawing is not carried out then the teeth will deform leaving the mouse unable to feed normally resulting.

Mice do occasionally burrow eg. (poultry houses and barns).  Mainly though the mouse uses existing holes and entrances to gain access. It uses these for entry purposes along with using the cavities in buildings for nests and stockpiling food in them. They will enlarge any suitable hole by gnawing to gain access.

Mice are very good climbers and can climb vertically through the use of cables wires etc. Mice can also jump up to 25cm but do tend to avoid wet conditions where possible preferring drier conditions, but are capable of swimming if necessary.

Feeding habits

The original staple diet of mice was grain based but due to migration into urban areas their diet has changed. They will still eat anything grain based but also have developed a taste for such foodstuffs as meats, fish, vegetable matter and insects. Their diet will consist of anything that is available to them and in urban areas their diets can be the same as humans.

Mice are very erratic in their feeding patterns preferring to feed on several different feeding sites rather than one or two like rats.  If undisturbed, mice will quite happily feed in the day although they are mainly nocturnal.

Signs of infestation

The most common signs of infestations are actually seeing mice themselves and noises in loft spaces and roof spaces. Other signs are droppings, urine and its smell, dark smears and rub marks on all types of wall and floor junctions, gnaw marks, paw marks and tail swipes in powder etc, and holes up to the size of a golf ball.

Reasons for control

The mouse is considered to be a pest due to its effect upon humans. One of these reasons is its ability to transmit disease to humans and livestock with its ability for economical damage to foodstuff and structures being another. Many people find the mere mention of having mice as a sign of being dirty, generally this is not the case as the mouse is only after a food source and it will not differentiate between the two; however, being clean it is a lot easier to spot the signs of an infestation. Just having seen mouse evidence this alone can be a reason for control.

Mice do carry diseases in them that can be harmful to people, with Salmonellosis a major one. Salmonellosis is carried and caught through direct contact with contaminated food or water with mouse droppings or a result of passive transmission by them.

Food loss is another reason for control with severe losses financially being taken every year in the food industry due to mice. In this mice are responsible for the contamination of products that can result in foodstuffs being a total loss and it becoming downgraded for animal purposes. Clearly with this a factor there is a need for control.

Structural damage is widespread due to mice as anything is usually susceptible to gnawing. Electrics are a common target and damage due to rodents does cost industry dear along with the risk to people’s lives.

Information about mice is also available to download for reference [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5400/mice].

Pigeons

The pigeon that you are most liable to come into contact with is the common feral pigeon (Columa livia var) also known as the town pigeon.

Biology

Commonly found through out the UK, the feral pigeon is roughly 33cm in length weighing anywhere between 280 grams and 560 grams averaging around the 350 gram mark. Colouring varies greatly through the range from its rock dove origins (blue grey plumage with purple neck, double black wing bars and a white rump) through various "blues", "reds", chequered types to almost black. There are no visible differences between the sexes.

Feral pigeons are capable of breeding all year round and nests may be found throughout the year. Their nests are built of any material that they can find consisting of mainly twigs, feathers and scraps such as plastic and wire.

Sites of nests are usually found in:

• Buildings
• Ledges
• Hollows

As they can breed continually all year round the peak in the breeding occurs between March and July. Normally two eggs are laid consecutively with incubation lasting about 18 days with fledging taking place roughly 4 – 5 weeks later. New eggs can be laid as early as the young being 20 days old.

Feeding habits

Feral pigeons usually feed together in flocks and mainly rely on people's bad housekeeping for food, this usually being domestic rubbish. The flock will also congregate around food premises looking for spillages.

A major food source is people feeding them directly with food ranging from seeds to bread. The pigeon quite often bullies smaller birds out of food in people's gardens. In some semi-rural areas the birds may fly to arable land and pick and feed on sowings and shoots.

Signs you could have an infestation

There are many signs of infestation that come with the feral pigeon:

• The bird itself resting or nesting near or on your property
• Fouling
• Nests

Reasons for control

A reason for control is that the pigeon can be regarded as a carrier and transmitter of disease therefore is harmful to people. A high majority of feral pigeons are infected with ornithosis with some being known to carry salmonellosis and although the incidence is very small the public health hazard cannot be ignored, in view to the pigeons close proximity to food premises.

The slip hazard due to droppings on pavements and walkways cannot be ignored especially with the growth of personal injury claims against the business or person that is responsible for the area involved; within this the fouling does look very unsightly especially on new build developments and can cause trouble legally between different parties involved.

The fouling of buildings and monuments occurs mostly where the birds nest or roost, this can have a very destructive effect on the actual object with the acidic property of the droppings eroding the object. Pipes may become blocked leading to flooding problems with fire escapes and metal structures being affected. The risk potential of untreated walkways and such structures could in turn cost your business severely with regards again to lawsuits from injured parties.

Clearly the above reasons are good indicators for the control of the feral pigeon in your business premises.

Information about pigeons is also available to download for reference [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5396/pigeons].

Ants

The ant that you are most liable to come into contact with is the common black ant, also known as the garden ant (Lasius niger).

Biology

Commonly found throughout the UK, the common black ant starts its cycle with a mated winged female digging into the earth to produce a single cell. After 3 - 4 weeks the larvae are mature and pupate. After another two weeks the adult ants emerge, these will be made up of entirely workers. Now that the workers are born they tend to both the queen and the nest in turn. They also extend and enlarge the nest whilst actively protecting the queen and all occupants.

Sometime in the late summer, particularly on more humid days, winged and sexually mature males emerge from the nest along with the larger winged females. These then fly away on the wing and mate causing a nuisance to people in turn. Once they are exhausted the males die quickly with only a few mated females surviving to start the process over again next year.

Feeding habits

The worker ants collect a number of food materials such as:

• Nectar
• Seeds from flowers
• Small dead insects
• Sugary secretions produced by green fly and black fly.

Inside a domestic house or kitchen they feed on small amounts of food debris that is split and that ends up under surfaces and units. This is on the main reasons for infestations in the situations mentioned above.

Signs you could have an infestation

Usually the only sign of infestation is actually seeing the ants themselves on surfaces in buildings along with seeing ants outside. Again “flying” ants can become a nuisance in the summer due to their huge numbers.

Reasons for control

The reason for control of ants is very much a purely individual issues as one successful foraging worker coming across a suitable sugary substance is able to communicate the information to her co-workers, with the inevitable vast numbers of worker ants invading and incidentally contaminating suitable human foods. Ants are not “dirty” insects, however, they must cross unsavoury and unclean areas during their foraging and this leads ants to invade buildings to be deemed unacceptable and to be classed as a pest.

The black ant is not known to transmit any serious disease organisms to humans. Good hygiene in a food place along with a good treatment programme is the best course of action to take.

Information about ants is also available to download for reference [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5402/ants].

Biscuit beetle

The biscuit beetle (Stegobium paniceum) is one of the food industry's main insects.

Biology and feeding habits

The biscuit beetle is found worldwide but more in temperate areas like the UK. It is found mainly in food areas such as domestic pantry's and food warehouses and establishments. The adult female lays eggs amongst the larvae foodstuff and then the larvae crawl or chew through most packaging materials to feed voraciously.

Preferred foods consist of:

• Spices
• Grain based products
• Bait pellets
• Insects
• Domestic animal chews
• Any kind of powered food

After a period of about two months the larvae pupates depending on temperature inside cocoons often with its own food source.  One or two weeks later the adults hatch, their holes resembling "woodworm" exit holes.

Mating takes place shortly after they survive for about a month.

Signs you could have an infestation

One of the signs of infestation is usually the presence of the beetles or the larvae or pupae. Other signs are packaging being eaten with hard material appearing to be bored.

Reasons for control

The biscuit beetle can be classed as a pest due to its widespread occurrence, its flight / dispersal capability and its renown ability to breach most forms of packaging.  It is more common in smaller establishments and domestic larders this results in often massive infestations in old out of date packets of foods.

A way of control is to remove and destroy infested materials, eradicate the rest with professional fumigation of bulk foods, finally to improve hygiene standards.

Information about biscuit beetles is available to download for reference [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5401/biscuit_beetle].

German cockroaches

There are commonly three types of cockroaches in the UK.  The more common German Cockroach (Blatella germanica) the Oriental Cockroach (Blatella orientalis linneaus) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).  The two most commonly found are the German and Oriental Cockroach with the latter being the bigger by some way.

Biology

The German cockroach pictured above in all its stages both male and female with juveniles of various ages along with its ootheca (egg case). In contrast to the oriental cockroach the German cockroach carries her ootheca attached to her abdomen and this is a good way of telling the two apart along with their different sizes and colour. The young of the German take roughly up to 7 months to become sexually mature adults in which they go through several different moulting stages to get there. 

The adult German cockroach can grow up to 15mm long is yellowish brown living on average six months and is winged but cannot fly. They can climb smooth surfaces and they gain access to upper floors this way.

Behaviour and habit

The German cockroach pictured above in all its stages both male and female with juveniles of various ages along with its ootheca (egg case). In contrast to the oriental cockroach the German cockroach carries her ootheca attached to her abdomen and this is a good way of telling the two apart along with their different sizes and colour. The young of the German take roughly up to 7 months to become sexually mature adults in which they go through several different moulting stages to get there. 

The adult German cockroach can grow up to 15mm long is yellowish brown living on average six months and is winged but cannot fly. They can climb smooth surfaces and they gain access to upper floors this way.

Signs you could have an infestation

The most common signs of infestations are actually seeing cockroaches themselves, other signs are droppings, urine and their actual smell, which is quite noticeable in heavy infestations.  You may well see egg cases left after the female has deposited them.

Reasons for control

The cockroach is considered to be a pest due to its effect upon humans. One of these reasons is its ability to transmit disease to humans with its ability for economical damage to foodstuff being another. Many people find the mere sight of cockroaches revolting this alone can be a reason for control.

Cockroaches carry a number of diseases in and on them that can be harmful to people. They are passed to humans through its habit of walking over and feeding on putrefying waste materials and drinking at unclean water courses.  After it has fed the cockroach then freely walks over food preparation areas, surfaces, cutlery and crockery along with foodstuff itself this enables it to spread disease.

Food loss is another reason for control with severe losses financially being taken every year in the food industry due to cockroaches. In this cockroaches are responsible for the contamination of products that can result in foodstuffs being a total loss. Clearly with this a factor there is a need for control.

Oriental cockroaches

There are commonly three types of cockroaches in the U.K.  The more common German Cockroach (Blatella germanica), the Oriental Cockroach (Blatella orientalis linneaus) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).  The two most commonly found are the German and Oriental Cockroach with the latter being the bigger by some way.

Biology

The oriental cockroach pictured above in all its stages both male and female with juveniles of various ages along with its ootheca (egg case).  In contrast to the German cockroach the oriental cockroach drops her ootheca and this is a good way of telling the two apart along with their different sizes and colour. The young of the oriental take roughly up to 18 months to become sexually mature adults in which they go through several different moulting stages to get there.  The adult oriental cockroach can grow up to 30mm long is reddish brown living on average six months and is winged but cannot fly.  They can climb rough surfaces and may reach upper floors this way.

Behaviour and habit

The oriental cockroach seems to prefer warm indoor environments and thrives in moist conditions, kitchens and boiler surroundings a favourite but unlike the German cockroach can survive winter outside if protected from the elements. They are not normally active in the day depending on conditions but emerge in the dwindling light to feed and drink and since they need a water source for drinking they mostly hide in and around wet areas.

They are omnivorous and will feed on any sort of organic material but unlike the German cockroach do very much prefer starchy and sugary protein rich foods. Their breeding conditions vary to the German cockroach in that they can breed quite happily down to 10°C.

Signs you could have an infestation

The most common signs of infestations are actually seeing cockroaches themselves; other signs are droppings, urine and their actual smell that is quite noticeable in heavy infestations.  You may well see egg cases left after the female has deposited them.

Reasons for control

The cockroach is considered to be a pest due to its effect upon humans. One of these reasons is its ability to transmit disease to humans with its ability for economical damage to foodstuff being another. Many people find the mere sight of cockroaches revolting this alone can be a reason for control.

Cockroaches carry a number of diseases in and on them that can be harmful to people. They are passed to humans through its habit of walking over and feeding on putrefying waste materials and drinking at unclean water courses.  After it has fed the cockroach then freely walks over food preparation areas, surfaces, cutlery and crockery along with foodstuff itself this enables it to spread disease.

Food loss is another reason for control with severe losses financially being taken every year in the food industry due to cockroaches.  In these cockroaches are responsible for the contamination of products that can result in foodstuffs being a total loss.  Clearly with this a factor there is a need for control.

Information about oriental cockroaches is available to download for reference [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5397/oriental_cockroach].

Psocids

The psocid "book louse" (Liposcelis bostrychophila) is the most common of the three species of psocid that are classed as pests in this country. This is the one that is predominant in this country.

Biology

Psocids lay their eggs singularly or in small batches. The eggs are in relation to the adult about 1/3 of the size.  The eggs have four nymphal stages (three for males), the nymphs are virtually colourless and difficult to see on lighter backgrounds. This results in large infestations due to the psocid not being seen until it is an adult. The gestation time varies according to temperature from 22 days at 30°C to 56 days at 20°C. All adults of the species are female thus the insect is parthenogenetic and due to this infestations can result from one single egg.

Feeding habits

Psocids feed on a number of foodstuffs:

• Flour
• Dried milk powders
• Grain
• Starch substances (hence, the insect living in books off the glue that holds the pages together).

Signs you could have an infestation

Usually the only sign of infestation is actually seeing the psocids themselves when they are adults on surfaces and in foodstuffs in buildings, along with seeing them in cracks and crevices. Again, once the adults are seen the infestation is usually large. They are mainly found in humid conditions but can survive in lower temperatures.

Reasons for control

The need for control of psocids is very much a difficult issue as the louse can be imported into a dwelling or work place through a variety of ways eg. foodstuffs from a factory or shop which have entered into the areas concerned, or the louse coming from a source such as packaging materials or transport.

In domestic and small commercial properties infested foodstuffs should be disposed of and surfaces along with crevices cleaned with suitable products. Storage of food in humid conditions is likely to increase the risk of infestations and where possible cool ventilated conditions should be used for storage.

Psocids being found often lead to Environmental Health issues being raised and this can be both embarrassing and costly to the people involved, this alone is a reason for control.

Information about psocids is available to download for reference [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/5395/psocids].