Pest problems in your home or business are never nice, but there is no point making the situation worse by stressing out about things that just aren’t true or taking inappropriate action based on myths you have heard that have no basis in reality.
As a leading Bolton Pest Control company we deal with all manner of pests on a daily basis, and regularly hear queries and comments from our customers about their pest issues that are more urban myth than biological fact.
One of our aims alongside the pest control treatment services that we provide is to educate as many different people as we can along the way and blow away some of the fog that often clouds the pest control industry.
Some of the myths discussed in this article have been reinforced by popular culture, the idea of mice loving cheese above all else for example, whilst others have thrived with no obvious source. Either way, it is better that you know the truth and in this article we will help to reveal it.
Here are 10 of the biggest pest control myths you should be aware of:
Myth 1 – Out of sight, out of mind
Just because you can’t physically see pests in your property, does not mean that they aren’t somewhere in the background causing chaos. Many insect such as termites actually live inside the structure of your home itself and are so small that their effects will be seen long before any sightings of the insects themselves.
Bigger pests such as mice and rats are nocturnal, on the other hand, and will tend to only venture from their nests at night when there is no-one around. For this reason, if you do spot a rat, you probably have quite a big problem as the population is so large that unlikely behaviour has started to occur. The key to dealing with pest problems early enough to limit the damage done is to learn the early signs of pest activity to look out for.
Myth 2 – Cats and dogs will protect you from rats
In certain situations, animals can be used for rodent control purposes. Some farmers, for example, use terriers to weed out and eliminate rat populations. These are well-trained animals, however, and one of the few dog species that will take more than a swift glance at a nearby rat. Cats on the other hand, may well chase mice, it is an image regularly portrayed in the media, but are usually more interested in playing with them than killing large numbers of them. Pets should not be relied upon for rodent control purposes in general and do NOT assume that you are immune from infestations purely because you have a cat or dog.
Myth 3 – Professional pest control is a waste of money
With so many DIY pest control products on the supermarket shelves, it is understandable that some people think calling in a team of professionals is a waste of their well earned cash. However, professional pest control companies have access to a variety of commercial grade pest control products that are not sold to the general public and will be far more effective in dealing with larger pest problems. That is not to say that DIY pest control is completely pointless, they may work if you only have a minor issue, but they are no substitute for professional action.
Not only are the products that pest controllers use of a better quality and strength than DIY versions, but the pest controller who uses them will develop a strategy for their application using their extensive knowledge and experience. The right tools in the right hands are far more effective, after all, than the wrong tools in the wrong hands.
Myth 4 – Clean homes aren’t targeted by pests
Wrong. Whilst some pests certainly thrive in filthy conditions, most are simply looking for somewhere warm and safe with nearby food access. One of the most common misconceptions in this area is that bed bugs only inhabit dirty bests, but this is simply untrue. Bed bugs are looking for blood, not dirt and will happily inhabit the cleanest of new beds as long as they have access to human blood. The one caveat to this is that if you regularly change your bedding you are much more likely to spot bed bugs at an early stage.
Myth 5 – A single treatment should get rid of pests
Depending on the size of the infestation and the pest control method used, one treatment may be enough to resolve your pest problems, but probably not.
Most pest problems require a series of treatments to be carried out in order to gain total control, as well as a prevention plan to be subsequently put in place to prevent issues arising again in the future.