ANT TREATMENTS ONEHUNGA SLIVERFISH CONTROL BIRKDALE
August 21, 2015
An army of "crazy ants" that can spread disease are invading Britain from South America.
Named after their jerky movements, the sharp-toothed insects are covered in red hair and get a real buzz from chewing through electricity wiring.
Pest control experts have now issued an alert over two extremely unwelcome species - “crazy” and “Argentinian” ants.
The Argentinian variety is particularly vicious, attacking crops and people.
And the pests, from Pampas, have teeth sharp enough to gnaw through thick wiring, causing short circuits and fires.
They bite, they sting and they spread salmonella.
The alert has been issued by UK pest control register Basis Prompt. Expert David Cross said the new arrivals are the latest additions to a growing list of fearsome tropical ants that have colonised areas across the country.
The spread has been blamed on the growth of world trade along with the increase in flats and tower blocks, which provide perfect conditions for the insects.
Multi-occupancy buildings, such as hotels and guest houses, are particularly at risk. Almost black and 3mm long, they form large colonies in cracks in walls and between timbers.
They can also contract salmonella, which makes them particularly dangerous if they contaminate food. Some will bite or sting and they can carry a wide range of diseases such as streptococcus, which causes infection.
The catalogue of creepy-crawlies include “ghost ants”, which emit a rotting flesh stench when crushed, and “pharaohs”, a variety whose massive gatherings have posed problems in permanently heated buildings, such as prisons and hospitals.
Mr Cross said: “Species like these were once contained to their own parts of the world, but they now seem to be on something of a world tour.
“The population of tropical ants is this country is certainly growing all the time and we’re now seeing many more problems with colonies of certain species than we have witnessed in the past.
“Most arrive here via container ships from different parts of the world, either in food or perhaps soft furnishings.”
He added: “Most tropical ants can’t live outside and need warmth to survive so they can thrive in places where heating is on all the time.
“Areas around heated water pipes, in particular, provide them with an ideal environment and they’ll often be found foraging for protein or sugars around bins or behind fridges.
“They’ll generally head to areas where food is manufactured or prepared, which is why food producers and restaurants are at risk, too.”
Colonies of some tropical ants can contain up to 200 queens – a fact which makes treatment of an infestation particularly difficult. British garden ants have one.
-by Mike Lockley
We all love bees those fluffy, industrious little workers who make delicious honey and help the environment. Not like wasps. Wasps are jerks. Right?
If you found yourself agreeing just then, you're certainly not alone. A recent study published in the journal Ecological Entomology has confirmed that people almost universally love bees and hate wasps people like wasps even less than flies, and those guys are real sleazebags.
WASP NEST DESTRUCTION WEST AUCKLAND
To be fair, wasps, whether you’re dealing with yellowjackets or hornets, as well as bees can be pretty dangerous. Per Lifehacker, they account for 33 percent of all animal-related deaths for over-20s in the US. The collective injection of their venom into your body can certainly provoke some horrific and sometimes deadly reactions, that’s for sure, so knowing what to do in the event of an attack is paramount.
So what should you do? The best advice is pretty obvious: don’t go near their nests. If you leave them alone, they won’t feel threatened and they’ll leave you be too, contrary to what your instinctual fears may be telling you.
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) offers some important advice that’s admittedly difficult to stick to. Remain calm and move away slowly if you encounter wasps, hornets or bees, a blog post explains. Don't wave your arms around or swat at them. If you do, you’ll just provoke them to attack you further, as you’ll look more threatening.
You shouldn’t even swat at them individually. If you do, they may release pheromones that attract more wasps or bees your way, according to the British Pest Control Association.
If you're somewhere in the Americas and you get particularly unlucky, the swarm may be comprised of Africanized honey bees. Although featuring less venom per bee than others, their swarms are more populous, faster, and more aggressive.
In that event, the US Department of Agriculture advises that you RUN away quickly the capitalization being theirs.
“Do not stop to help others. However, they hasten to note, small children and the disabled may need some assistance. You should also pull your shirt up over your head to protect your face, but make sure you know where you’re running before you go temporarily blind.
If you jump into water, these particular bees will genuinely wait for you to come up for air, so you should instead run indoors. Even if some follow you inside, they tend to become disorientated in well-lit areas, providing you with a chance at further escape in your chosen shelter.
If you are stung and you feel ill, you should seek medical attention immediately. If there are just a handful of stings protruding into your flesh, you should remove them carefully but don’t pinch them with your fingers, as this will inject more venom into the body. Instead, scrape it out with a sideways slice using a thin object.
The NHS’ other advice is more preparatory work: cover exposed skin with clothing, apply insect repellent, wear shoes outdoors, and be careful around flowering plants, trash, compost, standing and stagnant water, and anywhere food is served. If you know you’re allergic, carry your epinephrine pen with you in such environments.
They also advise not wearing strong perfumes, which can be found in anything from deodorants to soaps, that can attract a variety of insects to you.
So, in general, avoid nests and try not to be clumsy. If swarmed, walk away and stay calm.
By Robin Andrews edited from https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/heres-what-to-do-if-attacked-by-swarm-wasps-bees/all/