Pest control

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Renfrewshire Council's pest control service carries out treatments on a range of pests. We deal with complaints and offer information and general advice on:

You can report pests online using the form below.

Pest control online form

Please contact your doctor for advice on how to treat lice found on a person or their clothes.

For information on services and prices, please contact the pest control service directly by using the contact details at the bottom of this page.

What you can expect

We do not visit or treat for all these pests and we only offer advice for some however, when appropriate a pest control officer will visit to identify the infestation and carry out the appropriate treatment using approved insecticides and rodenticides as required. They will respond to all complaints about rodents, wasps and certain insects, for example, fleas and cockroaches within two working days. General insect complaints, for example, ants, woodlice and larder beetles will be dealt with within five working days.

Charges

All treatments within domestic premises are free with the exception of wasp control, for which there is a charge of £38.25(including VAT) ( there is a 2% surcharge if payment is made with a credit card) - this charge requires to be pre-paid before the request for treatment will be accepted by the council. All treatments for commercial premises are chargeable. No charge is made for advice.

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Rodents

Contact the pest control service who will visit the premises and treat the infestation where necessary.

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Wasps

Wasp nests must be treated with extreme caution as some people have severe allergic reactions to wasp stings.

• Locate the wasps' nest. This may be difficult as the nest may be located in the eaves of a house, a chimney head or in a hole in a wall.
• Wasp powder/spray can be bought from garden centres and DIY stores. You should buy wasp powder if the nest is easily accessible or a spray treatment if the nest is difficult to reach.

Several precautions must be taken when carrying out treatment:

• Wear protective clothing and head gear
• Make sure that clothing fits tightly around the ankles, wrists and neck and that no skin is exposed
• Treat wasps nests after dark when the wasps are less active
• Make sure that a safe "escape route" is available if treating in a confined space, for example, attic
• Always follow the manufacturers' instructions
• Please note that unless the queen wasp is killed the nest may survive.

Old wasp nests are not reused by young queen wasps. New nests are built at the start of each breeding session.

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Cockroaches

Contact the Pest Control Service who will visit, treat the infestation and give advice on preventing any recurrence.

Cockroaches are found in kitchens, bin areas and drainage systems and feed on refuse and human debris. They can hide in narrow cracks in walls, furniture and so on, during the day and are normally seen at night when they come out to feed and drink. They move quickly and can easily climb rough surfaces.

Cockroach infestations in the Renfrewshire area are relatively rare. They can be mistaken for some garden insects such as the Devil's Coach-horse. A live or intact specimen helps with identification.

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Fleas

The vast majority of fleas found in households are cat or dog fleas. Human flea infestations are rare in comparison.

• If you have a pet cat or dog have it checked for fleas.
• Treat your pet with a flea treatment which you can buy from pet shops or your vet.
• Check pet bedding, baskets and if necessary treat or replace them.
• Clean an infested room thoroughly i.e. vacuuming of carpets and soft furnishings. This will pick up adult fleas, larvae and eggs and also potential food sources. Kill the adult fleas with powder placed inside the vacuum bag.
• After cleaning apply an approved powder or spray to affected areas following the manufacturers' instructions.
• The early stages in the flea life cycle i.e. egg, larval and pupal are more resistant to treatment so additional treatments may be needed.

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Bed bugs

Bed bugs are found in bedding, mattresses, frames or in close proximity (for example skirting boards) to where a person sleeps.

• Contact a pest control officer (see contact details below) who will carry out a positive identification.
• The pest control officer will also carry out treatment and give advice on eradication.

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Ants

Ants feed on sugary foods and food crumbs so you can help to control them by keeping your house interior clean. This may also apply to patio areas.

• Locate the ant nest. This can be difficult as it may be located in sub-floor areas, wall cavities, below outbuildings, paving slabs and so on.
• Purchase ant powder from a garden centre or DIY store.
• Following the manufacturers' instructions, apply the powder to the nest entrance and to areas where ant trails can be seen.
• Fill any entry points and gaps in external walls, stairs and so on.

Please note that unless the queen ant is killed the nest will continue to survive.
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Beetles

• Collect a live or intact dead sample of the beetle to help the pest control officer to make a positive identification and identify the correct treatment
• Contact the pest control team. A pest control officer will visit your home or premises, carry out treatment and/or give advice.

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Woodlice/slaters

Woodlice are a common garden insect which are totally harmless. They are commonly found under bricks, stones and slabs in the garden.

• If they are in the house, check the interior for any damp conditions, for example, leaking/dripping water pipes, rotted wood, overflows running and carry out the necessary repairs or replacements
• Check adjoining garden areas such as paths, patios, flower beds, sheds and remove any accumulations of old wood, slabs or rotted vegetation from around the external house walls.
• Carry out any necessary proofing. For example, defective window pointing or putty work should be attended to.
• Crawling insect spray can be bought from most garden centres and DIY stores and should be used following the manufacturers' instructions.

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Contact Information

You can contact the pest control team using the online form at the top of this page or one of the other contact methods below:

• email: e-prot.es@renfrewshire.gov.uk
• phone: 0141 840 3106
• call or write to us at:
  
  Renfrewshire Council
  Environmental Services
  Renfrewshire House
  Cotton Street
  Paisley
  PA1 1BR
  

Our normal working hours are
Monday to Thursday: 8.45am - 4.45pm
Friday: 8.45am - 3.55pm, excluding public holidays

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