Learn more about some of the most common pests in the UK

If you need help to identify a pest before you contact us, here is a helpful guide from the British Pest Control Association.

Glossary of common pest control terms

• Bait – A substance used to attract pests to a trap or pesticide. 
• Biological control – The use of natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to control pest populations. 
• Bird deterrent – A device or substance used to discourage birds from landing, roosting, or nesting in a specific area. 
• Bird netting – A mesh material used to prevent birds from accessing specific areas.
• Bird deterrent – A device or substance used to discourage birds from landing, roosting, or nesting in a specific area. 
• Bird gels – Sticky, non-toxic substances applied to surfaces to deter birds from landing.
• Bird netting – A mesh material used to prevent birds from accessing specific areas.
• Bird spikes – Physical deterrents made of metal or plastic, installed on surfaces to prevent birds from landing.
• COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) – UK regulations concerning the safe handling and use of hazardous substances, including pesticides.
• Cockroach bait – A pesticide bait formulated to attract and eliminate cockroaches.
• Disinfestation – The process of eliminating pests, especially insects, rodents, or other animals, from an area or object.
• Exclusion – The practice of preventing pests from entering a building or area by sealing cracks, holes, and other entry points.
• Fumigation – A pest control method that involves using gaseous pesticides to eliminate pests in enclosed spaces. 
• Habitat modification – Altering the environment to make it less attractive to pests.
• Insecticide – A pesticide designed to kill insects.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) – A comprehensive pest control approach that combines various methods, including biological, cultural, and chemical controls, to minimize pesticide use and maximize effectiveness.
• Licenced bird control – The legal process of controlling certain bird species under general license, or specific license, due to the wildlife and countryside act 1981.
• Monitoring – The process of regularly inspecting an area for signs of pest activity.
• Nesting site – A location where pests build nests or establish colonies.
• Pesticide – A substance used to kill or control pests.
• Pheromones – Chemical substances released by animals, especially insects, that influence the behaviour of other animals of the same species.
• Proofing – Making a building or area resistant to pests.
• Repellent – A substance that deters pests without killing them.
• Sanitation – Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene to prevent pest infestations.
• Scouting – The process of inspecting an area to determine the presence and extent of pest infestations.
• Structural pest control – Pest control that focuses on protecting buildings and structures from pests.
• Trap – A device used to capture pests.
• Vector – An organism that transmits diseases from one host to another.
• Vertebrate pest –A pest that is a vertebrate animal, such as a rodent or bird.
• Void space – An enclosed space within a building, such as a wall void or attic, that may provide harborage for pests.
• Wasp nest removal – The removal of a wasp’s nest, usually by a trained pest control technician.