06 March 2018

Ask the Technical Team March 2018

Feature technical | PPC90 March 2018 Being the leading association for pest management in the UK means that you get a lot of professional pest control questions piling up in your inbox. When you’re a BPCA member you can get te.... More

28 February 2018

New pest advice blog launched for pest awareness week - PestAware

BPCA's new consumer-facing blog has launched. PestAware provides domestic and commercial pest advice, encouraging potential clients to use the find a pest controller tool. PestAware – the pest control blog is our commitment t.... More

26 February 2018

Pest Awareness Week kicks off with war on litter to tackle rodent numbers

Press release | PestAware The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) is urging the public to be mindful of the link between pests and litter as part of a week-long event to raise awareness of the issue of species such as rats and mic.... More

02 February 2018

Pest controllers updated about rodenticide resistance concerns

A new study by Reading University has identified "the massive extent of L120Q resistance across the whole of central southern England." Co-author Dr Colin Prescott explains that L120Q is the most severe form of rodenticide resistance identified to.... More

16 January 2018

Have your say: Consultation on proposed enforcement for the Invasive Alien Species Regulation

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has opened consultation of a proposed enforcement regime for the EU Invasive Alien Species Regulation in England and Wales. BPCA members are encouraged to make their views k.... More

08 November 2017

New rules in Ireland greatly curtail continuous use of rodenticides in ‘Permanent Baiting Programmes’

Following the recent EU Review of anticoagulant rodenticide active substances, new rules on the use of the permanent baiting technique have been adopted across Ireland. These new rules require that the continuous use of toxic bait can n.... More

07 November 2017

BeeWatch to launch in December

BeeWatch is an App based, alerting system that links pesticide users and beekeepers together to protect the last ‘managed’ pollinator.   The beekeeper and the pest controller are directly linked in real time.... More

07 November 2017

Outbreak of plague in Madagascar

The World Health organisation (WHO) has delivered millions of doses of antibiotics to fight the outbreak of plague, which has already claimed the lives of 33 people. The bubonic version of the plague is often spread by rodents and transm.... More

07 November 2017

Termites in the Midlands?

BPCA member, CSS Pest Services, identified a small colony, initially thought to contain up to 30 termites, during a routine inspection. After seeking confirmation from an entomologist, the termites were identified as Kalotermitidae, more.... More

04 October 2017

Confirmed: Asian Hornets in Devon

An invasive species of hornet has been sighted at an apiary in Devon. The Asian hornet is said to pose a very real threat to our native species of bees and is already common across Europe. We reported last year that the Hornet had it&rsq.... More

13 September 2017

Skunk hits the senses in Surrey

A professional pest controller had to do a double take - and take a deep breath - after coming face-to-face with a skunk in Surrey. Paul Nugent of North Downs Pest Control, a Probationary Member of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA).... More

06 September 2017

Bayer issues warning to stay alert for Asian Hornets

Manufacturer and Distributor Member, Bayer, has urged Pest controllers to remain vigilant this autumn and report sightings of Asian hornets. The advice follows the first confirmed case of the invasive pest in the UK last September. Rich.... More

05 September 2017

New imaging technique reveals amazing pictures of live insects

Scientists from Western University in Ontario, Canada have developed a new way of photographing living insects with stunning results. The problem with taking pictures of insects is they move. And if they don’t move, they’re probab.... More

01 September 2017

Spike in wasp numbers with autumn sugar rush predicted

BPCA predicts a rise in wasp figures after the mixed summer weather created a delay in their usual pattern of emergence. The cooler climate has seen the pests focus on rearing their young, predominantly feeding on wood-based material to.... More

16 August 2017

Fleas with bubonic plague found in parts of USA

Public health officials have confirmed that they have found fleas in Arizona, the USA that have tested positive for the bubonic plague – the infectious disease responsible for the Black Death in the Middle Ages. Back in June, three peop.... More

04 August 2017

Confirmed: Invasive Asian tiger mosquitoes in UK

Public Health England (PHE) has reported that a monitoring project in Kent discovered Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) larvae. Public Health England has been running 30 detection points at numerous British ports and airports. Sinc.... More

16 June 2017

Century milestone for quality benchmark

The number of UK pest control companies to achieve CEPA Certified® status has reached three figures in little more than two years. The European Standard for Pest Management Services (EN16636) and its accompanying certification scheme was.... More

26 May 2017

Insect Monitoring Traps live to fight another day

The hard work of BPCA, its Members and their clients working together have resulted in a victory against a proposal to class insect monitoring trap pheromones as biocides. Through a two-pronged attack at the European Commission and lobbying o.... More

16 May 2017

18 inch Rat makes headlines - media savvy pest controllers take note!

Once again, the media has taken an interest in a big rodent. The rat in question is by no means the largest on record, or indeed particularly newsworthy. Yet still we’ve spotted headlines such as “Giant rats as big as CATS found raidin.... More

16 May 2017

Prince Charles to control grey squirrels with Nutella and contraception

It is understood that Prince Charles has backed a government plan to sterilise grey squirrels using traps filled with Nutella and oral contraceptive, with the aim of protecting their red cousins. The invasive pests will be lured into eating a.... More

16 May 2017

New Waste Guidance Launched

The BPCA Code of Best Practice on Pesticide Waste has been updated and is available for free via the BPCA website. The document has been reviewed by the Environment Agencies of the four home countries and pulled together by BPCA Technical Man.... More

16 May 2017

Brain-Invading Parasite Spreads Through Climate Change

Health officials in Hawaii have been warning residents not to touch snails or slugs with their bare hands because of an increase in cases of a rare parasitic infection known as rat lungworm. Experts are blaming its sudden spread across the United.... More

24 April 2017

Move over, Pizza Rat... It's Taco Squirrel!

A gutsy rat that dragged a full slice of pizza down the stairs of a New York City subway station became a social media sensation back in 2015. Move over, Pizza Rat. pic.twitter.com/Djvn4Isasu — Maria Bianchi (@MariaBianchi).... More

16 March 2017

Trending: Chinese restaurant’s pest warning goes viral

We had a good giggle when someone shared this picture of a sign in China about their rat problem. Top tip - when dealing with a rodent infestation, the first step should always be to demoralise the rodents by hurling insults at them. If y.... More

16 March 2017

Endangered Bees: Pesticides blamed

The American rusty patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) has made its way onto the endangered species list. The US Fish and Wildlife Services has suggested a number of reasons for the sharp decline in rusty patched bumble bee numbers, including a vu.... More

16 March 2017

Mouse Cafe launched

Most people spend their time trying to keep rodents out of food premises - not building one specifically for mice. Take a look at these snaps of the side of a building in Sweden (photos: Peter Frennesson. Cafe for mice, Malmö, Sweden) So.... More

16 March 2017

Movie Review: Morgan Spurlock’s Documentary ‘Rats’

It’s very rare to be able to combine a love for pest control and cinema, but when a 1:28 horror documentary makes its way onto Netflix - it’s time to get out the popcorn. OK, this film might not be one of those occasions you.... More

02 March 2017

PPC86: The PestEx Edition OUT NOW

Professional Pest Controller (PPC) magazine is the premier quarterly magazine for the pest management industry. What's in PPC86 PPC86 is packed with articles and news all about BPCA and the pest control sector. Whether you want to top up y.... More

11 February 2017

Freedom of information request reveals thousands of pest control call outs in NHS hospitals

Data by the Press Association shows that pest controllers were called out over 5000 times by hospitals in England. That's an average of 13 visits a day! The areas where pests have been sighted included maternity wards, children's intensive care un.... More

27 January 2017

Revised glueboard code launched

Last month saw the re-launch of the Pest Management Alliance Code of Best Practice for the Humane Use of Rodent Glueboards. The Code has been revisited by BPCA and its fellow Alliance members, plus Natural England, DEFRA and the Government's A.... More

28 November 2016

Rats menace threatens Christmas spirit

Homeowners are being urged to be on their guard as cold weather threatens to spark a plague of rats over Christmas. A polar vortex from the Arctic is expected to send temperatures plummeting in the next few weeks. And pest experts fear a.... More

10 November 2016

Rare seabird population triples on Scilly Isles thanks to investment in rodent control

A three-year rodent control project, backed by Prince Charles, has successfully resulted in the number of nesting Manx shearwaters to increase dramatically. The project, backed by Prince Charles, successfully killed off thousands of rats that eat.... More

10 November 2016

Using refined sticky traps to meet the challenge of pesticide resistant thrips and whitefly

With more and more pests becoming resistant to pesticides, alternative control methods are being put to the test to combat flower thrip and whitefly infestations. Manufacturing and distributing member, Russel IPM, have been running trials o.... More

06 October 2016

UPDATE: Asian hornets nest found near Bristol

The pumpkin-sized hornet's nest was at the top of a 17m conifer found in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Asian hornets are in invasive species of hornet that pose no significant risk to human health although, they do kill honey bees. They were firs.... More

05 October 2016

BPCA on radio after fire service issues wasp nest warning

Fire services covering Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire, issued a warning this week after a DIY treatment of a Wasps nest went horribly wrong. The warning comes after photos emerged of a garage completely burnt to the ground.... More

20 September 2016

Sighting of an Asian Hornet in the UK

Pest experts are warning members of the public to remain vigilant following the first sighting of an Asian Hornet in the UK. The invasive species that preys on honey bees was spotted in Tetbury, Gloucestershire earlier this week and attempt.... More

14 July 2016

Updated zoonotic disease guidelines publishes

Guidelines for the Investigation of Zoonotic Disease (non-foodborne) in England and Wales (Version 2). Revised and updated guidelines have been published which describe the roles and responsibilities of a range of organisations and agencies.... More

11 July 2016

Proactive public health pest management

The British Pest Control Association's (BPCA) Servicing Committee Chair, Philip Halpin puts forward his three golden rules for effective pest management. BPCA recognise that reputations can be ruined and businesses destroyed if pest activity.... More

26 February 2016

BPCA attend DEFRA meeting regarding trapping

Dee Ward-Thompson attended a DEFRA meeting held on 31 January regarding trapping. 38 people attended the meeting, including farmers, gamekeepers and pest controllers. BPCA were the only pest control association represented. EU legislation is.... More

14 July 2015

Baiting operations concluded on South Georgia as plans get underway for long-term monitoring

Hopes that globally important seabird sanctuary is now free of rats for first time in two centuries A remarkable chapter draws to a close on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. The South Georgia Heritage Trust has concluded the baiting phas.... More

23 April 2015

Spending cuts could spark plague of pests

GOVERNMENT spending cuts could spark an explosion in the UK pest population, it has been claimed. New figures reveal the number of local authorities who provide a free pest control service has declined by 26 percent over the last four years. And t.... More

17 September 2014

Natural England Board determines outcome of General Licences Consultation

Over recent months Natural England has held a wide-ranging consultation to seek views on potential adjustments to General Licences for protected species which are periodically reviewed. The consultation finished on 19 May and attracted over 2,000.... More

07 November 2013

BPCA comments on recent rodenticide resistance stories

Technical Manager Richard Moseley said "cases of resistance in rats have been known for decades." A study being undertaken by the Universities of Huddersfield and Reading began around three years ago and will eventually document where the highes.... More

11 February 2013

British Pest Control Association comments on fox attack

Technical Manager Richard Moseley said "although fox attacks on humans are very rare, this doesn't mean we should dismiss the recent incident of the baby boy being attacked as an isolated incident." When asked there would be a call for a cull.... More

07 January 2013

Rats blamed for blaze - save yourself from similar devastation

Rats could be to blame for a fire at a coach firm, destroying three coaches and three minibuses in Hedge End, near Southampton.  Fire investigators have concluded that the most likely cause of the fire was a spark from an electrical fault, wh.... More