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It’s fair to say mice have a better reputation than rats in the rodent world. Although not considered quite as adorable as squirrels, many people in still consider them to be cute and harmless. You might even be wondering why mouse pest proofing in so important. Well, for one thing, pest experts are warning that more rodents than ever...
UK SFM Technology working to create a RootWave product for the clearance of weeds either side of bush and cane fruit crops. Picture by RootWave
Malaria still kills 435,000 people every year – 90% of them in Africa – and preventing these deaths as well as the suffering caused by 219 million cases of malaria each year has been...
We commonly find bed bugs in warm, dark areas, which is why they love our mattresses so much. Bed bugs are virtually invisible to us, meaning they can go for long periods of time without even being noticed. Knowing what causes bed bugs and how they get into your home can go a long way in preventing an infestation. Read on to discover our expert...
The biggest problem with rats entering your home or business through the drains, is that the access point is almost impossible to block. By blocking off the drain, you could cause huge plumbing problems in your property. This is why a drain rat flap has been invented as the new go to rat prevention gadget.
If you had to pick out one pest, other than rats, that was a huge problem in London and other big cities, what would you choose? We’re going to hazard a guess that you almost immediately thought of pigeons. Even the most passionate animal lovers still find inner city pigeons to be a pain.
With Halloween just around the corner, you may be preparing to take part in an age-old tradition – carving a pumpkin. Pumpkin carving is something that is loved by everyone, young and old. But, someone else that will enjoy your pumpkin is pests. We’re here to help you find out how to protect pumpkins from pests this Halloween.
Co-creation in action, shared ideas and experience, helping to achieve more and innovate faster. Picture by Corbion
It seems that there is no end to the number of applications for graphene. First seen in the 1960s but rediscovered in 2004 resulting in Nobel prizes for the researchers and subsequently a host of potential and actual uses...
Maremma guardian dogs protecting Little Penguins on Middle Island, near the City of Warrnambool, Victoria in southern Australia. Picture by P. Corbett
With so many of us on the planet and so much pressure on land, natural habitats and the wildlife they contain it is frightening to read that we still lose 40% of our food crops to pests. It is...
Bed bug heat treatment can be very effective, and not as time consuming as chemical treatments. If you have a bed bug infestation a heat treatment is also the most long lasting method of treating it. At super high temperatures, a bed bug at any life stage will be killed outright. And unlike conventional treatment, that includes their eggs. In this...
Have you noticed the leaves start to change colour on the trees? It seems that autumn is officially upon us. And with the arrival of this new season comes a whole new host of autumn pests. Not only do you want to keep the cold out of your home, you want to keep these pests out to.
During this time of year, you will notice fewer flies and wasps. As...
Rats in UK news stories have been a huge topic this week. Pest control experts have warned the British public that a whopping 120 million rats could be headed right for our front doors. Living in cities and urban areas, like London, means that rats will always be a common thing. However, this recent scare has got us thinking more proactively about...
As a global market leader in lactic acid and lactic acid derivatives, and a leading company in emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins and algae ingredients, Corbion has come a long way since 1919 when it was founded by sugar producer, Centrale Suiker Maatschappij (CSM) N.V. Today, it produces biobased ingredients and chemicals...
Recent reports have left cat owners concerned that foxes may attack, kill and eat their beloved pets. This has left the question on everybody’s lips – do foxes eat cats? The fear has led us to keep our pets in during the night in case of a fox attack.
How much truth is in recent newspaper articles? Are they fear mongering and...
For many of us, spotting a spider or handling a pet‘s flea problem doesn’t call for outside help. But for more serious infestations, professional intervention is always the best choice. As with many others, though, the pest control industry suffers from its con artists. The market has been inundated with pest control scams. This is...
At Empire Pest Control we not only serve Greater London but also provide extensive coverage of our services to the outer reaches of the capital bringing expert pest control services to Croydon and beyond.
Whether you are a business in the centre of Croydon or a private...
Now that the summer is winding down, wasps will be even more aggressive in their search for sugar. This means that sugar seeking wasps can become a bit of a problem. Here, we are going to look at how you can keep safe from wasps that may be paying you a visit to do more than just borrow a cup of sugar.
Dr Guglielmo Pampiglione, Dr Chiara Piombo, Dr Marco Caimi – InPest Lab, Italy.
Abstract: Food Safety Standards like ISO 22000: 2018, BRC, IFS, are providing a general improvement of the quality of Pest Management services introducing a new concept of collaboration between Pest Management operators and client companies in recent years. This...
As a human race, we rely heavily on the use of pesticides. Not only do they help yield crops and keep us fed, pesticides also come in handy when combatting residential pest control infestations. However, are some pests resistant to pesticides? The idea of this can be a scary to contemplate. But there are a growing number of pests that are...
Moths are family members of the insect family Lepidoptera. The same family as butterflies. However, it’s fair to say that not many people consider moths to be as pretty as their cousins. Butterflies are also less likely to invade your home. And if they do, you’re less likely to be worried or want to get rid of them quickly. You might...
We all know, even if we don’t understand the specifics, that a termite infestation that’s left undealt with is a bad thing for a property. With colonies that can number into the millions, they often leave a devastating path of destruction in their wake. The best form of protection against termites is prevention. However, if...
We should point out from the outset that you don’t really need to panic and that it’s rare for anyone to die from a spiders that bite UK. However, it’s a misconception that there are no UK spiders that bite humans. It’s rare, but it’s worth being aware that it happen, and while they may not kill, there are a...
If you’ve ever spent time looking for pest removal services in London or anywhere in the country, you may have noticed one particular service on offer – 24 hour pest removal. Now, there are many jobs where normal business hours don’t apply. Paramedics, nurses, doctors, police officers, firefighters and postal workers spring to...
There are various pests that pose a threat to businesses in the UK. As well as damaging property and ruining stock, products and anything else related to a company, pests can also do a good deal of harm to its reputation. Why would anyone want to eat in that nice little Italian restaurant in London, if it was recently discovered they had a...
December 2019 Hardback & eBook 289 Pages with index ISBN Hardbound: 978-1-77188-817-2 ISBN eBook: 9780429284120
Floricultural crops all over the world are challenged by a number of insect and mite pests. The pest scenario is changing, and with climate change the instances...
It’s not just in the house that rats are unwelcome. Practically no one likes to have them outdoors either. Do you really want all the hard work you put into the exterior of your property being undone by rats in the garden? If not, you will want to act fast to reduce the amount of damage they are likely to do. As well as deterring them from...
It goes without saying that no pests are welcome in our homes. Anyone in their right mind would want to get rid of them at the first sign of a problem or infestation. That being said, there are some domestic pests that are more damaging and dangerous to leave in you home without a proper course of treatment than others. In the following post, we...
Rats and London go together like tea and biscuits, salt and pepper, cheese and pickle. They have lived in London for centuries. So, like it or not, they are our city neighbours. While it may not be completely true that rats are always no further than 6 feet away from you in London, like many other big cities in the world, these rodents are...
Whether you have a commercial property or a residential home to take care of, it is sensible to be vigilant against pests. You may have noticed, that, like many other London pest specialists, we offer 24 hour pest control here at Empire. Perhaps you have wondered why, when most people – unless they are night owls – would normally carry...
Cockroaches. When most people hear that word, they shudder and feel pretty uneasy. A perfectly understandable reaction, when you think about how ghastly these creatures are. Not only are they seen as a sign of filth and dirt, but are known to carry and spread disease. It’s fair to say that cockroaches are probably one of the least popular...
Whether you’ve seen the evidence for yourself, or heard the news reports over the last few years, the problem is clear. Pests, and the need for pest control in West London, has been on the incline. That begs the question. What are the specific reasons why this increase has occurred?
A lot of the finger-pointing is directed at local councils...
Cover image:- Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. Picture by USGS Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab, Beltsville, Maryland, USA.
Creating refuges for wildlife around fields is not uncommon in the UK and around the world but for these strips to be of value they need a diversity of plant species growing in them. Apparently, they are all too often...
A new, innovative, customer and operator focused manufacturer of global vector pest management equipment has arrived: PronixNova Limited. Between them, the two proprietors of PronixNova have over 75 years combined experience in fine droplet application methods covering field use, product design and manufacture.
A nationwide experiment carried out in the UK has revealed that the old myth of slugs being attracted to beer is in fact true, with lager and bitter proving to be the most effective drinks for successfully trapping those pesky garden pests.
Up and down the country members of horticultural charity, Garden Organic, have been testing slug trapping...
Krzysztof Pekala – Head of Pest Innovations. Photo: ICB Pharma
ICB Pharma has announced it has a new Head of Pest Innovations Department; after one and a half years as the Head of Marketing, Krzysztof Pekala has taken on the additional responsibilities of this new role. The company’s strategy...
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Tencent, will organise the 2nd International Autonomous Greenhouse Challenge in which multidisciplinary teams from around the world will use artificial intelligence to remotely produce vegetables. The goal is to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can produce greenhouse grown vegetables more...
On the eve of a Europe-wide day of action calling for the European Commission to protect bees from harmful pesticides, the Commission announced it will delay the implementation of new pesticide testing standards by a full two years and may revise them.
SumOfUs, a movement of consumers setup to hold corporations accountable for their actions, has...
Bayer is disappointed with the jury’s decision in favour of Mr. and Mrs Pilliod, the plaintiffs, in the Californian Courts and it has announced that it will appeal the verdict, which Bayer claims conflicts directly with; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s interim registration review decision released just last month; the...
Wildlife friendly refuges around the edges of farmers’ crops have been credited with slowing biodiversity declines, however, new research shows their success ultimately depends on what’s growing next to the field.
Recent reported increases in some crop pollinating insects suggested the upturn was due to more UK farms creating these...
Very few situations are more frustrating or stressful than an infestation of bed bugs. They can be incredibly hard to remove from your home and possessions. They spread everywhere, but, one of the things people struggle with most is bed bugs on clothes. If you have ever faced this experience – or are worried that you might –...
December 2018 Hardback 632 Pages ISBN 9781780647197
This book provides a comprehensive guide to the large number of diseases, disorders and injuries that can cause severe economic losses to banana, abacá and enset crops, and the fungi, bacteria, phytoplasmas, viruses,...
Agriculture for Improved Nutrition: Seizing the Momentum
January 2019 Hardback & Open Access eBook 232 Pages ISBN 9781786399311
Agriculture's vast potential to improve nutrition is just beginning to be tapped. New ideas, research, and initiatives developed over the past decade have created an opportunity for reimagining and...
Mice find human residencies just as appealing as we do. They are perfect for hiding away from the colder temperatures of winter. They also provide protection from hot conditions during summer. One place in your home that’s particularly attractive to mice is the inside of your property’s walls. As mice can spread disease, chew at...
Pests of all shapes and sizes spell trouble for business. There’s no denying this fact. However, there is one insect pest that, more than any other, can spell disaster for a business. Particularly a business involved in the storage, use, preparation or even cooking of food. That pest is cockroaches. Not only are they grotesque creatures...
Squirrels…who could possibly hate squirrels? They are clever, cute and cuddly looking. But that’s only if you look at them from a wildlife lover‘s point of view. From the point of view of a homeowner and someone who spends a lot of money and time in their garden, squirrels can be a menace. The interesting thing is that, while...
As we head towards the warmer weather, flies start to become a big problem. And as temperatures rise, fly prevention and control becomes even more necessary that usual. As well as being plain irritating with the way they buzz around, they can also pose health and safety risks. As you probably know, flies carry a multitude of diseases and bacteria...
Pest infestations are a real problem for both commercial and domestic property owners alike. Empire use effective ways to get rid of pests once they’ve invaded your property. But, because infestations can be avoided with preventative measures, we also provide highly successful pest proofing methods as part of our range of services.
When the need to hire a pest control service arises, it’s important to carry out thorough research. There are various things you need to consider, such as the cost, their experience and methods. One thing you need to look at is whether, like Empire, they are properly accredited by organisations like the British Pest Control Association. Why...
In the hospitality industry, more than any other service area, pest control is crucial. The hospitality industry is very competitive, and there are a lot of hotel and dining options available for customers to choose from. It takes a long time for a good reputation to be built up. And, once it’s earned, it is extremely valuable. The problem...
Cover image: NEWPHARM® is the focus of our company profile this issue.
We don’t get many articles on animal health so it’s good to start this issue with news of an infectious diseases surveillance program in sub-Saharan Africa which aims to build a database of animal parasites covering six countries.
NEWPHARM® management, the founder Dr. Bagarollo with his daughter Claudia and his son Enrico.
The founder, chairman and CEO of NEWPHARM®, Dr. Dionisio Bagarollo, describes the transformation of his company, as the second generation of the Bagarollo family successfully take over the top management of NEWPHARM®.
New equipment for the control of viruses, bacteria and weeds are on their way from Copyr. The company has partnered with IGEBA for the exclusive distribution of nebulisers in the Italian market.
With over 50 years of consolidated experience and R&D of insecticide formulation, Copyr has turned to...
STK & Sipcam announce exclusive distribution agreement
CEOs: Sipcam CEO Pablo Montañés (Left) and STK CEO Arye Tenenbaum (Right)
STK bio-ag technologies, the innovative Israel-based leader in bio-ag technologies for sustainable agriculture, and Sipcam, a global leader in crop protection products, are announcing an...
Farmers irrigating their crops may soon be getting some help from space. In 2018, scientists launched ECOSTRESS, a new instrument now attached to the International Space Station. Its mission: to gather data on how plants use water across the world.
Time lapse image of the ECOSTRESS launch to the International Space Station, June 29, 2018, NASA...
Scientists are creating a new smartphone app to help farmers and growers tackle the pests destroying their crops, and it could soon have a major impact on the way information about the natural world is gathered, stored and accessed worldwide.
The team of researchers from the University of Lincoln, UK, is designing and building the specialist app to...
As much as ants are a pest, they can be intriguing creatures. And when it comes to team work, there are some fascinating facts about ants working together. They really are an incredibly intelligent insect.
Understanding how ants work together might even help you prevent an ant problem. If you have seen ants in your home, considering their...
In a UK first, a pioneering scientific research company has introduced a new way for growers to test their plants and crops for harmful fungi and bacteria, allowing action to be taken before it’s too late.
Eurofins Agro UK has introduced scientific testing to the UK which can detect an issue before it becomes visible, with the aim of...
The Parasitology and Entomology team at the National Veterinary School of Toulouse, France, is organising an entomology course which will be held from the 26th to 30th of August 2019.
The title of the course will be: “Hands on Course on Arthropods of Medical and Veterinary Significance: A global perspective, from theory to practice”,...
Scientists have revealed for the first time the natural weapon used by marigolds to protect tomato plants against destructive whiteflies.
Researchers from Newcastle University’s School of Natural and Environmental Sciences carried out a study to prove what gardeners around the world have known for generations – marigolds repel tomato...
Using the gene editing tool CRISPR, a team of scientists at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has announced that they have developed banana and plantain varieties that are resistant to banana streak virus (BSV). BSV is hampering the crop’s production in Africa and threatening the food and income of millions of...
Farmers face many challenges in managing their farms profitably, including fewer products available to address increasing resistance. This reduction stems from steadily tightening regulations and the difficulty of finding new active ingredients. BASF’s fungicide innovation Revysol® is the first isopropanol-azole being introduced to the...
CABI scientists have revealed that India’s tea – which accounts for around 27 percent of the world’s tea production – could be protected from devastating crop pests with more environmentally friendly and sustainable biological controls rather than an over reliance on pesticides.
Members of the scientific project team, from left to right: Dr Tayebwa Dickson (Uganda), Dr Ortwin Aschenborn (Namibia), Dr Foluke Adedayo Akande (Nigeria), Emeritus Professor Michael J. Day (UK, Project Leader), Dr Sherry Johnson (Ghana), Dr Jahashi Nzalawahe (Tanzania) and Professor Samuel Githigia (Kenya). Photo: Bayer AG
There is nothing worse in life than finding a pest infestation in your home or business. Pests are disgusting to have around, and they can actually do a lot of damage to your property as well. We are very lucky to have so many different types of pest control available to us in the UK. Our homes and businesses don’t have to suffer from pest...
Even the most avid bird enthusiasts aren’t usually very keen on pigeons. Pigeon simply cause too many problems. These problems are tricky to solve for UK homeowners, and can cause no end of issues for business owners. This is because pigeons can wreak havoc and damage our properties. Read on to find out about our top expert pigeon...
Many people keep rats as a pet, but for the majority of Londoners they are often our least favourite rodent. Despite this, some facts about rats are quite intriguing, as they are fascinating and intelligent creatures. This is one of the reasons why Empire do our best to control them humanely. Where possible, we set traps and bait stations that...
Mice can be a big problem. Not only because they bring with them diseases, viruses, and bacteria – they leave droppings too, which make your home feel dirty. But pesticides are not always the best solution for us or the environment. Could the latest research into mouse pheromones be the answer?
Schools by their nature are prone to clutter. Boxes, papers, posters and books are all used by teachers and tend to pile up. The use of these learning materials is great for our children, but in storage areas that are left undisturbed for long periods of time a pest control issue can occur. This and other forms of clutter are just some of the...
because they are non-toxic. Whether it’s in our homes or our businesses, it seems like a constant battle to keep pests away. People all over the UK struggle to prevent them from damaging our property. And when faced with a severe pest problem, it’s often our first point of call to turn to services that offer chemicals as the only...
Winter may be the perfect time to travel. The UK weather has become a bit tedious by the time February rolls around. But whether you’re having a half term break with the kids or are just escaping the cold for some sun, every location you visit will have one thing in common…insects!
Depending on where you visit, you will experience...
The fox is known as one of the most cunning pests. Usually sighted in towns and cities, it’s our UK gardens that take the hit. It’s important to keep in mind that wild animals can be dangerous, but foxes are generally docile. That doesn’t mean we want them ruining our gardens, the same as other common garden pests. So here we...
A study by researchers from Sweden and Hungary has shown that white, painted stripes on the body protect skin from insect bites. Among indigenous peoples who wear body-paint, the markings thus provide a certain protection against insect-borne diseases.
Most indigenous communities who paint their bodies live in areas where there is an abundance of...
Drones Synergies 2018, a global conference combined with capacity building workshops took place in November 2018 at the Zayed University in Dubai. The aim of the two-day event was to see application of latest drone technologies in different fields, particularly in precision agriculture, food security, environmental and natural resource...
The project, in Rajasthan, aims to conserve water and improve productivity. Photo: Bayer
Bayer and the S M Sehgal Foundation (SMSF) – a non-profit organisation supporting smallholder farmers in India – have announced the “Sustainability of Agriculture and Smallholder Development” project. The aim of the project is to...
When Uzbekistan earned WHO certification as malaria free, it was a major achievement in global health that demonstrates what is possible when partners coordinate preventive efforts, the Global Fund said today.
“It’s an extraordinary outcome,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “We applaud...
An insect capable of parasitising the Asian stink bug has been identified by Bioplanet. It is not an exotic antagonist but is already present in Europe and therefore it does not need to go through all the processes required before an exotic species can be introduced.
Long-term toxicity should be taken into account during authorisation...
In October 2018 Biobest Mexico was proud to stage the first International Berry Seminar in the state of Jalisco – right at the heart of this rapidly growing sector in Mexican horticulture. In this region, berry cultivation takes place on more than 6,000ha. Major international companies – including Driscoll´s and Hortifrut...
Plant protection products containing metam-sodium are used in market gardening and horticulture to disinfect the soil. Following the substance’s approval at European level, ANSES (the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) reassessed the dossiers and notified the companies concerned of its intention to...
A study by researchers from the Diverfarming project has found pesticide residues in the soils of eleven European countries in six different cropping systems.
The use of phytosanitary projects to combat weeds and other pests that affect the crops has led to an increase in the productivity of European agricultural crops in the last 50 years. Their...
Researchers from Wageningen University & Research harvested the first ever Dutch bananas in December 2018. Boerenhart, a supplier of fresh and local products offered the bananas as ‘regional produce’ to restaurants and hospitals in the area around Wageningen. The cultivation took place on two types of synthetic soil substrate:...
Malaria is a disease which still has a devastating impact on families and communities – particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Photo: Bayer
The recent WHO Malaria Report 2018 flagged another stalling in the progress towards elimination of the disease, in part due to development of insecticide resistance in vector mosquitoes to current...
The lookalikes of the infamous, deadly Black Widow Spider are their cousins, the False Widow Spider. While these spiders are venomous and can pack a very painful bite, they’re no more dangerous that being stung by a wasp. These spiders are also non-aggressive. Here we are going to look at some top tips for controlling the UK False Widow...
A no deal scenario when the UK leaves the EU means that it will leave without agreement. Negotiations have been going on for a while. In the event of a no deal, the government has prepared us for all eventualities to know what to do when it comes to UK pest control chemicals. A lot of people have been asking about pesticides and...
Many people assume that the answer to is pest control necessary in winter is no. It’s a common misconception that in the winter, pests all die off or hibernate so we no longer need pest control. This is absolutely not the case. The truth is, the answer to the confusion over winter pest control – is yes, it is needed.
As if staying healthy during the winter months isn’t hard enough, especially with the common cold and flu doing the rounds, you don’t need something bothersome to add to the list. Unfortunately, one thing many people don’t think about at this time of the year are mice infestation health risks. These mice infestation health...
It’s very easy to get cynical about New Year’s resolutions. Just about everybody makes a goal, but they normally fizzle out by February. There’s a reason people still make resolutions every year though, especially when it comes to pest control solutions. That’s because they are a good idea. It’s proven that...
Organized pest control has a long history that dates to 4000 BC when the first ever pest control solution – sulphur – was used in ancient Sumer to keep insects away from crops. Since then, pest control has seen steady progress, from botanical products used as fungicides for seed treatments in China, to professional...
How is your to-do list for Christmas coming along? We know ours is getting longer and longer. With travel plans to make, gifts to buy and meals to plan, winter pests are the last thing you want to worry about. Here are the 12 signs you may to watch out for as we head into Christmas. Remember that pest solutions are still available from Empire even...
When winter hits us, we often assume that insects either die off or stay in their nests to hibernate. This is certainly not the case and knowing: do wasps hibernate inside our homes? is important to keep your property safe from infestations.
Where And When Do Wasps Hibernate?
So now you know that wasps do hibernate, it’s time to...
Cover Image: A bumblebee hard at work protecting a strawberry from grey mould (p330). Picture by Flying Doctors, Biobest.
Crystal ball gazing is the theme for this issue, the last of our 60th year. We haven’t asked our writers to look 60 years into the future – 2078 is just too far ahead although I’m pretty certain I...
Now that the temperature is dropping, have you been wondering: where do insects go in winter? You may notice that certain pests tend to disappear in the colder months. It’s like magic. Suddenly you don’t have to worry about wasp nest control or cockroach infestations.
But maybe you are curious about where do insects go in winter....
How EPC Deal with Pests in Croydon
June 2017
December 2019
