Pest and vermin control in the North West has seen a lively and brisk in 2010 which is somewhat surprising given the relatively cold winter of 2009/10.

Pest and vermin operatives were kept busy with the usual town centre rat infestations all thoughout the winter of course, but the relatively cold early part of the year has already seen ant infestations reported.

The damp summers of 2008 and 2009 were not to the benefit of the hymenoptera (wasps, bees and ants) but 2010 looks like being a busy year for flying ant work.

Frequently ants build nests under the floors of buildings and inside cavity walls causing a large number of foraging ants to invade kitchens and food cupboards.

However it is at their mating time when they can be most distressing as they release winged males and winged queens which then mate on the wing.

The emergence of several thousands of these winged ants inside your home can be horrible indeed.

A fairly new pest was quite numerous in the the North West area last year, the Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus verbasci).

It was unusual for pest controllers in Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire to come across these pests until recent times but they seemed to appear from nowhere in 2008 and already this season has seen reports of these insects in unprecedented numbers.

Having a similar life cycle to moths their larvae, called woolly bears eat natural fibres and can do substantial damage to carpets and natural fabrics. They can be a difficult and tricky pest to eradicate.

Bed Bugs are carrying on their renaissance in the Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire area, often arriving as stowaways in the suitcases of returning travellers.

Regularly the first reaction of those unlucky ones who realise that they have been infested with these horrible,blood-sucking insects is to burn the old beds and purchase.

This is a costly mistake as despite their name bed bugs not only hide in beds and in an infested bedroom will be found everywhere within about five metres of the bed, in cupboards, drawers etc, even in electrical and telephone sockets and the new beds will be instantly re-infested.

A lot of people mistake bed bugs with dust mites which are not visible to the naked eye.

They dine solely on blood which they drink from their sleeping victims. People often associate bed bugs with unhygienic conditions but nothing could be less accurate, they do not require grime, they eat you!

Until the end of April 2010 Harrier & Manchester Pest Control are offering a 25% reduction on their guaranteed ant treatment.

This revolutionary treatment which is guaranteed for three years, extendable indefinitely in further three year chunks by a low cost re-treatment every three years, can be carried out in most houses subject to free site survey

For the summer of 2010 Harrier Pest Control are guaranteeing a fixed price for getting rid of wasps nests in the Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire area of just thirty two pounds.

Contact Harrier Pest control for details on 0800 019 8382 or 0161 930 8814