Vertebrate Pests in the UK

• Middlesex University, Faculty of Science & Technology produced the Pestology Reader and Workbook
• Alan Page and Adam Choonara compiled the information
• Module Tutor Salma Conner can be contacted at 020 8411 2695 or [email protected]
• Technical support is available from Milan Vu at 020 8411 3029 or [email protected]

Module 1 Content

• Pests and their impacts have been a consistent issue throughout history
• Pests cause harm through disease transmission to humans and livestock, economic losses from crop damage and contamination
• Changes like new production methods and increased travel have shifted pest prevalence
• Control is needed in both rural and urban environments to halt disease spread and pest impacts on public health
• The module concentrates on UK pests, their life cycles, habitats, infestation detection, and control methods

Learning Outcomes

• Recognize common vertebrate pests in the UK and know their life cycles and habitats
• Apply cognitive skills to spot vertebrate pest infestations
• Advise on and assess appropriate eradication for vertebrate pests in various settings, especially food
• Recognize common invertebrate pests, including those imported, and know their life cycles and habitats
• Apply cognitive skills to spot invertebrate pest infestations
• Advise on and assess appropriate eradication for invertebrate pests in various settings
• Understand the laws around pesticide use and storage

Course Structure

• The module aims to achieve its objectives with specialized knowledge unit
• The initial unit covers the connection between humans and pests, and why pest control is needed
• This is followed by exploring pest groups: mammals, birds, insects, and mites focusing on UK pests, their impacts, and controls
• The course culminates in a review of health/safety and pest control, including pesticide laws

Study Approach

• Teaching involves study units within this handbook as a starting point
• Further study involves practical sessions, videos, questions etc

Units of Learning

• An overview of major topics covered in the PESTOLOGY READER and WORKBOOK
• Introduction to the module, pests, their importance, and control principles (Study Unit 1)
• Mammalian pests, focusing on rodents: biology, behavior, and chemical control (Study Unit 2)
• Non-chemical rodent control, squirrels, other vertebrate pests, and legal controls (Study Unit 3)
• Avian pests, urban foxes, rabbits including their biology, characteristics, and control (Study Unit 4)
• Insect pests: taxonomy, arthropod characteristics, anatomy, physiology, and conditions they favor (Study Unit 5)
• Specific insect pests: Diptera, Hemiptera, Syphonptera, Hymenoptera, Dictyoptera, Orthoptera (Study Unit 6)
• Fabric and stored product insect pests (Study Unit 7)
• Insect pest chemical and physical controls (Study Unit 8)
• Insect pest biological control and legal guidelines (Study Unit 9)
• Pests of stored products, including food product pests (Study Unit 10)

Study Units Structure

• The units provide a review of key topics and common UK pests
• Studying the units in order is key
• The units include features to help with student learning and knowledge
• Review questions help to measure progress, solidify understanding, and enhance subject knowledge
• Exercises are detailed questions examining issues within the unit to test problem-solving skills.

Additional Materials

• Use provided reading lists, texts, and online resources to expand understanding

Time Management

• This is a larger module, expect to spend roughly 80 hours in study time
• Spend time on units, further research, and module exam preparation
• Develop a personal study schedule

Pest Control Definition

• A pest can be defined as any organism that is destructive, harmful, or irritating to humans or their interests
• This includes organisms damaging crops, livestock, or that are found in particular areas

Groups of Pests

• Invertebrate pests include insects and mites
• Vertebrate pests include mammals and birds

Reasons for Pest Control

• Health and Diseases: Pests can directly/indirectly transmit diseases to humans through bites, feeding, or allergens
• Indirect transmission can involve cross-contamination of food or water
• Pests may harm livestock with disease transmission to humans or adverse effects on livestock
• Economic Loss: Pests can damage stored products, crops, and structures
• Pests can thrive in an environment from the introduction of something new such as termites with climate change
• Producers can limit destruction by vaccination, herbicides and pesticides

Principles of Pest Control

• Preventative Controls: Pest-proofing can be achieved by limiting food source access such as proofing and sealing a building
• Preventative Controls: Control pest harborages to prevent the places for the pests can reside without too much disturbance by removing debris

Preventative Strategies

• Effective housekeeping reduces food sources if pests bypass proofing and involves keeping premises clean, tidy and free of debris
• Careful examination of supplies is imperative in order to prevent contamination from outside locations

Reactive Controls

• First, recognize the signs of a potential problem like webbing, rodent droppings or other signs
• Next, assess the approximate level of the identified infestation
• Thirdly, prescribe a strategy for destruction and immediate proofing in order to prevent from worsening
• Finally, implement the change safely, legally, and check and assess treatment impact

Methods of Control

• Control methods rely on the nature of the problem, the species involved and any environments
• Methods rely on amount of control, safety of anyone involved, legislation and any ethical considerations

Use of Rodenticides

• Rodenticides, used against rodents, can be acute (single dose) or chronic (multiple dose)
• Chronic rodenticides contain anti-coagulants
• Prebaiting is important due to caution from new-object disorders
• As such, baits are frequently moist and replaced in case they dry out

Insecticides

• Insecticides can be space sprays for immediate kills
• It is most effective to use active ingredients such as dusting powder, wettable powder and spray formulations
• Lacquers can be applied as a surface film
• Knockdown sprays may use pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide.