Bens Bugs

11/06/2026

We had a customer call concerned they may have cockroaches…

After a conversation around when, where and how long they’ve been seeing them, followed by a photo, we reassured them this was not the case.

Longhorn Beetle, recognisable by their extra-long antennae, longhorn beetles are often found around trees and timber. Most are harmless, but some species can be associated with wood-boring larvae that damage timber.

If you’re unsure what insect you’ve found, send us a photo—we’re happy to help identify it!

01/06/2026

Bed bugs off to France in the name of research 🇫🇷

Today I collected bed bug samples on behalf of The Bed Bug Foundation supporting a research group in France investigating and studying insecticide resistance in bed bug populations.

Insecticide resistance remains one of the most significant challenges facing the pest management industry worldwide. By collecting and analysing field samples, researchers can better understand how resistance is developing and identify strategies to improve future control methods.

It’s rewarding to contribute to research that helps advance our understanding of this evolving issue and supports evidence-based approaches to bed bug management.

Au revoir Bed Bugs 🥖🇫🇷

27/05/2026

We are well and truly in the swing of swarming season.

Over the past 8 years, we have collected lots swarms and relocated them to local beekeepers in and around Southend.

This year, we are now Beekeepers ourselves and therefore have kept a handful of swarms we’ve collected, although a few have still gone to other beekeepers.

If you see a swarm or have any questions about Honeybees please get in touch 👉🏼

21/05/2026

🐜 Ant season is in full swing! 🐜

This is the busiest infestation I’ve seen so far this year… there were thousands of them and the floor literally looked like it was moving 😳

Whilst ants don’t pose any major health risks, they can quickly become a nuisance and a real inconvenience around the home or workplace.

If you’re starting to notice trails of ants indoors, now’s the time to act before the colony grows even larger. 🏡🐜

17/05/2026

🐝🐝 HONEYBEES 🐝🐝

At this time of year, we receive daily calls about honeybee swarms, which are often mistaken for wasps.

When honeybees swarm and settle on a tree, fence, or garden wall, they are usually just resting while scout bees search for a suitable new home to start building comb. Unfortunately, this can sometimes end up being inside someone’s chimney or roof space.

This is far from ideal, as removing and relocating bees from a property can be very costly for the homeowner. In many cases, the bees sadly end up being treated with insecticide and destroyed.

Over the years, we have always safely removed and relocated honeybees to local beekeepers. 🐝💛

Now, Leah is a beekeeper herself and will be personally collecting swarms and introducing them into her own apiary. 🍯🐝

If you spot a swarm of honeybees, have any concerns, questions, or simply need advice, please don’t hesitate to get in touch 👇🏼

LeLe’s Honey Bees

Let’s help protect our precious pollinators together 🐝🌼

🐝 Honeybee Swarm Season 🐝

At this time of year, we receive daily calls about honeybee swarms, which are often mistaken for wasps.

When honeybees swarm and settle on a tree, fence, or garden wall, they are usually just resting while scout bees search for a suitable new home to start building comb. Unfortunately, this can sometimes end up being inside someone’s chimney or roof space.

This is far from ideal, as removing and relocating bees from a property can be very costly for the homeowner. In many cases, the bees sadly end up being treated with insecticide and destroyed.

Honeybees are incredibly important to our ecosystem and, of course, our honey supply, so wherever possible we should try to protect and relocate them safely. 🍯🐝

There are many local beekeepers who will happily come and collect a swarm, so if you spot one, please contact a beekeeper.

14/05/2026

We’re really excited to finally share something we’ve been working on behind the scenes over the last few months 👏🏻

Complete Bed Bug Solutions is a new division of Ben’s Bugs Pest & Bird Management, dedicated solely to all things bed bug related.

Alongside our existing surveying, treatment, and monitoring programmes, we’ll now also be expanding our services to offer basic bed bug awareness training for frontline staff.

It’s an incredibly exciting time for us at Ben’s Bugs & Complete Bed Bug Solutions — and we’re only just getting started 🙌🏻

Please give our new page a like & follow 👇🏼

06/05/2026

When a rat wants to be a mouse 🙃

We have been monitoring for mice within a warehouse & over the weekend, a shutter door was left slightly ajar.

The monitoring paste, was on the specials menu for this rat and they did their upmost to get into the box. If only they have the box key… 🫣

28/04/2026

Not your usual find on a job 🐍

While checking external rodent boxes on a rural contract, we discovered two slow worms keeping warm in the perfect sun trap.

They might look like snakes, but they’re actually legless lizards, Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 & Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.

As always, we sought advice from the British Pest Control Association and adjusted everything on site to keep them safe 👍

Just goes to show—pest control isn’t just about managing pests, it’s about respecting the wildlife around us too.

22/04/2026

I knocked on the front door… and the lodger answered 🐿️

Unfortunately for this homeowner, this is the second time squirrels have made themselves at home.

Previously, the entry point was covered using wood—despite our advice not to. It may have been quick, easy, and cost-effective for the handy man at the time, but squirrels simply chewed straight back through it.

Now they’re back, the damage has increased, additional treatment is required, and the proofing needs to be done again - properly.

Squirrels are persistent and destructive. They constantly gnaw to wear down their teeth, which means weak materials don’t stand a chance.

When professionals give advice, it’s based on experience—because we’ve seen situations like this time and time again.

15/04/2026

Noticed tiny holes in your favourite jumper or carpet edges looking worse for wear? You could be dealing with clothes moths (also known as textile moths) 🧵

These little pests love natural fibres like wool, silk, and cashmere — and it’s actually their larvae doing the damage, not the adult moths.

🔍 Signs to watch for:

• Small irregular holes in clothing
• Tiny cream-coloured larvae
• Moths flying low and avoiding light

🏡 Where they hide:
Dark, undisturbed areas like wardrobes, drawers, under furniture, and along carpet edges.

🛑 How to protect your home:
• Vacuum regularly (especially edges & under furniture)
• Store clothes in sealed containers
• Wash or dry-clean items before storing
• Use moth traps to monitor activity

Don’t ignore the signs — a small issue can quickly turn into a costly problem!

If you need any further advice, get in touch with Ben’s Bugs Pest Control 📞