Publications
We have several useful in-house written free publications. Please drop us an email and we'll reply with the download(s) you require.
Returned trays and baskets - don't let the Trojan Horse in!
Mice find their way into buildings in many ways, some obvious, some not so obvious. Sealing gaps under doors, in air-bricks and around wall cladding is one obvious way to prevent entry, but you may still unknowingly be providing them with an easy way to get in. The plastic trays and baskets that circulate in the food distribution supply chain are all too often the food industry’s Trojan Horse!
Rodent Control During Lockdown - A Good News Story!
A few weeks before lockdown we installed a remote monitoring system into a large retail mall. Little did we know that the world would shortly be a very different place. The monitoring data obtained over the past four months provides a fascinating insight into mouse activity and distribution at a site that went from busy to shut in the space of a few short weeks.
Thinking Outside the Bait Box
Electronic monitoring is the way forward in rodent monitoring, but trapping based systems are not the answer. This Acheta case study highlights the benefits of a system based purely on detecting when rodents are moving around. Details of our remote monitoring service
Beware the Bait Box Zombie
There is much more to pest management than checking bait boxes. With that in mind we kick off 2020 with a few tips for how best to manage the pest control contract, and avoid the perils of the Bait Box Zombie.
Our Guide to Non-Toxic Rodent Monitoring and Control
There are many restrictions on the use of rodenticide baits within food manufacturing, storage and retail facilities. This updated Acheta guide reviews the non-toxic alternatives, for both monitoring and control.
UK Pest Control Qualifications
It is essential that the pest control technician and field biologist are adequately trained and competent. However, how can clients verify this? Possession of appropriate pest control qualifications is an obvious pre-requisite. To put it bluntly the structure of current and 'legacy' UK pest control qualifications is a mess. This guide attempts to shed some light on what pest control qualifications are (or were) available, and what you should expect your service personnel to possess.
Compliance with BRC 8
BRC Issue 8 sees some small changes with regard to pest control, or pest management as it is now termed by BRC. Our guide provides our interpretation of what BRC auditors will expect when auditing the pest management elements of this standard.
Biscuit Beetle Article
Biscuit beetles are a common and difficult to manage pest. An effective monitoring device is now available. This article describes our trials of this monitor, where we were first in the UK to do so.
Using Rodenticides Outdoors in the UK
The use of rodenticides outdoors is going through a period of unprecedented change. In this updated (November 2018) guide we review the current situation.
Pests and Buildings - An Acheta Guide
How do pests enter our buildings, and what can we do to stop them? Using photos of what good, and not so good, practice looks like we provide some answers to help you prevent problems occurring in the first place, or minimising them when they do.
Choosing and Using Fly Control Units
Which design of fly control unit should you choose, and what are the do's and don'ts of siting them? In this Acheta guide we attempt to throw some light on this confusing subject. You may want to read this guide in conjunction with our other guide (see below) on catch tray analysis.
Our Guide to Pest Risk Assessments
No two manufacturing or retail sites are the same. If a pest management regime is to be successful then it is essential that the contract specification is tailored to the specific needs of the site, and such tailoring can be done only through a process of risk assessment.
A Trojan Horse for Mice
The last thing that any food manufacturing site should do is bring mice into their premises, yet that is what is happening every day on the returned trays and baskets that they handle. Our guide highlights the problem, and suggests some of the ways in which you can minimise the risk of this happening.
Fly Control and Catch Analysis
Recording catches is all very well, but it is NOT analysis. In this guide we review how best to record the data, and what to do with it.
Non-Toxic Rodent Control - Guide to Best Practice
There has been a significant move away from routine use of toxic rodent baits inside food premises in recent years. A variety of non-toxic alternatives are now available, some food based, and some using trapping systems. This guide explores some of the options, and provides examples of what we think are the most appropriate techniques.
Stored Product Moth Monitoring
Similar to the fly control unit guide, but focussed on the monitoring of storage moths; how are they best monitored, and what can the catch data tell you when handled correctly.
Field Biologists - Do They Meet Customer Needs?
Virtually all food manufacturing, processing, storage and retail sites have one or more Field Biologist inspections as part of the contracted pest control arrangements. However, what are the objectives of these inspections, and do they meet the needs of the customer? This article appeared in SOFHT Focus in March 2010.
Mapping the Future of Pest Management
Dealing effectively with pests involves understanding where they are, and when they are likely to prove troublesome. As with many aspects of life, a map can prove very useful. The interpretation of pest monitoring data is examined in this article, which appeared in SOFHT Focus in 2007.