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Insect Pests
Complaints of ants, bees, book-lice, bugs, carpet beetles, clover-mite, cockroaches,
crickets, earwigs, fleas, flies, furniture mites, 1 rder beetles, silver
fish, thaumatomyia notata, wasps, wood boring insects, and wood lice were all dealt
with during the course of the year by the Public Health Inspectors as part of their
normal routine duties, and advice given on the best means of eradicating the pests
and preventing a re-infestation of the premises.
13 cases of bug infestation and 9 of infestation by fleas were successfully
dealt with by one of the Council's rodent operatives, part of whose time is devoted
to pest destruction.
He also destroyed no less than 569 wasps' nests. This number is considerably
greater than any experienced in previous years and was no doubt due to the long dry
summer. Despite this undue prevalence of wasps not a single complaint was received
of their presence in food shops. In previous years this has been a difficult problem
to deal with, particularly in bakers'and confectioners' shops. Periodical closing
down to enable the premises to be treated with aerosols and the placing of all confectionery
in closed cases, etc., did not effectively keep the wasps at bay. It
would appear that as the Council's service became so widely known and the existence
of nests quickly reported, subsequent destruction lowered the wasp population to an
extent which prevented their becoming a nuisance in shops.
Another troublesome although harmless insect which invaded buildings in enormous
swarms and hung to the ceilings was thaumatomyia notata. These are tiny yellow
flies with black markings which invade buildings, particularly those near large
trees, in swarms which almost cover ceilings. It has been found that the best way
of removing them is with the use of a vacuum cleaner extension.
Clover mite also proved troublesome, particularly in the ground and first floor
flats of new Council point blocks, where the vegetation and grass had been taken
right up to the dwellings without intervening areas of paving.
During the year 262 inspections were made by the Public Health Inspectors of
furniture, bedding and accommodation of families who were to take up occupation in
Council houses and flats or who were being transferred to other Council accommodation.
These inspections are to ensure that the accommodation and effects are vermin-free.
It is only very infrequently nowadays that the presence of vermin is found.
Disinfection
Disinfection of rooms by formalin spray is carried out after cases of certain
notifiable infectious diseases and in the case of tuberculosis on request or by
arrangement with the Chest Physician. An arrangement exists with the Regional
Hospital Board for the steam disinfection of bedding and clothing, a charge being
made to the Local Authority for this service.
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