Others

Snakes

Basically, snakes do not consider pests. However, humans tend to be afraid and worry it will harm and attack us. Snakes usually live in bushes, forests, drains and rural areas. However, due to rapid development, their habitat has been destroyed one after another. That is one of the reasons why more snakes were seen in city areas.  

ACRES

Rescue Hotline: +65 9783 7782 

Bees & Hornets

Common species in Singapore:

Bee 

• Giant Honey Bee (Apis dorsata)

• Dwarf Honey Bee (Apis andreniformis)

• Asian Honey Bee (Apis cerana) 

• Stingless Bees (Trigona_ sp.) 

Hornet

• Yellow Vented Hornet (Vespa analis)

• Lesser Vented Hornet (Vespa affinis)

• Greater Banded Hornet (Vespa tropica)

Wasps are carnivores and use their stingers to kill and lay their eggs inside their prey. This also means that wasps can sting more than once. However, they will not sting unless they are provoked, such as when their nest is disturbed, or when they are being swatted at by flapping your arms.

Wasps make their nests out of small pieces of wood which they chew to a pulp and spit out to build their walls, forming a texture similar to paper.

A wasp is recognised by its bright yellow and black rings, defined waist and tapered abdomen. Only female wasps can sting.

Bees are social insects that collect nectar and pollen to make honey. They live and store their honey in complex hives made from wax.

Bees are easily spotted because of their golden colour and tiny hairs all over their bodies which make them appear 'fuzzy'. When a bee stings a human, its stinger becomes embedded in the skin. This kills the bee, which is why bees will rarely sting unless they feel attacked.

Hornets are specific types of wasps and are usually a little rounder and fatter than the common wasp.

Although they nest in the same way, hornets are known to be less aggressive than wasps if unprovoked. Their stings are also more painful to humans than typical wasp stings because of the chemicals found in hornet venom. Similar to wasps, Individual hornets can sting repeatedly, unlike honey bees.

That's because hornets and wasps do not die after stinging as their stingers are not pulled out of their bodies. A Hornet sting can be deadly.

Bees and hornets will not attack humans unless they feel threatened. Live hornets and bees around your premises indicate that there are nests nearby.

Do not attempt to swat the hive or nest. Stay away and give us a call for assistance. 

Booklice

I saw some tiny insects resting on the wall next to my air conditioning unit. What are these insects and are they harmful?

They are most likely booklice or psocids. These are small insects and their maximum size is about 1 - 2 mm. They have a soft body and look like tiny termite workers or ants Some of them have four wings, while some may be wingless. They possess a chewing mouth part. Indoors, they prefer damp places e.g. toilets, around air-conditioning, damp wallpapers,  books and flower beds. 

They do not cause any physical damage or are harmful to health. However, they are a nuisance when present in large numbers. Their existence indicates the growth of microscopic mould or fungus, as they feed on mould and fungi. The most effective way of eliminating them is through effective moisture control and ventilation as well as good housekeeping. 

Stored Product Insects

Common in Singapore:

• Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella)

• Cigarette Beetle (Lasioderma serricorne)

• Red Flour Beetle (Tribolium castaneum)

• Lesser Grain Borer (Rhyzopertha dominica)

• Merchant Grain Beetle (Oryzaephilus mercator) 

Insects commonly found in food, collectively known as stored product insects, cover a wide variety of insects. These tiny insects can infest various stored foodstuffs such as grains, cereals, milk powder, flour, dried fruit, nuts, seeds and even tobacco.

Stored product insects are a health hazard in both residential homes and businesses, especially food processing plants, warehouses and supermarkets. In spite of their size, these insects can cause huge economic losses through damage and contamination of food products, rendering food unfit for human consumption.

In food processing plants, stored product pests cause damage to processing machinery due to the buildup of food products (caking) or silk webbing in machinery. Insect activity in infested grain can produce heat and moisture, which can facilitate the growth of mould. These lead to loss of reputation, income and non-compliance to food safety audits.

Identifying and removing the source of the infestation is a critical element of effective stored product pest control. Always check the product before purchasing. Give us a call if you spot any moths, beetles or larvae around your food storage area, and we will provide the necessary recommendation to target the source of the infestation, avoiding any cross-infestation at the same time.