Found yourself annoyed by pests in recent weeks? You're not the only one...
Galway has topped the list of the counties in Ireland worst affected by 'summer-time pest insects' according to pest control company Rentokil.
The company reported that Galway accounted for the most ant, fly and wasp infestations in the country by a significant amount, with 19% of all callouts occurring in the county.
Meanwhile, Sligo accounted for 14% of all callouts, Dublin followed closely behind at 13%, Cavan accounted for 6%, and Donegal was responsible for 4%.
Rentokil is warning the public to be vigilant regarding summer-time pest insects, namely ants, flies and wasps, as they're currently most active during the coming months due to an increase in hot weather and outdoor socialisation.
In particular, the company is encouraging outdoor diners to be aware of the presence of summer insects, as they will likely be attracted to their food. The public have been warned to be cautious of flies in particular as they pose the threat of "spreading bacteria such as E-coli and campylobacter" to the food.
Richard Faulkner, Advanced Technical Field Consultant with Rentokil said: “Wasps, flies and ants are all at their most active during the summer months, and they all pose different types of threats or nuisances to members of the public.
"These insects can become an issue for home and business owners in the form of infestations. We would also encourage outdoor diners to be mindful of their presence, as these insects will likely be attracted to their food."
To discourage the presence of flies in their homes, Rentokil are encouraging people to fix leaky taps and blocked drains, keep food covered, keep bins, sinks and food areas clean, fit fly screens to windows and keep windows and doors shut at night.
