Pest controllers warn of 'record' British summer — and one species is particularly bad

Wasps, ants and clothes moths are all up — but one critter is multiplying faster than ever.

British pest control companies are reporting a sharp rise in call-outs this summer, with several species at or near record numbers — and one in particular causing far more trouble than usual.

Wasp nest removals are up 38% year-on-year, ant infestations have risen by 21%, and clothes moth call-outs are tracking 17% higher than last summer.

But the runaway leader, both in volume and in homeowner panic, is the humble silverfish — whose population appears to have exploded thanks to mild winter conditions and damper-than-average spring weather.

Pest controllers say the silverfish boom is particularly affecting Victorian properties with original woodwork, and recommend a combination of dehumidification and targeted treatment.

Industry forecasters expect the trend to continue into autumn unless conditions change sharply.