In the past, the potentially vast numbers of insects, amphibians and rodents imported unsuspectingly every year by Britain's 230 million tourists would have been far less likely to survive the UK's harsh weather conditions, but now climate changes are providing them with a warm welcome. With the promise of yet another mild winter, Cannon Pest Control warns that Britain's busy international airports are providing a safe landing for a wide range of baggage-borne bugs from malaria-carrying mosquitoes to rats, mice, spiders and cockroaches.
On arrival at their holiday destination, most travellers unpack their suitcase and store it out of the way in a warm dark corner. This is the perfect hiding place for a vast range of creatures to take refuge. During the holiday, the use of the suitcase as a handy place to store soiled clothing only adds to the appeal for everything from scorpions to cockroaches. And the hurried packing process at the end of the holiday means the intruder is virtually guaranteed a trouble-free passage to the UK.
John Lloyd, Cannon Pest Control's national technical manager, explains why the problem is more acute than ever before. "With the rise in airline travel as a result of ever-lower air fares, coinciding with the continuing trend of summer being followed by warm winters, we are now witnessing more favourable survival and breeding conditions for many species from warmer climates. The risk of infestations and the wider spread of disease should not be underestimated."
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