Top of the pests: rats, wasps and bird-eating spiders
More pests were dealt with in Wales per person than in any other country in the UK last year, according to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA).
By Ali FortescueBBC News Welsh local authorities treated pests nearly 50,000 times - rats alone caused 27,198 problems. One of the more unusual problems was an infestation of tarantula-type spiders in a child's bedroom in Aberdare. Wales had three times more call-outs for rats than Scotland and 11 times more than Northern Ireland. 80 droppings a day The Chartered Institute for Environmental Health (CIEH) says the figures, obtained from a freedom of information request to all UK local authorities, are "significant". Julie Barratt from CIEH said: "2013 was an exceptional year weather-wise and in bad weather the rats will look for somewhere to go. There are not more rats, they are just more visible. "Rats have always caused problems for public health. The best thing people can do is make sure their homes are resistant." Cockroaches and bed bugs are more likely to be found over the English border, with 63 times more cockroaches in London than in Wales. More exotic pests reaching Wales include bird-eating tarantulas and baboon spiders. In January Aderyn Pest Control dealt with an "infestation" of baboon spiders in a child's room in Aberdare. Tarantulas The call for help came when pet spiders, which are more commonly found in Africa and are part of the tarantula family, had bred and multiplied. Tonypandy-based Aderyn Pest Control say they also receive one or two call-outs for bird-eating tarantulas a year. David Cross from Pest control firm Rentokil said: "Tropical species enter Wales, and the wider UK, on a regular basis through a number of different ways. "Tropical invertebrates such as tarantulas and scorpions can enter the country on cargo ships." But trouble-makers are not always so exotic. Rabbits, hamsters and gerbils are some of the pests called out for last year that turned out to be neighbours' pets, according to private pest controllers. Welsh company Pest Away say they receive up to five calls for "invisible" creepy-crawlies a year. A spokesperson for the company said: "One man was changing his bed every week because he was convinced he had bedbugs and we just couldn't convince him that there was nothing there." Top five Pests in Wales 1. Rats 2. Wasps 3. Mice 4. Ants 5. Fleas Source: BPCA Pest Facts Rats Wasps Mice Ants Fleas Goliath bird eating spiders