The country is about to go Star Wars crazy - and it’s opening up a whole new world of debate in pest control quarters.

The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) has released practical guidance for controlling common intergalactic pests in their quarterly trade magazine.

The tongue-in-cheek article ‘Pest Control in Space’ gives advice for the control and eradication of five alien species, including Exogorths, troublesome Tribbles and the often deadly Xenomorph. Vespiforms and the ravenous Bugblatter of Beast of Traal are also included.

Star Wars buffs can get fully up-to-speed with pests in extra-terrestrial environments at https://bpca.org.uk/News-and-Blog/pest-control-in-space-/187...) in Professional Pest Controller issue 89 – the industry magazine for the UK pest management industry created by BPCA.

BPCA spokesman Ben Massey, said: “With Star Wars: The Last Jedi due to hit our screens in December, we’ve been receiving some amusing requests for practical guidance from pest technicians interested expanding their businesses across the galaxy.”

An extract from Pest Control In Space refers to Exogorths, a giant space slug that appeared in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and includes insight and advice for professional pest controllers to deal with the menace;

Giant space slug, Exogorths
Origin: Unknown
Diet: minerals
Environment: asteroids

Exogorths are usually harmless creatures. The space slug grows to around 10 metres and then reproduces asexually by splitting its body into two parts.
The species only becomes a public health pest when a space slug fails to reproduce. These feral, giant space slugs can grow more than 900 metres long. Absorbing minerals alone no longer sustains them.

Instead, they’ll eat just about anything that crosses their path - meaning professional pest controllers are occasionally called out to deal with giant slugs disrupting trade routes.

ACTION

A document we found on Wookieleaks suggests many amateur Sith pest controllers are using proton torpedoes to dispatch space slugs. This practice leads to the dark side, as the treatment can often harm the environment or affect non-target species such as mynocks.

New research suggests problem space slugs can be relocated to spots without passing starcrafts. We recommend hiring a Corellian towing ship and a Bith industrial power winch. With a big enough tank of slug sedative, it’s possible to transport a space slug. Ask your distributor for more details about giant space slug transportation today.

Ben Massey added: “We’re always happy to advise our members and the industry as a whole.

“BPCA members are no strangers to invasive alien species. They form the first line defence when an invasive species enters our ecosystem and we’re confident that our members are prepared to take their trade intergalactic.

“Everyone knows that we’ll need space engineers, doctors and plumbers – however professional pest control represents a vital component in preserving public health as we know it.”