For most Die Wilgers households, the pest list is short and predictable: ants in the kitchen, big brown cockroaches coming up from the drains, mice moving into the garage and roof when winter arrives, moles in the lawn and wasp nests under the eaves. None of these are unusual, and all of them are easier to deal with once you know where on the property they're coming from. So let's walk around a typical house.
The kind of suburb Die Wilgers is
Die Wilgers is an established eastern suburb of freestanding homes with gardens, not far from Lynnwood. Houses have had time to settle, gardens have grown in, and many have outbuildings, a pool and a lawn. That's a lot of different habitats on one stand, and each one has its own resident pest.
Stop 1: the front lawn and flowerbeds
Raised ridges and soft spots that give way underfoot are golden moles, hunting worms and grubs in watered soil. They don't eat plants, but they lift lawns and undermine seedlings. Flattening the tunnels doesn't move them on. Our mole control in the Lynnwood area explains how we deal with them without digging up the garden. Bare patches with small open holes and cut grass are a different story: those are harvester termites, and they need their own treatment.
Stop 2: the paving and the kitchen door
Ants nest under paving, in the gaps along garden edging and in the soil against the house. In spring and before summer storms, they follow pipes and cable runs inside to the kitchen, the pet bowls and the bathroom. A spray on the trail only kills the foragers you can see. We use baits that the workers carry back to feed the nest, which is how you actually lose the colony. There's more on this on our ant control page for Lynnwood and surrounds.
Stop 3: the drains and the bathroom
The large, reddish-brown cockroaches that appear at night in the bathroom or scullery are usually American cockroaches. They live in sewer and stormwater lines and come up through floor drains, gully traps with missing covers and gaps around pipes. In a kitchen, the smaller German cockroach is the one to watch, because it breeds indoors. We treat drain areas and entry points for the big ones and use gel baits for the small ones. Cockroach control across Pretoria explains the difference in more detail.
Stop 4: the garage and outbuildings
When nights turn cold, mice look for warmth. Garages, storerooms and the flat behind the house are first, especially if pet food, bird seed or garden bulbs are stored there. Small droppings, shredded paper and chewed bags are the signs. We use lockable bait stations outside and traps indoors, and point out the gaps under garage doors and around pipes that let them in.
Stop 5: the eaves and the roof
Paper wasps build their grey, open-celled nests under eaves, carports and patio roofs from spring. A small nest in October can be a busy one by January. We treat and remove nests directly. While we're up there, we look for gaps where the roof meets the walls and for signs of rodents or birds nesting in the roof space.
The thing people get wrong
Leaving the gully trap open. A missing or cracked cover on the outside drain is a direct route for cockroaches from the sewer to your house, and it's one of the most common things we find. A replacement cover is cheap and fixes a surprising amount of the problem on its own.
A Die Wilgers tip for winter
Move the dog food and bird seed out of the garage and into a sealed container, ideally before the first cold nights. It's the main reason mice choose one garage over another.
How we treat
We inspect first, inside and outside, and explain what we found before we treat anything. Our products are odourless and non-staining, and you don't need to move out for a normal treatment. Keep children and pets away from treated surfaces until they're dry. Where it makes sense, we combine several pests in one visit, such as an outside perimeter treatment for ants and cockroaches along with a wasp nest.
What does it cost?
The cost depends on how many pests we're treating, the size of the house and garden, and whether follow-up visits are needed. A single wasp nest or an ant problem is a small job. Mole control and rodent work depend on how widespread the activity is. We'll quote after a look. If a new gully cover and a sealed pet food bin would sort it out, we'll say so before we sell you a treatment.
Die Wilgers is part of our Lynnwood area, and you'll find everything we do nearby on the Lynnwood pest control page. We're SAPCA registered, have 25 years of experience, and our 3-month guarantee means that if the same pest returns within three months, we come back. Call 012 012 5526, or WhatsApp us a photo of what you've found.
Questions we get asked
Why do big cockroaches appear in my bathroom at night?
They're usually American cockroaches coming up from the drains. Check that your gully trap has a cover and that floor drains and pipe gaps are sealed.
Are moles harmful to my garden?
They don't eat plants, but their tunnels lift the lawn, dry out roots and disturb seedlings. The ridges also make the lawn uneven to walk on.
Should I spray an ant trail?
It's better not to. Spraying kills the foragers you can see and can make the colony split. Baits that the workers carry back to the nest work better.
Can I remove a small wasp nest myself?
A very small, new nest can sometimes be knocked down at night with care, but stings are common. If the nest is active or above a door, it's safer to have it treated.
Why do mice choose my garage?
Warmth, shelter and food. Pet food, bird seed and stored bulbs in a garage are the usual attraction, along with a gap under the door.
Can you treat several pests in one visit?
Yes. If you have ants, cockroaches and a wasp nest, we'll deal with all three on the same visit where it makes sense.