The quickest way to deal with a pest is to know what it is. In Elardus Park, a Pretoria East suburb of freestanding homes and complexes, the usual culprits are ants, cockroaches, termites, mice and spiders, with wasps and fleas close behind. This page works backwards from what you've found to what's likely causing it, and what we do about each one.
A suburb of houses and complexes
Elardus Park has both freestanding family homes with gardens and townhouse complexes with shared walls. That mix matters. A house with a big garden faces more termites, moles and outdoor pests. A complex unit sees more cockroaches and mice moving between neighbours. The signs below apply to both, but the treatment plan changes depending on which you live in.
What are you seeing?
Trails of tiny insects on the counter or along skirting boards
Ants. They usually nest under paving or in garden soil and come in through gaps around windows, doors and pipes, especially in spring and before rain. We bait them, so the workers take it back to the nest. Our ant control in Garsfontein and Elardus Park explains why sprays tend to make things worse.
Small brown insects that scatter when you switch on the light
German cockroaches, if they're small and in the kitchen. Large, reddish-brown ones near drains and bathrooms are American cockroaches coming up from the sewer lines. The first is treated with gel baits, the second with drain treatments and sealing gaps. If you're in a complex and the neighbours have them too, a joint treatment is the way to go.
Thin brown mud lines on a wall or inside a cupboard
Subterranean termites. Those tubes protect them as they travel from the soil to wood. Don't break them open or spray them; they're what we use to trace the activity. We treat with registered soil treatments or baiting, depending on the building. See termite treatment in Garsfontein for more.
Bare patches in the lawn with small holes
Harvester termites. They cut grass in dry weather and carry it underground. They don't damage the house, and the treatment is applied to the active holes.
Small dark droppings in the pantry or garage
Mice, if they're about the size of a grain of rice. Larger droppings, like a raisin, mean rats. Both move indoors as winter nights turn cold. We use traps indoors and lockable bait stations outside, and show you where they're getting in.
Webs in corners, on windows and around outside lights
Spiders. Most are harmless and eat other insects, but if they're everywhere or you've spotted one you're worried about, we treat the outside walls, eaves and garage corners. Our spider treatments in Garsfontein cover the species worth knowing about.
A grey, papery nest under the eaves
Paper wasps. Leave it alone and have it treated, especially if it's near a door or window.
Itchy bites around the ankles
Fleas, if you have pets. Pets, house and garden need treating together.
How we work in Elardus Park
Every job starts with an inspection to confirm what we're dealing with and where it's coming from. We then treat with odourless, non-staining products. You don't need to move out. Keep children and pets off treated areas until dry. For complexes, we can work with the body corporate on a plan that covers every unit.
What people get wrong
Treating the symptom you can see instead of the source. Spraying an ant trail, swatting cockroaches or knocking down mud tubes deals with what's visible. The nest, colony or entry point is still there, and the problem comes back.
A local tip
Take a photo before you clean up. Droppings, damaged wood, a dead insect or a bite pattern tell us a lot, and a clear photo on WhatsApp often lets us identify the pest before we visit.
What does it cost?
It depends on which pest it is, the size of the property, and whether a follow-up is needed. An ant or wasp problem is a smaller job. Termite treatments depend on the building and the extent of the activity. A complex is quoted per site. If it turns out to be a few harmless spiders, we'll tell you there's nothing to treat.
Elardus Park sits closest to Garsfontein, and the full range for that area is on our Garsfontein pest control page. We're SAPCA registered, have 25 years in the business, and our 3-month guarantee means we return if the pest does. Call 012 012 5526, or WhatsApp us that photo.
Questions we get asked
Can you identify a pest from a photo?
Often, yes. A clear photo of the insect, droppings or damage is usually enough for us to tell you what it is and whether it needs treatment.
How do I tell mouse droppings from rat droppings?
Mouse droppings are small, about the size of a grain of rice. Rat droppings are bigger, more like a raisin, and usually found in smaller numbers in one spot.
Is every spider in my house dangerous?
No. Most spiders in Pretoria homes are harmless. If you're worried about one, send us a photo and we'll identify it.
Are flying ants after rain a problem?
Usually not. They're termites or ants swarming to start new colonies. It's only a concern if they're coming out of walls or floors inside your house.
Should I break open termite tubes?
No. Breaking them disturbs the termites and makes it harder to trace where they're coming from. Leave them and call us.
Do you treat complexes in Elardus Park?
Yes. We treat individual units and whole complexes, and for pests that spread between units, we recommend working with the body corporate.