If it’s been a while since you last baked goodies – Hello, Covid? – closely inspect ingredients before use.   Why? Items stored in cupboards and pantries may have become infested with common pantry pests, like weevils, beetles or moth larvae. It’s also possible to bring home new ingredients that...

Unfortunately, yes. One mouse in your home can lead to far bigger problems.   Mice are more than inconvenient. They damage homes and gnaw electrical wires, causing fires. They contaminate food and cooking surfaces with urine and feces. Mice transmit pathogens that make you sick.   And they reproduce quickly....

  Rat sightings in Ontario cities like Toronto are getting worse. Often the culprit is the Norway rat, which lives in burrows in the ground.   But a different rat, the roof rat, is really causing problems for homeowners. This rat is an excellent climber. It nests in trees and...

  Hockey and bed bugs don’t go together. Unless you’re busy with a travel team. Then your chance of getting the bugs increases sharply.   Why? You’re playing in different cities, staying in more hotels than the average person. A 2024 survey from Sleep Doctor found 1 in 7 U.S....

Seeing wildlife in the yard is one of the joys of life. Seeing rats outside, not so much.   Visible rats are affecting the quality of life of residents in some Toronto neighbourhoods, which are experiencing a “perfect rat storm,” claims a local official.   Rats carry disease. They also...

  Make your Labour Day free of annoying bugs Mosquitoes, wasps and ants can quickly turn a picnic into an unpleasant experience. To make your outdoor party pest-free, the experts at Pest HQ suggest the following:   Minimize mosquitoes. In the days and weeks leading up to Labour Day, mosquito-proof your...

Finding little flies in your bathroom isn’t just annoying. It’s potentially dangerous. That’s because small flies may transmit disease.   They breed in the decaying muck found in drains and other unsanitary places. Then they may transfer those pathogens to where they land next. Hello, toothbrush? Ewww.   To get...

You’re just minding your own business, enjoying a meal on the patio, when the horde arrives.   The aggressive, black-and-yellow invaders steal food right of your plate and dive-bomb your drink.   Not only are wasps annoying, but their sting hurts… a lot. And they’re potentially deadly if you’re allergic...

What is attacking my plants? It’s summer and the garden is thriving. Until it’s not.   Overnight, flowers and vegetables appear deformed and full of holes. Plants are wilted, sooty and generally unhappy.   Unfortunately, garden pests have found your delectable plants. At Pest HQ, we’ve heard this a lot...

You can drastically reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property. All it takes is a little effort. In return, you’ll swat less and get fewer red, itchy bites from the blood-sucking pests.You’ll also reduce your chance of getting sick. Mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus, a serious illness that...

It was the worst bed bug infestation an Arizona exterminator had ever seen: “The bed bugs were an inch or inch-and-a-half-deep in the carpet,” he told KKTV News.   The Arizona resident had battled bed bugs in her home for five years without success, living in horrific conditions among “tens...

This spring, it’s more important than ever to be tick aware.   Why? Health Canada says the population of ticks that spread disease in Canada is increasing due to warming temperatures.   Many species of ticks can make us sick but the biggest worry is the blacklegged tick, which transmits...

Doing DIY ant control? Here’s a tip: Carpenter ants like different kinds of food at different times of the year.   This means the ‘food’ – or insecticide bait – that you set out to kill them might not work. If carpenter ants are ignoring the bait, it’s probably time...

It’s okay to worry about finding ants in the house. Some, like carpenter ants, can seriously damage your home. They tunnel through wood timbers, weakening the structure.   Other ants are an unpleasant nuisance. They may appear suddenly in great numbers, trailing across countertops and contaminating your food.   Should...

  When unwanted bugs, mice or rats invade your home, you want to know – Where can I get pest control products near me?   Sure, you can head to the nearest big box store. But there, you’re pretty much on your own to choose the best products and approach...

  Getting together for the holidays is so much fun… unless you’ve returned home only to find you have bed bugs.   Bed bugs are crafty hitchhikers. You can pick them up in hotel rooms, by riding public transit or merely sitting on infested furniture. Guests also may bring them...

It may be attic critters.   Here’s what to do.   If you hear a strange noise at night, pay attention. It may not be your imagination. Consider what happened to an affluent homeowner we heard about: She believed claims of strange noises at night were just her “kids being...

Rats are on the move this fall. Get tips to protect your home, children and pets. If you’ve seen more rats out and about lately, you’re not alone. We’ve noticed it, too.   Just before midnight recently, our Pest HQ colleague heard a noise out on her deck. She thought...

To Get Rid of Bugs and Rodents, follow this #1 Rule   People often ask Pest HQ experts if it’s really possible to get rid of bugs and rodents on their own.   The answer: ABSOLUTELY! Unfortunately, many people don’t follow the #1 rule of successful DIY pest control: KNOW...

Tiny flies are invading my kitchen. How do I get rid of them?   Not only are small flies in the kitchen annoying and gross, but they also may spread bacteria that make you sick.   To eliminate the flies, you must find where they are breeding and laying eggs,...