News

One of the greatest threats to trees in Ontario is the spongy moth. Previously called the European gypsy moth, the invasive pest lays eggs in tree bark. Caterpillars hatch from the eggs and eat the leaves of trees, often stripping them bare. When this happens repeatedly, trees become weak and...

  Seven species of ants cause problems for homeowners in Canada. Most don’t become pests until they get inside your home and are trailing across your countertop.    Fortunately, you can manage the ant populations around the outside of your home to prevent them from finding their way indoors, say...

  A family shared this story: Their beloved dog was growing stiff and lethargic, which they thought due to advancing age.  Turns out, it had a serious case of Lyme disease, discovered during an annual vet exam. The dog had been bitten by an infected black-legged tick and became ill, despite...

We recently heard a busy homeowner was “surprised” by a major carpenter ant infestation. The ants had built a massive nest in the second-storey subfloor. They were tunnelling through wood timbers, weakening the structural integrity of the home. How’d the ants get there? It all started outdoors with a faulty...

  Need bed bug advice?  Friends, family and the internet mean well, but they often perpetuate bed bug myths. And myths can steer you very wrong when it comes to getting rid of these pests. To help you make informed decisions, the experts at Pest HQ shared what’s true and...

Bed bugs are the pest of nightmares. They emerge at night to suck your blood, causing itchy red welts and emotional distress. They move easily between locations by hitching rides on personal belongings. They excel at hiding.   Once introduced, one or two bed bugs can quickly infest a home....

  No one wants to dine (or work) in a restaurant full of vermin. It’s disgusting and unsanitary.  Cockroaches, flies and rodents spread disease and cause foodborne illness. It’s why health departments shut down eateries with these pests. Floor drains are a hotspot for pest activity. Organic matter gets swept...

  Having a bad odour appear in your home is distressing… and potentially expensive.  We know one homeowner who smelled a cloying, gag-inducing odour in her laundry room. The smell quickly permeated the entire space. Fearing a cracked sewer pipe, she called plumber. The plumber inspected pipes and ran tests,...

You can buy traps to control rats and mice just about anywhere. Every big box store carries them. But getting advice on using those traps effectively? Well, that’s a different story. You don’t just set the traps and are done with it. Mice and rats are clever. Rats, especially, are...

Traveling south to beat the cold? Before dumping luggage for the sun, it’s a good idea to inspect your room for bed bugs.   Why? Bed bugs... Suck your blood, leaving itchy red welts and may cause health problems. Are found in lodging from luxury hotels to hostels. Are easily...

During cold weather, carpenter ants typically enter a state of dormancy. But if you have a nest in your home, mild temperatures (hello, global warming!) and even warmth from central heating can “awaken” them. You’ll see the ants walking around, moving a bit slow. And you’ll likely find them near...

  For anyone worried about bed bugs, having overnight guests can be stressful. What if guests accidently bring blood-sucking bed bugs into your home? The bugs are savvy hitchhikers. They cause itchy, red welts and can be hard to eliminate. Of course, you could ask out-of-town guests to stay elsewhere, but that’s...

Think pests just disappear in winter?    Maybe they go somewhere and hibernate?  Perhaps die off?  Think again.   Pests can be very noticeable in winter.  In some cases, pests are seen more in the cooler months as they are seeking out a warm home in which to overwinter. One of...

  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. They also reproduce quickly. One female house...

  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 chews through...

  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 destroy property. They...

  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 rid of small...