News

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 to insect venom....

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 from Ontario gardeners...

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 Lyme disease. Lyme...

  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 to switch...

  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 into your...

Heard a bump in the night? 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...

  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 it...

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 YOUR PEST....

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,...

My kid went to summer camp and now we have bed bugs. What do we do?   Bed bugs were not the summer memory you expected, but yep, they arrived home with your child from camp. What a nightmare! It’s okay to be upset. Bed bugs invade the space where...

Mosquitoes are ruining our backyard fun. How can we eliminate them naturally? Nothing is worse than swatting mosquitoes when you’re trying to relax outdoors. The buzzing pests are highly annoying, and their bites cause itchy, red welts. Even worse: Mosquitoes can transmit diseases like West Nile virus, a serious illness that...

  Rats in the garden are increasingly common. Here’s how to protect your produce, pets and children. You do not want to see rats running in and around your garden, especially when pets and children play nearby. Unfortunately, this has become more common. Rats moved into neighbourhoods during the COVID-19...

And how do I make them go away?   First, you saw a single small moth flying about the kitchen. Now moths are swarming the light during your evening meal. What’s going on? Most likely, you have a pantry moth infestation. Pantry moths are brought into the home in infested...

It’s tick season. Learn how to protect yourself, your family and pets.   It’s finally nice enough to spend time outdoors. Unfortunately, it’s also the season for blood-sucking ticks. About 40 species of ticks are found in Canada. Of greatest concern: the blacklegged tick, also called the deer tick, which is...

  Why is my home is crawling with stinkbugs? On a warm, sunny day in spring, you may be shocked to find the inside of your home swarming with stink bugs. Don’t fret! Although they look intimidating and emit a foul odor when squished, these pests do not harm or...

Discovering a mouse in the house is very upsetting. So is finding proof that one has been inside. Yep, we’re talking mouse turds. Gross! Thankfully, you can solve this problem by following advice from the rodent experts at Pest HQ:    Know your foe. Learn about mice, such as when they’re most...