Pest Control in Victoria BC

In Victoria BC and surrounding areas including the gulf islands we are fortunate to have a very mild climate; unfortunately with that comes pests that become adaptable and more prevalent, often requiring the services of a certified pest control specialist.

Pest control is a year round problem in Victoria.

The most common pest found in Greater Victoria are:-

rats mice silverfish bed bugs cockroaches termites pantry pests – weevils, cigarette beetles, confused flour beetle, spiders and grain beetles

Once the weather starts to warm up we start getting ants starting usually in February to September; when the weather is very mild during the winter we have been known to deal with Carpenter Ants as late as in December although this is very rare.

Sugar ants become a problem during the early spring months usually found on kitchen counters, pantry’s and other kitchen areas.  We educate our customers on prevention to these pests by keeping counters clean and wiping with soapy water to wipe out the pheromone trails left by the ants. Prevention can also be used for odorless house ants once they have been eradicated by using approved environmentally safe products by a licensed technician.

Carpenter ants (Componotus Modoc) and (Versinus) which are a black and red ants usually make themselves known when the weather starts to warm up and become more active during the evening hours.  Evidence of ants could be contributed to small piles of sawdust, clicking or chewing noises in wall voids are all indications of carpenter ant problems in the structure.  This can only be dealt with by a licensed technician either by dust, chemical, fogging or ant baits.

Silverfish (Lepisma Saccharina) typically can be a pest all year round.  They prefer hot and moist areas such as bathrooms, hot water tanks, and hot water plumbing.  They are light sensitive so you will usually see them at night when you turn on a light.  They consume matter such as book bindings, carpet, clothing, coffee, dandruff, glue, hair, paper, plaster and sugar.  Silverfish can live for a year or more without eating.  Typically they are brought into the home through boxes and bags that have been stored somewhere for a long time.  These can be treated by a chemical spray that is sprayed around the perimeter of the infected areas as they have a tendency to go into baseboards at night.

Late spring and early summer we start having problems with winged pests, such as wasps and baldfaced hornets (Linnaeus).  They become more prevalent in the warmer months   during the summer and can usually be found in nests hanging from trees, bushes or sides of buildings.  They are made from paper which is regurgitated by the hornets from chewing on wood.  Other species of nest builders are wasps, yellowjackets (Vespula) and they will not only build nest in trees and structures but can also build there nests in the ground.  Some other species found are also Mud Daubers (Various) and Paper Wasps (Polistes) which are non aggressive but classified as a nuisance pest.  Eradication of wasps/hornets can be done by killing the nest with a government approved pesticide and removal of nest.

Other species of bees that are in our area are Carpenter bees (Xylocopa) and Bumble bees (Bombus).  Honeybees permanent quarters consist of beehives, hollowed trees, attics and typical areas that is protected from the weather.  Honeybees are a protected species and eradication usually consists of a beekeeper removing the bees to a safe location where they can produce their honey.

Bed bugs (Linnaeus) are a typical problem world wide and can become out of control if not dealt with in a timely manner.  They harbor in cracks and crevices and can also be found around mattresses and box springs, wall hangings, picture frames, night strands, head and foot boards, window frames and baseboards.  They do feed on humans as they need a blood feed and can also feed on other animals.  They have also been known to be found on air crafts, movie theaters, etc..  Control of this pest can be done by using an approved licensed product as well as placing infected material such as bedding and clothing into a hot dryer for one complete cycle on a hot setting.  Promptness in treating this pest is vital to prevent spreading.

Mice and Rats are year round pests in Victoria.  When the weather gets cold and wet the rats have a tendency to head indoors.  They hate the rain and will find their way into any area that is dry and protected from the elements.  There are many ways to control this pest such as baiting, trapping and use of an approved bait box.  Inspection is the key to eradicating this pest and prevention is the key to keeping them at bay.  Contact your licensed professional to deal with these pests.

Olympic Pest Control has been dealing with all of the above pest control issues for the past 14 years and there really is never a downtime; there will always be some kind of pest control problem to solve.  We take pride in saying that we will attend to your needs in a private matter using unmarked vehicles and discreetly rid you of your problem.  Our rates are very competitive and reasonable and most jobs come with warranties.  I also give senior citizens, veterans and military personnel a 10% discount.  All other educational information is free. Serving the Greater Victoria area of BC, from Sooke to Colwood, Saanich, Sidney and the Gulf Islands with the environmentally friendly, humane and effective Pest Management and Exterminator services.