Pest control in Blue Hills is shaped by its newness. Estates and homes built on former veld and smallholdings meet the termites, moles, mice, scorpions and ants that were already living in the ground. We inspect the house and garden, identify which pest you're dealing with and treat it at the source, with advice suited to new builds.
What Blue Hills is like
Blue Hills lies on the north-western side of Midrand, in the area around Kyalami, where farmland and smallholdings have steadily given way to security estates, cluster complexes and new family homes over the last couple of decades. Many houses are modern builds with tiled or sheeted roofs, paved driveways, freshly laid lawns and irrigation, and there's still open grassland and undeveloped plots between and around the estates.
New construction on old veld changes pest behaviour. Termite colonies that lived under grassland find buried building rubble and timber offcuts. Moles find soft, watered lawns. Mice that lived in the grass find garages and roof spaces. And scorpions and spiders find landscaped rockeries and paving to shelter under.
The main pests in Blue Hills
Subterranean termites in new builds
It surprises people that new houses get termites, but in areas like Blue Hills it's common. Builders' rubble, form-work timber and tree roots buried under the garden feed a colony for years, and from there it's a short trip to door frames, skirting boards and built-in cupboards. Mud tubes on walls or in the garage are the first sign. A soil pre-treatment before the slab is cast is the best protection, and if your house was pre-treated years ago, the treated zone may since have been broken by paving, pools and landscaping. Our termite control in Midrand explains the options, and termite work comes with a 5-year guarantee and a treatment certificate.
Harvester termites in lawns
Newly laid lawns on former grassland are a target for harvester termites, especially in the dry winter months. Small holes with loose soil and short cut grass, and lawn thinning in patches, are the signs. Treating the active holes deals with the colony.
Moles
Mole tunnels and mounds in watered lawns are a frequent complaint in new Midrand estates. Golden moles and mole-rats churn up lawns and flowerbeds, and they're difficult to deal with without the right approach. See mole control in Midrand for how we handle them.
Mice
Field mice move into garages, pantries and ceilings when the surrounding grass dies back in winter. Lockable stations outside and traps inside, plus sealing gaps under garage doors, clear them.
Scorpions, spiders and ants
Rockeries, paving and boundary walls give scorpions and spiders shelter, and they wander into homes at night in summer through gaps under doors. A barrier treatment around the base of walls and doorways cuts down the number that get in. Ants trail indoors before the summer rains and are best dealt with by baiting.
Estates and home owners' associations
In estates, pests don't respect boundaries between stands. Harvester termites spread across common lawns, mice move along boundary walls and moles tunnel from one garden to the next. We can treat common areas and verges on a schedule for the HOA or managing agent, while individual owners book their own homes, so the whole estate stays under control. Every visit comes with a written record.
How we work
We inspect the garden, boundary, garage and outside walls, then the inside: kitchen, cupboards, door frames and the roof space where it's accessible. After that we explain what we've found and what we recommend. Treatments are odourless and non-staining, and you don't have to leave home; keep children and pets off treated areas until they've dried.
The mistake new home owners make
Assuming a new house can't have termites. Many owners only find out when a door frame softens or a cupboard back crumbles. If you see mud tubes, don't break them; take a photo and call us.
A Blue Hills tip
Keep soil, mulch and bark chips at least a hand's width below the damp-proof course of your walls, and don't build raised flowerbeds against the house. Termites use built-up soil to bypass the treated zone and reach the walls unseen.
What it costs and why
Costs depend on the pest and the property. A mouse problem or a barrier treatment for scorpions is a modest job. Harvester termite treatment depends on the lawn area. Subterranean termites in a house depend on the perimeter, whether paving has to be drilled and how much timber is affected. A soil pre-treatment for a new build is priced on the slab area. You'll see a guide "from" price on this page and on our Johannesburg pest control prices page.
Blue Hills is part of our Midrand pest control area, and we also cover pest control in Kyalami close by.
Combat Pest Control is owned and run by Jason van Heerden, with 25 years of pest control behind the business. We're SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36, offer service within 24 hours, and give a 3-month guarantee on general treatments. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp a photo of the mud tubes or lawn damage.
Questions we get asked
Can a brand-new house in Blue Hills have termites?
Yes. Buried building rubble, offcuts and old roots under the garden can support a colony that eventually reaches the house. A soil pre-treatment before building is the best protection.
How much does termite treatment cost in Blue Hills?
It depends on the type of termite, the building's perimeter, paving to be drilled and timber affected. Harvester termites in a lawn cost far less than a structural treatment. We quote after inspecting.
What's digging tunnels in my new lawn?
Usually moles or mole-rats, which love soft, irrigated lawns. Harvester termites leave small holes and bare patches instead of raised tunnels.
Can you treat the common areas of our estate?
Yes. We work with HOAs and managing agents on scheduled treatments of common lawns, verges and boundaries, with a written record of each visit.
Are scorpions common in Blue Hills?
They're more common near open grassland, rockeries and paving. A barrier treatment and sealing gaps under doors reduce how many come inside.
How long does a termite treatment last?
A soil treatment protects the treated zone for years, and our termite work carries a 5-year guarantee with a certificate.