Pest control in Chantelle, Pretoria North

Pest control in Chantelle follows the seasons: ants, mosquitoes and flying termites in summer, harvester termites and rodents in the dry winter, and scorpions and spiders around garden walls in between. Combat Pest Control comes out to Chantelle from Johannesburg, inspects the house and garden, and treats each pest where it lives rather than spraying everything.

A suburb shaped by Pretoria's climate

Chantelle is a residential suburb in the Akasia area of northern Tshwane, made up mostly of free-standing family homes with gardens, plus some townhouse complexes. Pretoria's northern suburbs sit lower than Johannesburg and are noticeably warmer, with hot summers and milder winters. For pests that means a longer active season. Insects that would be slowing down in Johannesburg by April can still be going strong here.

The gardens matter as much as the weather. Lawns, rockeries, boundary walls, pools and pets give pests food, water and somewhere to hide, and once they are established outside it's a short step into the kitchen.

Chantelle through the year

Spring: ants and the first termite flights

As the weather warms, ants start trailing in along skirting boards and up through paving joints, usually towards sugar, pet food and the dishwasher. Spraying the trail kills the workers you can see and leaves the nest untouched. We use baits the workers carry home, which knocks out the colony itself. Our ant treatments in Johannesburg and Pretoria explain why this works better.

Summer: mosquitoes and flying termites

After the first proper storm, winged termites pour out of the ground in the evening. In the garden that's normal; coming out of a door frame or skirting board indoors, it means a colony is in the building. Summer also brings mosquitoes breeding in pool covers, bird baths, blocked gutters and the water trays under pot plants.

Autumn: scorpions and spiders

Scorpions are a real feature of the warmer northern suburbs. They shelter under rocks, loose bricks, garden edging and in wood piles, and come inside through gaps under doors. We treat the hiding places and the perimeter, and help you remove the clutter they love. See scorpion control in Gauteng for more.

Winter: harvester termites and rodents

In a dry winter, harvester termites can strip a lawn into bare patches dotted with small holes. At the same time, cooler nights push mice and rats into ceilings, garages and storerooms. Lockable bait stations outside and traps inside the roof clear them without putting pets or children at risk.

Signs it's time to call someone

• Mud tubes on a wall or inside a built-in cupboard
• Winged insects emerging indoors after rain
• Droppings in the pantry or the garage
• Scratching in the ceiling at night
• Scorpions found indoors more than once
• Ant trails that come back days after you've wiped them away

How we treat a Chantelle home

A visit starts with a walk around the outside: the boundary walls, rockeries, paving, the pool area and anywhere water collects. Then we look inside at the kitchen, bathrooms, garage and, where there's a hatch, the roof space. Once we know what's there, we treat only what's needed. For crawling insects that means an odourless, non-staining residual spray around the perimeter and in hiding places, with gel or ant bait where it works better. You don't need to move out. Keep children and pets off sprayed surfaces until they've dried, and we'll tell you how long that is on the day. Townhouse complexes can book the whole site, which gives far better results than one unit at a time.

What people often get wrong

Many people treat each pest when it appears and never deal with the reason it came. A scorpion problem is usually a rockery or a pile of old bricks against the wall. A rat problem is usually a gap where a pipe enters the roof. We'll treat what's there, but we'll also show you what's drawing it in, because that's what stops the next call.

A Chantelle tip

Move firewood, building rubble and loose paving bricks at least a few metres away from the house, and lift them off the ground on a pallet if you can. In the warm north, that one change takes away shelter from scorpions, spiders and rodents in a single afternoon.

What it costs and why

Cost depends on the pest and the property. A general treatment for ants, cockroaches and spiders in a family home is a modest job. Termite work depends on which termite it is and how much of the building or lawn is affected, and rodent work depends on the number of bait stations and follow-up visits needed. The guide "from" price is on this page, and you'll find more detail in our guide prices. We quote after looking, and if over-the-counter ant bait will do the job, we'll say so.

We also work in nearby Akasia and Karenpark. For the full range of services, see our pest control services in Johannesburg.

Jason van Heerden owns and runs Combat Pest Control and has worked in the trade for 25 years. We're registered with SAPCA and with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36 of 1947, we can be with you within 24 hours, and general treatments are guaranteed for three months. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the insect and we'll tell you what it is.