Pest control in Erasmuskloof

Pest control in Erasmuskloof often comes back to the garden: scorpions and spiders in rockeries and retaining walls, wasps under eaves, rats in trees and roofs, and harvester termites in lawns, with fish moths and cockroaches indoors. Combat Pest Control comes out to Erasmuskloof from Johannesburg, and we treat the garden and house as one.

About Erasmuskloof

Erasmuskloof is an established suburb in south-eastern Pretoria, near Elardus Park, Moreleta Park and Waterkloof Glen. As the name suggests, parts of it lie on sloping ground, and many gardens have terraces, stone retaining walls, rockeries and steps. Homes are mostly free-standing family houses with mature gardens and pools, with some complexes as well.

Sloping, rocky gardens are beautiful, but every gap between stones and every pile of rocks is shelter for something. Combined with Pretoria's warm summers, that makes scorpions, spiders and wasps more of a feature here than in flatter suburbs.

The garden pests of Erasmuskloof

Scorpions

Scorpions hide under rocks, in the gaps of stone walls, under paving and in wood piles, and come out at night to hunt. They find their way inside through gaps under doors and through air vents. In South Africa, the scorpions with thick tails and small pincers are generally the more venomous, and stings to children should always be taken seriously. We treat rockeries, wall bases and the perimeter of the house, and help you reduce the shelter close to doors. Our scorpion control page has more.

Wasps

Paper wasps build open combs under eaves, inside pergolas, behind shutters, in letterboxes and pool pump housings. In summer, a single garden can have several nests. A nest close to a door, play area or pool is a real hazard, especially for anyone allergic. We treat and remove nests safely. See wasp control for more.

Spiders

Rock walls and garden lights attract insects, and spiders follow. Most are harmless, but nobody wants webs across every doorway. Treating the hiding places and the perimeter keeps numbers down.

Rats

Roof rats climb trees and creepers onto the roof, and stone walls give brown rats places to nest. We bait in lockable stations outside and trap in the roof, then point out the gaps.

Harvester termites

In a dry winter, lawns on sunny slopes are often the first to show bare patches with small holes, the work of harvester termites. Treating the active holes stops them before the lawn is lost.

Mole hills on the lawn

Fresh heaps of loose soil across a lawn usually mean golden moles or mole-rats working underneath. On terraced gardens they also loosen the soil along the edges of beds and retaining walls. They're a different problem from termites and need a different approach, so we confirm which one it is first.

Signs worth checking in a sloped garden

• Scorpions found indoors near outside doors, especially in bathrooms
• Wasps flying in and out of the same spot under the eaves or pergola
• Burrows or droppings along the base of retaining walls
• Bare patches with small holes on the sunniest part of the lawn
• Scratching in the ceiling on cold nights

Inside the house

Indoors, we mostly see fish moths in cupboards, bookshelves and stored boxes, German cockroaches in kitchens and the odd scorpion that has wandered in. A general treatment of cupboards, kitchens and the perimeter deals with these in one visit.

How we treat

We start outside, walking the terraces, retaining walls, rockeries, the pool area and the boundaries, then work through the house. Our sprays are odourless and non-staining, and the household carries on as normal during an insect treatment; just let sprayed surfaces dry before children or pets go near them. For wasps, we usually visit early or late in the day when the nest is settled.

A common mistake

Building a new rockery or stacking old stones right against the house. It looks good, but it creates scorpion and spider shelter right next to the doors. Keep rockeries and stone piles a few metres from the house, and leave a clear strip along the walls.

An Erasmuskloof tip

Fit door sweeps or rubber seals to the bottom of every outside door, especially doors that lead from the garden into bedrooms or bathrooms. Scorpions can squeeze through very narrow gaps, and a proper seal is the easiest way to stop them coming in at night.

What it costs and why

A general treatment for a house and garden perimeter is a modest job, and wasp nests are usually a quick visit. Scorpion treatments depend on how much rockery and stone wall there is to treat. Rats and termites depend on the extent of activity. You'll see a guide "from" price on this page, and our pest control prices in Johannesburg page covers the rest. We quote after looking.

We also work in Elardus Park and Waterkloof Glen, and the full list of services is on our pest control services in Johannesburg page.

Combat Pest Control is owned and personally run by Jason van Heerden, who has 25 years of experience. We are SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36, we offer service within 24 hours, and a 3-month guarantee applies to general treatments. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the scorpion, the nest or the damage.