Pest control in Mondeor is shaped by the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve next door. Scorpions and spiders in rockeries and garages, harvester and subterranean termites, roof rats in the trees, ants and wasps are what we treat most. We inspect the house and garden first, then treat the source with barrier sprays, baits and termite treatments.
Living next to the Klipriviersberg
Mondeor is an established southern suburb with family homes on generous stands, many dating from the 1960s and 1970s, alongside newer complexes. Its defining feature is the Klipriviersberg, a large nature reserve of rocky hills and grassland that borders the suburb. Many gardens have natural rock, retaining walls and rockeries, and the older streets are lined with mature trees.
The reserve doesn't send pests into homes, but the rocky, grassy terrain that runs into gardens supports more scorpions, spiders, centipedes and termite colonies than you'd find in a flat suburb. Homes on the ridge side of Mondeor tend to see the most.
Scorpions and spiders
Scorpions shelter under rocks, paving, loose bricks and wood piles, and come out at night in the warmer months. They usually get inside under doors and through gaps around garage doors. Most of the species seen in Johannesburg gardens give a painful sting rather than a dangerous one, but nobody wants one in a child's shoe. We treat the base of walls, door thresholds, garage openings and rockeries with a residual barrier, and show you which hiding spots to clear. Our scorpion control in the south explains more.
Spiders such as rain spiders and sac spiders are common too. A barrier treatment and keeping eaves and outside lights clear of webs and insects keeps numbers down.
Termites in established Mondeor homes
Two kinds matter here. Harvester termites cut lawns to bare patches in dry winters, especially on the thinner soils near the rocky ground. Subterranean termites go for timber: roof trusses, door frames, built-in cupboards and the old timber some homes still have. Look for mud tubes on walls or in cupboards and skirting boards that sound hollow. Our termite control in Johannesburg South covers soil treatments and baiting, with a 5-year guarantee and certificate on termite work.
Roof rats
Mature trees and creepers give roof rats an easy climb onto the roof. The tell-tale sign is scratching above the ceiling at night, often from late autumn when it gets cold. We bait outside in lockable stations, trap in the roof space and show you where they're getting in.
Centipedes and millipedes after rain
Summer storms push centipedes and millipedes out of soaked rockeries and leaf litter, and in some Mondeor gardens they turn up on patios and in garages by the dozen. Millipedes are harmless, if unpleasant to step on; larger centipedes can give a painful nip. Both thrive in damp mulch and leaf piles against the walls, so clearing a strip next to the house and treating the base of the walls usually settles them within a few days.
Ants and wasps
Ants come indoors in long trails before the summer storms; baits the workers carry home deal with the nest. Paper wasps like to build under eaves, patio roofs and pergolas from spring onwards. We treat and remove the nest, ideally early in the season while it's small.
Our approach in Mondeor
A Mondeor inspection takes in more of the garden than most, because that is where many problems start. We look at rockeries, retaining walls, wood piles, the base of the walls and the roof line, then inside at cupboards, door frames and the roof space. Treatments are odourless and won't stain; you can stay at home, keeping children and pets off treated areas until they're dry.
What people often get wrong
Piling firewood, old bricks or garden rubble against the house. It's an ideal scorpion and spider shelter, and termites love wood touching soil. Move it at least a metre from the walls and lift it off the ground on bricks or a rack.
A Mondeor tip
Shake out shoes, gardening gloves and towels left outside before you use them, especially on summer evenings. Fit a rubber seal or brush strip to the bottom of outside doors. It is the simplest way to stop scorpions getting inside.
What it costs and why
A scorpion or spider barrier treatment is priced mainly on the size of the house and how much of the garden and boundary needs treating. Rat work depends on the number of bait stations and follow-up visits. Termite jobs vary most: a harvester termite treatment on a lawn is relatively small, while subterranean termites in a house depend on the perimeter, any paving that has to be drilled and how much timber is affected. This page shows a guide "from" price, and our price list for Johannesburg breaks it down by service. We quote after inspecting.
Mondeor is one of the main suburbs on our Johannesburg South pest control page. If you live nearby, see pest control in Mulbarton as well.
Jason van Heerden owns and operates Combat Pest Control and brings 25 years of experience to every job. We're SAPCA registered, 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 that scorpion or mud tube and we'll identify it.
Questions we get asked
Are the scorpions in Mondeor dangerous?
Most species found in Johannesburg gardens give a painful sting rather than a dangerous one, but stings to small children or anyone with allergies need medical attention. A barrier treatment cuts down how many come indoors.
How much does scorpion treatment cost?
It depends on the size of the house and how much of the garden, rockery and boundary we treat. There's a guide price on this page, and we confirm the cost after inspecting.
How long does a barrier treatment last?
A residual barrier usually keeps working for several months, depending on rain and how much the treated areas are washed. General treatments carry a 3-month guarantee.
Can you remove a wasp nest from under my eaves?
Yes. We treat the nest and remove it safely. It's easiest early in spring while the nest is still small.
Do I need to move out for termite treatment?
No. Termite treatments go into the soil and specific points around the building, so you can stay at home throughout.
Why do I hear scratching in the roof at night?
In Mondeor it's usually roof rats climbing in from trees and creepers. We bait outside, trap in the roof and show you how to close their way in.
What should I do before you come?
Move firewood and rubble away from the walls if you can, give us access to the roof hatch and garage, and don't break open any termite mud tubes.