Pest control in Protea Glen leans heavily towards termites: harvester termites in new lawns, subterranean termites in new and extended homes, and termite pre-treatment for anyone building. Ants, rats and mice coming in from open veld, and cockroaches in kitchens, make up the rest. We inspect, treat and advise on building work before it starts.
A newer part of Soweto
Protea Glen, in south-western Soweto, was developed from the 1990s onward and has kept growing ever since, with new extensions added over the years. Most homes are newer brick houses on their own stands, many bought with home loans, with garages, lawns and boundary walls. Owners are constantly extending: an extra bedroom, a garage, a veranda or backyard rooms. There's a large mall, schools and churches, and open veld still lies around parts of the area.
New suburbs built on what was once open veld have a particular pest pattern. Termite colonies that lived in the veld are still in the soil. Building rubble, timber offcuts and formwork buried during construction give those colonies a food supply. And rodents, spiders and ants push in from the remaining open land.
Termites: the big one in Protea Glen
Harvester termites
New lawns are especially vulnerable. In dry winters, harvester termites cut the grass and carry it underground, leaving bare, sandy patches with small holes and loose soil. Watering won't fix it; a targeted treatment of the active areas will.
Subterranean termites
These attack buildings, coming up through cracks in the slab or along plumbing pipes and feeding on door frames, skirting boards, built-in cupboards and roof timbers. New homes aren't safe from them, especially where rubble was buried under the floor. Our Soweto termite control page explains signs and treatment, with a 5-year guarantee and a treatment certificate.
Pre-treatment before you build
If you're adding a room or a garage, the cheapest time to protect it is before the slab is cast. A registered termite pre-treatment of the soil creates a barrier under the new floor. Our termite pre-treatment for new building page explains how it's done and when your builder should call us.
Ants
Pugnacious ants and small black house ants are common in newer suburbs with lawns and paving. They trail into kitchens before summer storms and build nests under paving, which can lift and loosen pavers. Bait carried back to the nest is far more effective than spraying. See our ant control in Soweto page.
Rats and mice
Rodents move in from open veld, especially in autumn and when land nearby is cleared for building. Mice get into kitchens and garages; rats burrow along boundary walls and climb into roofs. Lockable bait stations along the side of the property that faces open land catch them early.
Cockroaches and spiders
German cockroaches arrive with groceries and boxes and settle in kitchens; gel bait clears them. Spiders follow insects to outside lights and garages, and a barrier treatment around doors and windows keeps them down.
Signs of termites in a newer home
- Thin mud tubes on the inside of garage walls or along the edge of the slab
- Bubbling paint or soft spots on door frames and skirting boards
- Soil appearing in cracks in tiles or along plumbing pipes
- Swarms of winged termites inside after the first summer rain
- Damage to the backs of built-in cupboards on outside walls
How we work
We inspect the house, the garage, any new extension, the lawn and the boundary. For termites, we'll look for mud tubes, damaged timber and activity in the lawn. If you're planning to build, we'll talk about pre-treatment timing. There's no need to leave home during normal treatments; children and pets just stay off treated areas until they're dry.
The mistake new owners make
Assuming a new house can't have termites. Many Protea Glen homes are built on soil where termite colonies have lived for years, and builders sometimes bury offcuts and rubble on site. Check built-in cupboards and door frames on outside walls once a year.
A Protea Glen tip
Before your builder starts an extension, ask for all timber offcuts and formwork to be removed from site, not buried. And book the soil pre-treatment for the day after the foundations are dug, before any concrete goes in.
What it costs, and why it varies
Ant and cockroach treatments are small, affordable jobs. Rodents depend on the number of stations. Harvester termite treatment depends on the lawn area affected. Structural termite treatment and pre-treatment are priced on the size of the area being treated. A guide "from" price is shown on this page, and our Johannesburg price guide lists the starting point for each. We quote before we start.
Protea Glen is part of our Soweto pest control area, and we also look after homes in Dobsonville to the north-west.
Combat Pest Control is owned by Jason van Heerden and has 25 years of pest control experience. Registration with SAPCA and the Department of Agriculture, service within 24 hours and a 3-month guarantee on general work come as standard. Call 084 200 2700, or WhatsApp us a photo of the damage.
Questions we get asked
How much does termite pre-treatment cost for an extension?
It's priced on the floor area being treated. Pre-treatment before the slab is cast costs far less than treating termites in a finished room later. Guide prices are on our prices page.
Can a new house get termites?
Yes. Many new homes are built on soil where termite colonies already live, and buried building rubble and offcuts feed them.
What's causing bare patches in my new lawn?
In winter, it's usually harvester termites. Look for small holes, loose soil and short pieces of cut grass, and have the active areas treated.
Why do the ants keep lifting my paving?
Pugnacious ants nest under pavers and move the sand beneath them. Baiting the colony stops them, and the pavers can then be re-laid.
Is the treatment safe for my children and pets?
Yes. Keep children and pets off treated surfaces until they're dry, and rodent bait is locked in stations they can't open.
When should my builder call you for pre-treatment?
After the foundations are dug and before any concrete is poured. We treat the soil so the barrier sits under the new slab.