Mount Pleasant is a residential area on the western side of the city, close to Walmer, made up mostly of family homes with proper gardens. A garden is a good thing to have, but it's also where nearly every pest we treat here begins: ants nesting under the lawn, wasps building under the eaves, rodents living in the compost heap, and fleas that ride in on the dog.
Because our climate never gets a hard frost, none of these pests really switch off. They just shift with the seasons. So rather than a list of pests, here's how a typical Mount Pleasant year looks from where we stand.
Spring: ants and the first wasps
As the days warm up, ant colonies that have been ticking over all winter start growing fast. You'll see trails along the kitchen counter, across the patio and up the walls to the windows. Spraying the trail kills the workers you can see and does nothing to the queen, which is why the trail is back a few days later. Baits that the workers carry home are what actually finish a nest, and that's the approach behind our ant treatments around Port Elizabeth.
Spring is also when paper wasps start new nests. A nest the size of a coin under the eaves in September can be the size of a dinner plate by December.
Summer: wasps, fleas and rain spiders
By midsummer, wasp nests under eaves, in pergolas and inside the roof of the Wendy house are at their busiest. If one is over a doorway, a pool area or where children play, it's worth having it removed rather than living around it. We treat the nest directly, which is safer than knocking it down with a broom. More on that on our wasp nest removal page.
Warm, humid weather is flea weather. Pets pick them up in the garden, and the eggs drop into carpets, dog beds and the gaps between floorboards. If you're getting bitten around the ankles, the house needs treating as well as the pets.
After summer rain, rain spiders come indoors and give people a fright. They're large and fast but not dangerous, and the occasional one is nothing to worry about.
Autumn and winter: rodents move in
When the weather turns, roof rats and mice look for somewhere warm and dry. In Mount Pleasant the usual route in is a tree branch or creeper touching the roof, a gap at the fascia, or a tile the wind has lifted. Scratching in the ceiling at night is the classic sign, along with droppings in the garage or behind the stove.
Signs worth acting on
- An ant trail that comes back within a few days of spraying
- Wasps flying in and out of the same spot under the eaves or roof
- Itchy bites around the ankles, especially after the dog has been inside
- Running or scratching above the ceiling after dark
- Droppings in drawers, the garage or the pantry
How we handle a Mount Pleasant home
- We look at the house and the garden together, because that's where the cause usually is.
- We identify what you've got and where it's living, not just where you've seen it.
- We treat with the right tool for the pest: ant baits, direct nest treatment for wasps, a residual spray for fleas, lockable bait stations and traps for rodents.
- We point out the small changes that stop it coming back.
Normal insect treatments don't need you to move out. Keep children and pets off treated areas until they're dry.
A local tip
Look at the trees along your roofline. Mature trees and creepers are part of what makes this side of the city pleasant, but a branch resting on the roof is a ladder for roof rats. Cutting branches back a metre or so from the gutters does more to keep rats out than anything you can buy.
What people get wrong
Treating the pet and not the house, or the house and not the pet. With fleas, most of the population is eggs and larvae in the carpet and bedding, not on the animal. Both need treating at the same time, or you go round in circles.
What does it cost?
The price depends on the size of the home, which pests we're treating and how established they are. A single wasp nest is a short visit. A flea treatment through the whole house, or rodents in a large roof, takes longer and may need a follow-up. If you only have the odd ant trail, sealing food and wiping counters may be all you need, and we'll tell you that.
For the wider area, see our pest control services in nearby Walmer, or read about clearing fleas from a family home.
To book, call 087 012 5550, or WhatsApp us a photo of the nest, the droppings or the insect and we'll tell you what it is.
Questions we get asked
Is it safe to treat for pests with children and dogs in the house?
Yes, with simple precautions. Keep children and pets off treated surfaces until they're dry, and any rodent bait goes in lockable stations they can't open.
When is the best time to treat a wasp nest?
As early as possible, ideally in spring while the nest is still small. A small nest is quicker and safer to deal with.
Why do ants keep coming back after I spray?
Because spray only kills the workers on the trail. The queen and the nest are untouched, so new workers keep coming. Baits taken back to the nest solve that.
Are rain spiders dangerous?
No. They're big and alarming, but they're not considered dangerous to people. We only treat for them if they're coming in often.
Can I just treat the dog for fleas?
Not if you're getting bitten. Most fleas are in the carpets and bedding as eggs and larvae, so the house needs treating along with the pets.