Pest guides
Pest guides and advice
Practical advice on identifying pests, what to do first and when to call a professional, written by a local South London pest control team.
- Prevention
- Identification
- Seasonal
- Reference
- Renting
- Costs
- Rats
- Mice
- Squirrels
- Bed bugs
- Fleas
- Cockroaches
- Wasps and bees
- Ants
- Moths and beetles
- Other insects
- Birds
- Wildlife
- Using pest control
- Business
Prevention
Pest prevention checklist
A room-by-room pest prevention checklist for South London homes.
Read guidePests after building work
Rats, mice or silverfish after an extension or renovation? Why building work brings pests in and what to check before, during and after the work.
Read guideIdentification
Pest droppings guide
Identify rat, mouse, squirrel, cockroach, bed bug and other pest droppings by size and shape, and learn how to clean them up safely.
Read guideRat or mouse?
Is it a rat or a mouse? Compare size, droppings, noises, gnaw marks and behaviour to work out which rodent you have, and why it matters for treatment.
Read guideSeasonal
Pest calendar
A month-by-month guide to pests in London homes: wasps, ants, rats, mice, fleas, squirrels and more, with what to do in each season.
Read guideSpring and summer pests
What pests to expect in London in spring and summer: wasps, ants, flies, fleas, bed bugs after holidays and bee swarms, with tips for each.
Read guideAutumn pests
What pests to expect in London in autumn: rats and mice moving indoors, cluster flies, house spiders, late wasps and squirrels in lofts.
Read guideWinter pests
What pests to expect in London in winter: rats and mice indoors, squirrels in lofts, noisy foxes, and insects that thrive in centrally heated homes.
Read guideReference
Renting
Costs
Rats
Signs of rats
How to tell if you have rats: droppings, noises, smells, gnaw marks, burrows and rub marks.
Read guideRats in the loft
Hearing noises in the loft at night? How to tell if you have rats in the loft, how they get up there and how professional treatment and proofing stop them.
Read guideRats in walls and ceilings
Scratching in the walls or ceiling? How rats get into cavity walls and ceiling voids in London houses, the drain connection, and how to get rid of them.
Read guideRats under decking and sheds
Rats living under your decking, shed or patio? Why rats love these spaces, the signs to look for and how to clear and proof them for good.
Read guideRats in drains
Most London rat problems start in the drains.
Read guideRats in the garden
Seen a rat in the garden? What attracts rats to London gardens, how to tell if they are living there and how to get rid of them safely around children and pets.
Read guideMice
Signs of mice
Droppings, scratching, nibbled food, smells and nests: the signs of mice in a house or flat, and what to do when you find them.
Read guideMice in the kitchen
Found mouse droppings in the kitchen? Where mice hide behind units and appliances, how they get in and the steps to get rid of them for good.
Read guideMice in flats
Mice in your flat keep coming back? How mice move between flats in London blocks and conversions, and why a joined-up treatment with neighbours works.
Read guideSquirrels
Bed bugs
How to check for bed bugs
A step-by-step guide to checking your bed, mattress and bedroom for bed bugs: what bed bugs look like, the signs to look for and where they hide.
Read guideBed bug bites
What do bed bug bites look like? How to tell them from flea and mosquito bites, how to treat them and how to confirm whether you have bed bugs.
Read guidePreparing for bed bug treatment
A practical checklist to prepare your home for bed bug treatment: laundry, clutter, furniture, what to bag and what to do after the visit.
Read guideBed bugs after travel
Hotels, hostels, flights and trains can all carry bed bugs.
Read guideFleas
Fleas, bites and pets
Bitten around the ankles? How to tell if you have fleas in the house, why they keep coming back after treating your pet and how home flea treatment works.
Read guidePreparing for flea treatment
A simple checklist to get your home ready for professional flea treatment, and what to do afterwards to make sure the fleas do not come back.
Read guideCockroaches
Wasps and bees
How to find a wasp nest
Seeing lots of wasps? How to find the nest safely, where wasps nest around London homes, and what to do once you have found it.
Read guideWasps or bees?
Is it a wasp, honeybee, bumblebee or masonry bee? How to identify flying insects and nests, and why the difference matters for treatment.
Read guideBee swarm: what to do
A cluster of thousands of bees in a tree or on a wall? What a honeybee swarm is, why it is usually harmless and how to get a beekeeper to collect it.
Read guideAnts
Ants in the kitchen
A trail of ants in the kitchen? How to find where they are coming from, the difference between garden ants and Pharaoh ants, and what really works.
Read guideFlying ant day
Swarms of flying ants on a warm summer day? What flying ant day is, why it happens, whether flying ants are harmful and when to call a pest controller.
Read guideMoths and beetles
Clothes moth damage
Holes in jumpers and bare patches in carpets? How to recognise clothes moth damage, protect your wardrobe and when professional treatment is needed.
Read guideCarpet beetle larvae (woolly bears)
Small hairy larvae in your carpet or wardrobe? How to identify carpet beetle larvae, the damage they cause, where they come from and how to get rid of them.
Read guideMoths in kitchen cupboards
Small moths flying out of kitchen cupboards? How to identify Indian meal moths, find the source, clean up and stop pantry moths coming back.
Read guideOther insects
Birds
Wildlife
Using pest control
What happens on a pest control visit
What to expect when a pest controller visits your home or business: inspection, identification, treatment, safety advice and follow-up visits.
Read guideIs pest control safe for pets and children?
How professional pest control keeps children, pets and wildlife safe: tamper-resistant bait stations, targeted insecticides and the precautions to take.
Read guideDIY or professional pest control?
When can you deal with pests yourself and when do you need a professional? An honest guide to traps, sprays, ultrasonic devices and poisons.
Read guideCouncil or private pest control?
Should you use your council's pest control service or a private pest controller? What councils in South London typically offer, and how to choose.
Read guideBusiness
Pest-by-pest information
Each of our pest control service pages includes identification, signs, risks, prevention and treatment for that pest.
Need pest control in South London?
Book a visit online and choose a date that suits you, or call and talk it through with us.