ANTS
CARPENTER ANT
Identification
- Size: Most ants we find are workers measuring 1/4'' to 1/2'', but some can measure up to 1 inch long (25mm).
- Ants are segmented in 3 parts. Carpenter have 1 pointy spike-like node found between the thorax and abdomen (middle and last segment).
- Color: Black or red and black
There are many other ways to identify a carpenter ant, but it gets more technical and those 3 methods are generally enough.
One queen may have up to 15 nests with thousands of ants each and it is generally those small satellite nest that we find in homes. Workers are largely nocturnal and may travel a few hundred feet from the queen to forage for food or establish satellite nests.
At spring time, with the combined heat of electrical heating and spring warmth, they may wake up and be active before their brothers and sisters located in a cold damp stump. Food is scarce, outdoor is cold, and so infestations are usually most visible then.
DAMAGES
They will not eat your house to dust, in fact, they do not feed on wood. Their nest are localized to a small area, usually in a wet or moist piece of wood. They also love to dig into foam panels and spray foam insulation.
GET RID OF THEM
Carpenter ants can be challenging. There is no cookie cutter solution for getting rid of them. A proper assessment is needed to determine to correct actions. The first step is to determine whether their nest is inside or outside your home. For an outdoors nest, we should attempt to locate and destroy the nest, as well as working around the house perimeter to stop the carpenter ants from coming in before they establish themselves within your home. If they are already inside your home, we work with injections whenever possible to poison the nest directly at the source for immediate and lasting effect. This method also limits the application of insecticides inside your home and avoids the need to tear down walls. Once the interior nest is dealt with,, it is important to work outside and contaminate the pheromone trails left by the ants that connect your home to the other nests.
Our 18 month warranty will have you covered not just for one summer, but the next spring as well, when carpenter ants are most active indoors. This is how long it takes to confirm that the ants are gone from your home for good.
Black field ant
Size: about 9mm
Color: Black and brown
Can look like small carpenter ant, but you will not find a pointy node (petiole) in between their thorax and abdomen. With the help of a magnifier glass, you should see 2 small bump instead.
They can be a nuisance and damage a lawn, but do not nest in buildings.
Pavement ant
Size: 3mm
Color: Brown
They may enter homes in search of food and water and sometimes establish nests in wall cavities. They do not damage houses.
acrobat ant
They are known for raising their abdomens over their heads when alarmed.
Size: 2-4mm
Color: Brown
Heart shaped abdomen
Sometimes misidentified for carpenter ants because they also like to nest in moist decaying wood and move debris outside of the nest. They are also sometimes found digging in spray foam insulation just like carpenter ants.
Pharaoh ant
Although smaller, they are sometimes misidentified for pavement ants and this mistake can lead to more problem as pharaoh ants biology require a different approach.
Size: 2mm
Color: yellow-red
Unlike most other ants, they have multiple nests and queens inside of a colony. Not native from Canada, they thrive in warm and humid locations. They can be very mobile and can split and move nests locations when under stress or sprayed with the wrong products.
Other ants
We sometimes see other rare ants. If you did not find the right information in the section above, call or email us a picture! We would be very curious to help you identify and find a solution.
Frequently asked questions
See our ants F.A.Q. page for common questions, fun facts and myth busting!
mice and rats
Mice
Mice in homes are more common than we may think. They often quietly nest in attics and feed outside. Meanwhile they damage insulation and potentially carry other pests and diseases (see bellow for details). This is why prevention is important.
Size: 6-9cm
Droppings: 3-6mm
Mice can sometimes carry fleas, ticks, bacteria, diseases, worms and mites. They damage insulation and sometimes cause fires or flooding by chewing through electrical wires or dish washer water hoses and, if neglected, the accumulation of grain they store in walls and of dead bodies may attract other pests such as larder beetles.
The first sign is often scratching noises in walls and ceilings or droppings. Mice live less than a year and reproduce very quickly, reaching sexual maturity after 3 weeks, and may have a litter every month. We have to eliminate all of them within that time to interrupt the reproduction cycle, and prevent future infestation with our exterior prevention.
Glue boards and mechanical traps can be ideal indoors, but they are not the best tool for efficient extermination. They require regular inspections and maintenance until we are certain the infestation is eliminated. This process can usually take many weeks. Instead, our service is usually done in a single day and shows lasting results within a few days. You do not need to manage traps and the disposal of dead mice. We offer 6 to 12 months warranty*. Prevention: Our service includes an exterior inspection report with pictures, recommendations and corrective actions. *We can extend the warranty if you adhere to our seasonal exterior mice control program or, even better, if you complete exclusion work following recommendation on our report.
Prevention: Our service include an exterior inspection report with pictures, recommendations and corrective actions.
*We can extend the warranty if you adhere to our seasonal exterior mice control program or, even better, complete exclusion work following recommendation on our report.
Rats
Rats enter homes from an opening as small as 20 millimeters or through plumbing. Either way, they will appreciate the warmth and safety of your home and if they find the kitchen, as far as they are concerned, it's just a happy little accident.
Size: 18-25cm long
Can squeeze into an opening of about 20 millimeters
Rats will damage the insulation, accumulate food in walls and often chew wires and water lines.
A good inspection should be done inside and outside to determine the source. If they come from the sewers, a plumber may be needed for a smoke or camera test and correction.
Contrary to popular beliefs, no product will make their bodies dry and prevent smell. Exclusion and mechanical traps are ideal when dealing with rats because of their size. If they die inside they could cause a foetid smell for a long time and attract flies. That being said, rats are intelligent and suspicious of new unusual items such as traps and even the best cheese in the world usually wont be enough to catch the old wise one. We have the experience and tools required to lure them to our traps systems.
Rats in homes can be challenging, a good assessment is required.
See our rodent F.A.Q. page common questions, fun facts and myth busting!
Wasps and bees
Identification
There are many wasp species.
To determine the service required we need to know
- wasp or bee?
- solitary or social?
- nest visible or hidden in a structure?
- Bees, like wasps, exist in many colors, shapes and sizes. Generally bees look more hairy and wasps leathery. Look at the pictures bellow for a general idea.
- Social wasps lives in colonies and will defend their nest. The nest will either be a visible gray paper-like ball. Otherwise, they may be coming in and out of a specific opening on your house.
- If you see a paper nest, we will call it visible. Sometimes you will only see them squeezing in and out of a small hole on a wall, this is a hidden or structural nest.
Social wasps
Usually yellow and black they live in colonies and work for a queen.
They may build a gray paper nest or sometimes nest into wall cavities (hidden or structural nest).
They can be aggressive if you happen to be in the way or close to the nest.
To eliminate wasps we will need to determine if it is visible or hidden in a structure.
Visible nests are removed and a product is applied to kill workers that were away at the time of service.
Hidden nests should ideally be located and removed to avoid the dead larvae and wasp rotting in the wall, sometimes attracting new insects such as larder beetle and flies. To precisely locate a nest, there's the good old stethoscope method, but this is 2025 and so we have thermographic cameras to detect their presence through walls. If it cannot be precisely located, reached or you do not want a wall to repair, don't worry; a product can be applied to contaminate their travel points and nest.
Solitary wasp
They come in all sorts of colors, shapes and sizes. Most calls we get are for mud daubers.
Size: 12 to 25mm long
Solitary wasps do not have queens and do not live in colonies. Mud daubers will stick mud to a wall to put an egg as well as a paralyzed insect to feed the larvae when it hatches.
Not aggressive, they may sting if disturbed.
If located in an area not considered dangerous to you and your family, you may want to leave them be as they can be pollinators.
To get rid of them or for more information contact us
European hornet
The largest hornet we have in the region
Size: 25 to 35 mm
Easy to recognize by their size, loud buzzing and reddish-purple color.
We deal with them just like any other social wasp.
Visible nest are removed and a product is applied to kill workers that were gone doing their duty at the time of service.
Hidden nest should ideally be located and removed to avoid the dead larvae and wasps from rotting in the wall, sometimes attracting new insects such as larder beetles and flies. To precisely locate a nest there's the good old stethoscope method, but this is 2025 and so we have thermographic cameras to detect their presence through walls. If it cannot be precisely located, reached or you do not want a wall to repair, don't worry; a product can be applied to contaminate their travel points and nest.
Bald faced hornets
Bald faced hornets are bigger than yellow wasps and loves to make their paper nest in shrubs.
Size: 15-20mm
Color: Black and white
They live in a colony with a queen and build large paper nests.
They are a social species and we deal with them just like any other social wasp.
Visible nest are removed and a product is applied to kill workers that were gone doing their duty at the time of service.
Hidden nest should ideally be located and removed to avoid the dead larvae and wasps from rotting in the wall, sometimes attracting new insects such as larder beetles and flies. To precisely locate a nest there's the good old stethoscope method, but this is 2025 and so we have thermographic cameras to detect their presence through walls. If it cannot be precisely located, reached or you do not want a wall to repair, don't worry; a product can be applied to contaminate their travel points and nest.
Bumble bees
Bumble bees do not make a paper nest like wasps. They often live in a stump or in a hole in the ground, but they seem to enjoy our wall and ceiling insulation.
Size: 15-25mm
They are pollinators and not aggressive if undisturbed, so we should not eliminate them unless they are in a house or in a dangerous location.
Generally the nest should be removed if located in a structure. An inspection is required to find the right solution.
Honey bees
Honey bees are not to be harmed. The queen should be moved to an other location by a specialist.
We do not offer the service.
Lady bug
Lady beetle
We usually find the imported Asian lady beetle in our homes in fall seeking warmth and at spring time when they wake up.
They are beneficial outdoor and were introduced in the 70s to fight aphids and other pests in our fields. They reproduced quickly and are now a nuisance in our home.
They are not dangerous, or carriers of disease, but over time the accumulation of dead bodies in walls may attract other bugs such as larder beetles.
For best result, we start with an inspection outside and assess what physical method can be used for long term protection. Then, time of year and construction type will determine what pest control method we should use.
Call us for more details or to book an appointment with a professional
Bed bugs
Bed bug extermination can be more challenging than most other bugs. No cookie cutter solution here. Proper assessment, strategy planning and prevention in unaffected rooms is key.
Bed bugs is one of our specialties, dealing with so many and some of the worst cases, we have developed many strategies for all sorts of situations.
In an effort to help you spend less, we will not ask you to waste good furniture, even beds.
Identification
Apple seed shape, size and color.
Size: 1.5 to 4mm
Color: reddish brown.
Signs: Droppings and black dots that turn dark red when wet
Where to look first: Box spring seams, under night stands, headboards, bed cracks and crevices and of course mattress seams.
Traps: Glue traps will help to catch one and assess the level of infestation. There are other traps available, contact us for more info.
Bites: Not everyone reacts to bites. Others have strong reactions in which case you might want to ask a doctor if allergy medicine is right for you.
At the very beginning of an infestation, it is common not to find any bed bugs. If this is the case, do not panic and spray your rooms with chemicals or put expensive furniture in trash! It is usually not necessary to waste furniture. Spraying chemicals sold for domestic use often cause bed bugs to spread, and the bites you feel might not even be a bed bug infestation. Instead, call a professional. We have extensive experience and if our trained eyes are not enough to spot one right away, we have effective methods and traps to catch one quickly or find the real cause.
Habit
Bed bugs will hide in the dark cracks, crevices, and seams, close to where humans spend the most of their time immobile. They will seek warmth like an electric heater.
If you suspect bed bugs and are not comfortable sleeping in your bed, sleeping on the couch may sound like a good idea, but this might make the bugs spread to a new room. There are better solutions, call us for more info.
Life cycle has to be taken into consideration for an effective bed bug extermination.
In ideal situations, eggs hatch in 6 to 9 days, and could mature to adult in about 37 days. They feed every 3-7 days and lay 1-7 eggs a day.
Bed bug control and extermination
First step is crucial, especially in condos and apartment. Thorough inspection, strategy and preparation need to be well done before we use an insecticide.
Inspection: All bedrooms should be inspected including neighboring units if it is the case.
Planning: Specifics must be determined according to the infestation level and other factors. Infested rooms usually need a preparation, and unaffected ones should be equipped with a detection system or chemical prevention. We do not ask our clients to put valuable furniture in to trash.
Extermination: Usually 2 services followed by an inspection to make sure bed bugs are eliminated.
Ask us about our bio insecticide.
Tips for travelling, moving in, identification and more, see the official Québec government page.
Or contact us to get answers to any questions
Cockroaches
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of our specialties. The bigger the challenge the better. Years of experience in some of the worst infestations have taught us valuable lessons and helped us develop strategies for all sorts of situations.
Cockroaches are masters of hiding. Thorough inspection and proper strategy is key. A common mistake is to unsuccessfully assess the population and assume it is not as severe as it is.
Dangers: Cockroach droppings, saliva, and decomposing bodies have proteins that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks. They may carry diseases and virus and contaminate food.
Species: There are a few species found in Canada, even one that lives outside and survive our Canadian winters! The most common is by far the German cockroach, followed by brown-banded, Pennsylvania wood cockroach, oriental and American.
German cockroach
By far the most common and resilient in our kitchens.
Size: 13mm
Color: Brown with 2 darker stripes in their back.
They hide in the dark, close to food and a water source. Ideally on a heat source like a refrigerator motor, oven, and radiators. One of their characteristics is that they tend to stick together.
We find what works best is not baits, but to contaminate every travel points and nesting place with a non repulsive insecticide along with monitoring and regular follow up.
We suggest resisting the temptation to spray them with domestic pyrethrin-based insecticide as they have become tolerant to those ingredients and it often spreads them around, complicating the job. Call us instead, we make ourselves available to answer those type of calls quickly.
Pennsylvania wood cockroach
The only cockroach living outside in our area. It sometimes find it's way inside, but will not thrive like German or brown-banded cockroaches.
Size: 12-30mm
Color: Brown to dark brown. Immature cockroaches vary in shape and color.
Control strategy is very different from other species and because they are not imported we should pay attention to the outside of your home.
Brown-banded cockroach
Often misidentified as a German cockroach, proper identification is important as they have deferent habit and require an other strategy for an effective extermination.
Size: 10-14mm
Color: Tan to light brown
Flies
House fly
Usually problematic in spring and late fall, they most often enter homes and businesses at fall seeking warmth. We need to stop them from coming in with both physical methods and insecticides.
Flies control methods vary depending on the season and type of construction. A professional inspection will determine what corrective measures should be taken outside such as caulking and the correct pest control method for your home.
Phorid fly
Very similar and often misidentified for a fruit fly, they have different habits and food source. Colors vary which make them difficult to identify.
Size: 0.5 to 6mm
Egg to adult: 14 to 37 days
Food source must be found and removed.
Fruit fly
Size: 2.5 to 5mm
Egg to adult: 8 to 10 days
Usually a fruit fly trap and cleanliness will control the population within a few days. If it doesn't, it may not be a fruit fly, but a similar species or one of those difficult cases. Either way we will be happy to help!
Drain fly
Easy to identify, they look like tiny moths! Usually sign of a dirty drain or plumbing issue.
Size: 1.5 to 5mm
If you can locate the source, usually a drain with decayed organic matter, try a can of foaming cleaner with enzymes. If that does not do it, you may need the help of a professional.
Bottle fly
Metallic green or blue, sometimes a sign of a dead animal in a wall or maybe the exterior garbage bin is too close to a window.
Size: 10-14 mm
Dangers: May contaminate food.
There is a wide variety of causes and solution. An inspection is usually required.
humidity bugs
Cloth moths
pantry pests - moths
Pantry pests - crawling
Fleas