Pest library · Ontario
What pest is that? Identify it, then fix it.
Quick identification notes for the pests GTA homeowners find most often, with the signs to look for and when it's time to call a professional.
- Ontario species
- Signs to look for
- Linked to treatment options
In brief
How do you identify a household pest?
Start with three clues: what the pest looks like (size, colour, number of legs or wings), where you found it (kitchen, bedroom, basement, attic) and what it left behind (droppings, bites, sawdust, webs or trails). Those three together identify almost every household pest in Ontario, and the right identification decides the right treatment.
Rodents: mice and rats
House mice are small (about 7–10 cm without the tail) with large ears and rice-sized droppings; Norway rats are much larger, with blunt noses, small ears and droppings up to about 2 cm long. Mice live mostly inside walls and cupboards, rats in burrows and around foundations.
House mouse
Rice-sized droppings in drawers and cupboards, scratching in walls at night, shredded nesting material.
Mice control →Norway rat
Larger, capsule-shaped droppings, burrows along foundations and fences, gnawed wood or plastic.
Rat control →
Not sure which one you have? Read rats vs mice: how to tell the difference.
Insects inside the home
Bed bugs
Flat, apple-seed-sized, reddish brown; itchy bites in lines; dark spots on mattress seams.
Bed bug treatment →German cockroach
About 1.5 cm, light brown with two dark stripes behind the head; kitchens and bathrooms at night.
Cockroach control →Pavement ants
Small, dark brown to black; trails along baseboards and counters in spring.
Ant control →Carpenter ants
Large (up to about 1.3 cm), black; sawdust-like frass near damp wood.
Carpenter ant control →Fleas
Tiny, dark, jumping insects; bites around ankles; pets scratching.
Flea control →Spiders
Webs in basements, corners and window frames; most Ontario house spiders are harmless.
Spider control →
Moisture pests: pill bugs, sow bugs, centipedes and silverfish
Pill bugs, sow bugs, house centipedes and silverfish all need damp conditions. Finding them indoors usually points to a moisture problem in the basement, bathroom or around the foundation, so drying things out matters as much as any treatment.
Our moisture pests guide explains how to tell them apart and how to get rid of them for good.
Stinging insects and wildlife
Wasps & yellowjackets
Paper nests under eaves, decks and in the ground; most aggressive in late summer.
Wasp nest removal →Hornets
Large grey paper nests in trees and shrubs, defended aggressively.
Hornet nest removal →Raccoons
Heavy thumping in the attic at night, torn vents or soffits, droppings on the roof.
Raccoon removal →
Frequently asked questions
Can you identify a pest from a photo?
Often, yes. Send a clear photo of the pest or what it left behind when you contact us and we'll tell you what it most likely is.
What pests are most common in Toronto homes?
Mice and rats in fall and winter, ants and carpenter ants in spring, wasps in summer, and bed bugs and cockroaches year-round in multi-unit buildings.
When should I call a professional instead of trying DIY?
Call a professional for any rodent, bed bug or cockroach problem, for nests you can't reach safely, and whenever a DIY fix hasn't worked within two weeks.
Ask us to identify your pest
Tell us what you're seeing and where. Need help right now?
Call 437 556 3606 instead- Licensed & trained professionals
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Still not sure what you're dealing with?
Describe it or send a photo, and a licensed technician will tell you what it is and what it takes to fix.