Mice
Small grey or brown rodents, 7–10 cm long. Signs: droppings (rice-sized, dark), gnaw marks, shredded nesting material, runways along walls, scratching sounds at night. Entry: gaps as small as 6 mm.
Pest Identifier — Identify Your Pest Fast
Not sure what you're dealing with? Use Pesticon's pest identifier to recognize the most common insects, rodents, and wildlife found in Toronto and Ontario homes and businesses.
Every pest leaves different signs. Identify yours below, then book same-day service from licensed Toronto exterminators backed by our 100-Day Guarantee.
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Certified Memberships
National Pest Management Association (NPMA)
North America's leading pest management industry association, setting professional standards for safety, ethics, technical excellence, and ongoing education in pest control.
Canadian Pest Management Association (CPMA – ACGP)
Canada's national pest management body promoting professional standards, regulatory compliance, and best practices for licensed pest control operators across the country.
Structural Pest Management Association of Ontario (SPMAO)
The provincial industry body for Ontario ensuring members meet provincial licensing standards and regulatory requirements for structural pest management.
Common Pests — Identification Guide
Bed Bugs
Flat, reddish-brown, 4–5 mm (apple-seed size). Signs: tiny blood stains on bedding, dark rust-coloured spots on mattress seams, shed skins, a sweet musty odour, clusters of bites on exposed skin.
Cockroaches
Oval-bodied, 13–16 mm, brown or tan. Signs: pepper-like droppings near appliances and under sinks, egg capsules, shed skins, musty oily odour. Most active at night; seeing one during the day may indicate a large infestation.
Ants
Small black or red insects in foraging trails. Signs: visible trails to food sources, small sand or soil mounds near foundations, sawdust-like frass (carpenter ants), sweet or formic acid odour. Colonies can contain hundreds of thousands.
Wasps & Hornets
Yellow-banded or black-and-white stinging insects, 12–35 mm. Signs: papery grey nests in eaves, trees, or underground; increased wasp activity around a specific area; audible buzzing. Can sting repeatedly when disturbed.
Termites
Pale, soft-bodied, 4–15 mm. Signs: mud tubes along foundation walls, hollow-sounding or blistered wood, discarded wings near windows, tiny pellets of frass near wood. Often called "silent destroyers" — damage may not be visible for years.
Rodents (Rats)
Larger than mice: 18–25 cm body, thick scaly tail. Signs: large droppings (banana-shaped, 20 mm), burrows along foundations or under decking, grease marks along baseboards, gnawed food packaging, loud scratching or squealing noises.
Spiders
8 legs, 2 body segments, 1–30 mm depending on species. Signs: irregular cobwebs in corners and ceiling junctions, egg sacs in sheltered areas, frequent sightings. Wolf spiders and cellar spiders are most common indoors in Ontario.
Fleas
Tiny (1–3 mm), dark brown, wingless — jumps up to 30 cm. Signs: pet scratching, small red bites around ankles, visible jumping specks on light-coloured surfaces, "flea dirt" (dark specks) in pet bedding. A single female can lay 50 eggs per day.
Carpenter Ants
Large black ants, 6–25 mm. Signs: coarse sawdust-like frass beneath wooden structures, hollow-sounding wood, rustling noises inside walls, satellite colonies in damp wood near windows and plumbing. Do NOT eat wood — they excavate it.
Wildlife
Raccoons (masked face, ringed tail), squirrels (bushy tail), skunks (white stripe). Signs: noises in attic or walls (especially dawn/dusk), torn soffit or roof vent openings, knocked-over garbage, musky or sulfurous odours.
Mosquitoes
Slender flying insects, 3–6 mm, with long legs and proboscis. Signs: itchy red welts in clusters, high-pitched whining near ears, especially active at dawn and dusk. Standing water as small as a bottle cap is sufficient breeding habitat.
Found Your Pest? Book a Service Today
Every Pesticon treatment includes a 100-day warranty. If the pest returns within that period, we reinspect and retreat at no extra cost. Same-day service available across Toronto and the GTA.
Where We Provide Pest Control in Ontario
Licensed pest control technicians available across Toronto and Ontario, including:
- Kitchener
- Vaughan
- Ajax
- Oshawa
- Brampton
- Cambridge
- Guelph
- Mississauga
- Scarborough
- Markham
- Oakville
- Pickering
- Burlington
- Milton
- Etobicoke
- Waterloo
- North York
- Woodbridge
- Hamilton
- Barrie
Our licensed exterminators are available for same-day service in most locations across Ontario.
FAQs
Pest Identifier — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about identifying and dealing with pests in Toronto homes and businesses.
Look for physical signs rather than the pest itself. Mice leave rice-sized droppings and gnaw marks. Bed bugs leave blood stains on bedding and rust-coloured spots on mattress seams. Cockroaches produce pepper-like droppings near appliances. Carpenter ants leave coarse sawdust near wood. If you are unsure, call Pesticon at (416) 839-1097 for a free inspection.