Cockroaches (German and American)
The German cockroach is small, about 10–15 mm, light brown, with two dark stripes behind the head. It lives indoors all year, in warm and damp spots: behind the fridge, around motors and inside kitchen cupboards. The American cockroach is much larger, about 40 mm, up to 50 mm, reddish-brown, and comes up from drains and manholes, especially in summer and after heavy rain. Cockroaches hide during the day, so one seen in daylight usually means many more out of sight.
- Do not leave food, crumbs or dirty dishes out overnight, and keep the area under the sink dry
- Seal cracks around pipes, skirting boards and kitchen units
- Keep water in floor drains and close the drain covers, especially in a property left empty
Mice and rats
Signs of rodents are droppings (small and dark like rice grains for mice, larger for rats), gnawed packaging, bags or cables, greasy marks along walls and scratching noises at night in ceilings or storerooms. Roof rats move high up, in false ceilings, roofs and trees; brown rats prefer basements, drains and sewers, while house mice live inside buildings: kitchens, cupboards, wall voids and storerooms.
- Close gaps around pipes, doors and vents; a mouse can squeeze through a very small opening
- Store food, pet food and seeds in closed, hard containers
- Keep storerooms and boiler rooms tidy and bins closed, especially in properties closed for the winter
Bed bugs
Adult bed bugs are flat, oval and reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed. Typical signs are itchy bites in a line after sleeping and small dark spots on mattress seams, headboards and bed frames. They do not come from dirt: they travel in luggage and clothes, which is why rentals and hotels with frequent guest changes see them most.
- When you travel, keep your suitcase off the bed and the floor, and check the mattress seams
- In a rental, check mattress seams, headboards and sofa beds at every changeover
- If you find them, do not move mattresses or clothes to another room; call us first
Ants
Ants are easy to spot: small black or brown insects walking in steady trails, day after day, towards food, sugar or water. The trail usually leads back to a crack in a wall, a floor joint or a gap around a window.
- Wipe up crumbs and sugary spills straight away
- Keep sugar, honey and pet food in closed containers
- Seal the cracks and gaps where the trail comes in
Mosquitoes, including the tiger mosquito
The common mosquito is brownish and bites mostly in the evening and at night. The tiger mosquito is small and black with white stripes on its legs and body, and bites during the day, often around the ankles. Both lay their eggs in standing water, and the tiger mosquito needs only a little: a plant-pot saucer, a bucket or a blocked gutter.
- Empty standing water at least once a week: saucers, buckets, toys, watering cans
- Clean gutters and cover water tanks and rain barrels
- Fit and repair mosquito screens on windows and doors
Wasps
Wasps are yellow and black and build grey, papery nests under eaves, awnings, pergolas and roof tiles, often right above outdoor tables. Nests start small in spring and grow through the summer. Hornets look similar but are much larger.
- Check eaves, awnings and shutters in spring, when nests are still small
- Cover food and drinks outdoors and keep bins closed
- Do not try to remove a nest yourself; call us
Fleas
Fleas are tiny, dark brown, wingless insects, about 1–3 mm long, that jump. The usual sign is itchy bites on the ankles and lower legs. They often appear after a pet has been in the house, or when people return to a property that has been empty for a while.
- Vacuum floors, rugs, sofas and pet beds regularly, and empty the vacuum bag outside
- Wash pet bedding and blankets on a hot cycle
- Have your pets checked by a vet
Clothes moths and pantry moths
Clothes moths are small, golden-beige moths; the real damage comes from their larvae, which make holes in wool, silk, fur and feathers. Pantry moths fly around the kitchen, and their larvae leave silky webbing in flour, rice, pasta, nuts and dried fruit.
- Store clothes clean and dry, in closed bags or boxes
- Keep flour, rice and dried food in airtight containers
- Check new packages and throw away any food with webbing or larvae
Silverfish
Silverfish are wingless, silvery-grey insects about 12–19 mm long, with a body shaped like a carrot and long antennae. They move quickly, like damp places such as bathrooms, kitchens and basements, and feed on paper, glue and starch.
- Air bathrooms after use and fix leaks to reduce humidity
- Do not store paper and cardboard boxes in damp places
- Seal cracks in walls and around bathroom fittings
Scorpions
Scorpions have eight legs, two pincers and a tail with a sting, often held up over the back. The small dark scorpions found in houses in Northern Greece are about 3 to 4.5 cm, dark brown to almost black. They come out at night, mainly from May to September, and hide in cracks in stone walls, under stones, roof tiles and wood, and in basements and storerooms. Holiday homes that stay closed for months suit them well.
- Remove stones, bricks, wood and piles of leaves from the base of the walls
- Seal cracks in walls and around pipes, and fit seals at the bottom of doors
- Shake out shoes, clothes and towels before use, especially in a house that has been closed
Frequently asked questions
I found an insect and do not know what it is. What should I do?
Take a clear photo and send it to us by Viber or email, or try our free photo insect-identification tool (in Greek). The agronomist can tell you what it is and whether you need a treatment.
When should I call a professional instead of relying on prevention?
When you see the pest again and again, when you find signs of rodents or bed bugs, when there is a wasp nest near where people sit, or when you rent out the property or run a food business and need a written record.
Do you treat these pests in holiday rentals in Halkidiki?
Yes. We cover the whole of Halkidiki from our base in Kassandreia and usually schedule treatments for holiday properties before the season opens.