10 Best Pest Control Companies in Virginia Beach, VA (2024) - USA Today (2024)

Pests most often found in Virginia Beach are snakes, spiders and flies. You can take action yourself to avoid potential pest problems, but you may need to call in a pest control company if you are dealing with an infestation. These skilled pest control professionals in Virginia Beach can diagnose the problem and treat it safely and effectively.

A pest infestation can lead to damage to your property and pose health risks to you and your family, including your pets. Insects and small animals can contaminate your food, cause irreversible damage to your home’s structure and spread disease.

Hiring pest control pros can substantially reduce the risk of an infestation. These specialists identify infestation hot spots and create tailored treatment plans that may include plugging entryways, using traps or applying pesticides. With the right solution in place, your pest problem can be solved for the long term.

Find the best local pest control company for you in Virginia Beach

Look for pest control companies in Virginia Beach with at least 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB). Use the filters below to help you find the right company for your needs.

What are common pests in Virginia Beach?

Though pests exist everywhere, they don't equally impact the same regions. The following pests are common in Virginia Beach, and these are some signs of an infestation:

• Spiders: The easiest way to tell whether you have a spider infestation is to notice a growing amount of spiderwebs in your home. Other telltale signs include visible egg sacs and a plentiful supply of other insects, which spiders like to feast on. Most spiders in homes are not dangerous, except for the brown recluse and black widow. Both have painful, venomous bites.
• Bees: An increase in bee activity inside or around your home, buzzing within your walls or dark stains on your walls maypoint to a bee infestation. You may also smell an odd odor coming from your walls, which happens as bees die or honey builds up inside, causing mold and fungi growth. Bees can harm your family or pets by stinging them and potentially provoking allergic reactions.
• Beetles: A variety of beetles can enter into your home and cause significant damage. Carpet beetles will damage upholstered furniture, carpets and bedding. Biscuit beetles make their way into products such as seeds, beans, pasta, rice and spices. While beetles are unlikely to be a risk to your health, some can cause allergic reactions.
• Rats: If you find droppings about half an inch long or hear scratching in your walls or ceiling, you may have rats. Rats also create entry points for themselves by gnawing through walls, doors and food packaging.
• Snakes: Snakes are more active during the warmer months and make homes among overgrown grass, debris, wood and rock piles. Signs of a snake infestation include the appearance of snake skins and snake eggs. You can test for a snake infestation by pouring some flour out where you think a snake lives. If you see trail marks in the flour, call a pest control professional right away.
• Fleas: If your pet is constantly scratching, and has black specks on its skin, you might have a flea infestation. Although fleas do not live on human skin or hair, they leap to bite, especially around the ankles. Fleas can carry various diseases, including bubonic plague.

How can you prevent pests in your Virginia Beach home?

Fighting a pest infestation can be difficult, so preventative measures are the most reliable way to prevent future problems. Though infestations often require expert intervention, you can implement the following measures to keep pests out before they make their way into your home.

Schedule regular preventative pest control

Bugs and small animals are disruptive and can cause extensive damage to your home and health if left unchecked. Consult with a pest control service about taking preemptive measures to keep pests from invading your home. They may recommend sealing gaps, setting traps or spraying the area with pesticides.

Cover, seal or eliminate food sources

As pests are commonly looking for food, making food difficult to access will discourage them from infesting your home. Food should be a minimum of six inches off the floor and a modest distance away from the walls. Make sure to keep counters, food storage areas and sinks clean and sanitized when not in use, and dispose of food scraps and other trash frequently. Maintain the areas around your trash cans and dumpsters.

Keep up with yard maintenance

Insects and small animals can hide in tall grass, trash, standing water and leaves. Keeping your yard clear of debris and your lawn and foliage well-maintained is one of the simplest ways to stop an infestation before it starts. If professional lawn maintenance is needed, find out if national lawn care services such as TruGreen cover your region.

Seal off pest entrances

Closing off small openings will discourage insects and small animals from making their way indoors. Rats, for instance, can fit through openings as little as half an inch wide. Be sure to address gaps in your roof or siding and seal damaged window frames. Some pest control companies focus specifically on keeping pests out and can help you with this task.

What are questions to ask your pest control provider?

Ask the following questions to ensure you get a pest control professional that can meet your specific needs.

Are your technicians properly licensed and insured?

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the use of pest control chemicals. Moreover, the EPA requires restricted-use pesticide applicators and their supervisors to hold certifications consistent with the agency's standards and the laws of the affected states, territories and tribes.

Each pest control technician practicing in Virginia must have a Commercial Applicator for Hire License or a Registered Technician Certification from the Virgina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

What treatment schedule do you recommend?

The treatment schedule a pest specialist suggests will depend on the infestation severity, property location, pest type and treatment type. Pest control providers generally do not recommend getting a single treatment to rid a home of pests, as insects are often at different points in their life cycle, and can lay eggs in areas that are difficult to reach.

Pest professionals generally advise ongoing treatments, with some taking place only in the warmer months and others needed year-round. Preventative measures may also be recommended to stop infestations before they begin.

How long will it take to get rid of pests?

The time it will take for your pest issue to go away depends on the nature and extent of the infestation as well as the pest's life cycle. After your home's initial treatment, you might notice a decrease in activity, but pests may reemerge after hatching, requiring more treatments. Conversely, you could see a spike in activity following the first treatment, as it can push pests from their hiding spots. Fortunately, this should decrease within a matter of days.

Can I remain in my home during pest control treatments?

You should be able to remain in your home for some parts of the pest control treatment, such as sealing holes and cracks. If your service professional uses a pesticide, it may take a few hours before it's dry, during which time you'll need to be out of the house.

Some pest control services can be particularly lengthy. During termite fumigation, the pest control professional must set up a tent around your home for three days to apply the pesticide. Throughout this timeframe, you'll have to stay elsewhere.

Are your treatments safe for my family and pets?

A skilled service technician has the knowledge to determine the appropriate amount of product to apply, the drying time required and when it is all right for children and pets to re-enter the treated space. Before administering any treatment, they should instruct you on which items such as animals, plants and food must be cleared from the area.

Do you offer any “green” pest control methods?

A number of pest control services provide environmentally friendly methods for treating infestations. This means they use products with a lower environmental impact than traditional methods. Some examples of eco-friendly pest control include sealing entry points for pests, setting catch-and-release traps for rodents, and using pesticides derived from organic ingredients.

What do I do if pests come back?

Most pest control providers offer guarantees and warranties should pests reappear before a specified date. Some companies may provide a single treatment, while others offer continuous service to address recurring pest issues. Discuss the available options with your service professional.

Our methodology for selecting pest control companies

The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score. We review national pest control companies against our full pest control methodology. We score pest control companies based on service options, safety and certifications, service guarantees and customer service.