If pests have shown up in your home or on your property, the first question is usually simple: who handles this, and how fast can they get here. We cover Ames and the surrounding Story County area with one-time treatments and recurring prevention plans for both residential and commercial properties. From ants and cockroaches to rodents, wasps, ticks, and the seasonal invaders that push inside when the weather turns, we handle what shows up in this part of Iowa.
Call (515) 996-4232 for a quote and we will walk you through what the treatment involves before anything is scheduled.
Ames is a city with a real mix of property types, from older single-family homes to rental units, commercial kitchens, and office buildings. That variety means pest pressure looks different depending on the structure and the situation. We work with homeowners dealing with an active infestation, property managers keeping rental units clear between tenants, and businesses that need consistent coverage to stay ahead of problems before they affect operations.
Rodents draw more calls than almost any other pest in this part of Iowa, and the method used to deal with them matters as much as the speed of the response. Trapping and baiting each have a place, and the choice depends on where the activity is, what the property layout allows, and whether children or pets are present in the affected areas. We explain which approach fits the situation when you call.
What neither method fixes on its own is the entry point. Mice can move through a gap no larger than a dime, and rats do not need much more. A treatment that removes the active population without addressing how they got in leaves the property open to the next wave. Entry-point sealing and exclusion work is part of what we do, not an add-on.
A follow-up visit after the initial rodent treatment is not a formality. It confirms that the population has been brought down, checks whether new activity has appeared near sealed entry points, and adjusts the approach if anything has changed. For properties with significant pressure, a single visit rarely tells the whole story. We schedule follow-up based on what the first visit finds.
Most homeowners can't tell a minor pest issue from a growing one, and that is especially true when the pest is not one they recognize on sight. The jobs below cover the most common calls we take in this area. Each one starts with a situation, and the treatment follows from what the inspection finds.
Indian meal moths, grain beetles, and weevils are the most frequent pantry pest calls. They typically arrive inside a purchased product, flour, grain, dried beans, or pet food, and spread to nearby packages before anyone notices. Treatment involves identifying the source, removing infested material, and applying targeted treatment to the storage area. Monitoring after the visit confirms the infestation has been cleared.
A perimeter barrier applied around the foundation, entry points, and the base of exterior walls is one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of pests that make it inside. It works by treating the zone where insects travel before they reach the structure. Products are applied according to label directions, and the barrier is refreshed on a schedule that matches the seasonal pressure for this region. The voice on the phone can tell you what the treatment involves.
Fruit flies and drain flies are common in residential kitchens and commercial food service environments alike. Fruit flies breed in overripe produce and spilled liquids. Drain flies breed in the organic buildup inside floor drains and sink drains. Both are persistent because the breeding source is usually out of sight. Treatment addresses the source directly, not just the adults you can see, and we will walk through what preparation helps before the visit.
Carpenter ants hollow out wood to build galleries, and they are drawn to areas where moisture has softened the material. Window frames, roof soffits, and wood near plumbing are the most common locations in homes across this region. Surface sprays aimed at foraging trails rarely reach the colony. Treatment targets the nest itself, and follow-up is scheduled based on the size of the infestation and whether satellite colonies are present.
You shouldn't have to chase a pest control company for answers, and that includes the question of what the work will cost. When you call, we scope the job on the phone and give you a price before anything is booked. The rate depends on the pest, the size of the property, and how far the problem has gone. A contained infestation in one room is a different scope from an active population that has spread across a structure.
Whether the job calls for a single visit or a series of treatments also affects the quote. Recurring prevention plans are priced differently from one-time treatments, and we explain the difference when you call. A price agreed before every visit. Straight answers every visit. Targeted treatments every visit.
Misidentification is one of the most common reasons a pest problem persists after a first attempt to deal with it. Carpenter ants and termites are frequently confused, and the treatment for each is completely different. Cluster flies are often mistaken for house flies, but they come from a different source and require a different approach. Grain beetles are sometimes written off as fruit flies, which leads to the wrong treatment and a problem that does not go away.
Getting the identification right before anything is applied is not a procedural step. It is the difference between a treatment that works and one that does not. We identify the pest at the start of every visit and confirm the approach before products go down. If what you are seeing does not match a common pest, we work through it on the call. What the work involves is covered on the services page for pest control.
Pest activity visible inside a structure almost always points back to something outside it or hidden within it. Ants trailing across a kitchen counter are foraging from a colony that may be in the foundation, a wall void, or a nearby landscape feature. Rodents moving through a basement came in somewhere, and that entry point is usually in a utility run, a foundation gap, or a spot where two building materials meet imperfectly.
The inspection is where that origin gets located. We check entry points, harborage zones, moisture sources, and the areas around the structure before deciding where treatment goes. A thorough inspection takes longer than a quick walk-through, but it changes what the treatment targets and whether follow-up is needed.
Moisture is a factor in more pest problems than most homeowners expect. Silverfish, earwigs, carpenter ants, and cockroaches all favor damp conditions. A basement with a drainage issue or a crawl space with poor ventilation is not just a structural concern. It is an invitation. We take note of conditions that are likely to draw pests back even after treatment and discuss what can be done about them.
Pests don't wait, and neither do we, so when you call about an active problem, we work to get a visit on the schedule quickly. We are available every day from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and we take short-notice calls when the schedule allows. If the situation cannot wait, call and ask what is available.
For properties with tenants, we coordinate the visit around access and preparation so the treatment can go in without disrupting the household. Commercial properties that need to stay open during the visit get the same consideration. We take pride in the protection we leave behind, and that starts with making the visit itself as straightforward as possible.
Recurring prevention plan visits are scheduled in advance and adjusted as seasonal pressure shifts. If pest activity comes back between scheduled visits, call us and we will address it. That is what the plan is for.
Pest control calls from across Story County come to us, and we handle them the same way regardless of which town the property is in. Along with Ames, we serve the communities nearby, including:
If your property is in Story County or one of the towns surrounding Ames, we cover your area.
Call (515) 996-4232 to confirm coverage and get a quote.
Yes. If pest activity returns between scheduled visits on a prevention plan, we can schedule a follow-up. Call and describe what you are seeing and we will work out the right response.
No treatment produces a permanent result, because pest pressure from the environment continues. A one-time treatment addresses the current infestation. A recurring prevention plan is designed to maintain protection by refreshing the barrier and catching new activity before it builds.
It depends on the treatment and the area being addressed. Some commercial treatments can be scheduled around operating hours, and we discuss what the visit requires before booking. If a closure or partial closure is needed, we tell you in advance so you can plan accordingly.
We work with a range of commercial properties in the Ames area, including rental units, office buildings, food service businesses, and warehouses. Each property type has its own pest pressure and scheduling requirements, and we scope the job on the call before anything is booked. Documentation of what was treated and where is available for commercial accounts.
Property size is one of the factors that moves a quote, along with the pest involved and how far the activity has spread. A single-unit rental is scoped differently from a multi-unit building where activity has been reported in more than one area. We work through the details on the call and give you a price before anything is scheduled.
Starting a prevention plan before peak pest season, typically in early spring, means the exterior barrier is in place before ants, wasps, and other warm-weather pests become active. That said, a prevention plan can be started at any point in the year, and we adjust the initial treatment focus to whatever the current season calls for. Call us and we will discuss what makes sense for your property and the time of year.
It depends on the treatment. Some interior applications require occupants to leave for a period while products dry, and the label directions will specify the re-entry time. We tell you what to expect before the visit so you can plan around it.
Treatment is applied to the areas where pests are entering, sheltering, and foraging, not across the entire property indiscriminately. That typically includes the exterior perimeter, foundation edges, entry points, and interior spots where activity is concentrated. The inspection at the start of the visit determines where the focus goes.
The easiest pest problem to deal with is one that never becomes an infestation. A prevention plan scheduled before activity shows up means a property is treated on a regular cycle, the exterior barrier stays fresh, and seasonal pressure is addressed before it builds indoors.
Call (515) 996-4232 to get a quote and set a schedule.
We are available every day from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Pick the date. We do the treatment. We clean up after.
Close by, we also treat properties in: Polk City, Ankeny, Johnston, Grimes. You can browse our complete coverage area.
Not every pest problem calls for the same response, and not every property has the same pressure points. We offer a range of service plans so you can match the treatment to what your situation actually needs. Whether you are dealing with an active infestation or looking to keep pests out through the seasons, the plan options below cover the full range. Call for a quote and we will walk you through which approach fits your property.
| Treatment Plan | Best For | Treatment Frequency | Pests Covered | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One-Time Treatment | Active infestations that need immediate attention | Single visit | Wasps, Bed Bugs, Cockroaches, Ants | Targets the specific pest and situation present. Follow-up visits can be added if activity persists after the initial treatment. |
| Bi-Monthly | Homeowners who want consistent coverage without monthly visits | Every two months | Ants, Spiders, Cockroaches, Silverfish, Boxelder Bugs | A solid middle ground for properties with moderate pest pressure. Interior spot treatments are included when activity is found during the visit. |
| QuarterlyMost Popular | Year-round residential pest prevention | Every three months | Ants, Wasps, Spiders, Asian Lady Beetles, Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs | The most common choice for residential properties. Each visit aligns with a seasonal shift in pest pressure, so the treatment focus adjusts as the year moves through spring, summer, fall, and winter. |
Call (515) 996-4232 to talk through which plan fits your property. We are available every day from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM and can give you a price on the phone before anything is scheduled.
(515) 996-4232