Pest knowledge base
What have you found, where does it come from and what can you safely do? Explore species and practical answers for homes, businesses and buildings.
Identify species
House mouse
House mice seek food and shelter in homes and commercial premises. Look beyond the animal itself: droppings, gnawed packaging and gaps around pipes can help identify the cause.
Brown rat
Brown rats are often seen around food, waste and sheltered locations. A rat problem calls for investigation of food sources, access routes and possible defects in the building or drainage system.
Black rat
Black rats are good climbers and may use sheltered locations high up in buildings. The name is misleading: not every black rat has black fur.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches hide in cracks and around equipment. Not every brown insect is a cockroach: correct identification determines where to look and which measures are appropriate.
Ants
Ants in the kitchen often follow a route to food. Cleaning the route helps temporarily; the entry route and type of ant determine what else you need to do.
Bed bugs
When bed bugs are suspected, signs around the sleeping area matter more than itching or bites alone. Bed bugs can be brought in with luggage or furniture.
Fleas
A flea problem requires attention to both the animal and its surroundings. Removing only visible fleas leaves potential developmental stages in resting areas unaddressed.
Silverfish
Silverfish prefer damp conditions. They resemble long-tailed silverfish, but this does not mean that the same moisture-management advice is effective for both species.
Long-tailed silverfish
Long-tailed silverfish can occur in drier rooms and damage materials such as paper. Increasing ventilation alone is therefore not a complete solution.
Fruit flies
Fruit flies seek fermenting or overripe organic material. The source may be visible fruit, but also leftover drinks or waste.
Clothes moth
With clothes moths, it is the larvae that cause damage, not the adult moths. Check animal fibres such as wool and silk, especially in rarely disturbed storage.
Pantry moths
Pantry moths are not a single species. Their larvae develop in suitable dry stored products; webbing inside a package is a reason to check the entire storage area.
Questions and practical guides
Moths in the home: how do I get rid of them?
Moths in your home? Distinguish clothes moths from food moths, find the source and learn which safe steps help prevent them from returning.
Food moths in the kitchen: where is the source?
Larvae or webbing in the pantry? Learn how to recognise food moths, check affected products and protect stored supplies.
Silverfish or long-tailed silverfish: what is the difference?
Silverfish and long-tailed silverfish look alike but require different attention. Compare their features, moisture preferences, damage and prevention.
Small flies in the home: fruit flies or drain flies?
Small flies near fruit or a drain? Learn which features and sources help distinguish fruit flies from drain flies.
Recognising bed bugs: which signs can you check?
Bites alone do not prove there are bed bugs. Learn which signs to check around mattresses, bed frames and luggage, and which first steps are safe.
Mice in the home: what can you safely do yourself?
Found mouse droppings or gnaw marks? Check food, entry points and fresh activity, and learn when expert investigation is useful.
Ants in the kitchen: why do they keep coming back?
Ants returning to your kitchen? Follow the trail, remove food sources and learn why species identification matters when problems persist.
Fruit flies behind the bar: how do you tackle the source?
Fruit flies in hospitality businesses keep returning while the source remains. Check drink residues, bottles, waste and hard-to-reach cleaning areas.
What should you do about mice in a restaurant?
Mice in your restaurant? Learn what you can do immediately, how to recognise them and when to call a professional.
How do you prevent cockroaches in hospitality businesses?
Practical tips to prevent cockroaches in your hospitality business: hygiene, storage, deliveries and monitoring.
How much does commercial pest control cost?
What determines the cost of commercial pest control? An explanation of one-off treatments, contracts and what you should compare.
Is pest management mandatory for hospitality businesses?
Hospitality businesses must ensure food safety, including where pests are concerned. Learn what the Hygiene Code and HACCP require.
IPM explained for business owners
What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? A clear explanation of prevention, monitoring and targeted pest control for businesses.
Pest management for businesses
This knowledge base is for everyone. RBL’s services are exclusively for businesses in Noord-Holland, Utrecht, Zuid-Holland and Flevoland.
Explore our business servicesRead new pest articles on our blog.