Will the council remove a European wasp nest in Adelaide?

It depends on the council. West Torrens arranges removal of European wasp nests in its area; the City of Adelaide doesn't on private property. Other councils have their own rules, so look up yours first.

Can I get a possum taken out of my roof and released somewhere else?

No. In South Australia nobody can get a permit to move a possum off your property. The work is finding how it gets in, letting it out, and closing the gap, with any catch and release done under a permit on your own block. Our Adelaide possums page has the detail.

Do you cover the Adelaide Hills, Gawler and the southern suburbs?

Yes. The form takes any postcode in Australia, so tell us what you've seen and where, from the Hills to the coast.

Pest control Adelaide: wasps, termites and possums

What's different in Adelaide

European wasps are everywhere here

The City of Adelaide calls European wasps very common in the city, nesting in vents, building cavities, ceilings, trees and the ground. The state's environment department adds that they're highly aggressive once a nest is disturbed, so a nest near a back door is worth acting on.

Your council decides who pays for a wasp nest

Adelaide's councils don't all do the same thing. The City of West Torrens arranges removal of European wasp nests in its area, on council land or private property. The City of Adelaide doesn't destroy nests on private land and points residents to a pest controller. Check your own council's page before you book anything.

Termites that like pine framing

Adelaide Hills Council names Coptotermes frenchii as the termite behind most building damage in the South Australia region, and says it's common in suburbs where houses are framed in softwood or Oregon. Its colonies often sit in the root crown of a gum tree or an old stump.

Possums come with a permit rule

Every possum species in South Australia is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Trapping one needs a permit or a permitted possum controller, and the possum is released on the same property, within 50 metres, after dusk.

Not every small grey animal is a mouse

South Australia's environment department says the native yellow-footed antechinus is commonly mistaken for the house mouse, and native swamp rats sometimes move into veggie gardens. A photo before anyone puts out bait is a kindness to both.

The pest jobs Adelaide asks about

Termite inspections lead, and so do inspections for people buying a home, because a timber pest report is part of most purchases. Then come possums in the roof, rats, mice once the weather cools, European wasp nests, bees that have moved into a wall, pigeons on ledges and spiders around the outdoor setting.

Each of those has its own Adelaide page with the local rules and what to ask: termites, buying a home, possums, rats and mice, wasp nests, bees, birds and spiders.

Mosquitoes and the stormwater pits

The City of Adelaide says mosquitoes peak in summer, wherever stagnant water sits near vegetation, and it treats stormwater side entry pits as part of its mosquito program. Your share is the backyard: tip out pot plant saucers, buckets and anything else that holds water, and keep gutters running.

How pest licences work in South Australia

The business needs a Pest Controller's Licence to operate in SA.
Each person who applies pesticides needs a Pest Management Technician's licence, issued by SA Health.
A limited technician licence is for trainees, who must work under a full technician's direct supervision.
Ask to see the licence before work starts, or check with SA Health's pest licensing team.

Spotted something odd in the garden?

An unusual plant pest or disease, anywhere in Australia, can go to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline, which passes it to the state agency. That's a biosecurity report, not a pest control job.

Where we'd start with pests in Adelaide

On an Adelaide house we'd book a termite inspection if it's been a while, especially with gums or old stumps near the walls. For anything buzzing, scratching or nesting right now, tap what you've seen and your postcode.

Want someone to look at it?

Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.

What have you seen?