General Pest Control in Bakersfield

Tell the company what you are seeing and where. Then ask for a free inspection and a quote before any treatment.

Bakersfield heat and household pests

Bakersfield averages 113 days a year at 90F or hotter. The median first 90-degree day is April 14 and the last is October 13, and the city gets about 6.2 inches of rain a year, almost none of it June to September. In that kind of summer the water in your kitchen and bathrooms, and in irrigation lines, is the easiest water around. That is my own read. UC IPM's notes on cockroaches make the same basic point: they live where they can find shelter along with food and water.

Average days per month at 90°F or hotter, Bakersfield Meadows Field

The full record is on our Kern County pest data page.

The usual suspects

Ants

UC IPM says the Argentine ant is the most common ant in and around California homes. Most ants live outdoors, so the work is keeping them out: caulk the entry points, clean up the food, and use baits when needed. UC IPM is blunt that spraying ants indoors will not stop more from coming in. More on our ant control page.

Cockroaches

Species matters. German and brownbanded cockroaches live and breed entirely indoors. American and Oriental cockroaches live outside, as do Turkestan cockroaches. They hide in places like water meter boxes and sewers or in crawl spaces, and wander in. UC IPM says sanitation and exclusion come first, that pesticides alone will not solve a cockroach problem, and that baits control them better than sprays. See our cockroach page.

Spiders

Most spiders eat other pests and their jaws are too small to bite people, per UC IPM. The one to take seriously in California is the adult female black widow: shiny black with a red hourglass underneath, usually in dry, undisturbed spots like woodpiles and garages. UC IPM says to focus on removing webs and hiding places and that pesticides are not generally needed. Read our black widow guide.

Earwigs and crickets, plus silverfish

Earwigs look fierce but UC IPM says they are not harmful to people. They hide in dark, cool, moist places such as mulch and weeds, so cutting back moisture and hiding spots is most of the fix. Crickets are active at night, need shelter during the day, and tend to move in from weedy areas as they dry up. Silverfish and firebrats feed at night on dry foods and paper glue, and on book bindings; UC IPM recommends keeping laundry rooms and bathrooms clean and dry.

If you cannot tell what you have, a photo is usually enough to identify it.

What a service visit should include

UC IPM's guide to hiring a pest control company describes what you should get. I would expect a visit to look like this:

1. An inspection inside and out, with the pest identified. UC IPM notes state law requires the company to identify the target pest before applying pesticides.
2. A walk around the outside of the house, including the foundation and eaves, and the doors and vents, to find where pests get in and where spiders are webbing.
3. Exclusion advice or work: door sweeps and screens, along with threshold seals and caulking. UC IPM calls these out as long-term fixes.
4. Targeted treatment. Baits for ants and roaches, web removal for spiders, and spot treatments where pests hide. Interior treatment should happen when you ask for it and agree to it.
5. A written notice before treatment listing the pest and each pesticide with its active ingredients. It also says how often you will be treated if you sign a recurring plan. California Business and Professions Code section 8538 requires it, and tenants get it too.
6. A written plan listing the products and visit frequency, along with the total cost.

Be wary of a routine perimeter spray with nothing else. UC IPM points out that chemicals sprayed around a house can be washed off by irrigation or rain, especially next to concrete, and it advises against spraying pyrethroids such as bifenthrin and cypermethrin on driveways and sidewalks, or on foundations, because they pollute waterways. Some perimeter treatment is sometimes needed. It should not be the whole service.

Questions to ask about kids and pets

The National Pesticide Information Center says infants and children are more sensitive to pesticides than adults, partly because they spend time near the floor and put things in their mouths. Its advice for homes with pets is similar. Before treatment, ask the technician:

• Which products are you using, and can I see the label and Safety Data Sheet? UC IPM says you can request both.
• How long should kids and pets stay out of treated areas? NPIC's general rule is until the product is completely dry and the area has aired out, and the label may say more.
• Where will baits go? NPIC advises putting ant and rodent baits in locked stations or out of reach, and notes pets often dig up buried baits.
• Should I cover the fish tank? NPIC says to cover tanks so liquid and vapor cannot get in.
• Should I move pet bowls and toys, and pet bedding? NPIC says to take them out of the area first.

If anyone feels sick within 24 hours of a treatment, the state-required notice tells you to call your doctor or Poison Control, (800) 222-1222, and the pest company.

What it costs and how often

This Old House (updated March 12, 2026) puts a one-time general pest treatment at $50 to $500 nationally, with an average of $171. These are national figures, not our quote. The company gives you a price before treatment. For ranges by pest, see our Bakersfield pest control cost guide, and for whether a plan is worth it, read one-time vs quarterly pest control. Before anyone starts, you can check their license in a couple of clicks.

We only refer companies licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board. That includes homes across Oildale, Rosedale, East Bakersfield and the rest of Kern County.