Everything you need in one place — treatments, how-to guides, pest identification, troubleshooting, and team updates. Bookmark this page.
Founded in 1983, ECOLA Services has spent over 40 years leading Southern California in eco-conscious pest and termite control — protecting families, pets, and the environment.
Our Mission
"To provide Southern California communities with alternatives to traditional chemical-based termite and pest control treatments — protecting people, pets, and the planet."
We lead with low-toxicity, eco-friendly methods first. The planet matters.
Every decision considers the safety of families, children, pets, and chemically sensitive individuals.
We earned "Top Readers Choice for Pest Control" (LA Daily News) 10 consecutive years. That's built on service.
Best Green Exterminator 2007–2010. We set the standard — then raise it.
Service Area
Know your tools. Always offer eco-friendly options first — then traditional if needed. Every home is different.
High-frequency, high-voltage electricity penetrates wood and flows into termite galleries, killing on contact. No chemicals. No evacuation required. Clients don't need to remove food, clothing, or plants.
Thermal remediation — raises the temperature inside the structure to lethal levels for pests. Chemical-free, effective for drywood termites.
Natural, plant-based treatment derived from orange peels. Applied directly to infested wood for targeted spot treatment of drywood termites.
Borate solution applied to wood surfaces — kills and prevents termites, wood-boring beetles, and fungi. Ideal for new construction.
Bait stations placed around the perimeter intercept foraging subterranean termites and eliminate the colony.
Borate-treated blown-in insulation that controls pests while reducing energy costs. Kills insects that nest in attic spaces.
Industry-leading liquid termiticide applied to soil. Creates an undetectable zone that termites pass through and carry back to the colony.
Whole-structure gas fumigation for severe or widespread drywood termite infestations. Requires full home evacuation for 2–3 days.
Foam or liquid injected directly into wall cavities, cracks, and voids to reach pests in hard-to-access areas.
Quick reference for identifying and categorizing what you're dealing with on-site.
Live entirely within wood — no soil contact needed. Look for: small fecal pellets (frass), small kick-out holes in wood. Common in furniture, framing, eaves. Treatments: Electro-Gun, Orange Oil, Heat, Fumigation.
Live in soil, build mud tubes to reach wood above ground. Look for: mud tubes on foundation, hollow-sounding wood, swarmer wings. Treatments: Termidor, Bait Systems, Foam Injection.
Aggressive subterranean species — larger colonies, faster damage. Look for: massive mud tubes, heavy swarming. Treatments: Termidor, Bait Systems — act fast.
Larger with coarse fur, thin scaly tails. Droppings: large and blunt. Make audible scratching sounds. More cautious around traps — give them time to acclimate before setting. Common entry: gaps > ¼ inch in roof areas.
Small with soft fur, thicker furry tails. Droppings: small and pointy. Less cautious — traps work faster. Can fit through very small gaps (size of a dime). Often found in kitchens, pantries, garages.
Check under sinks, behind appliances, inside cabinets. Gel bait + crack/crevice spray.
Super-colony ants — baiting is most effective. Avoid repellent sprays which cause splitting.
Locate nest first. Treat at dusk when activity is lowest. Do not block entry before treating.
Check seams of mattresses, box springs, bed frames, headboards. Heat treatment is most effective.
Most are beneficial. Treat webs and entry points. Brown recluse / black widow require thorough treatment.
Eliminate standing water sources. Treat vegetation and shaded areas where adults rest.
Treat pet resting areas, carpets, yard perimeter. IGR (insect growth regulator) essential for fleas.
Found near wool, silk, pet hair. Vacuum thoroughly before treatment. Check air vents and attics.
Inspect and discard infested food products first. Treat cracks in pantry shelves. Advise client on proper food storage.
Standard procedures for common field situations. When in doubt, follow these steps.
Common on-site situations and how to handle them.
Lead with eco-friendly options: Electro-Gun, Heat Treatment, or Orange Oil. Avoid fumigation and Termidor unless no other option. Always document the client's sensitivity and note it on the work order.
Break a section of the tube and return in a few days. If rebuilt, colony is active. If not, may be old. Either way, probe the wood for damage and recommend appropriate treatment.
Do not guess. Call your supervisor before making promises. Document the complaint with photos. Check if follow-up warranty service is applicable. Never apply additional product without approval.
Move traps to new locations — rats avoid disturbed areas. Change bait type (peanut butter, nesting material). Re-check all possible entry points you may have missed. If infestation persists, escalate to supervisor for reassessment.
Explain the pros and cons clearly — never just upsell. Offer the next most effective option within their budget. Document what was recommended vs. what was chosen and have client sign off.
Take clear photos and contact your supervisor before diagnosing. Never guess. A wrong ID leads to a wrong treatment. It's always okay to say "I want to confirm this before I recommend anything."
Argentine ants form super-colonies — repellent sprays cause them to split and spread. Switch to bait-only approach. Locate and treat the exterior trail source. Advise client that full elimination can take 2–4 weeks with bait.
Stay calm. Listen fully before responding. Empathize — never argue. If you cannot resolve it, call your supervisor immediately. Never leave a job site in conflict without escalating.
Great work deserves to be recognized. This is where we celebrate the people who show up and get it done.
Spotlights & Awards Coming Soon
Employee of the month, top performers, milestone anniversaries, and standout accomplishments will be featured here. Check back weekly.
Announcements, tips, policy updates, and field news. Updated every week.
This portal is your go-to resource for training, product info, and field guidance. Bookmark it on your phone. It will be updated with new guides, recognition spotlights, and weekly digests regularly. If you have questions or suggestions for content to add, reach out to your supervisor.
Future weekly updates will appear here — announcements, seasonal pest tips, schedule changes, and more.
Your safety is non-negotiable. Know what to wear, what to avoid, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Run through this before every job. A prepared tech is a professional tech.
Southern California doesn't have hard winters — pests are active year-round. Know what to expect each season.
Clients will ask these. Know the answers cold — it builds trust and closes jobs.
Lead with our eco-friendly options — Electro-Gun, Heat, Orange Oil, and Borates are all non-toxic alternatives. If a chemical treatment is needed, explain the re-entry period clearly and always get them out of the home during application. Reassure them that we've been doing this safely since 1983.
Termites don't care about age — they follow moisture and wood. New construction can be attacked within a year. Explain that it's common and the important thing is treating it now before structural damage occurs.
Yes — absolutely. Explain that the gas is lethal in enclosed spaces and no exceptions can be made. They need to be out for 2–3 days including all pets and plants. Reassure them that the home will be fully cleared and tested before they return.
Emphasize our 40+ years in business, our eco-friendly options that most companies don't offer, our license (#PR1158), and our 10-year streak as LA Daily News Readers Choice. We're not cheap — we're thorough. A failed treatment costs more in the long run.
You can try, but retail products treat the surface — they don't reach the colony or nesting sites. For termites especially, DIY products rarely resolve the infestation. We have licensed equipment and products not available to the public.
Depends on the method. Termidor can last up to 10 years. Heat and Electro-Gun eliminate existing infestations but don't prevent future ones — recommend annual inspections. Bait systems require ongoing monitoring. Be honest about what's a one-time treatment vs. what needs maintenance.
Set realistic expectations. Some treatments work immediately; others (like bait systems and ant baiting) take 2–4 weeks for full colony elimination. Never promise "overnight" results for complex infestations. Under-promise and over-deliver.
This is exactly who we built our eco-friendly program for. Offer Electro-Gun, Heat, or Orange Oil treatments — emphasize that these are chemical-free. Document the sensitivity on the work order and flag it for your supervisor.
Quick access to reach the right person in the field.
Team Contacts Coming Soon
Names and numbers will be added here shortly so every tech knows who to call when they need backup in the field.