Pest Control FAQ

We’re a locally owned, family-run pest control company based in Lexington, Kentucky. Founded and operated by Trent Mobley, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) with over 14 years of industry experience. We named the company after our Bernese Mountain Dog, Frank, our unofficial Chief Barketing Officer.

The ACE credential is issued by the Entomological Society of America and is one of the most prestigious professional certifications in the pest management industry. It requires passing a rigorous examination in applied entomology, pest identification, biology, and IPM practices. Very few pest control technicians in Kentucky hold this credential. Trent’s ACE certification means your pest problem is being assessed with a level of scientific expertise most companies simply don’t offer.

Yes. Berner Pest Solutions holds all required Kentucky pest control licenses (KY Company Lic. #41842) and carries full liability insurance. We maintain continuing education requirements to keep our certifications current.

We serve Lexington-Fayette and the surrounding Central Kentucky communities, including Georgetown, Nicholasville, Versailles, Winchester, and Richmond. We’re happy to confirm service to your specific address. Just give us a call.

We treat all common Central Kentucky pests, including ants (all species), spiders (including brown recluse), cockroaches, stink bugs, centipedes, earwigs, silverfish, clover mites, bed bugs, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, carpenter bees, termites, mice, and rats. If you’re dealing with something not on this list, contact us. We’re happy to assess it.

We believe in transparent, upfront pricing, which is why we publish our pricing right on our website, something most pest control companies won’t do. Pricing depends on the service, property size, and severity of infestation, and we’ll always confirm an accurate quote before any work begins. Our three prevention tiers are Berner Basic (insect only), Berner Guard (insect + rodent), and Berner Complete (insect, rodent + termite). In general, our pricing is competitive with regional companies and significantly more cost-effective than the major national chains. See our pricing page or request a free estimate for your specific situation.

Both options are available. We offer one-time treatments for specific pest problems (a wasp nest, a bed bug infestation, a pantry moth issue). We also offer a quarterly prevention plan for ongoing protection. Our Berner Basic and Berner Guard plans have no long-term contracts and no cancellation fees, ever. Berner Complete includes a 12-month service agreement to offset the discounted initial termite treatment; after year one, you can cancel anytime with no penalties. Our customers stay with us because the service works, not because they’re locked in.

Our quarterly service visits align with seasonal pest activity: early spring (ants, spiders, overwintering pest prevention), summer (stinging insect checks), fall (rodent exclusion verification, stink bug treatment), and winter (interior inspection). Each visit includes a property inspection, exterior treatment, and any interior treatment needed. Between visits, if you have a pest issue, we return at no extra charge.

Yes. We serve restaurants, food service facilities, offices, retail, warehouses, medical offices, and multi-family housing. Our commercial services include scheduled visits, detailed service reports, and pest management protocols that meet health department and third-party audit requirements.

Yes. Pet safety is one of our core priorities. We use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach that applies the lowest effective product in targeted areas, rather than broad spraying throughout your home. We’ll always tell you the products we’re using, their safety profiles, and any specific precautions (such as keeping pets off a treated lawn until it dries, typically 30-60 minutes). We do not use rodenticide bait boxes as a primary rodent treatment due to secondary poisoning risks to pets and wildlife.

Yes. We use products labeled for residential use and apply them in targeted areas, not as blanket interior sprays. For most treatments, you do not need to leave your home. We’ll provide any specific instructions based on your treatment plan (e.g., brief ventilation after an interior application, or keeping children off treated surfaces until dry).

We use EPA-registered pest control products from professional-grade manufacturers. The specific product varies by pest, location, and situation. This is part of why accurate species identification matters. We use non-repellent sprays, baits, dusts, and Integrated Pest Management strategies as appropriate. We’re happy to discuss specific products and their active ingredients with you before treatment.

We use an IPM approach that minimizes chemical use wherever possible. We incorporate non-chemical controls like exclusion, habitat modification, and mechanical trapping alongside targeted chemical applications. Fully “organic” pest control is not always effective for serious infestations, but we always use the least impactful product that will solve the problem. If you have specific concerns or preferences, let us know and we’ll discuss what options are appropriate for your situation.

Preparation depends on the service. For general pest control, clearing countertops and storing food items is helpful. For bed bug treatment, extensive preparation (laundering bedding, clearing floor space) is required. We’ll send detailed instructions. For most services, no special preparation is needed. We’ll tell you everything you need to do (if anything) when scheduling your appointment.

Usually no. Most of our treatments (including general pest control, ant treatment, spider treatment, and exterior perimeter applications) do not require you to vacate your home. Exceptions include full indoor bed bug heat treatments or specific fumigation scenarios, which we’ll discuss clearly in advance.

A typical residential inspection and treatment takes 30-60 minutes, depending on property size and the service performed. More complex services like bed bug treatment, rodent exclusion work, or termite station installation take longer. We’ll give you a time estimate when scheduling.

It’s common to see more pest activity in the 1-2 weeks immediately following treatment. This is normal. Pests that contact treated surfaces or are disturbed by our activity become more visible as they die. This is especially true for ants and cockroaches. If activity has not decreased within 2 weeks, contact us. We’ll assess and retreat as needed at no charge.

If a pest problem returns between scheduled visits on our quarterly plan, we return and retreat at no charge. For one-time services, we offer a 30-day guarantee. We stand behind our work. Your satisfaction is not a one-visit transaction.

Contact us and we’ll schedule a callback. Our guarantee means you won’t pay again for re-treatment of the same pest issue within your service period. We take callbacks seriously. They’re also important data for us on what’s working and what needs adjustment.

Yes. We contact you before each scheduled visit to confirm the appointment and give you a heads-up on what we’ll be focusing on that quarter based on seasonal pest activity.

Common signs include mud tubes on foundation walls or floor joists, hollow-sounding wood when tapped, discarded wings near windows (especially in spring), and small piles of frass (sawdust-like material) near wood surfaces. Termites are often discovered during renovations. If you suspect termites, contact us for a thorough inspection. We offer termite inspections and install Trelona compressed bait stations for long-term protection.

Brown recluse spiders are present in Kentucky and can be medically significant. They’re tan to medium brown with a darker violin-shaped marking on their back, and typically 6-11mm in body length. They prefer undisturbed areas: closets, storage boxes, basements, and crawl spaces. If you find a spider you’re concerned about, contact us for an identification. Do not handle the spider. Capture it in a sealed container or photograph it and we can help identify it.

Yes. Rodent control is one of our specialties. Our approach focuses on exclusion (permanently sealing entry points) combined with targeted trapping. We do not rely on rodenticide bait boxes as a primary strategy. A thorough inspection identifies all entry points, and we seal them using professional-grade materials.

Yes. Our mosquito service provides targeted treatment of resting sites in your yard: under leaves, in dense vegetation, and around standing water sources. We treat on a 21-day cycle during mosquito season (typically May through October) for maximum suppression.