The Atlantic Seaboard runs from Mouille Point and Green Point down past Sea Point, Bantry Bay and Clifton to Camps Bay, squeezed between the mountain and the cold ocean. Pest work here is mostly in apartment blocks, restaurants and holiday rentals, where one problem flat can spread to the whole building.
Bird Mite Control by suburb
We cover all 26 suburbs on our City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
- Bantry BayBird Mite Control
- Bo-KaapBird Mite Control
- Camps BayBird Mite Control
- CliftonBird Mite Control
- De WaterkantBird Mite Control
- ForeshoreBird Mite Control
- FresnayeBird Mite Control
- GardensBird Mite Control
- Green PointBird Mite Control
- HiggovaleBird Mite Control
- Hout BayBird Mite Control
- Imizamo YethuBird Mite Control
- LlandudnoBird Mite Control
- Malay QuarterBird Mite Control
- Mouille PointBird Mite Control
- OranjezichtBird Mite Control
- Schotsche KloofBird Mite Control
- Sea PointBird Mite Control
- TamboerskloofBird Mite Control
- Three Anchor BayBird Mite Control
- University EstateBird Mite Control
- Upper WoodstockBird Mite Control
- VredehoekBird Mite Control
- Walmer EstateBird Mite Control
- WoodstockBird Mite Control
- ZonnebloemBird Mite Control
Biting insects around Atlantic Seaboard
Bed bugs travel in suitcases into holiday flats and guesthouses, so quick inspections between bookings are worth it. Pigeon nests on balconies can also bring bird mites indoors.
The cold Atlantic keeps summers mild, but the air is salty and damp, so roof timbers and cupboards hold moisture. Lion's Head, Signal Hill and the Twelve Apostles rise right behind the houses, and the fynbos and rocky slopes are where rodents and some spiders come from. When the South-Easter drops in late summer, flies and mosquitoes become noticeable along the promenade.
How to tell you have a problem
- Tiny moving specks on window sills, bedding, white walls or the bathroom basin, especially near ceilings and light fittings.
- A prickling, crawling sensation on the skin, often at night or while sitting near a particular wall or window.
- Small itchy red bites on the arms, neck or torso that appear after birds have stopped using a nest.
- Birds seen flying in and out of the roof, gutters or eaves during the spring and early summer.
A note from the field
The first thing a technician checks is the roofline from outside. Droppings on the walls, feathers in the gutters and birds going in and out of a gap tell us where to look inside.
How the treatment works
The single most important step is finding and removing the nest, because treating the bedroom while the source remains in the roof only gives temporary relief. Our technician goes into the roof void and around the eaves and gutters, bags and removes nesting material, and treats the nest site and surrounding timbers with a residual spray or insecticidal dust. Inside, we treat the affected rooms with a light residual spray along skirting, window frames, light fittings and around ceiling penetrations where the mites come through. We then recommend or carry out bird proofing, such as closing gaps with mesh or fitting spikes or netting, so new birds cannot move into the same spot. Because a few mites may emerge in the days after, we check back if symptoms continue.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our bird mite control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Keep gutters clean so birds are not encouraged to build nests in them.
- Fit mesh or plastic closures under the first row of roof tiles and over gaps in fascia boards.
- Do not feed pigeons near the house, as a reliable food supply keeps them nesting on your roof.
- Check air conditioning units, satellite dishes and solar panels, which create sheltered ledges birds love.
- Watch your roofline in spring; if you see pigeons or mynas going in and out of a gap, have it dealt with before they lay eggs.
What affects the price
The price depends mainly on how many nests there are, how easy the roof void and eaves are to get into, and how many rooms need treating inside. Bird proofing work such as mesh or spikes is quoted separately depending on the length of roofline and the materials needed. We give a free quote after inspection, and photos of the roofline sent via WhatsApp help us prepare.
In Cape Town, pigeons can breed almost all year, but mynas, sparrows and starlings nest most heavily from late winter through spring and early summer. Bird mite complaints usually peak a few weeks after the chicks leave the nest, which tends to be in spring and early summer. Warm weather also speeds up the mites' activity, so problems are most noticeable in the hotter months.
Bird Mite Control questions from Atlantic Seaboard
Do I need to remove the nest if the birds have already gone?
Yes. An empty nest is exactly when the mites go looking for new hosts, and the old nest also feeds other insects.
Can bird mites live on me?
No, they cannot complete their life cycle on people and will die off within a few weeks without a bird host. They will keep biting while they search, which is why removing the nest is so important.
How do I know it is bird mites and not bed bugs?
Bird mites are tiny and fast and are often seen near windows and ceilings, while bed bugs are larger and hide in beds. Recent bird activity on the roof is a strong clue, and we can check both.
Do Atlantic Seaboard holiday rentals really get bed bugs?
Yes, because guests change often and bed bugs hitch a ride in luggage. A quick inspection between bookings, plus treating at the first sign, stops a small problem turning into cancelled stays.
Why does my Sea Point or Green Point flat get rats when I keep it clean?
Rats in apartment blocks usually live in the refuse room, basement or service ducts and move up through the building. We work with the building as a whole, baiting the common areas and sealing the routes into individual flats.
Do you come out to Atlantic Seaboard for bird mite control?
Yes. Atlantic Seaboard is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Sea Point, Green Point, Bantry Bay, Clifton. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254