The Cape Flats is the wide, flat sandy plain that stretches from the mountain towards False Bay, home to a huge share of Cape Town's people. Pest problems differ from suburb to suburb, but the common thread is sandy ground, a high water table in winter and a lot of homes built close together.
Bird Mite Control by suburb
We cover all 24 suburbs on our Cape Flats route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
- AthloneBird Mite Control
- BelharBird Mite Control
- Bishop LavisBird Mite Control
- BonteheuwelBird Mite Control
- CrawfordBird Mite Control
- DelftBird Mite Control
- Electric CityBird Mite Control
- Elsies RiverBird Mite Control
- Grassy ParkBird Mite Control
- GugulethuBird Mite Control
- Hanover ParkBird Mite Control
- KalksteenfonteinBird Mite Control
- KhayelitshaBird Mite Control
- LangaBird Mite Control
- Lavender HillBird Mite Control
- Lotus RiverBird Mite Control
- ManenbergBird Mite Control
- Mitchells PlainBird Mite Control
- NyangaBird Mite Control
- Pelican ParkBird Mite Control
- PhilippiBird Mite Control
- Samora MachelBird Mite Control
- StrandfonteinBird Mite Control
- Valhalla ParkBird Mite Control
Cape Flats: what drives biting insects here
Fleas are very common where dogs and cats share small yards with children, and they are worst in the warm months. Bed bugs move through second-hand beds and couches, and they need every room and every mattress treated together.
The Flats were once dunes and wetlands, and in winter the water table rises, flooding yards and low streets. The Philippi Horticultural Area, the vleis like Zeekoevlei and Rondevlei, and the canals that feed them breed mosquitoes and shelter rodents. In summer the South-Easter blows sand and litter across the open land.
Tell-tale signs
- Tiny moving specks on window sills, bedding, white walls or the bathroom basin, especially near ceilings and light fittings.
- Symptoms that ease when you leave the house for a few days and return when you come back.
- Nesting material, feathers and droppings visible at gaps in the fascia, under roof tiles or around the air conditioner.
- Small itchy red bites on the arms, neck or torso that appear after birds have stopped using a nest.
A note from the field
Children's rooms often sit right under the roof, and young skin reacts badly to mite bites. We treat around beds and windows and keep children and pets out until surfaces are dry.
Our process, step by step
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
- 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.
- Check air conditioning units, satellite dishes and solar panels, which create sheltered ledges birds love.
- Fit mesh or plastic closures under the first row of roof tiles and over gaps in fascia boards.
- Keep gutters clean so birds are not encouraged to build nests in them.
- Do not feed pigeons near the house, as a reliable food supply keeps them nesting on your roof.
Pricing, honestly
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.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Should I see a doctor about the bites?
If the bites become infected or you have a strong reaction, yes. Tell the doctor about the bird nest, as this helps them rule out other causes.
Will you stop the birds coming back?
We can close gaps and fit mesh, spikes or netting depending on the building. Without proofing, new birds will often use the same spot next season.
Do you come out to Cape Flats for bird mite control?
Yes. Cape Flats is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Athlone. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why are mosquitoes so bad near the vleis on the Cape Flats?
Because Zeekoevlei, Rondevlei and the canals that feed them hold still, shallow water where mosquitoes breed easily. Fitting mesh to bedroom windows and tipping out any standing water in the yard each week makes the biggest difference at home.
Does winter flooding push rats into homes on the Cape Flats?
Yes. When the water table rises and drains back up, rats are flushed out of their burrows and look for dry shelter in houses and outbuildings, so baiting and sealing gaps in April or May, before the heavy rain, pays off.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
