Biting Insect Control: a Cape Town guide

Know what you are dealing with

The cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) is by far the most common biter we deal with in Cape Town, and it lives happily on dogs as well as cats. Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) arrive in luggage, second-hand furniture and on visitors, and they are increasingly common in guest houses, flats and student digs. Culex mosquitoes breed in standing water in gutters, pond edges and blocked drains and are the whining nuisance on summer nights, while Aedes species are the small, striped day biters that breed in pot-plant saucers and containers. Bird mites move indoors from pigeon and Indian myna nests in roofs and gutters once the chicks leave. Dog ticks and the odd stable fly round out the list on smallholdings in the Boland.

Myths, mistakes and lesser-known facts

Children and pets are usually the first to show bites because they spend more time on floors and carpets. We plan treatments so that play areas and pet bedding are safe to use again once dry.

For landlords and rental agents, a bite problem between tenants is worth treating before the new people move in. Fleas left by a previous tenant's pets can sit dormant as pupae and hatch when the new family arrives.

Bird mites cannot survive long on people, but they will bite when their nest is abandoned. Removing the old nest is as important as treating the room.

Warning signs

1. Bites in clusters or lines on the ankles and lower legs, which usually points to fleas.
2. Rows of itchy bites on the arms, neck or shoulders after a night in bed, which is typical of bed bugs.
3. Pets scratching constantly, with black specks in their fur that turn red on a damp tissue.
4. Small blood spots or dark staining on sheets and mattress seams.
5. A crawling, prickling feeling at night with tiny moving specks near a window or ceiling below a bird nest.
6. Mosquito whine at night and bites on any skin left outside the covers.
7. Bites that appear soon after moving house, travelling or bringing home second-hand furniture.

Most local biting insects cause itching, broken sleep and skin infections from scratching rather than serious disease. Fleas can carry tapeworm to pets, and heavy flea burdens can make young or elderly animals anaemic. Bed bugs and bird mites cause real stress, poor sleep and, for businesses such as guest houses, bad reviews and lost bookings. Some people react strongly to bites and should see a doctor if swelling or infection develops.

Can you do it yourself?

Bug sprays and foggers from the shop often make things worse, because they scatter bed bugs into new rooms and do nothing about flea eggs and pupae in the carpet. Treating pets properly and cleaning up mosquito breeding spots are jobs you can and should do yourself. If bites continue for more than a week or two, get the insect identified rather than throwing more products at it.

Seasonal pattern

Fleas and mosquitoes build up sharply from October and peak through the hot summer months, especially after a wet winter leaves standing water around. Bird mite problems tend to follow the spring nesting season when chicks leave the nest. Bed bugs are less seasonal and follow travel patterns, so we see more after the December holidays.

Prevention checklist

• Keep pets on a regular flea treatment from your vet all year, not just in summer, because Cape Town houses stay warm enough for fleas indoors.
• Check hotel and guest house beds before unpacking, and keep your suitcase on the luggage rack rather than the floor.
• Inspect second-hand beds, couches and headboards closely along the seams before they come into the house.
• Empty pot-plant saucers, buckets and blocked gutters weekly so mosquitoes have nowhere to breed.
• Have bird nests removed from roofs and gutters and the gaps closed before the chicks fledge.
• Vacuum floors, rugs and pet sleeping areas often and throw the vacuum bag or contents away outside.

What affects the price

Price depends on which insect we are dealing with, how many rooms are affected and how far the problem has spread. Bed bug and flea jobs often need a follow-up visit to break the breeding cycle, which is built into the quote. We start with a free quote, and a WhatsApp photo of the bites or the insect often helps narrow things down.

Frequently asked questions

Areas we cover for biting insect control