What we deal 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.
Signs to look for
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: 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.
How we treat it
We always identify the biter before choosing a treatment, using sticky traps, a close look at bedding, pet areas and roof voids, and photos you send us. Flea jobs combine an insect growth regulator with a residual spray on floors, pet bedding areas and under furniture, alongside vet treatment of the animals. Bed bugs need a careful, room-by-room crack and crevice treatment of beds, headboards and furniture, often with a follow-up visit. Mosquitoes are tackled at the breeding source first, with targeted treatment of resting areas, and bird mites mean dealing with the old nest as well as the mites in the room. We use the least-toxic effective product for each situation.
- Talk through the bites
Where the bites are, when they happen and who in the house is getting them tells us a lot before we even arrive.
- Inspect and identify
We check beds, pet areas, roof spaces and water sources, and use traps or samples to confirm the insect.
- Treat the source
The treatment matches the pest: flea, bed bug, mosquito or mite work are all very different jobs.
- Advise on preparation
We explain what to wash, vacuum or move and what pets need from the vet.
- Follow up
Where eggs survive the first round, such as with fleas and bed bugs, we come back to finish the cycle.
Things most people don't know
A common belief is that bed bugs only turn up in dirty homes. They do not care about cleanliness at all. They need a blood meal and somewhere to hide, and spotless hotels get them just as easily as anywhere else.
The first thing we ask is who in the house is getting bitten. If only one person reacts, others may be bitten without showing marks, which matters when we are trying to find the source.
Flea bombs and foggers rarely reach under furniture or deep into carpet where flea pupae sit. People often set one off, feel relief for a week and then get hit by a fresh hatch.
When it peaks in Cape Town
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.
DIY or call a professional?
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.
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.
Preventing it coming back
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell what is biting me?
The pattern helps: ankle bites point to fleas, lines of bites on the upper body point to bed bugs, and exposed skin bitten at night points to mosquitoes. A proper inspection or a photo of the insect is the only way to be sure.
Could it be something other than an insect?
Yes. Skin conditions, allergies and reactions to products can look like bites, so if we find no insects we will tell you and suggest you see a doctor.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
For most biting insect treatments you will need to be out of the treated rooms for a few hours until surfaces are dry. We give specific instructions when we book.
Why am I still getting bitten after the treatment?
Flea pupae and bed bug eggs can survive the first treatment and hatch over the following days, which is why a follow-up visit is often part of the job. Tell us if bites continue so we can check.
Do you treat pets?
No, animals should be treated by your vet with a product suited to them. We treat the house, and the two need to happen at the same time to work.
Are you available after hours?
Yes, after-hours and weekend visits can be arranged on request, and our 24-hour line takes calls for advice and bookings.
Biting Insect Control by area
We cover all of these suburbs from our base in Brackenfell. Pick yours for local advice.
