Delft is one of Cape Town's more densely built areas, with families living close together and many extra rooms built onto the back of houses. Most calls here are about rats, cockroaches and fleas, and the best results come from treating a few neighbouring homes together.
Delft: what drives biting insects here
Fleas from dogs and cats are probably the most common biting complaint. Bed bugs move easily where beds are shared or furniture changes hands, and both pests need home and pets treated together.
Delft lies on flat, sandy ground near Cape Town International Airport and the N2. The South-Easter blows sand and litter across open ground all summer, and in winter some streets become waterlogged when stormwater drains block. Vacant land around the edges gives rodents cover.
What gives them away
- A crawling, prickling feeling at night with tiny moving specks near a window or ceiling below a bird nest.
- Rows of itchy bites on the arms, neck or shoulders after a night in bed, which is typical of bed bugs.
- Bites in clusters or lines on the ankles and lower legs, which usually points to fleas.
- Bites that appear soon after moving house, travelling or bringing home second-hand furniture.
- Mosquito whine at night and bites on any skin left outside the covers.
- Small blood spots or dark staining on sheets and mattress seams.
Worth knowing
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.
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.
How the treatment works
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our biting insect control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- 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.
- Vacuum floors, rugs and pet sleeping areas often and throw the vacuum bag or contents away outside.
- Check hotel and guest house beds before unpacking, and keep your suitcase on the luggage rack rather than the floor.
- Have bird nests removed from roofs and gutters and the gaps closed before the chicks fledge.
- Empty pot-plant saucers, buckets and blocked gutters weekly so mosquitoes have nowhere to breed.
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.
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.
Biting Insect Control questions from Delft
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.
Do you come out to Delft for biting insect control?
Yes. Delft is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Belhar, Bishop Lavis, Kuils River, Nyanga. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Can you treat my whole row of houses in Delft for rats at once?
Yes, and it works better that way. Send us the addresses and we will give a free quote for treating the properties together.
My children are getting bites at night in Delft. Is it fleas or bed bugs?
Bites around the ankles usually point to fleas, while rows of bites on arms, neck or back point to bed bugs. WhatsApp us a photo of any insect you find and we will help identify it.
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.
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