Green Point packs a stadium, a big urban park, the Metropolitan golf course and dense streets of flats, guesthouses and Victorian semis into one small slice of the Atlantic Seaboard. Lots of people, lots of restaurants and lots of open lawn means rats, cockroaches and Egyptian geese all feel at home.
Cockroaches in Green Point restaurants and flats
Restaurant kitchens and the flats above them are prime German cockroach territory in Green Point, linked by shared walls and ducts. Older blocks with old plumbing make it easy for them to spread. On warm nights, large American cockroaches come up through floor traps in ground-floor units from the old drains under the streets.
We treat German cockroaches with gel baits and dusts, and American cockroaches at the drains and floor traps. Restaurants can book regular visits with a written report each time.
The suburb runs from the lower slopes of Signal Hill down to the Green Point Common, with Green Point Urban Park and Cape Town Stadium on the flat land toward Mouille Point. Old stormwater drains run downhill toward the coast, giving rats and big drain roaches a network under the streets.
Signs to look for
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
A note from the field
Foggers and bug bombs feel like they should work, but cockroaches simply retreat into walls and neighbouring units until the fog settles. They often come back in bigger numbers.
What happens when we come out
Gel bait is the backbone of most cockroach treatments. It is placed in tiny spots inside hinges, cracks and appliance housings where cockroaches feed, and because they feed on each other's droppings, the bait passes through the population. We add an insect growth regulator for German cockroaches so the young cannot mature and breed. For American cockroaches, we treat floor drains, manholes and entry points with a residual product, and use dusts in wall voids and ceiling spaces. We avoid broad spraying of open surfaces because it is less effective and adds unnecessary chemicals to your home.
- Identify the cockroach
German or American makes a big difference to where we treat. A WhatsApp photo is usually enough to tell.
- Inspect harbourage
We check hinges, behind and under appliances, motor compartments, drains, and electrical points with a torch.
- Map the infestation
We note which rooms or units are affected, and whether neighbouring flats or shared drains are involved.
- Bait and growth regulator
Gel bait goes into feeding spots, and a growth regulator breaks the breeding cycle.
- Drains and voids
Floor drains, manholes and wall voids are treated to stop American cockroaches getting in.
- Follow-up and report
German cockroach jobs usually need a follow-up visit to catch hatching nymphs, and you get a report with proofing advice.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Seal gaps where pipes and cables pass through walls under sinks and behind appliances.
- Never leave dirty dishes or pots in the sink overnight.
- Check cardboard boxes, second-hand appliances and furniture before bringing them indoors.
- Keep floor drains covered and run water down little-used drains weekly so the traps stay full.
- Clean behind and under the stove and fridge every few months, since grease build-up there feeds a lot of cockroaches.
How much will it cost?
Price depends largely on the species and how big the population is, with German cockroaches in a well-established kitchen taking more time and usually a follow-up visit. The size of the home or business, the number of units involved and the amount of equipment and cupboards to treat all affect the quote. Restaurants and food businesses often go onto a regular contract, which tends to work out better value than repeated once-off treatments, and the quote is free.
American cockroaches are most active in the hot summer months, when they come up from warm drains and sewers at night. German cockroaches breed all year round because they live indoors near stoves, fridges and geysers. Heavy winter rain can flood drains and push cockroaches into homes in large numbers.
Cockroach Control questions from Green Point
Why do big cockroaches come up in my ground-floor Green Point flat?
They're American cockroaches from the old drains. A drain treatment and keeping floor traps full of water stops most of them.
Do cockroaches fly in Cape Town?
American cockroaches can fly or glide short distances, mostly on hot, humid nights. German cockroaches have wings but rarely fly.
Why am I seeing more cockroaches after the treatment?
For a few days, cockroaches affected by the bait often come out into the open before they die. This is normal, and numbers should drop clearly within one to two weeks.
How did I get German cockroaches in a clean house?
They usually hitch a ride in grocery boxes, appliances, furniture or bags, or move in from a neighbouring unit. Cleanliness helps control them, but it does not stop them from arriving.
How many treatments will I need?
American cockroaches often need just one. German cockroaches usually need a second visit a few weeks later to deal with nymphs hatching from protected egg cases.
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
For gel bait treatments, no. If residual products are used in certain areas, we will tell you how long to keep children and pets away, usually just until it has dried.
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