Newlands sits on the wet side of Table Mountain under big oaks and pines, and that moisture drives a lot of what we see here. Squirrels in roofs, fishmoths in cupboards and borer in old timber are bread and butter for us in this suburb.
Newlands: what drives crawling insects here
Fishmoths, silverfish and woodlice thrive in shaded, damp houses. Ants trail inside after rain, and rain spiders wander in during summer.
There is a real mix: large older homes on generous plots, Newlands Village cottages, newer cluster homes and apartment blocks closer to Main Road and the sports grounds. Many of the older houses have timber floors, wooden ceilings and roof spaces that stay cool and damp. Leafy gardens and big trees overhang roofs, giving squirrels and rats a direct route in. Some homes have thatch outbuildings or pergolas.
Newlands is one of the wettest suburbs in Cape Town, with Newlands Forest and the Table Mountain National Park slopes right above it and the Liesbeek running through. Winter rain is heavy and long, and many properties stay shaded and damp for months. Mountain streams and forest edges bring wildlife close to gardens.
Grey squirrels and rats in roofs are the top complaint, especially in autumn and winter. Fishmoths, booklice and clothes moths love the damp. Wood borer in old timbers and wasps in summer complete the picture.
Signs to look for
- Ant trails run from a crack in the floor or wall to the dog bowl, sugar bowl or dishwasher.
- Brown oval egg cases are tucked into hinges, under drawers or behind the stove.
- Cockroaches dart away when you switch on the kitchen or bathroom light at night.
- There is a faint musty, oily smell in a cupboard that has not been opened for a while.
- Crickets chirp loudly from inside the house at night but go quiet when you get close.
- Dead insects collect on window sills, in light fittings or along the bottom of the garage door.
Worth knowing
Fishmoths are often a sign of damp more than dirt. If you keep finding them in the same bathroom or cupboard, it is worth checking for a slow leak or poor ventilation.
What happens when we come out
Crawling insects walk through treated areas and carry baits back to their nests, which is exactly why baits and dusts work so well on them. We use gel baits in cracks and hinges for cockroaches and slow-acting ant baits that the workers take home to the queen. Insect growth regulators stop young cockroaches from maturing and breeding, which matters for German cockroaches that multiply fast. Residual sprays are applied as a barrier along entry points, door thresholds and drain areas rather than across open floors. Dusts go into wall voids, ceiling spaces and plug points where liquids should not be used.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our crawling insect control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Store books and documents in sealed plastic boxes in dry rooms rather than in damp garages.
- Move firewood, compost and piles of bricks away from the house walls.
- Put drain covers or mesh over floor drains and keep the water traps full, especially in guest bathrooms that are seldom used.
- Seal gaps under exterior doors with a brush strip, because most crawling insects simply walk in.
- Check second-hand furniture, appliances and cardboard boxes before bringing them inside, as German cockroaches often move house this way.
How much will it cost?
Cost is driven by the species and how established the infestation is, with German cockroaches in a busy kitchen usually needing more work than a one-off ant trail. The size of the property, the number of units or rooms affected, and access to roof spaces and drains also matter. Where a follow-up treatment is needed to catch hatching insects, or where a business wants a regular service contract, we build that into a free quote upfront.
Shop-bought ant baits can handle a small, new trail and are worth a try. For cockroaches, especially German cockroaches, DIY sprays usually make things worse by scattering them and killing only the adults while the egg cases hatch. In flats and food businesses, I would not bother with DIY at all.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come out to Newlands for crawling insect control?
Yes. Newlands is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Claremont, Rondebosch, Bishopscourt, Harfield Village. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do I need to empty my kitchen cupboards?
For a cockroach treatment, it helps to clear the cupboards under the sink and around the stove so the technician can reach the cracks. We will tell you exactly what to move when you book.
How do I get squirrels out of my Newlands roof?
We find the entry points, make sure the squirrels are out, and then seal the gaps with mesh so they cannot return. Trimming nearby branches is part of keeping them out.
Can crawling insects come from my neighbour?
Yes, particularly in flats, townhouses and semi-detached homes that share walls, drains and roof spaces. Treating several units together gives much better results.
Will one treatment get rid of cockroaches?
For American cockroaches it often will. German cockroaches usually need a follow-up because their egg cases are protected and hatch after the first treatment.
Why are fishmoths so bad in Newlands houses?
Newlands is one of Cape Town's wettest suburbs, and fishmoths feed on starch and thrive in damp, shaded rooms. Reducing humidity and treating cupboards and skirtings brings them under control.
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