Rondebosch is old Cape Town: oak trees, Victorian houses, big schools and the UCT campus spilling down the slope toward Main Road.
Crawling insects around Rondebosch
German cockroaches spread quickly in student houses with shared kitchens. Fishmoths like the old built-in cupboards, and Argentine ants trail in during dry spells.
There's a real mix. Victorian and Edwardian homes with timber floors and pressed-ceiling roofs sit next to student digs, blocks of flats and large school and university buildings. Old houses split into rental rooms mean lots of people sharing kitchens, which is where cockroaches thrive.
The Liesbeek River runs through Rondebosch and Rondebosch Common is a large open space in the middle of the suburb. Table Mountain's eastern slopes and the forests above Newlands bring heavy winter rain and a lot of tree cover.
Something most people miss
In blocks of flats, body corporates get far better value from a scheduled treatment of all units and shared drains than from individual owners treating one flat at a time.
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Our process, step by step
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
- Move firewood, compost and piles of bricks away from the house walls.
- Seal gaps under exterior doors with a brush strip, because most crawling insects simply walk in.
- Do not leave dishes in the sink overnight, since a wet sink is a feeding station for cockroaches.
- Check second-hand furniture, appliances and cardboard boxes before bringing them inside, as German cockroaches often move house this way.
- Put drain covers or mesh over floor drains and keep the water traps full, especially in guest bathrooms that are seldom used.
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.
The first heavy rains in late autumn and winter push ants, cockroaches, crickets and millipedes indoors in large numbers. Summer heat brings American cockroaches out of drains and sends ants foraging hard for water. German cockroaches and fishmoths do not care much about the season because they live inside heated buildings all year.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
What counts as a crawling insect?
Anything that mainly walks rather than flies: cockroaches, ants, fishmoths, crickets, earwigs, millipedes and scorpions. They hide in cracks and voids, which is why they are treated with baits, dusts and barriers.
Can you treat a student house in Rondebosch during the holidays?
Yes, holidays are the best time because rooms are empty and can be treated properly. Weekend and after-hours visits can also be arranged on request.
Do you come out to Rondebosch for crawling insect control?
Yes. Rondebosch is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Newlands, Rosebank, Claremont, Rondebosch East. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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