Tamboerskloof climbs steeply up the slopes of Lion's Head and Signal Hill above Kloof Street.
Crawling insects around Tamboerskloof
American cockroaches come up through old drainage, and German roaches are a restaurant kitchen problem. Fishmoths thrive in damp bookshelves and built-in cupboards.
Victorian and Edwardian homes with wooden floors, sash windows and pressed-ceiling interiors sit beside newer apartment blocks and converted guest houses. Kloof Street's restaurants and shops add a busy commercial layer at the bottom of the suburb.
Signal Hill and Lion's Head are part of the Table Mountain National Park, and the greenbelt reaches right to the top streets. Winter rain runs down the slope and keeps old basements and retaining walls damp.
Cockroaches, fishmoths and pigeons fill most of the rest of the calendar.
Worth knowing
For homes with toddlers and pets, crawling insect work is one of the easier jobs to do safely, because the products go into cracks, hinges and voids that little hands cannot reach.
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.
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Cockroaches move between drains, bins and food surfaces and can spread bacteria that cause stomach upsets. Their droppings and shed skins are a recognised trigger for allergies and asthma. Fishmoths damage paper, documents, photographs and starched fabrics, which matters a lot in offices, schools and archives. In food premises, a crawling insect sighting by a customer or an inspector can do lasting damage to a business's reputation.
How we handle crawling insect control in Tamboerskloof
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.
- Confirm the species
German and American cockroaches need different treatments, and so do different ants. A WhatsApp photo often lets us plan before we arrive.
- Inspect hiding places
We check behind appliances, under sinks, in drains, along skirtings and in the roof space where crawling insects shelter.
- Map the spread
We note which rooms and units are affected so the treatment covers the whole problem area.
- Bait, dust and barrier
Baits go where the insects feed, dusts into voids, and a residual barrier at entry points.
- Report and follow-up
You receive a post-treatment report with proofing advice, and we book a follow-up where the species needs one.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Move firewood, compost and piles of bricks away from the house walls.
- 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.
- Seal gaps under exterior doors with a brush strip, because most crawling insects simply walk in.
- 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.
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
Is the treatment safe around food?
We use gel baits and targeted applications in cracks rather than spraying food areas. Food should be covered or put away during treatment, and we will explain what to wipe down afterwards.
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.
Why do ants keep coming back after I spray them?
Spraying kills the foragers but leaves the queen and the nest untouched. Baits work better because the workers carry the product back and share it with the colony.
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.
Do you come out to Tamboerskloof for crawling insect control?
Yes. Tamboerskloof is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Gardens, Higgovale, Bo-Kaap, Schotsche Kloof. 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.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
