The Bo-Kaap climbs up the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre, with brightly painted houses, cobbled streets and the oldest mosque in South Africa on Dorp Street. Homes here are packed close together and often very old, so pests like rats, cockroaches and pigeons move easily from one roof to the next.
Crawling insects in Bo-Kaap: what we see
Fishmoths are a classic Bo-Kaap complaint because the thick old walls hold damp through winter. German cockroaches thrive in older kitchens and in the cafés and guest houses that have opened in recent years.
Most homes are flat-roofed terraced houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, many with thick walls, old timber beams and small backyards. Flat roofs and parapet walls give pigeons places to roost and nest. Shared walls and old drainage pipes let cockroaches and rodents travel between neighbours.
The suburb sits on the lower slopes of Signal Hill, with steep streets that catch the full force of the South-Easter as it comes off Table Mountain. Winter rain runs down the hill and can soak old walls, encouraging fishmoths and damp-loving insects. The city centre below provides food and shelter for rodents.
Rats from the CBD and old drains are a major issue. German cockroaches are common in older kitchens and in the growing number of guest houses and cafés. Pigeons on flat roofs and fishmoths in damp walls are frequent complaints.
How to tell you have a problem
- Silvery, fast-moving insects are seen when you lift boxes, books or linen.
- Wallpaper is lifting or damaged along the edges where the glue has been eaten.
- Shed scales and skins collect in drawers, cupboards and bathroom corners.
- Yellowish stains or tiny pepper-like droppings are left on paper and shelves.
- Irregular grazed patches or small holes appear on book covers, wallpaper or photographs.
Worth knowing
Fishmoths are harmless to children and pets, which means you can take your time and choose a gentle, targeted treatment rather than anything heavy-handed.
A frequent mistake is spraying the cupboard and leaving everything else as it was. If the cardboard boxes and damp corners stay, the fishmoths will be back within a few months.
How we handle fishmoth control in Bo-Kaap
Fishmoths often live in roof spaces, wall voids and behind cornices, so a fine insecticidal dust blown into the ceiling void is one of our most effective tools. Inside, we apply a targeted residual treatment into cracks, cupboard corners, skirting gaps and behind bookshelves rather than spraying open surfaces. Fishmoths are long-lived and lay eggs in hidden cracks, so treatments that keep working for a while are more useful than a quick knockdown. We pair the treatment with advice on damp, ventilation and storage, because changing the conditions is what stops them coming back.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our fishmoth control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Seal cracks around skirting boards, cornices and built-in cupboards where they hide and lay eggs.
- Improve ventilation in bathrooms and laundries with an extractor fan or by keeping a window open after showers.
- Vacuum regularly inside cupboards, along skirting boards and behind furniture to remove eggs and food sources.
- Fix leaks under basins, around geysers and in the roof, since fishmoths need moisture.
- Avoid stacking old newspapers, magazines and cardboard boxes in cupboards for long periods.
What affects the price
The price depends on the size of the property, how many rooms and cupboards are affected, and whether the roof space needs to be treated. Easy access to the ceiling void keeps the job simpler, while a home with lots of built-in cupboards and shelves takes more time. Offices, archives and storerooms with large amounts of paper are quoted separately, and every quote is free.
Fishmoths are active all year because they live indoors, but Cape Town's damp winters make them more noticeable as moisture rises in roofs, walls and cupboards. Grey silverfish in the roof space may become more visible in summer when the ceiling heats up and pushes them down into the rooms below.
Questions we get asked in Bo-Kaap
Why are fishmoths falling from my ceiling?
That usually means there is a population in the roof space. Treating the ceiling void with a dust is the most effective way to deal with it.
How long does a fishmoth treatment last?
Our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee. Fixing damp and changing storage habits makes the result last much longer.
Are Bo-Kaap's old houses more prone to wood borer?
They can be, because many still have original timber beams and floors. A proper inspection will show whether the beetles are active and what treatment is safe for heritage timber.
Are fishmoths and silverfish the same thing?
Yes. Fishmoth is the common South African name for silverfish, and it covers a few related species, including the grey silverfish common in Cape Town.
Do you come out to Bo-Kaap for fishmoth control?
Yes. Bo-Kaap is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Malay Quarter, Schotsche Kloof, De Waterkant, City Bowl. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why do pigeons like Bo-Kaap flat roofs so much?
The parapet walls and flat roofs give them sheltered ledges to roost and nest. Netting or spikes on parapets, plus clearing nests, usually move them on.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254