De Waterkant is tiny, steep and packed: painted cottages, cobbled lanes, restaurants and a lot of short-term rentals. Pest work here revolves around kitchens, guest turnover and the old drains under the streets.
Crawling insects around De Waterkant
German cockroaches are the headline problem in restaurants and the flats above them. Ants and fishmoths turn up in older cottages with thick plastered walls.
The core is a cluster of restored old cottages and terraced houses, many now guesthouses or holiday flats, alongside newer apartment blocks and the Cape Quarter shops. Shared walls and linked roof spaces let rodents and cockroaches travel from unit to unit without ever going outside. Conversions often leave hidden voids behind kitchen fittings. Restaurants on the ground floor with flats above are a common setup.
German cockroaches in restaurant kitchens, rats in drains and ceilings and bed bugs in busy rentals are the big ones. Pigeons and gulls on rooftops and terraces round it out.
A note from the field
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.
When a technician deals with fishmoths, the first place they look is up. The roof space is often where the main population lives, out of sight, especially with the grey silverfish common in Cape Town.
Signs to look for
- Irregular grazed patches or small holes appear on book covers, wallpaper or photographs.
- Clothing, curtains or linen made from cotton, linen or silk have small holes or thinned patches.
- 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.
- Yellowish stains or tiny pepper-like droppings are left on paper and shelves.
Fishmoths do not bite or spread disease, but they cause slow, steady damage. They eat the glue in book bindings and wallpaper, the starch in fabrics and paper, and the surface of photographs and documents. For offices, schools, libraries and archives, they can damage records that cannot be replaced. Their presence is also a strong clue to damp or poor ventilation that may be causing other problems in the building.
Our process, step by step
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.
- Confirm and identify
We confirm it is fishmoths and not booklice or another small insect, which need different handling.
- Find where they live
The technician checks the roof space, cupboards, bookshelves, bathrooms and stored boxes for the main population.
- Check for damp
We look for leaks, poor ventilation and damp walls, because fishmoths follow moisture.
- Treat voids and cracks
Dust goes into the roof space and voids, and residual products into cracks, skirtings and cupboard corners.
- Report and remedial advice
You get a post-treatment report covering what we treated and what to change in storage and ventilation.
Prevention that actually works
- Avoid stacking old newspapers, magazines and cardboard boxes in cupboards for long periods.
- Fix leaks under basins, around geysers and in the roof, since fishmoths need moisture.
- 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.
- Seal cracks around skirting boards, cornices and built-in cupboards where they hide and lay eggs.
How much will it cost?
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do fishmoths mean I have damp?
Often, yes. Common silverfish in particular need high humidity, so seeing them regularly in one room is a good reason to check for leaks or poor ventilation.
Do bed bugs spread between units in De Waterkant's terraced houses?
They can, through shared walls, plug points and gaps around pipes. If one unit has them, we recommend inspecting the rooms on either side as well.
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.
Can fishmoths damage clothes?
They can graze cotton, linen, silk and starched fabrics, particularly items stored for long periods in damp cupboards. They are less of a problem on synthetics.
Do you come out to De Waterkant for fishmoth control?
Yes. De Waterkant is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Green Point, Bo-Kaap, Foreshore, Malay Quarter. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why do cockroaches keep appearing in my flat above a restaurant?
German cockroaches move up service ducts and pipe gaps from busy kitchens. Treating your flat helps, but it works best when the restaurant below is treated at the same time.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
