Oranjezicht climbs right up to the edge of Table Mountain, so a lot of what comes into homes here walks in off the mountain. Rats, squirrels, wasps and the odd scorpion are all part of living this close to the national park.
Oranjezicht: what drives crawling insects here
Fishmoths do well in damp older homes, and ants come in during hot summers. Scorpions and rain spiders appear in homes closest to the mountain.
Grand Victorian and Edwardian houses with wooden floors, pressed ceilings and old roof timbers sit beside modern glass-fronted homes and small apartment blocks. Many of the older homes have cellars, servant's quarters and large gardens with retaining walls. Gaps in old stonework and roof flashings are where rodents tend to get in. Apartment blocks add shared bin areas and ducts.
How to tell you have a problem
- Silvery, fast-moving insects are seen when you lift boxes, books or linen.
- Irregular grazed patches or small holes appear on book covers, wallpaper or photographs.
- Fishmoths drop from the ceiling or come out of light fittings and cornices, a sign they are living in the roof space.
- Clothing, curtains or linen made from cotton, linen or silk have small holes or thinned patches.
- Yellowish stains or tiny pepper-like droppings are left on paper and shelves.
- Wallpaper is lifting or damaged along the edges where the glue has been eaten.
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.
Something most people miss
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.
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.
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Fix leaks under basins, around geysers and in the roof, since fishmoths need moisture.
- Store books, documents and photographs in sealed plastic boxes, not cardboard, especially in garages and storerooms.
- Improve ventilation in bathrooms and laundries with an extractor fan or by keeping a window open after showers.
- Avoid stacking old newspapers, magazines and cardboard boxes in cupboards for long periods.
- Vacuum regularly inside cupboards, along skirting boards and behind furniture to remove eggs and food sources.
Pricing, honestly
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 Oranjezicht houses need wood borer checks?
Older homes with original timber often do, especially before a sale. We inspect roof timbers and floors and report any active borer.
Do you come out to Oranjezicht for fishmoth control?
Yes. Oranjezicht is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Gardens, Vredehoek, Tamboerskloof, Higgovale. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why do rats keep coming into my Oranjezicht roof?
Because your property is close to the mountain and greenbelts, which gives them easy access. Sealing gaps in roof flashings and cutting back trees near the roof keeps them out longer.
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 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.
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.
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