Ask a Capetonian about the Southern Suburbs and they will picture oak-lined avenues, the mountain looming over Newlands and the rain that rolls in off it in winter.
Fishmoth Control by suburb
We cover all 29 suburbs on our Southern Suburbs route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard 26 areas
Southern Suburbs 29 areas
South Peninsula 17 areas
Northern Suburbs 16 areas
Blaauwberg & West Coast 10 areas
Cape Flats 24 areas
Fishmoths in damp Southern Suburbs homes
With Newlands and the upper Southern Suburbs among the wettest parts of Cape Town, fishmoths are a constant presence in older homes. They live in damp built-in cupboards, behind skirting boards and in bookshelves, and they eat paper, book bindings, photos and wallpaper paste. Clothes moths damage wool, rugs and stored clothes, especially in rooms that are rarely aired in winter.
We treat cupboards, cracks and bookshelves with a residual product and dust, and point out damp spots and poor ventilation that keep them coming back. Moisture absorbers in cupboards over winter help a lot.
This side of Table Mountain catches far more rain than the rest of the city, and Newlands is among the wettest suburbs in Cape Town. Kirstenbosch, Newlands Forest and the mountain slopes border the upper edge, while the Liesbeek River winds through Newlands and Rondebosch toward the Black River. Winter damp encourages fishmoths and borer, and the canopy of oaks and pines keeps grey squirrels well supplied.
Argentine ants surge indoors when it gets hot and dry, and fishmoths love the damp.
Something most people miss
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.
Fishmoths can live for several years and can survive months without food. That is why a single wipe-down does not work and why treatments that keep working in cracks are so useful.
Signs to look for
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: 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.
How the treatment works
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- 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.
- 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.
- Store books, documents and photographs in sealed plastic boxes, not cardboard, especially in garages and storerooms.
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.
Fishmoth Control questions from Southern Suburbs
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.
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.
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.
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 fishmoths bite?
No, they do not bite people or pets and do not carry disease. The problem is the damage they do to paper, books, photographs and fabrics.
Why are fishmoths worse in winter in the Southern Suburbs?
The heavy winter rain keeps old cupboards and walls damp, which fishmoths love. Treatment and keeping cupboards dry stop them.
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