Sun Valley is a family suburb tucked in the valley between Fish Hoek and Noordhoek, with mountains close on both sides. Homes back onto fynbos, green belts and wetland, so a lot of the pests we see here walk in from the bush rather than from neighbours.
The local picture in Sun Valley
Crickets, garden spiders and rain spiders are frequent visitors, and scorpions turn up under rocks and stacked wood. Argentine ants trail indoors as soon as the weather turns.
The area is mostly freestanding homes from the eighties and nineties, plus newer townhouse complexes and a few security estates. Plenty of houses have big gardens, pool pumps, wooden decks and garden sheds, all of which give rodents and spiders somewhere to hide. Some homes have timber ceilings and exposed beams that need watching for borer.
The Silvermine side of the Table Mountain National Park is right above the suburb, and the low ground towards Noordhoek and the Fish Hoek valley holds water in winter. That mix of mountain fynbos and wet valley floor brings rodents and plenty of crawling insects right to the back fence. The valley also gets cooler, damp nights that suit fishmoths and mould.
Rats and field mice moving in from the green belts are a steady issue, especially once the winter rains start. Ants, crickets, spiders and the odd scorpion are common in garden-heavy properties. Mosquitoes are worse near the wetland edge, and timber pests matter in homes with wooden decks and ceilings.
A note from the field
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.
Many people think fishmoths only eat paper. They also go after the glue in wallpaper and book bindings, starch in fabrics, and even dried food crumbs and dead insects in cupboards.
How to tell you have a problem
- Silvery, fast-moving insects are seen when you lift boxes, books or linen.
- 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.
- Wallpaper is lifting or damaged along the edges where the glue has been eaten.
- Fishmoths drop from the ceiling or come out of light fittings and cornices, a sign they are living in the roof space.
How we handle fishmoth control in Sun Valley
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.
Prevention that actually works
- 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.
- Store books, documents and photographs in sealed plastic boxes, not cardboard, especially in garages and storerooms.
- Seal cracks around skirting boards, cornices and built-in cupboards where they hide and lay eggs.
- Vacuum regularly inside cupboards, along skirting boards and behind furniture to remove eggs and food sources.
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.
Questions we get asked in Sun Valley
Do you come out to Sun Valley for fishmoth control?
Yes. Sun Valley is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Sunnydale, Fish Hoek, Noordhoek, Masiphumelele. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do the rats in Sun Valley come from the mountain or from neighbours?
Mostly from the green belts and wetland edges, especially after the first winter rains. Sealing roof and garage gaps on the bush-facing side of your home makes the biggest difference.
Are scorpions in Sun Valley dangerous?
Most scorpions found here are mild, but some thick-tailed species can give a painful sting, so treat any sting with caution and get medical advice if symptoms are severe. We can reduce numbers around your home by clearing harbourage and treating hiding spots.
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 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.
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.
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