Three Anchor Bay is a tiny pocket of the Atlantic Seaboard between Green Point and Sea Point, with the rocky bay and promenade at its feet. It is mostly apartments, so pest problems tend to be shared ones.
Three Anchor Bay: what drives crawling insects here
German cockroaches breed in the kitchens of older flats and travel through shared ducts. Fishmoths and silverfish like the damp storerooms and basements.
Older apartment blocks from the mid-twentieth century stand next to modern glass buildings and a handful of converted homes. Shared ducts, garbage chutes and basement parking make it easy for cockroaches and rats to move between floors. Ground-floor units and those near the refuse rooms usually see trouble first.
The ocean is right there, so salt air and sea spray corrode vent covers and mesh quickly. Signal Hill rises behind the suburb, and its slopes give rodents a natural starting point. Winter cold fronts come straight off the Atlantic, pushing pests into the warmth of buildings.
What gives them away
- 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.
- Yellowish stains or tiny pepper-like droppings are left on paper and shelves.
- Fishmoths drop from the ceiling or come out of light fittings and cornices, a sign they are living in the roof space.
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.
Worth knowing
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.
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.
- 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.
- Fix leaks under basins, around geysers and in the roof, since fishmoths need moisture.
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 Three Anchor Bay
Do you come out to Three Anchor Bay for fishmoth control?
Yes. Three Anchor Bay is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Sea Point, Green Point, Mouille Point, Fresnaye. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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.
Can you put up pigeon netting on my sea-facing balcony?
Yes, balcony netting is one of our most requested bird proofing jobs on the Atlantic Seaboard. Check with your body corporate first, as some buildings have rules about what can be installed.
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.
Why do cockroaches keep coming back to my Three Anchor Bay flat?
In older blocks, German cockroaches move between units through shared ducts and pipes. Treating only your flat helps, but a whole-building programme through the body corporate gives lasting results.
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