Upper Woodstock is the old residential heart of Woodstock, climbing from Victoria Road towards Devil's Peak. Rows of Victorian cottages, many lovingly restored, sit shoulder to shoulder, and their age and closeness explain most of what we find here.
The local picture in Upper Woodstock
American cockroaches climb up from the old drains, and fishmoths feed on paper and fabric in damp cupboards. Argentine ants come in from the small back yards.
Terraced and semi-detached Victorian cottages with pressed-steel ceilings, timber floors and narrow back yards are the norm. Shared walls and connected roof spaces let rats and mice move freely from one house to the next. Renovations sometimes open up old gaps that let pests in.
Rats and mice are top of the list because of the old drains and shared roofs. Cockroaches and fishmoths enjoy the damp, and wood borer in floorboards and roof timbers is a common find. Pigeons roost on the older rooflines.
Worth knowing
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.
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.
What gives them away
- Yellowish stains or tiny pepper-like droppings are left on paper and shelves.
- 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.
- Irregular grazed patches or small holes appear on book covers, wallpaper or photographs.
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.
What happens when we come out
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
- Fix leaks under basins, around geysers and in the roof, since fishmoths need moisture.
- 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.
- Store books, documents and photographs in sealed plastic boxes, not cardboard, especially in garages and storerooms.
- Avoid stacking old newspapers, magazines and cardboard boxes in cupboards for long periods.
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.
Moving books into sealed boxes and running a dehumidifier will help more than any spray from the shop. DIY sprays rarely reach the roof space or wall voids where the main population lives. If you are seeing them in several rooms or dropping from the ceiling, get the roof space treated professionally.
Questions we get asked in Upper Woodstock
Do you come out to Upper Woodstock for fishmoth control?
Yes. Upper Woodstock is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Woodstock, Walmer Estate, University Estate, Salt River. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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 restored Victorian floors in Upper Woodstock need borer treatment?
Not always, but older pine is prone to common furniture beetle. If you see small round holes or fine powder, it is worth having it inspected.
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.
Why do rats keep returning to my Upper Woodstock cottage?
In terraced rows, rats move through shared roof spaces and old drains. A joint treatment with neighbours, plus sealing the gaps in your roof and floor, gives lasting results.
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