Know what you are dealing with
The house fly, Musca domestica, is the one buzzing around the kitchen, and it breeds in rubbish, compost, manure and pet waste. The lesser house fly circles slowly under ceiling lights and is common near poultry and animal enclosures on smallholdings in the Boland. Blowflies, the metallic green and blue ones, breed in meat scraps and carcasses and often point to a dead rodent or bird in the roof. Fruit flies, Drosophila, are drawn to ripe fruit, spilt wine and beer, which is why they are a constant headache in Winelands tasting rooms and bars. Drain flies, also called moth flies, breed in the slime inside drains and grease traps, and stable flies, which bite, show up around horses and livestock.
Myths, mistakes and lesser-known facts
For tenants and landlords, flies often come down to who maintains the drains and the bin area. Sorting that out on paper saves a lot of arguments later.
A fly can carry bacteria from a dog's mess to your sandwich in under a minute. That is the real reason fly control matters, not just the irritation.
In food businesses, light traps are as much about information as killing flies. A quick look at the glue board tells us whether numbers are rising and what kind of fly is getting in.
Warning signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Flies feed and lay eggs on rubbish and faeces, then walk on food and prep surfaces, carrying bacteria that cause stomach illness. House flies also spit and defecate while they feed, which is why fly specks on surfaces matter. In restaurants, butcheries and food factories, a fly problem can fail an inspection and damage a reputation quickly. Stable flies and biting flies stress horses and livestock and can affect animal condition.
Can you do it yourself?
Honestly, a lot of household fly problems can be fixed at home with clean bins, screens and a good drain scrub, and we tell customers that. Fly sprays on their own are a waste of money because they do nothing about the next batch hatching. Get a professional in when you cannot find the source, when there are maggots or a smell in the roof, or when you run a food business and need records for an inspection.
Seasonal pattern
Fly numbers climb from late spring and peak in the hot months between December and March, when a house fly can complete its life cycle in about a week. Windless days after a south-easter has died down tend to bring them indoors in numbers. Drain flies and fruit flies are less seasonal and can be a problem all year in warm kitchens and bars.
Prevention checklist
- Rinse and disinfect wheelie bins regularly in summer and keep the lids shut, since a closed bin breeds far fewer flies.
- Double-bag meat scraps and bones and put them out on collection day rather than leaving them in the bin all week.
- Keep ripe fruit in the fridge in hot weather and wipe up spilt wine, beer and cooldrink straight away.
- Pick up dog mess daily, because it is one of the most common fly breeding sites in Cape Town gardens.
- Clean floor drains and grease traps on a schedule, not only when they smell.
- Fit screens or fly curtains on doors that stay open, especially the kitchen back door.
What affects the price
The cost of fly control depends mainly on how many breeding sites there are and how much work it takes to reach them. A home with a drain fly problem is a short job, while a food factory, abattoir or busy restaurant usually needs light traps, drain treatments and regular visits. Contracts work out better value for businesses that need ongoing monitoring, and we quote for free after a look at the site.
Frequently asked questions
Which areas do you cover for fly control?
All of Cape Town and the Boland: 133 suburbs from Atlantis and Melkbosstrand to Simon's Town, Khayelitsha and Gordon's Bay. We are based in Brackenfell.
Can I deal with flies myself?
Honestly, a lot of household fly problems can be fixed at home with clean bins, screens and a good drain scrub, and we tell customers that. Fly sprays on their own are a waste of money because they do nothing about the next batch hatching. Get a professional in when you cannot find the source, when there are maggots or a smell in the roof, or when you run a food business and need records for an inspection.
How do I get a quote?
Call 021 012 5825 or send us a photo on WhatsApp. Quotes are free and we will tell you what you are dealing with.
Are fly baits safe around pets?
We place baits in stations or on surfaces pets cannot reach, and keep them well away from food areas. Tell us about your pets and we will plan around them.
Do you help restaurants with health inspections?
Yes. We set up light traps, carry out scheduled treatments and give you a post-treatment report for every visit, which is what inspectors want to see.
How do I get rid of fruit flies?
Remove the ripe fruit, clean up spills and check under the fridge and in the recycling. A simple vinegar trap catches the stragglers, and if they persist, a drain is usually involved.