Add the restaurants on Kloof Street, old Victorian semis and a lot of flats, and you get a busy mix of pest work.
Flying insects in Gardens: what we see
Fruit flies and drain flies are restaurant issues, and paper wasps nest under the eaves of older homes.
Gardens lies on the lower slopes below Table Mountain, between the city centre and Kloof Nek. Winter rain runs down from the mountain, and in summer the South-Easter tumbles down off the mountain into the streets.
Victorian and Edwardian semis with corrugated iron roofs, broekie lace stoeps and wooden floors sit alongside blocks of flats and modern apartments. Restaurants, coffee shops and bars along Kloof Street sit below residential flats. Many homes are rentals with frequent turnover.
Something most people miss
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.
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
How we handle fly control in Gardens
Fly control works from the ground up, so we start with sanitation: bins, compost, drains, grease traps, animal waste and anything else they can breed in. Drains and grease traps are scrubbed and treated with a bio-enzyme or larvicide that breaks down the breeding film, and we treat larvae where they are found. For adult flies we use bait stations or bait paint away from food areas and a residual spray on the surfaces where flies rest, such as window frames, walls near bins and outside walls by doors. Commercial kitchens and food plants get insect light traps with glue boards, placed where they catch flies without drawing them towards open food. ULV fogging is kept for large spaces that need a fast knockdown, never as the only treatment.
- Identify the fly
House flies, fruit flies and drain flies breed in totally different places, so we confirm which one it is first, often from a WhatsApp photo.
- Trace the source
We check bins, drains, grease traps, compost, pet areas and the roof space until we find where the larvae are developing.
- Clean up and treat breeding sites
Breeding material is removed and drains or waste areas are treated so the next generation does not hatch.
- Knock down the adults
Baits and residual treatments go on resting surfaces, with fogging only where the space and the numbers justify it.
- Install monitoring
Light traps or glue boards go in where needed so you, and we, can see whether numbers are dropping.
- Report and recommendations
You get a written report with practical fixes such as screens, door closers, bin washing and drain maintenance.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Pick up dog mess daily, because it is one of the most common fly breeding sites in Cape Town gardens.
- 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.
- Rinse and disinfect wheelie bins regularly in summer and keep the lids shut, since a closed bin breeds far fewer flies.
- Clean floor drains and grease traps on a schedule, not only when they smell.
How much will it cost?
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.
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.
Fly Control questions from Gardens
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.
Where are all these flies coming from?
Usually from something close by: a bin, compost heap, pet waste, a drain or a dead animal in the roof. Flies rarely travel far when they have somewhere good to breed.
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.
Do you come out to Gardens for fly control?
Yes. Gardens is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Vredehoek, Higgovale. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why are there suddenly loads of big flies in one room?
That is almost always blowflies hatching from a dead rat, mouse or bird in the ceiling or wall. Once the carcass is found and removed, they stop.
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.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
