Plumstead is a settled, leafy suburb with long-standing families, a lot of oak and jacaranda shade and older homes that have been added onto over the years. That patchwork of old and new building is what keeps us busy here.
The local picture in Plumstead
Wasps nest in eaves and garden sheds through summer, and fruit flies build up around Main Road food outlets.
Plumstead sits below the Constantiaberg on the wetter side of the peninsula, so winters are properly damp.
You'll find solid brick semis, 1940s and 1950s bungalows with suspended wooden floors, and blocks of flats closer to Main Road. Many houses have extensions, outside rooms and converted garages, and the joins between old and new are classic entry points.
From the technician
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.
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.
How to tell you have a problem
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
What happens when we come out
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our fly control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Double-bag meat scraps and bones and put them out on collection day rather than leaving them in the bin all week.
- 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.
- Rinse and disinfect wheelie bins regularly in summer and keep the lids shut, since a closed bin breeds far fewer flies.
- Keep ripe fruit in the fridge in hot weather and wipe up spilt wine, beer and cooldrink straight away.
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.
Questions we get asked in Plumstead
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.
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 come out to Plumstead for fly control?
Yes. Plumstead is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Wynberg, Diep River, Southfield, Heathfield. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Will fly spray fix the problem?
No. It kills the adults you hit, but new flies keep hatching. Removing and treating the breeding site is what makes the difference.
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.
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