Simon's Town is a historic naval town on False Bay, with steep streets climbing the mountain behind St George's Street. Old buildings, the sea air and the mountain on the doorstep make for a very particular set of pest problems.
The local picture in Simon's Town
Flies gather around restaurant bins and the harbour, and wasps nest in sheltered eaves on the hillside.
The town sits between False Bay and the mountains of Table Mountain National Park, with Boulders and its penguin colony on the southern side. Winters are wet and windy, and the South-Easter blows hard in summer.
What gives them away
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.
Worth knowing
House flies prefer to rest on edges and corners, like window frames and the edge of a ceiling board. That is exactly where a residual treatment does its best work.
Our process, step by step
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
- 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.
- Double-bag meat scraps and bones and put them out on collection day rather than leaving them in the bin all week.
- Fit screens or fly curtains on doors that stay open, especially the kitchen back door.
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 Simon's Town
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.
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.
Can you treat old heritage buildings in Simon's Town without damaging them?
Yes, we choose methods that don't harm old timber, plaster or stonework, and we focus on proofing gaps carefully. We'll talk you through the plan before starting.
Do you come out to Simon's Town for fly control?
Yes. Simon's Town is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Glencairn, Fish Hoek, Scarborough. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
