Higgovale sits high on the slopes below Table Mountain and Lion's Head, with Kloof Nek just above. The houses are big and often right up against the mountain, so we deal with as many visitors from the slopes as we do from the street.
Flying insects around Higgovale
European paper wasps build nests under decks, eaves and outdoor furniture from spring. Mosquitoes breed in pool covers and water features if left standing.
Higgovale backs onto Table Mountain National Park, with fynbos, pine and gum trees above and the Kloof Nek area close by. Winter rain runs down the slopes, and the mountain stays damp and cool for longer than the City Bowl below. The mountain edge brings scorpions, spiders, field mice and the occasional dassie or snake into gardens.
Rats and mice from the mountain slopes, especially in winter, are the main complaint. Scorpions, rain spiders and crickets are common in garden-level rooms. Wasps nest under decks and eaves in summer.
A note from the field
Buzzing bug zappers in a kitchen can do more harm than good, because they can scatter insect fragments around. Glue board light traps are the better choice anywhere near food.
Tell-tale signs
- Small flies hover over the fruit bowl, the recycling bin or the drip tray under a bar tap.
- Flies keep gathering around the same window, light or rubbish area even after you have cleaned and sprayed.
- A sudden swarm of large blowflies appears indoors, which often points to something dead in the roof or wall.
- Tiny moth-like flies sit on bathroom walls near the shower or basin drain.
What happens when we come out
We start by identifying the insect properly, because a drain fly needs a completely different fix from a house fly or a mosquito. Breeding sites come first: drains are cleaned out and treated with a larvicide or bio-enzyme product, standing water is tipped or treated, and waste areas are sorted out. Only then do we use residual sprays on resting surfaces such as window frames and wall tops, fly bait stations away from food, and ULV fogging where a large space needs a quick knockdown. In commercial kitchens and food stores we install insect light traps with glue boards so there is constant monitoring between visits. Wasp nests are treated with a dust or spray directly into the nest and removed once the colony is dead.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our flying insect control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Tip out pot plant saucers, birdbaths and anything else that holds water for more than a few days.
- Keep wheelie bins closed, rinse them out in summer, and park them away from the kitchen door.
- Check eaves, carports and garden furniture in early spring for small paper wasp nests while they are still easy to deal with.
- Pour boiling water down slow drains weekly and scrub the inside of the drain pipe with a brush, since that slime is where drain flies breed.
- Store flour, cereal and pet food in sealed containers so pantry moths have nothing to breed in.
What affects the price
The price depends on which insect we are treating, because a single wasp nest is a very different job from a fly problem in a large food factory. The size of the property, how many breeding sites there are and how hard they are to get at, such as roof voids or sealed drains, all affect the time on site. Commercial sites with light traps and scheduled visits are usually best quoted as a contract, and we give free quotes once we know what is flying.
Flying insects peak from about October to March, when hot weather speeds up breeding and a fly can go from egg to adult in around a week. The south-easter keeps numbers down on the exposed side of the city but pushes flies indoors in sheltered suburbs, and mosquitoes often surge after the last winter rains leave water lying around. Wasps build their nests in spring and are at their most defensive in late summer when colonies are biggest.
Frequently asked questions
Can you treat a whole business, not just a house?
Yes. Restaurants, food factories, warehouses and offices usually go onto a contract with scheduled visits, monitoring and a report for each service.
Why do I still have flies after spraying?
Because spray only kills the adults that are flying at the time. New ones keep hatching from the breeding site, so until that is found and dealt with, the flies keep coming back.
Are the scorpions in Higgovale dangerous?
Most of the ones found in mountain-side gardens have big pincers and thin tails, and their sting is painful rather than dangerous, but anyone stung should still get medical advice. We can treat the perimeter and lower rooms to reduce how many come inside.
Is fogging safe for my pets and children?
Fogging is only used where it is needed, and people and pets stay out until the product has settled and the room has been aired. We tell you exactly how long to wait before we start.
Do you come out to Higgovale for flying insect control?
Yes. Higgovale is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Gardens, Camps Bay. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do mice come down from Table Mountain into Higgovale homes?
Yes, especially in the cold, wet months. We look for entry points along the slope side of the house, garage doors and roof edges, then set up bait and seal the gaps.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254