What we deal with
The insects we see most around Cape Town fall into a few groups. Crawling pests include the Argentine ant, German and American cockroaches, fishmoths and the odd cricket that sneaks in during autumn. Biting insects are mostly cat fleas, bed bugs and Culex mosquitoes breeding in standing water after the winter rains. Flying nuisances include the house fly, blowflies and the invasive European paper wasp, Polistes dominula, which has spread across the Western Cape and builds nests under eaves and in gutters. In kitchens and pantries the culprits are usually rice and maize weevils or the Indian meal moth, while clothes moths go after wool and natural fibres in cupboards.
Signs to look for
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: Cockroaches and flies pick up bacteria from drains, bins and pet waste and carry them straight onto food preparation surfaces. Cockroach droppings and shed skins are a known trigger for asthma and allergies, especially in children. Pantry insects can ruin bulk stores of flour, rice and pet food, and fishmoths quietly damage books, documents and photographs. For food businesses, a visible insect problem can mean failed health inspections and complaints that are hard to recover from.
How we treat it
We start with the least-toxic option that will actually work, which often means gel baits and bait stations for ants and cockroaches rather than blanket spraying. Insect growth regulators are useful where we need to break a breeding cycle, for example with fleas or a stubborn cockroach population. Residual sprays go into specific cracks, voids and entry points, not across open floors where children and pets walk. Dusts are used in wall voids, roof spaces and electrical areas where liquids are not safe. We use eco-friendly and odourless products wherever we can, and every job ends with a post-treatment report.
- Identify the insect
Send us a photo on WhatsApp and we will tell you what it is. Correct identification changes the whole treatment plan.
- Find the source
The technician looks for the nest, breeding site or entry point, not just where you saw the insects. That might be a drain, a cracked tile, a roof void or a pot plant.
- Map the infestation
We check how far it has spread through the property so nothing is left untreated in the next room.
- Targeted treatment
Baits, growth regulators, residual sprays or dusts are placed exactly where the insects live and travel.
- Remedial recommendations
You get a written report with what we found, what we used and the small changes that will keep the problem from returning.
Things most people don't know
A common myth is that a clean house cannot get insects. Cleanliness helps, but ants follow moisture as much as food, and a spotless kitchen with a slow leak under the sink can still have a busy trail.
The first thing a good technician does is not reach for a sprayer. They look at where the insects are travelling, check the wet areas, and ask when you first noticed them, because that story usually points to the source.
People often buy a fogger bomb and set it off in the kitchen. It tends to push cockroaches and ants deeper into wall voids and neighbouring rooms, which makes a proper treatment harder later.
When it peaks in Cape Town
Cape Town's insect calendar is fairly predictable. Ants, flies and wasps build up from spring and peak in the hot, dry summer months, while the first big winter rains push ants, cockroaches and crickets indoors looking for dry shelter. Fishmoths and pantry pests are year-round problems because they live inside where the temperature stays stable.
DIY or call a professional?
For a handful of ants on the kitchen counter, a supermarket bait is honestly fine. Where DIY goes wrong is with cockroaches, fleas and anything that keeps coming back, because aerosol sprays kill what you can see and scatter the rest deeper into the walls. If you have tried twice and they are still there, it is time to have someone find the source.
What affects the price
The price depends mainly on which insect you have and how established it is, since a few ants in one kitchen is a very different job from cockroaches in every unit of a block. Property size, how easy it is to reach roof spaces and voids, and whether follow-up visits are needed to break a breeding cycle all play a part. Businesses that want regular scheduled visits on a contract usually get better value than paying for repeated once-off call-outs, and the quote is always free.
Preventing it coming back
- Seal gaps around pipes under sinks and behind appliances, because these are the highways insects use between rooms.
- Keep dry goods in sealed glass or hard plastic containers rather than the paper or plastic bags they came in.
- Fix dripping taps and leaking geysers quickly, as most indoor insects need a reliable water source.
- Empty pet bowls at night and wipe up crumbs around the dog or cat feeding area.
- Clear gutters and drains before winter so water does not pool against walls and attract breeding insects.
- Rinse recycling and keep outside bins closed and away from kitchen doors and windows.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to leave the house during an insect treatment?
Usually not for very long. Gel baits and bait stations need no vacating at all, and for residual sprays we will tell you how long to keep children and pets out of the treated area, which is typically until it has dried.
Can you tell what insect I have from a photo?
In most cases, yes. Send a clear close-up on WhatsApp to 021 012 5825 and we can usually identify it and tell you whether it needs treatment at all.
Why do I still see insects after the treatment?
Seeing some activity for a week or two is normal, especially with baits, because the insects need to feed on the product and carry it back to the nest. If numbers are not dropping clearly after that, let us know.
Are your insect treatments safe for pets?
We use the least-toxic option that works and place products in cracks, voids and stations rather than open areas. Let us know about pets, fish tanks or birds when you book so the technician can plan around them.
How long does insect control last?
Our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee. How long you stay insect-free after that depends a lot on the remedial steps in your report, like sealing gaps and fixing leaks.
Do you treat businesses as well as homes?
Yes. Restaurants, offices, warehouses and rental blocks all get the same source-first approach, and we can set up scheduled visits for premises that need ongoing control.
Can you come out urgently?
Our 24-hour emergency line is there for advice and bookings, and after-hours visits can be arranged, which helps with something like a wasp nest at a front door.
Are the products safe around food?
In kitchens we use gel baits and targeted crack treatments rather than open spraying, and we will tell you what to cover or put away beforehand.
Insect Control by area
We cover all of these suburbs from our base in Brackenfell. Pick yours for local advice.
