Camps Bay has the beach, the palms and the Twelve Apostles towering behind it, and plenty of homes that are let out to visitors for part of the year. From our side, it is a suburb of big glass houses on steep plots, busy restaurants on Victoria Road and a mountain that sends rodents and insects downhill.
Camps Bay: what drives biting insects here
Bed bugs are the guest-house owner's worry, brought in with suitcases and spread between rooms on cleaning trolleys. Fleas come with pets and occasionally with rodents nesting under decks.
The Twelve Apostles and the Glen at Kloof Nek border the suburb, so fynbos, pine plantations and Table Mountain National Park are right on the doorstep. The South-Easter blows hard through summer, but the suburb can be still and hot in the late afternoon. Winter brings heavy rain off the mountain, and runoff through the stormwater channels pushes rodents out of their burrows.
Rats in basements and roof spaces top the list, followed by German cockroaches in restaurants and holiday homes. Ants trail in from irrigated gardens, and bed bugs come in with luggage in short-term lets. Gulls and pigeons cause mess on roofs, decks and pool areas.
Signs to look for
- Day-time bites on the ankles while sitting in the garden, which points to Aedes breeding nearby.
- Itchy, raised bites on arms, face and feet that were left outside the covers.
- Swarms in the evening near a water feature, drain or neglected pool.
- A high-pitched whine near your ear just as you fall asleep.
- Wriggling larvae, sometimes called wigglers, in pond edges, buckets, bird baths or pool covers.
- Small dark mosquitoes resting on shaded walls, under the eaves or behind curtains during the day.
In the Western Cape, mosquitoes are mainly a nuisance and are not a malaria risk, but the bites can cause swelling and itching that is worse in children and some adults. Scratched bites can become infected, and constant night-time biting leads to poor sleep for the whole household. For hospitality businesses, restaurants with outdoor seating and wedding venues, mosquitoes in the evening can directly affect guest comfort and reviews.
A note from the field
Electric bug zappers attract plenty of insects, but studies have shown that very few of them are mosquitoes. Screens and source reduction do far more.
Children tend to react more strongly to mosquito bites, with bigger swelling and more scratching. A net over the cot and screens on the bedroom window are simple, effective protection.
Our process, step by step
Source reduction always comes first: we walk the property and find every place water collects, from gutters and drains to ponds, water features, plant saucers and covered pools, and tell you which ones to empty, fix or cover. Water that cannot be removed, such as ponds and drains, can be treated with a larvicide or insect growth regulator that stops larvae becoming adults. Adult mosquitoes rest in cool, shaded places during the day, so we apply a residual spray to the undersides of shrubs, hedges, eaves, patio ceilings and other resting areas. For events or heavy problems, ULV fogging can knock down adult numbers quickly, but it only works properly when combined with dealing with the breeding sites.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our mosquito control service works.
Prevention that actually works
- Keep pool water circulating and treated, and drain the water that collects on top of pool covers.
- Clean gutters after winter so they do not hold water through summer.
- Stock ornamental ponds with small fish that eat larvae, and keep water features running.
- Store old tyres, tins and containers under cover or throw them away.
- Fit mosquito screens to bedroom windows and use a net over cots in summer.
Pricing, honestly
Cost depends on the size of the property, how many breeding sites there are and whether larger water bodies such as ponds or drains need treating. A once-off treatment is priced differently from a programme of visits through the summer season. Fogging for an event is quoted on the size of the area, and the quote itself is free.
Mosquitoes start building up once the weather warms in October and peak from December to March, especially after a wet winter has filled ponds, vleis and gutters. Calm, humid evenings are the worst, while the strong south-easter actually keeps them down on windy days. Numbers drop sharply when the cold, wet winter sets in from about May.
Frequently asked questions
Do you come out to Camps Bay for mosquito control?
Yes. Camps Bay is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Clifton, Bantry Bay, Atlantic Seaboard, Llandudno. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why are there so many mosquitoes this summer?
Usually because a wet winter left more standing water, or a breeding site has developed close by, such as a blocked gutter or an untreated pond.
Does fogging get rid of mosquitoes?
Fogging kills adults that are flying at the time, but new ones will hatch from any untreated water. It works best as part of a plan that deals with breeding sites.
Do rats in Camps Bay come down from the mountain?
Some do, especially roof rats living in the pines near the Glen and on the Twelve Apostles slopes. Others live around restaurant refuse areas, so we look at both before placing bait and sealing gaps.
Can you treat a Camps Bay holiday villa between guest bookings?
Yes, we can plan the visit for a changeover day and use odourless products where possible. Ask about after-hours or weekend visits if your turnaround is tight.
How far do mosquitoes fly?
Most household mosquitoes do not fly far from where they bred, so the source is usually on your property or a neighbour's.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
