The Cape Flats is the wide, flat sandy plain that stretches from the mountain towards False Bay, home to a huge share of Cape Town's people. Pest problems differ from suburb to suburb, but the common thread is sandy ground, a high water table in winter and a lot of homes built close together.
Mosquito Control by suburb
We cover all 24 suburbs on our Cape Flats route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.
- AthloneMosquito Control
- BelharMosquito Control
- Bishop LavisMosquito Control
- BonteheuwelMosquito Control
- CrawfordMosquito Control
- DelftMosquito Control
- Electric CityMosquito Control
- Elsies RiverMosquito Control
- Grassy ParkMosquito Control
- GugulethuMosquito Control
- Hanover ParkMosquito Control
- KalksteenfonteinMosquito Control
- KhayelitshaMosquito Control
- LangaMosquito Control
- Lavender HillMosquito Control
- Lotus RiverMosquito Control
- ManenbergMosquito Control
- Mitchells PlainMosquito Control
- NyangaMosquito Control
- Pelican ParkMosquito Control
- PhilippiMosquito Control
- Samora MachelMosquito Control
- StrandfonteinMosquito Control
- Valhalla ParkMosquito Control
Cape Flats: what drives biting insects here
Fleas are very common where dogs and cats share small yards with children, and they are worst in the warm months. Bed bugs move through second-hand beds and couches, and they need every room and every mattress treated together.
The Flats were once dunes and wetlands, and in winter the water table rises, flooding yards and low streets. The Philippi Horticultural Area, the vleis like Zeekoevlei and Rondevlei, and the canals that feed them breed mosquitoes and shelter rodents. In summer the South-Easter blows sand and litter across the open land.
Rats and mice are the biggest worry, followed by German cockroaches, flies and fleas. Mosquitoes are worst near vleis and canals. Bed bugs spread in crowded homes and through second-hand furniture.
Something most people miss
Restaurants and guest houses with outdoor areas lose evening trade when mosquitoes get bad. Treating resting areas and keeping water features maintained should be part of the summer routine.
What gives them away
- Itchy, raised bites on arms, face and feet that were left outside the covers.
- Day-time bites on the ankles while sitting in the garden, which points to Aedes breeding nearby.
- Wriggling larvae, sometimes called wigglers, in pond edges, buckets, bird baths or pool covers.
- Swarms in the evening near a water feature, drain or neglected pool.
- 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.
How the treatment works
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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Clean gutters after winter so they do not hold water through summer.
- Store old tyres, tins and containers under cover or throw them away.
- Stock ornamental ponds with small fish that eat larvae, and keep water features running.
- Keep pool water circulating and treated, and drain the water that collects on top of pool covers.
- Fit mosquito screens to bedroom windows and use a net over cots in summer.
How much will it cost?
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.
Most mosquito problems on a normal suburban property can be cut dramatically by the owner just by emptying standing water every week. Plug-in repellents and sprays help you sleep, but they do nothing about where the mosquitoes come from. Call a professional when the breeding site is something you cannot fix yourself, like a large pond, a blocked drain or a neighbouring property, or when you need numbers down for an event.
Mosquito Control questions from Cape Flats
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.
Are the treatments safe for fish in my pond?
We choose larvicides suitable for the situation and will tell you if a product is not appropriate for a fish pond. In many cases, fish themselves are the best control.
Can you treat before a wedding or function?
Yes. We usually inspect beforehand, deal with breeding sites and then fog or spray resting areas shortly before the event.
Does winter flooding push rats into homes on the Cape Flats?
Yes. When the water table rises and drains back up, rats are flushed out of their burrows and look for dry shelter in houses and outbuildings, so baiting and sealing gaps in April or May, before the heavy rain, pays off.
Do you come out to Cape Flats for mosquito control?
Yes. Cape Flats is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Athlone. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why are mosquitoes so bad near the vleis on the Cape Flats?
Because Zeekoevlei, Rondevlei and the canals that feed them hold still, shallow water where mosquitoes breed easily. Fitting mesh to bedroom windows and tipping out any standing water in the yard each week makes the biggest difference at home.
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