What we deal with
The mosquito keeping most Capetonians awake is Culex, a brownish mosquito that bites at night and breeds in still, often dirty water such as blocked gutters, drains, septic tanks, ponds with no fish and water features left to stagnate. Aedes mosquitoes are smaller, often with black and white markings, and bite during the day, laying their eggs just above the waterline in containers like pot-plant saucers, old tyres, buckets and blocked roof gutters. Homes near vleis and wetlands, such as those around Zeekoevlei, Rondevlei, the Milnerton lagoon and the Diep River, often see bigger swarms in warm, still weather. Inland in the Boland, farm dams, irrigation channels and water troughs add to the breeding sites. The Western Cape is not a malaria area, so the main concern locally is bites and disturbed sleep rather than disease.
Signs to look for
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Why it matters: 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 we treat it
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.
- Property walk
We check gutters, drains, ponds, pools, water features and containers for larvae.
- Remove or fix breeding sites
We show you what to empty, cover or repair, and clear what we can on the day.
- Treat remaining water
Ponds, drains and sumps that cannot be emptied are treated with a larvicide or growth regulator.
- Treat resting areas
A residual spray goes onto shaded foliage, eaves and patio areas where adults rest.
- Fogging if needed
ULV fogging is used for events or severe cases to reduce adult numbers quickly.
- Follow-up plan
We leave a report and agree whether follow-up visits through summer make sense.
Things most people don't know
A common myth is that mosquitoes breed only in big bodies of water. In practice, a bottle cap of water in a pot-plant saucer or a sagging gutter is enough to produce a steady supply right next to your bedroom.
When our technician arrives, the first thing they check is the gutters. Blocked gutters full of leaves hold water for weeks after rain and are one of the most overlooked breeding sites in Cape Town homes.
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.
When it peaks in Cape Town
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.
DIY or call a professional?
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.
What affects the price
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.
Preventing it coming back
- Empty pot-plant saucers, buckets, bird baths and pet water bowls at least once a week, because larvae develop into adults in about a week in hot weather.
- Clean gutters after winter so they do not hold water through summer.
- Keep pool water circulating and treated, and drain the water that collects on top of pool covers.
- Stock ornamental ponds with small fish that eat larvae, and keep water features running.
- Fit mosquito screens to bedroom windows and use a net over cots in summer.
- Store old tyres, tins and containers under cover or throw them away.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a malaria risk in Cape Town?
No, the Western Cape is not a malaria area. Mosquitoes here are a nuisance and cause itchy bites, but the main concern is comfort and sleep.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mosquito Control by area
We cover all of these suburbs from our base in Brackenfell. Pick yours for local advice.
