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.
Biting insects around Higgovale
Fleas come from pets and wildlife moving through gardens. Bird mites can follow pigeons nesting in roof spaces.
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.
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.
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.
Tell-tale signs
- 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.
- Itchy, raised bites on arms, face and feet that were left outside the covers.
- A high-pitched whine near your ear just as you fall asleep.
- Small dark mosquitoes resting on shaded walls, under the eaves or behind curtains during the day.
- Swarms in the evening near a water feature, drain or neglected pool.
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.
- 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.
Keeping them out afterwards
- 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.
- Store old tyres, tins and containers under cover or throw them away.
- 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.
- Clean gutters after winter so they do not hold water through summer.
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.
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 Higgovale
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.
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.
Do you come out to Higgovale for mosquito 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.
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.
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.
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