Montague Gardens is mostly warehouses, showrooms and distribution yards, so the calls we get here are about stock, loading bays and compliance rather than bedrooms. A rat in a food warehouse is a bigger problem than a rat in a garage, because one gnawed pallet can mean a rejected consignment.
Biting insects around Montague Gardens
Bites are not a common complaint in the industrial park, though bird mites can drop into offices when pigeons nest above the ceiling. Removing the nest is part of the fix.
The ground is flat and sandy, sitting between the Diep River and Rietvlei wetland side of Milnerton and the busy N7 and Montague Drive routes. The South-Easter blows dust and litter through the yards in summer, and winter rain pools in low corners of loading areas. Open stormwater channels and vacant plots nearby give rats easy cover between buildings.
Big steel-framed sheds with roller doors, mezzanine offices and long racking aisles make up most of the area, with a few trade counters and factory shops mixed in. Roller doors that stand open all day are the main entry point for rodents and birds. Racking that goes up to the roof gives mice somewhere quiet to nest where nobody looks for months. Ceiling voids above the offices tend to be where the droppings turn up first.
Rodents come first by a long way, mostly roof rats in the racking and Norway rats around bins and drains. Stored product insects follow wherever grain, pet food or packaged goods are kept. Pigeons roosting in the roof trusses and flies around waste skips round out the usual list.
Signs to look for
- 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.
- Wriggling larvae, sometimes called wigglers, in pond edges, buckets, bird baths or pool covers.
- A high-pitched whine near your ear just as you fall asleep.
- Day-time bites on the ankles while sitting in the garden, which points to Aedes breeding nearby.
- Small dark mosquitoes resting on shaded walls, under the eaves or behind curtains during the day.
Something most people miss
The south-easter is not all bad news. Mosquitoes struggle to fly in strong wind, so windy Cape Town days are often bite-free, and the worst nights come when the wind drops.
What happens when we come out
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.
- 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.
- Keep pool water circulating and treated, and drain the water that collects on top of pool covers.
- Store old tyres, tins and containers under cover or throw them away.
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 Montague Gardens for mosquito control?
Yes. Montague Gardens is part of our regular Blaauwberg & West Coast route, along with Milnerton, Table View, Goodwood, Maitland. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Can you do pest control in Montague Gardens warehouses after hours?
Yes, after-hours and weekend visits are available on request, which suits sites that cannot stop operations during the day. Let us know your shift times when you ask for a quote.
Our auditor wants pest control records for our Montague Gardens premises. Do you provide those?
Yes, every treatment comes with a post-treatment report. For ongoing service we can keep a bait station map and inspection log to show the auditor.
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.
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.
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.
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