Mouille Point is a strip of apartment blocks facing the sea between the lighthouse and the Waterfront, so most of our work is in flats, basements and bin rooms. Sea air, shared services and a busy promenade shape almost every pest problem here.
Biting insects in Mouille Point: what we see
Bed bugs turn up in holiday rentals with a fast guest turnover, so hosts should check mattress seams between bookings. Bird mites can follow pigeon nests on balconies into bedrooms.
The suburb is flat, low-lying and right on the Atlantic, with salt spray and fog rolling in on calm mornings. Green Point Park and the golf course sit behind it, and the V&A Waterfront harbour is next door. Winter storms push water up the stormwater drains, which flushes rats and cockroaches into basements.
Cockroaches in apartment kitchens and ducts are the most common call, followed by rats and mice around bin rooms. Fishmoths and silverfish thrive in the damp sea air. Gulls and pigeons on balconies are a constant complaint.
From the technician
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.
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.
How to tell you have a problem
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Stock ornamental ponds with small fish that eat larvae, and keep water features running.
- 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.
- 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.
- Keep pool water circulating and treated, and drain the water that collects on top of pool covers.
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.
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 Mouille Point
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.
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.
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.
How do I stop gulls messing on my Mouille Point balcony?
Bird netting or a tension wire system over the balcony is the most effective option, and spikes help on narrow ledges. We remove nests and clean up first so the birds do not keep returning.
Do cockroaches in Mouille Point flats come from the sea or the drains?
The drains, mostly. American cockroaches live in the sewer and stormwater lines and come up through floor drains and ducts, especially after winter storms.
Do you come out to Mouille Point for mosquito control?
Yes. Mouille Point is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Green Point, Three Anchor Bay, Sea Point, De Waterkant. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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