Mosquito Control in Northern Suburbs

The Northern Suburbs are home turf for us, since our base is in Brackenfell. From Goodwood and Parow out to Durbanville and Kraaifontein, we see the full range of pests, from ceiling rats to summer ant invasions.

Mosquito Control by suburb

We cover all 16 suburbs on our Northern Suburbs route. Each suburb page covers what we find there and what works for those streets and buildings.

• BellvilleMosquito Control
• BrackenfellMosquito Control
• BrooklynMosquito Control
• DurbanvilleMosquito Control
• EppingMosquito Control
• GoodwoodMosquito Control
• KensingtonMosquito Control
• KraaifonteinMosquito Control
• Kuils RiverMosquito Control
• LoevensteinMosquito Control
• MaitlandMosquito Control
• Monte VistaMosquito Control
• PanoramaMosquito Control
• ParowMosquito Control
• PlattekloofMosquito Control
• ThorntonMosquito Control

Biting insects in Northern Suburbs: what we see

Fleas flare up in hot months, especially with pets. Bed bugs turn up in rentals and student accommodation near Bellville's campuses.

Inland from the coast, the Northern Suburbs get hotter, drier summers and cold, wet winters. The Tygerberg hills, the Durbanville wine farms and stretches of open veld edge many suburbs. Rivers like the Kuils River and various stormwater canals run through the area.

A note from the field

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.

Signs to look for

1. Itchy, raised bites on arms, face and feet that were left outside the covers.
2. Day-time bites on the ankles while sitting in the garden, which points to Aedes breeding nearby.
3. A high-pitched whine near your ear just as you fall asleep.
4. Wriggling larvae, sometimes called wigglers, in pond edges, buckets, bird baths or pool covers.
5. Small dark mosquitoes resting on shaded walls, under the eaves or behind curtains during the day.
6. Swarms in the evening near a water feature, drain or neglected pool.

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.

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.

1. Property walk

   We check gutters, drains, ponds, pools, water features and containers for larvae.

2. Remove or fix breeding sites

   We show you what to empty, cover or repair, and clear what we can on the day.

3. Treat remaining water

   Ponds, drains and sumps that cannot be emptied are treated with a larvicide or growth regulator.

4. Treat resting areas

   A residual spray goes onto shaded foliage, eaves and patio areas where adults rest.

5. Fogging if needed

   ULV fogging is used for events or severe cases to reduce adult numbers quickly.

6. Follow-up plan

   We leave a report and agree whether follow-up visits through summer make sense.

Prevention that actually works

• 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.
• Clean gutters after winter so they do not hold water through summer.
• Fit mosquito screens to bedroom windows and use a net over cots in summer.
• Stock ornamental ponds with small fish that eat larvae, and keep water features running.

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.

Mosquito Control questions from Northern Suburbs

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