Parow is an older working suburb built around Voortrekker Road, with shops, flats, family homes and an industrial area all close together. Rats, cockroaches and stored product pests are steady work here.
Biting insects in Parow: what we see
Fleas are common in homes with pets, and bed bugs appear in rentals and boarding houses. Treating all rooms at once is important.
Parow sits on flat to gently rising ground below the Tygerberg hills, with hot summers and wet winters. Stormwater channels and railway reserves run through the area. Open land near the industrial zones provides cover for rodents.
Housing includes older freestanding homes, semi-detached houses and blocks of flats, many dating from the mid-twentieth century. Older roofs and floors have gaps that rodents use, and flats share pipes and refuse areas that spread cockroaches. Parow Industria and the commercial strip add warehouses, workshops and food businesses. Backyard rooms and garages are common.
A note from the field
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.
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.
How to tell you have a problem
- Day-time bites on the ankles while sitting in the garden, which points to Aedes breeding nearby.
- Itchy, raised bites on arms, face and feet that were left outside the covers.
- Small dark mosquitoes resting on shaded walls, under the eaves or behind curtains during the day.
- Wriggling larvae, sometimes called wigglers, in pond edges, buckets, bird baths or pool covers.
- Swarms in the evening near a water feature, drain or neglected pool.
- A high-pitched whine near your ear just as you fall asleep.
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our mosquito control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Keep pool water circulating and treated, and drain the water that collects on top of pool covers.
- 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.
- Stock ornamental ponds with small fish that eat larvae, and keep water features running.
- Store old tyres, tins and containers under cover or throw them away.
- Fit mosquito screens to bedroom windows and use a net over cots in 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 Parow
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.
Do you come out to Parow for mosquito control?
Yes. Parow is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Goodwood, Bellville, Elsies River, Panorama. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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 a block of flats in Parow for cockroaches?
Yes. Treating the whole block, including refuse areas and service ducts, gives the best long-term result.
Why are rats common around Voortrekker Road in Parow?
The shops, food outlets and stormwater channels give rats plenty of food and shelter. Keeping bins sealed and gaps closed reduces how often they move into nearby buildings.
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