Rondebosch is old Cape Town: oak trees, Victorian houses, big schools and the UCT campus spilling down the slope toward Main Road.
Mosquitoes along the Liesbeek
Mosquitoes breed along the slow, shaded stretches of the Liesbeek River and in garden water across Rondebosch: ponds without fish, birdbaths, pot saucers and gutters blocked with oak leaves. The heavy winter rain off the mountain leaves standing water well into spring, and the big shady gardens give adult mosquitoes cool places to rest during the day. They're most noticeable on still evenings from late spring to autumn.
We find and treat breeding water and the shady resting spots around your home. Clearing gutters after the autumn leaf fall and screens on bedroom windows make a big difference.
What gives them away
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
Something most people miss
A common myth is that mosquitoes breed only in big bodies of water. In practice, a bottle cap of water in a pot-plant saucer or a sagging gutter is enough to produce a steady supply right next to your bedroom.
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
- Clean gutters after winter so they do not hold water through summer.
- Keep pool water circulating and treated, and drain the water that collects on top of pool covers.
- 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.
- 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
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.
Why do I get mosquitoes near the Liesbeek in Rondebosch?
The slow river water and shaded gardens suit them. Treating near your home helps.
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.
Can you treat a student house in Rondebosch during the holidays?
Yes, holidays are the best time because rooms are empty and can be treated properly. Weekend and after-hours visits can also be arranged on request.
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.
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.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
