Mosquito Control for Scarborough homes and businesses

Scarborough is a small, quiet village on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, wedged between fynbos-covered mountain and a wild stretch of beach. Many homes stand empty for weeks at a time, and pests make the most of that.

The local picture in Scarborough

Fleas can build up in homes where pets have stayed, and bites from mosquitoes come up near the lagoon in summer.

The village borders Table Mountain National Park, with fynbos, rocky slopes and the Schusters River lagoon nearby. It's exposed to Atlantic mist, salt spray and strong winds, and winters are wet and cold. Wildlife from the park, including baboons, is part of life here, and damp conditions suit fishmoths and wood beetles.

Homes range from older wooden holiday cottages and timber-clad houses to modern architect-designed places on the slopes. Some have thatch or exposed timber, and many have large decks. Holiday homes that sit closed up for long periods let rodents, fishmoths and cockroaches settle in without anyone noticing. Wood and damp sea air together put timber at risk.

Tell-tale signs

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

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.

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.

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.

Prevention that actually works

• Fit mosquito screens to bedroom windows and use a net over cots in summer.
• 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.
• Keep pool water circulating and treated, and drain the water that collects on top of pool covers.
• Clean gutters after winter so they do not hold water through summer.
• Store old tyres, tins and containers under cover or throw them away.

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 Scarborough

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