Higgovale sits high on the slopes below Table Mountain and Lion's Head, with Kloof Nek just above. The houses are big and often right up against the mountain, so we deal with as many visitors from the slopes as we do from the street.
The local picture in Higgovale
Large pantries and wine cellars can attract pantry moths and weevils. Stored dry food in damp lower rooms is most at risk.
Homes here are mostly large, architect-designed houses on steep plots with retaining walls, pools and multiple levels. There are some older homes with timber roofs and floors, and many newer ones with flat concrete roofs and glass. Split levels, garages dug into the slope and gaps around wooden decks give rodents plenty of hidden spaces to nest.
Rats and mice from the mountain slopes, especially in winter, are the main complaint. Scorpions, rain spiders and crickets are common in garden-level rooms. Wasps nest under decks and eaves in summer.
Tell-tale signs
- Small, irregular holes appear in woollen jerseys, suits, scarves or blankets, often in hidden areas like under collars and arms.
- Small pale moths flutter away when you open a wardrobe or move clothes on the rail.
- Small whitish caterpillars crawl up pantry walls or across the ceiling looking for somewhere to pupate.
- Moths are seen resting on the ceiling of the kitchen or a bedroom in the evening.
- Bare patches show up in woollen rugs or carpets under beds, sofas and other heavy furniture.
Clothes moths can ruin expensive wool and silk clothing, heirloom blankets, wool carpets and upholstery, and the damage is often only noticed months later. Pantry moths contaminate food with webbing, droppings and larvae, and infested food must be thrown away. For retailers, hotels, guesthouses and textile businesses, moth damage to stock or furnishings means real financial loss. Neither moth is known to carry disease, but both spread from room to room and cupboard to cupboard if they are ignored.
A note from the field
Spraying the wardrobe and leaving the infested clothes inside is the most common mistake we see. The clothes need to come out and be washed, frozen or dry cleaned.
What happens when we come out
Identifying the moth correctly matters most, because clothes moths and pantry moths are treated in completely different places. For clothes moths we remove and sort affected textiles, recommend washing at high temperature, dry cleaning or freezing, vacuum carpets and wardrobe floors thoroughly, and apply a residual treatment to carpet edges, skirting boards and the inside of cupboards, with an insect growth regulator where the infestation is heavy. For pantry moths we find and remove all infested food, vacuum shelving, and treat cracks and crevices where larvae pupate, keeping treatment away from food. In both cases we place species-specific pheromone traps to monitor results, since these catch male moths and show quickly whether the problem is under control.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our moth control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Store woollen clothes and blankets in sealed bags or containers, not in open shelves or cardboard boxes.
- Freeze second-hand woollens, rugs or vintage clothing for a few days before putting them with your own things.
- Take clothes out of the wardrobe and shake them every few weeks, as clothes moths dislike disturbance and light.
- Vacuum under beds, sofas and along carpet edges regularly, since moths thrive in dark, undisturbed spots.
- Keep cereals, nuts, dried fruit and pet food in airtight containers, and check birdseed before bringing it inside.
What affects the price
The cost depends on whether it is a clothes moth or pantry moth problem, the number of rooms or cupboards involved, and whether carpets and upholstery need treatment. Larger homes, guesthouses and retail spaces with many wardrobes or storage areas take more time and may need a follow-up visit. We give a free quote, usually after seeing photos or doing a quick inspection.
Both moths are more active in warm weather, so problems usually become obvious from late spring through summer. Clothes moth damage is often discovered in autumn when people pull their winter woollens out of storage for the first cold front. Heated homes and warm pantries can see moth activity all year round.
Frequently asked questions
Do mice come down from Table Mountain into Higgovale homes?
Yes, especially in the cold, wet months. We look for entry points along the slope side of the house, garage doors and roof edges, then set up bait and seal the gaps.
Can you treat a guesthouse or clothing shop?
Yes. We inspect stock and furnishings, treat affected areas and set up pheromone monitoring, with a report after each visit.
Are the scorpions in Higgovale dangerous?
Most of the ones found in mountain-side gardens have big pincers and thin tails, and their sting is painful rather than dangerous, but anyone stung should still get medical advice. We can treat the perimeter and lower rooms to reduce how many come inside.
Do the moths I see on my patio light eat clothes?
Almost never. Clothes moths avoid light and are rarely seen flying. The big moths around outdoor lights are garden species.
Why are there holes in only some of my jerseys?
Clothes moth larvae prefer wool and silk that has sweat or food stains on it, and they feed in dark, undisturbed spots, so items worn less often are usually hit hardest.
Do you come out to Higgovale for moth control?
Yes. Higgovale is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht, Gardens, Camps Bay. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254