Out in Kommetjie, the fynbos comes right up to the garden wall and the Atlantic is never more than a few streets away. That means more scorpions, field mice and borer in timber than rats and cockroaches, which is the opposite of what we see in town.
Kommetjie: what drives stored product pests here
Holiday homes left closed for months can get pantry moths and weevils in stored food. Sealing food before you leave helps.
Plenty of homes are timber-framed or have big timber decks, thatched roofs or lapas, and some started life as holiday cottages. Newer houses are set back in the dunes on sandy plots. Salt and damp wear down timber and paint quickly, and once wood is weathered it is easier for borer to get going.
The village is surrounded by coastal fynbos, dunes and the Slangkop area of Table Mountain National Park, with wetlands and vleis between Kommetjie and Noordhoek. The Atlantic brings cold, salty winds, and winter is wet. Nature reserves and open land on all sides mean plenty of wildlife moving through.
Mice and rats from the fynbos, scorpions and spiders, and wood borer in timber homes are typical. Mosquitoes near the wetlands and fleas from pets are also common.
Worth knowing
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.
Signs to look for
- You find small silk tubes or cases stuck to fabric, carpets or the corners of cupboards.
- Small pale moths flutter away when you open a wardrobe or move clothes on the rail.
- 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.
How the treatment works
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.
- Identify the moth
A photo of the moth, larva or damage on WhatsApp is usually enough to tell us whether it is a clothes or pantry moth.
- Find the feeding site
We check wardrobes, drawers, under furniture, carpets, the pantry, pet food and birdseed to find where the larvae live.
- Map the spread
We note which rooms and cupboards are affected so the treatment covers the whole infestation.
- Clean and treat
Infested items are removed or cleaned, and targeted treatments are applied to carpets, cupboards or pantry cracks.
- Monitor with pheromone traps
Traps are placed to measure moth activity and catch any new arrivals.
- Report and recommendations
You get a report with advice on storage, cleaning routines and protecting the items you value.
Stopping a repeat visit
- 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.
- Freeze second-hand woollens, rugs or vintage clothing for a few days before putting them with your own things.
- Store woollen clothes and blankets in sealed bags or containers, not in open shelves or cardboard boxes.
- Wash or dry clean woollens before packing them away for summer, because moths prefer fabric with sweat and food stains on it.
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.
Pantry moths can often be solved at home with a ruthless clean-out and sealed containers, and we would say try that first. Clothes moths are harder, because the larvae hide in carpets, under furniture and in the corners of wardrobes, and missing a single spot means the problem returns. If you have valuable woollens, wool carpets or the moths keep coming back after cleaning, it is worth getting us in.
Moth Control questions from Kommetjie
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 thatched homes in Kommetjie need borer treatment?
They should be checked regularly, especially before a sale. We can inspect thatch and timber and treat any active borer.
Do you come out to Kommetjie for moth control?
Yes. Kommetjie is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Ocean View, Masiphumelele, Noordhoek, Scarborough. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Are scorpions common in Kommetjie homes?
Yes, the fynbos and sandy soil suit them, and they come inside looking for shelter. Treating the perimeter and sealing gaps under doors reduces how many get in.
Are pheromone traps enough on their own?
No. They catch male moths and show you how bad the problem is, but they do not kill the larvae doing the damage. They work best alongside cleaning and treatment.
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