Table View is big, busy and windy, with the famous postcard view of Table Mountain across the bay. Between the beachfront, the Rietvlei wetland and the shopping strips along Blaauwberg Road, we see a bit of everything here.
The local picture in Table View
Restaurants and takeaways along the main roads need regular checks for weevils, pantry moths and roaches in dry stores. At home, bulk-bought cereals and pet food are the usual source.
Much of the suburb is face-brick family homes from the seventies onward, with plenty of newer townhouse complexes and apartment blocks filling in the gaps. Busy centres and restaurants along Blaauwberg Road and Koeberg Road bring commercial pest work. Many homes have flat-roofed extensions and wendy houses that create easy shelter for rodents.
Rietvlei and the Diep River wetland sit along the southern edge, so mosquitoes and midges can be heavy on calm evenings. The South-Easter blasts across the flats in summer, carrying sand and grit into garages and sliding door tracks. The soil is sandy coastal ground, which suits ants and burrowing insects.
A note from the field
Pantry moths can travel a surprising distance from their source. A bag of birdseed in the garage can be the cause of moths in a bedroom.
What gives them away
- You find small silk tubes or cases stuck to fabric, carpets or the corners of cupboards.
- Bare patches show up in woollen rugs or carpets under beds, sofas and other heavy furniture.
- Webbing clumps together cereal, nuts or pet food in the pantry.
- Moths are seen resting on the ceiling of the kitchen or a bedroom in the evening.
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.
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our moth control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Freeze second-hand woollens, rugs or vintage clothing for a few days before putting them with your own things.
- Vacuum under beds, sofas and along carpet edges regularly, since moths thrive in dark, undisturbed spots.
- Store woollen clothes and blankets in sealed bags or containers, not in open shelves or cardboard boxes.
- Take clothes out of the wardrobe and shake them every few weeks, as clothes moths dislike disturbance and light.
- Keep cereals, nuts, dried fruit and pet food in airtight containers, and check birdseed before bringing it inside.
How much will it cost?
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do mothballs work?
Traditional mothballs only work in a sealed space at high concentrations, and they have a strong smell many people dislike. Sealed storage, regular cleaning and pheromone traps are more effective.
Are the mosquitoes in Table View worse near Rietvlei?
Yes, homes along the wetland edge get the most. We can treat breeding spots on your property and advise on screens, but the vlei itself is a protected wetland and stays as it is.
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.
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 Table View for moth control?
Yes. Table View is part of our regular Blaauwberg & West Coast route, along with Bloubergstrand, Parklands, Milnerton, West Beach. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why do I get ants in my Table View house every summer?
The sandy soil here is perfect for ant nests, often right under paving or along your foundations. Targeted baiting near the nest gives longer relief than spraying the trails.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254