Scorpion Control in Gordon's Bay

Gordon's Bay is a harbour village tucked into the corner of False Bay, with houses stacked up the mountainside and holiday flats near the beach. Rodents in roofs, gulls on rooftops and ants in summer are what we deal with most.

The local picture in Gordon's Bay

Argentine ants are a summer staple, and scorpions and rain spiders are common on the upper slopes. German cockroaches are mainly a restaurant problem.

Homes are built up the slopes of the Hottentots Holland mountains, many with sea views, split levels and retaining walls. Holiday flats and apartment blocks sit near the beach and harbour, and many homes are holiday properties. Houses on steep plots have sub-floor voids and garages under the house where rodents hide. Restaurants around the harbour bring commercial work.

Roof rats from the mountain and gulls from the harbour are the big ones. Argentine ants, fishmoths and German cockroaches in harbour restaurants complete the picture.

A note from the field

The first thing a technician checks on a scorpion call is what is lying against the house. Rubble, firewood, stacked pots and loose paving are prime scorpion hiding spots, and moving them often makes the biggest difference.

People often try to spray scorpions with household insecticide and are surprised when nothing happens. Scorpions are tough against contact sprays, so a treatment plan has to focus on hiding places, entry points and their food.

What gives them away

1. Scorpions appear inside after building work, landscaping or clearing rubble nearby.
2. Scorpions are seen on walls, patios or in the garage at night.
3. A UV torch at night reveals scorpions glowing blue-green in the garden or along the walls.
4. Burrows with a crescent-shaped opening appear under rocks, at the base of walls or in sandy soil.
5. Scorpions are found in pool filters, sumps or under pot plants after rain.
6. There are lots of crickets, cockroaches or other insects around, which gives scorpions plenty to eat.

What happens when we come out

Scorpions are harder to kill with contact sprays than most insects, so we focus on a combination of habitat reduction and targeted treatment. We apply a residual treatment to entry points, door thresholds, wall bases, airbricks and known hiding spots around the outside of the house. Because scorpions follow their food, we also treat for crickets, cockroaches and other insects that attract them. Where burrows are found, they can be treated directly. We pair this with practical advice on clearing debris and sealing gaps, which is often what makes the biggest difference.

Want the full step-by-step? See how our scorpion control service works.

Keeping them out afterwards

• Shake out shoes, boots and towels before using them, especially those left outside or on the floor.
• Move rubble, firewood, bricks and loose stones away from the walls of the house.
• Keep beds and cots away from walls and do not let bedding hang down to the floor.
• Use yellow or warm-coloured outside lights to attract fewer insects, which means fewer scorpions hunting them.
• Fit brush strips under doors and seal gaps around pipes, airbricks and window frames.

What affects the price

The cost depends on the size of the property and garden, how much hiding space there is in rockeries and walls, and whether an insect treatment is needed to reduce their food. Properties on the edge of open veld or fynbos tend to have more ongoing pressure and may benefit from regular treatments. Follow-ups and any contract options are included in a free quote.

Scorpions are most active in the warm months from late spring to early autumn, especially on hot, still nights. The first rains of the season can flood burrows and drive them indoors or into garages. In winter they become much less active and stay in their burrows.

Frequently asked questions

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