Green Point packs a stadium, a big urban park, the Metropolitan golf course and dense streets of flats, guesthouses and Victorian semis into one small slice of the Atlantic Seaboard. Lots of people, lots of restaurants and lots of open lawn means rats, cockroaches and Egyptian geese all feel at home.
Crawling insects in Green Point: what we see
Restaurant kitchens and the flats above them are prime German cockroach territory, linked by shared walls and ducts. Large drain roaches come up through floor traps in ground-floor units on warm nights.
Along Main Road and the side streets climbing toward Signal Hill you get Victorian and Edwardian terraces with timber floors and pressed-metal ceilings, plus newer apartment blocks with basements and shared bin rooms. Guesthouses and short-stay apartments turn over guests constantly. Restaurants along Main Road and Somerset Road share back lanes and service ducts with the flats above, and that is where German cockroaches and rats move between businesses and homes.
The suburb runs from the lower slopes of Signal Hill down to the Green Point Common, with Green Point Urban Park and Cape Town Stadium on the flat land toward Mouille Point. The park's lawns, wetland features and ponds draw Egyptian geese and gulls, and the sea air keeps corners damp. Old stormwater drains run downhill toward the coast, giving rats and big drain roaches a network under the streets.
Rats in bin rooms, back lanes and roof spaces lead the list, with German cockroaches close behind in restaurants and older flats. Egyptian geese foul lawns and pool areas near the park and golf course. Bed bugs are a real issue in short-stay rentals and guesthouses.
A note from the field
A UV torch is a useful tool for homeowners. Scorpions glow under ultraviolet light, which makes it much easier to see how many are around and where they are coming from.
How to tell you have a problem
- A UV torch at night reveals scorpions glowing blue-green in the garden or along the walls.
- Burrows with a crescent-shaped opening appear under rocks, at the base of walls or in sandy soil.
- Scorpions are found in pool filters, sumps or under pot plants after rain.
- Scorpions are seen on walls, patios or in the garage at night.
Most scorpion stings in the Western Cape cause local pain and swelling similar to a bee sting. Stings from thick-tailed Parabuthus species can be much more serious, especially for small children, the elderly and people with medical conditions, and need prompt medical attention. Pets, particularly curious dogs and cats, can also be stung. If someone is stung by a thick-tailed scorpion or shows symptoms such as muscle weakness, trouble swallowing or difficulty breathing, get medical help straight away.
How we handle scorpion control in Green Point
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.
Prevention that actually works
- Wear gloves when gardening, moving stones or clearing debris.
- Keep beds and cots away from walls and do not let bedding hang down to the floor.
- Move rubble, firewood, bricks and loose stones away from the walls of the house.
- Shake out shoes, boots and towels before using them, especially those left outside or on the floor.
- 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.
Questions we get asked in Green Point
Why do scorpions come indoors?
They come in hunting insects or looking for shelter, often after rain floods their burrows or on hot nights. Gaps under doors and around pipes make it easy for them.
Is the treatment safe for children and pets?
Products are applied outside around entry points and wall bases rather than in living areas. Keep children and pets off treated areas until dry, and we will advise you on the day.
Can you treat a Green Point guesthouse for bed bugs between bookings?
Yes, after-hours and weekend visits are available on request. We inspect, treat affected rooms and give you a post-treatment report.
How do I keep Egyptian geese off my Green Point lawn and pool?
Bird deterrents, netting over pools when not in use and removing easy grazing areas all help. We can look at your property and suggest what will work best.
Are scorpions in Cape Town dangerous?
Most are not, but thick-tailed Parabuthus species can deliver a serious sting. Treat any scorpion with a thick tail and slender pincers with caution.
Do you come out to Green Point for scorpion control?
Yes. Green Point is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Mouille Point, Three Anchor Bay, Sea Point, De Waterkant. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
