Kensington has the feel of an old railway suburb, with modest homes on small plots, corner shops and warehouses never far away. Our work here is mostly rats, cockroaches and pigeons, and how bad each one gets depends a lot on how close you are to the industrial side.
Kensington: what drives crawling insects here
German cockroaches breed in kitchens and corner shops and move through shared walls. American cockroaches come up through old drains on hot nights.
Rows of older semi-detached and free-standing houses make up most of the suburb, many with pitched corrugated roofs and backyard rooms built over time. Some are a hundred years old in parts, with timber floors over shallow voids. Factories, workshops and storage units nearby add bigger buildings with loading bays, where rats are never short of a meal.
Kensington sits on flat land between Maitland and the Ndabeni and Epping industrial areas, close to the railway lines that run out of the city. There is little natural vegetation, so pests rely on what people leave around. Winter stormwater can back up in older drains, and in summer litter blows along the railway reserve.
From the technician
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.
What gives them away
- Scorpions are seen on walls, patios or in the garage at night.
- There are lots of crickets, cockroaches or other insects around, which gives scorpions plenty to eat.
- Scorpions are found in pool filters, sumps or under pot plants after rain.
- Scorpions appear inside after building work, landscaping or clearing rubble nearby.
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.
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.
- Identify the scorpion
A WhatsApp photo helps us tell whether it is a thick-tailed species that needs extra care.
- Inspect the property
We check walls, rockeries, woodpiles, paving and any gaps where scorpions shelter or get inside.
- Reduce their food
We treat for crickets, cockroaches and other insects that scorpions hunt.
- Treat hiding places and entry points
Residual products go along wall bases, thresholds, airbricks and other key spots outside.
- Remedial advice and report
You get a report with practical changes to the garden and building to make it less welcoming.
Prevention that actually works
- Fit brush strips under doors and seal gaps around pipes, airbricks and window frames.
- Wear gloves when gardening, moving stones or clearing debris.
- 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.
Pricing, honestly
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 Kensington
How do I stop pigeons nesting under my solar panels?
Mesh around the edge of the panels stops pigeons getting underneath without damaging the system. We can fit it and clear out existing nests.
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.
How do I tell a dangerous scorpion from a harmless one?
Look at the pincers and tail. Big, heavy pincers with a thin tail usually means mild venom; small pincers with a thick tail means you should be careful. Send us a photo if unsure.
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 rats in Kensington come from the Ndabeni and Epping industrial areas?
Some do. Warehouses and railway land give rats food and shelter, and they move into homes nearby, so we bait along the boundaries and seal entry points.
Do you come out to Kensington for scorpion control?
Yes. Kensington is part of our regular Northern Suburbs route, along with Maitland, Ndabeni, Pinelands, Epping. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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