Mowbray is busy and mixed: old cottages, student digs, a station and taxi rank, small shops and the Liesbeek running along one side. That combination keeps us busy with rats, cockroaches and, more than most suburbs, bed bugs.
The local picture in Mowbray
German cockroaches spread fast in shared kitchens and through the walls of semis. Fishmoths, ants and garden spiders are steady background visitors.
A lot of the housing is Victorian and Edwardian semi-detached cottages and terraces, many converted into student lets or split into rooms. Shared walls, old suspended timber floors and crumbling air bricks give rodents and cockroaches easy movement between homes. Blocks of flats near Main Road add shared ducts and bin rooms. The commercial strip around the station has takeaways and small grocers with busy back yards.
The Liesbeek River runs along the eastern side, joining the Black River near the Observatory boundary, and its banks are a natural highway for rats. Table Mountain's Devil's Peak side rises behind Groote Schuur, bringing heavy winter rainfall and damp walls. Old stormwater drains under the streets connect the river to the houses.
Signs to look for
- Scorpions are found in pool filters, sumps or under pot plants after rain.
- Burrows with a crescent-shaped opening appear under rocks, at the base of walls or in sandy soil.
- A UV torch at night reveals scorpions glowing blue-green in the garden or along the walls.
- They turn up in shoes, towels or laundry left on the floor.
- Scorpions appear inside after building work, landscaping or clearing rubble nearby.
- There are lots of crickets, cockroaches or other insects around, which gives scorpions plenty to eat.
Something most people miss
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 the treatment works
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
- Move rubble, firewood, bricks and loose stones away from the walls of the house.
- Fit brush strips under doors and seal gaps around pipes, airbricks and window frames.
- Wear gloves when gardening, moving stones or clearing debris.
- Shake out shoes, boots and towels before using them, especially those left outside or on 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.
Scorpion Control questions from Mowbray
How quickly can you treat a student house in Mowbray for bed bugs?
Our average turnaround is about 48 hours, depending on the season. Send us a photo on WhatsApp first so we can confirm it is bed bugs and tell you how to prepare the rooms.
Do you come out to Mowbray for scorpion control?
Yes. Mowbray is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Observatory, Rosebank, Rondebosch, Pinelands. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Can you get rid of scorpions completely?
Not entirely, especially next to veld or fynbos, because they move in from surrounding land. We can greatly reduce how many come close to and into the house.
Do the rats in Mowbray come from the Liesbeek River?
Many of them do. The river banks and connected stormwater drains give them shelter, so houses on the river side need sealed air bricks and well-closed bins.
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.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
