Strandfontein sits right on the False Bay shoreline at the southern edge of the Cape Flats, with sand dunes on one side and Mitchells Plain on the other. It is a quieter, more settled suburb than many people assume, and the pest picture is shaped heavily by sand, wind and the wetlands next door.
Crawling insects in Strandfontein: what we see
Black and Argentine ants nest in the sandy soil right up against foundations. German cockroaches are mostly a kitchen problem, while the odd scorpion or spider comes in from the dune scrub.
Most homes are freestanding brick houses on modest plots, many extended over the years with back rooms, garages and enclosed stoeps. Those add-ons often leave small gaps where new walls meet old ones, which mice and cockroaches use. There are also shops and community facilities near the main roads and the pavilion area.
A note from the field
Brown button spiders have spread widely across Cape Town gardens and leave distinctive spiky round egg sacs. If you see those under garden furniture or a jungle gym, get them removed before children are playing there again.
Tell-tale signs
- Egg sacs, often round and papery or spiky in the case of the brown button spider, are stuck to brickwork or furniture.
- You keep finding small pale spiders in bedding, curtains or clothing that has been left folded.
- Outside lights draw a cloud of moths and midges each night with webs built right around them.
- Untidy, tangled webs show up under outdoor chairs, in the meter box or around the pool pump.
- Fresh webs reappear in the same corners, window frames and eaves within days of being brushed down.
- Someone in the house wakes with a small, red, sometimes blistered bite that was not there the night before.
Our process, step by step
We start by identifying the species, because a rain spider on the wall and a nest of button spiders by the jungle gym call for very different responses. Webs and egg sacs are removed by hand or vacuum first, which takes out a surprising amount of the next generation. We then apply a residual spray or a fine insecticide dust into the places spiders actually live: roof voids, behind fitted units, wall cavities, garages, eaves and window reveals, keeping it away from where children and pets play. Where insects are drawing the spiders in, we treat or advise on that food source too, because spiders follow their prey. Finally we point out gaps around doors, vents and pipes that need sealing.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our spider control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Brush down webs regularly and vacuum the corners and the backs of cupboards, which gets rid of egg sacs before they hatch.
- Shake out shoes, gardening gloves and clothes that have been left on the floor or in the garage before you put them on.
- Swap white outdoor bulbs for warm yellow or LED ones so fewer insects gather, which means fewer spiders setting up around your doors.
- Pull beds slightly away from the wall and keep bedding off the floor to reduce night-time bites from sac spiders.
- Fit fine mesh to vents and seal the gaps around pipes and under doors with sealant or brush strips.
Pricing, honestly
The cost depends mainly on the size of the property and how many outbuildings, garages and roof spaces need treatment. A house with a heavy insect problem feeding the spiders takes more work than one with a few webs in the corners. We give a free quote after a quick look or a WhatsApp photo, and contract clients get spiders covered as part of their routine visits.
Spider activity climbs from late spring and peaks in the hot, dry months from January to March, which is exactly when rain spiders come indoors and people start to notice them. Button spiders are most visible in summer around gardens and pools. In the wet winter months many spiders retreat into roof spaces and garages, so a treatment then catches them where they shelter.
Questions we get asked in Strandfontein
Are the mosquitoes in Strandfontein coming from the sewage works ponds?
Partly. The ponds and the wetland around them are a big breeding source, but water in gutters, pot plants and blocked drains at your own home adds to it, and that part we can help you control.
How long does a spider treatment last?
A residual treatment keeps working for a good while, and our treatments carry a minimum 3-month guarantee. New spiders can still wander in from the garden, which is why sealing gaps and fixing outdoor lighting matters.
Do you come out to Strandfontein for spider control?
Yes. Strandfontein is part of our regular Cape Flats route, along with Mitchells Plain, Pelican Park, Lotus River, Grassy Park. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Is the rain spider in my house dangerous?
Not really. Rain spiders are big and fast but rarely bite, and the bite is painful rather than dangerous; the kindest option is to catch it under a container and put it outside.
Will the treatment harm my pets?
We treat cracks, voids and roof spaces rather than open floors, and we ask that pets are kept out until surfaces are dry. We will explain any specific precautions on the day.
Why do ants keep coming back even after I spray in Strandfontein?
Surface spray kills the workers you can see, but the nest sits in the sand under or beside your foundations. Baiting and treating the nest area works far better than repeat spraying.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254