Llandudno is a small, steep village tucked between Little Lion's Head and the Karbonkelberg, with Victoria Road above and a sandy cove below. There are no shops here, so the pests we deal with come almost entirely from the mountain, the sea and the houses themselves.
Stored product pests around Llandudno
Holiday kitchens left stocked for months are where pantry moths and weevils take hold. Clearing out dry goods before you lock up for the season saves a mess later.
Homes are large, individual houses built into the granite slopes, many on several levels with timber decks, glass and big overhangs. Holiday homes can stand empty for weeks, and that's when rodents and wasps move in undisturbed. Retaining walls and boulders built into gardens leave plenty of hollows for rats and scorpions.
Rats and mice from the mountain, spiders and scorpions from the fynbos, and wasps under decks are the usual suspects. Fishmoths turn up in damp storerooms on the lower levels. Gulls and pigeons can be a nuisance on flat roofs.
A note from the field
For food businesses, a pest found by a customer does far more damage than a pest found on a pheromone trap. Monitoring is about catching problems before anyone else does.
The first thing a technician does is open things. We check the birdseed, the pet food, the forgotten bag of lentils and the spices, because that is where the source usually hides.
What gives them away
- Small brown or reddish beetles walk along pantry shelves or across the kitchen counter.
- Pheromone traps or glue boards in a warehouse catch more beetles or moths each week.
- Silky webbing clumps cereal, nuts or pet food together, sometimes with small caterpillars inside.
- Small moths flutter out when you open a cupboard, and rest on the ceiling at night.
- Flour has a greyish tint, a musty smell or moves slightly when you look closely.
- Insects collect in the folds of packaging or along the seams of sealed boxes and bags.
Our process, step by step
The first and most important step is finding and removing every infested product, because no treatment works while the insects still have food. Shelves, cracks and crevices, and the gaps behind and under cupboards and racking are vacuumed out to remove spilt product and eggs. We then apply a targeted residual treatment into cracks and crevices, and an insect growth regulator where the pest is a moth or beetle that keeps cycling through. Pheromone traps for moths and beetles go in to monitor for survivors and new arrivals. In warehouses, mills and food factories, larger infestations of bulk commodities may need fumigation, which we plan and carry out separately under the right controls.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our stored product pest control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Store birdseed and pet food away from the kitchen, as these are common sources of pantry moths.
- Wipe and vacuum pantry shelves when you restock, paying attention to corners and the gaps behind shelf supports.
- Move flour, rice, cereal, pasta and pet food into sealed glass or hard plastic containers as soon as you get them home.
- Buy dry goods in amounts you will use within a month or two, rather than letting big bags sit at the back of the cupboard.
- In commercial stores, rotate stock on a first-in, first-out basis and keep pallets off walls so you can inspect behind them.
How much will it cost?
For homes, the cost depends mostly on how big the pantry is and how far the insects have spread into other cupboards. For commercial sites, the size of the storage area, the type of commodity, the level of infestation and whether fumigation is needed all affect the price. Food businesses that need regular monitoring and audit paperwork are usually best on a service contract, and we quote free after an inspection.
Stored product insects breed faster in warm weather, so infestations that started quietly in winter often become obvious from November through to March. In Cape Town's dry summers, warm pantries next to ovens and geysers are particular hot spots. In heated warehouses and bakeries the problem can carry on all year.
Frequently asked questions
What are pheromone traps?
Small sticky traps baited with a scent that attracts a specific moth or beetle. They show whether the insects are still around and help us measure how well the treatment worked.
Do you work in warehouses and food factories?
Yes. We do inspections, crack and crevice treatment, pheromone monitoring and scheduled visits, with reports you can use for food safety audits.
Do you come out to Llandudno for stored product pest control?
Yes. Llandudno is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Imizamo Yethu, Atlantic Seaboard. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do scorpions really come into houses in Llandudno?
Occasionally, yes. The granite boulders and rock walls shelter them, so homes built into the slope see the odd one, usually in garages, storerooms or under deck boards.
Do I have to throw everything away?
Throw away anything infested and anything open that is close to it. Unopened tins and sealed jars are generally fine once wiped down.
Can you check my holiday home while I'm away?
Yes, we can arrange a visit with whoever has your keys, and send you photos and a post-treatment report. After-hours and weekend visits are possible on request.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp 074 697 2254