Sea Point packs a lot into a narrow strip between Lion's Head and the promenade: tall blocks of flats, old Victorian homes, and a non-stop run of restaurants on Main and Regent roads. Most of our work here is in apartments and food businesses.
Wasp nests in Sea Point
Wasps are less common on Sea Point's windy beachfront, but paper wasps nest under the eaves of Victorian homes on the upper streets and in sheltered balconies and courtyards. They're most active in late summer.
We treat and remove nests and check other sheltered spots. Courtyards and balconies on the sheltered side of a building, away from the South-Easter, are where nests usually end up. If a nest is by a front door or a shared walkway in a block of flats, we can work early in the morning when fewer people are around.
High-rise and mid-rise blocks dominate, many built in the 1960s and 1970s with shared refuse rooms and service ducts. There are also older Victorian and Edwardian homes and a growing number of short-term rentals. Restaurants and takeaways along the main roads need ongoing commercial control.
Something most people miss
Many people think wasps only nest in trees. In Cape Town the invasive paper wasp much prefers buildings, especially eaves, window frames and hollow steel poles.
Tell-tale signs
Tick every sign you have noticed. It takes ten seconds.
How the treatment works
For ongoing wasp control we combine nest treatment with prevention rather than coming out once a year to remove whatever has grown. Active nests are treated with an insecticidal dust or spray applied directly into the comb, usually early in the morning or late in the day when the wasps are on the nest, and the comb is taken down once the colony is dead. On properties with repeat problems we do a sweep in early spring to find and remove young founding nests while they are small, and we can apply a residual treatment to favourite nesting spots such as eaves and pergolas. We also look at what is drawing wasps in, like water points, fallen fruit and open bins, and give practical advice on fixing it. For farms, estates and complexes, scheduled visits through the wasp season keep numbers under control instead of letting them build up.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our wasp control service works.
Prevention that actually works
- Pick up fallen fruit and grapes promptly, because ripe fruit draws foraging wasps in late summer.
- Seal holes in hollow gate posts, steel poles and roller door channels with a cap or sealant.
- Keep outdoor bins closed and clean up after a braai, as wasps scavenge meat and sweet drinks.
- Check garden furniture, umbrellas and the inside of letterboxes before using them in summer.
- Fix dripping taps and irrigation leaks, since wasps need a steady water source to build nests.
What affects the price
Wasp control is priced on how many nests there are, how high and hard to reach they are, and whether you want a once-off treatment or ongoing visits through the season. A house with one or two nests at ladder height is a straightforward job, while farms, estates and complexes with nests spread over many buildings take longer. For properties that get wasps every year, a seasonal plan usually saves money compared to repeated call-outs, and the quote is free.
Queens come out of hiding as the weather warms in late August and September and start small nests on their own, which is the cheapest and safest time to deal with them. Colonies grow quickly through the hot, dry summer and reach their biggest and most defensive in February and March. With the first winter rains and cold fronts the colonies die off, and only the new queens survive to start again next spring.
Frequently asked questions
Should I kill native wasps too?
Not necessarily. Mud daubers and many native wasps are harmless and useful in the garden, so if a nest is out of the way and not a stinging risk, we may suggest leaving it.
Are wasps common in Sea Point?
Less than inland, but they nest in sheltered spots on the upper streets.
When is the best time to treat wasps?
Early spring, when nests are small and only the queen is there. Later in summer the same nest can hold dozens of wasps and is far more likely to cause stings.
Is it safe to spray a nest myself?
It is risky with a large nest, because a can of spray rarely kills the whole colony and the survivors get very defensive. Small nests at dusk are another story.
Can you look after a whole estate or farm?
Yes. We do scheduled wasp checks for estates, complexes and farms through the season, with a report after each visit.
Why do wasps keep coming back to my house every year?
Paper wasps like the same sheltered spots, and new queens often start nests close to where they were born. Removing nests early in spring and making those spots less attractive breaks the cycle.
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