Thatch roof bugs and other pests are a real cost, because a thatch roof is warm, dry and full of grass that birds and rodents want. Birds pull out grass for nests and leave holes, rats and mice nest in the roof space, wasps and bees settle under the eaves, and borer beetles and termites attack the poles. Most fixes are simple: mesh or netting, repairing holes, treating timber, and pest control that is safe near thatch. Send one request and we pass it to independent pest controllers and thatchers near you, who quote you directly.
Birds and rodents
Birds such as sparrows, weavers and starlings pull grass from the surface and under the eaves, and over time the holes let water in. Rats and mice move in from trees, walls and gaps in the eaves. The usual answers are fine wire mesh or bird netting over the thatch or along the eaves, closing gaps where the thatch meets the walls, cutting back branches that give access, and repairing the holes so the roof is not open to the next nest. Keep pet food and feed bins away from thatched buildings, and store firewood away from the walls, because both draw rodents.
Borer, termites and the timber
The poles and laths hold the roof up, so insects in them matter more than in the grass. Look for fine powder below poles, small exit holes and soft timber. Pressure treated gum poles resist insects and rot better, but older or untreated timber may need treating or replacing. Termites usually come up from the ground, so poles in or near soil need checking. A thatch inspection includes the timber from inside the roof space. If borer is found in a load-bearing pole, ask a thatcher whether it can be treated or should be replaced.
Wasps, bees and smaller insects
Wasps and bees nest under the eaves and inside the thatch. Have a nest removed by someone who knows thatch, and a beehive by a beekeeper or bee removal service where possible. Thatch also hosts tiny mites and other insects that live in old, damp grass; some people say they react to dust from old thatch, so if allergies are a worry, speak to your doctor and ask a thatcher about cleaning or re-thatching very old, dusty areas.
Pest control that is safe near thatch
Thatch burns easily, so no open flame, smoke or heat should be used on or near it. Some fumigation and fogging methods are not suited to a thatched roof: ask the pest controller exactly what they will use, whether it is safe near thatch, and whether it affects any fire retardant or sealer on the roof.
What to put in your request
- What pests you have seen and where
- Photos of holes, nests or powder below poles
- Roof size and type (house, lapa, rondavel)
- Any treatment or fire retardant on the roof
- Whether holes need repairing as well
Thatch Pest Control for homes, lodges, farms and venues
- Homeowners: birds pulling grass from the eaves stopped with mesh and holes repaired
- Estate homes and HOAs: rodents kept out of thatch homes without harming the estate's wildlife
- Game lodges and bush camps: chalets checked for rats, borer and wasps before the season
- Guesthouses and B&Bs: a wasp nest removed from a guest room eave safely
- Farms and smallholdings: rats in the lapa and borer in older poles dealt with together
- Restaurants, pubs and beach bars: birds kept off the dining area roof with netting
- Resorts and holiday parks: a rolling pest plan for rows of thatched units
- Wedding venues, schools and churches: a wedding lapa cleared of nests before the busy season
- Builders, architects and developers: treated timber and mesh specified for a new thatch roof
Frequently asked questions
Do you do pest control yourselves?
What are thatch mites?
Will bird netting spoil the look of the roof?
How do I know if borer is in the poles?
Thatch Pest Control by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg