The Bo-Kaap climbs up the slopes of Signal Hill above the city centre, with brightly painted houses, cobbled streets and the oldest mosque in South Africa on Dorp Street. Homes here are packed close together and often very old, so pests like rats, cockroaches and pigeons move easily from one roof to the next.
Bo-Kaap: what drives crawling insects here
Fishmoths are a classic Bo-Kaap complaint because the thick old walls hold damp through winter. German cockroaches thrive in older kitchens and in the cafés and guest houses that have opened in recent years.
Most homes are flat-roofed terraced houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, many with thick walls, old timber beams and small backyards. Flat roofs and parapet walls give pigeons places to roost and nest. Shared walls and old drainage pipes let cockroaches and rodents travel between neighbours.
The suburb sits on the lower slopes of Signal Hill, with steep streets that catch the full force of the South-Easter as it comes off Table Mountain. Winter rain runs down the hill and can soak old walls, encouraging fishmoths and damp-loving insects. The city centre below provides food and shelter for rodents.
Rats from the CBD and old drains are a major issue. German cockroaches are common in older kitchens and in the growing number of guest houses and cafés. Pigeons on flat roofs and fishmoths in damp walls are frequent complaints.
How to tell you have a problem
- Patches of grass that brown and die, and lift easily because the roots have been cut.
- Birds and hadedas probing the lawn intensively, which is often a sign of mole crickets or other insects underneath.
- Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
- Small chewed holes in clothing, curtains or paper stored in damp places.
A note from the field
When a technician deals with a cricket complaint, the first thing they check is the outside lighting and the garage door seal. Fixing those two things often makes more difference than the treatment itself.
How we handle cricket control in Bo-Kaap
Indoors, we focus on finding where the crickets are coming in and hiding, then apply a residual treatment to entry points, door thresholds, garage edges and other hiding spots. Granular baits can be used around the perimeter of the house to reduce numbers before they reach the walls. For mole crickets, the lawn is treated with a targeted product and watered in so it reaches the tunnels, and timing matters because young mole crickets near the surface are easier to control. We use the least-toxic effective option and avoid spraying open living areas.
- Identify the cricket
Field crickets, house crickets and mole crickets behave differently and need different treatments.
- Locate entry and shelter
We look at door gaps, garage doors, airbricks and cluttered areas where crickets hide during the day.
- Treat the perimeter
A residual barrier and, where useful, granular bait go around the outside of the house and entry points.
- Treat the lawn
For mole crickets, the affected areas of lawn are treated and watered in so the product reaches the tunnels.
- Report and advice
You get a post-treatment report with tips on lighting, sealing and garden habits that reduce numbers.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Water the lawn deeply but less often, as constantly damp soil suits mole crickets.
- Clear leaf litter, mulch, firewood and garden rubbish away from the walls of the house.
- Fit brush strips under exterior doors and garage doors so crickets cannot walk straight in.
- Seal cracks in walls and around window frames, and check that airbricks have intact mesh.
- Swap bright white outside lights for yellow or warm-coloured bulbs, which attract fewer insects.
What affects the price
The cost depends on whether it is an indoor nuisance, a lawn problem or both, and on the size of the property and garden. A large lawn with widespread mole cricket damage takes more product and time than a perimeter treatment for a house. Follow-up treatments, if needed to catch a second generation, are included in a free quote upfront.
One cricket behind the fridge is a job for a torch and a glass, not a pest control company. If crickets keep coming in night after night, or your lawn is lifting with tunnels, a professional perimeter or lawn treatment will save you a lot of frustration. Buying lawn insecticide and guessing the timing often wastes money.
Frequently asked questions
Why do pigeons like Bo-Kaap flat roofs so much?
The parapet walls and flat roofs give them sheltered ledges to roost and nest. Netting or spikes on parapets, plus clearing nests, usually move them on.
Will a treatment stop crickets coming indoors?
A perimeter treatment greatly reduces how many get in, especially combined with door seals and changes to outside lighting.
Do you come out to Bo-Kaap for cricket control?
Yes. Bo-Kaap is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Malay Quarter, Schotsche Kloof, De Waterkant, City Bowl. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Do crickets attract other pests?
Yes, large numbers of crickets can draw in spiders, geckos and sometimes scorpions, which feed on them. Reducing crickets often reduces those too.
Are Bo-Kaap's old houses more prone to wood borer?
They can be, because many still have original timber beams and floors. A proper inspection will show whether the beetles are active and what treatment is safe for heritage timber.
Why can I never find the chirping cricket?
Crickets stop chirping when they sense vibration or movement nearby, and the sound bounces off walls, which makes it hard to pinpoint. Turning off lights and moving slowly helps.
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