Clovelly is a small pocket squeezed between the mountain and the railway line on the way into Fish Hoek. Most calls here come from homes that back onto fynbos or the golf course, so a good share of what turns up indoors has walked in from the veld.
Crawling insects around Clovelly
Argentine ants are the main nuisance, with fishmoths in older built-in cupboards. Homes backing onto fynbos sometimes find a scorpion or a rain spider in the garage or in a shoe left outside.
Housing is mostly freestanding family homes, many stepped into the slope with retaining walls, split levels and sub-floor voids underneath. Older houses often still have timber floors and wooden window frames that have taken decades of salty air. Those voids under suspended floors and the gaps around old garage doors are exactly where mice settle in for winter. A few flats and townhouses closer to Main Road add the usual shared-bin and shared-roof issues.
Silvermine and the mountain sit directly behind you, the golf course fills the valley floor and False Bay is a stone's throw away. The Silvermine River reaches the sea here, and the low ground around its mouth stays wet after winter rain. Gardens on the slope are sheltered and damp, which suits millipedes, slugs and the insects that feed on them. In a dry summer, ants go looking for water inside.
Rodents moving down off the mountain edge in the cooler months are the classic Clovelly call. Argentine ants come a close second, especially in January and February when they trail along skirtings to the kitchen sink. Homes near the river mouth get more mosquitoes than you'd expect, and paper wasps like the sunny eaves on the upper slope.
From the technician
Crickets sometimes damage stored clothing, curtains and cardboard in damp outbuildings. If you use a garage or storeroom for storage, dry it out and box things in plastic.
Tell-tale signs
- Raised, soft ridges and tunnels in the lawn, especially after watering.
- Birds and hadedas probing the lawn intensively, which is often a sign of mole crickets or other insects underneath.
- Patches of grass that brown and die, and lift easily because the roots have been cut.
- Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
- Loud chirping at night that stops as soon as you walk towards it.
- Small chewed holes in clothing, curtains or paper stored in damp places.
Our process, step by step
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our cricket control service works.
Keeping them out afterwards
- Fit brush strips under exterior doors and garage doors so crickets cannot walk straight in.
- Clear leaf litter, mulch, firewood and garden rubbish away from the walls of the house.
- Water the lawn deeply but less often, as constantly damp soil suits mole crickets.
- Swap bright white outside lights for yellow or warm-coloured bulbs, which attract fewer insects.
- Seal cracks in walls and around window frames, and check that airbricks have intact mesh.
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.
Cricket Control questions from Clovelly
What is damaging my lawn with tunnels?
If you see raised ridges and spongy patches with dying grass, mole crickets are a likely cause. Flood a patch with soapy water and they often come to the surface, which confirms it.
Is the lawn treatment safe for pets?
We use a targeted product and water it in. Keep pets off the treated area until it has dried, and we will give you specific guidance on the day.
Do rats in Clovelly really come down from the mountain?
Some do, especially in winter when the veld is cold and wet. Many are already living in compost heaps and under decks nearby, so we check the garden as well as the ceiling and deal with both.
Do you come out to Clovelly for cricket control?
Yes. Clovelly is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, St James, Sun Valley. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Why does my Clovelly house get more mosquitoes than friends in Fish Hoek?
Homes near the low ground where the Silvermine River meets the sea are close to standing water after rain. Clearing gutters and pot saucers helps, and we can treat resting spots in the garden if it is bad.
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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