Glencairn is a quiet strip of False Bay coast where the Simon's Town train runs right past the beach and the houses step up the slopes toward the mountain. Behind the sand sits a reedy wetland, and that one feature explains a good share of the calls we get from here.
Crawling insects in Glencairn: what we see
Scorpions and rain spiders turn up near rockeries and retaining walls on the slopes. Fishmoths thrive in damp, closed-up holiday homes, and ants trail in from sandy gardens in summer.
Homes on the heights are mostly freestanding family houses with big windows and decks, some built into the slope with retaining walls and dark storerooms underneath. Down near the water there are older holiday cottages, some with timber floors and roofs that take a beating from salt air. Holiday lets stand empty for weeks and then fill up, which gives rodents time to settle in unnoticed.
Mosquitoes from the wetland are the headline problem from late spring to autumn. Rodents move into storerooms and roof spaces when the weather turns. Ants, fishmoths and the occasional scorpion round out the list for homes on the slopes.
A note from the field
Crickets are not dangerous to children or pets, so there is no need to panic or use strong products indoors. A perimeter treatment keeps the products outside, away from living areas.
Reducing crickets on a property can also reduce spiders and scorpions, which come in to hunt them. It is one of those cases where solving one small problem helps with another.
What gives them away
- Small chewed holes in clothing, curtains or paper stored in damp places.
- Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
- Crickets sheltering in the garage, under appliances or behind skirting boards.
- Patches of grass that brown and die, and lift easily because the roots have been cut.
- Raised, soft ridges and tunnels in the lawn, especially after watering.
What happens when we come out
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
- Fit brush strips under exterior doors and garage doors so crickets cannot walk straight in.
- Swap bright white outside lights for yellow or warm-coloured bulbs, which attract fewer insects.
- 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.
- Keep the garage and storeroom tidy and dry, since crickets love damp cardboard and clutter.
Pricing, honestly
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 Glencairn
Can you treat a Glencairn holiday home while I'm away?
Yes, we can arrange access with a neighbour or agent and send you a post-treatment report afterwards. Photo identification via WhatsApp also helps you check what was found.
Are crickets harmful?
No, crickets do not bite people or carry disease to any real extent. The problems are noise, minor damage to fabric and paper, and lawn damage from mole crickets.
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.
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 Glencairn for cricket control?
Yes. Glencairn is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Simon's Town, Fish Hoek, Sun Valley, Clovelly. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
Does the Glencairn wetland cause the mosquitoes in my house?
It is a big source, especially in warm, still weather. Screening windows, emptying standing water in the garden and a targeted treatment around the house cut the numbers down.
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