Cricket Control Kommetjie

Out in Kommetjie, the fynbos comes right up to the garden wall and the Atlantic is never more than a few streets away. That means more scorpions, field mice and borer in timber than rats and cockroaches, which is the opposite of what we see in town.

Crawling insects in Kommetjie: what we see

Scorpions and rain spiders come in from the fynbos, and ants are common in sandy gardens. Fishmoths like the damp in coastal homes.

Plenty of homes are timber-framed or have big timber decks, thatched roofs or lapas, and some started life as holiday cottages. Newer houses are set back in the dunes on sandy plots. Salt and damp wear down timber and paint quickly, and once wood is weathered it is easier for borer to get going.

Mice and rats from the fynbos, scorpions and spiders, and wood borer in timber homes are typical. Mosquitoes near the wetlands and fleas from pets are also common.

A note from the field

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.

How to tell you have a problem

1. Patches of grass that brown and die, and lift easily because the roots have been cut.
2. Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
3. Crickets sheltering in the garage, under appliances or behind skirting boards.
4. Small chewed holes in clothing, curtains or paper stored in damp places.

Crickets do not bite people or spread disease in any meaningful way. Indoors, the main issues are lost sleep, droppings and small amounts of damage to fabrics, carpets and stored paper. Mole crickets are a bigger problem for property, because their tunnels cut grass roots and can damage lawns, sports fields and seedlings badly. Large numbers of crickets attracted to lights also draw in spiders and geckos, and sometimes scorpions.

How the treatment works

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

• Water the lawn deeply but less often, as constantly damp soil suits mole crickets.
• Seal cracks in walls and around window frames, and check that airbricks have intact mesh.
• Fit brush strips under exterior doors and garage doors so crickets cannot walk straight in.
• Keep the garage and storeroom tidy and dry, since crickets love damp cardboard and clutter.
• Clear leaf litter, mulch, firewood and garden rubbish away from the walls of the house.

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.

Field crickets are loudest and most noticeable in the warm months from late spring through summer. They often move indoors in autumn as the nights cool down and the first rains arrive. Mole cricket damage to lawns shows up most in spring and summer when they are active near the surface.

Frequently asked questions

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