Cricket Control in Kreupelbosch

Kreupelbosch is a quiet pocket next to Meadowridge and Bergvliet, full of big gardens and tall trees. Squirrels in the ceiling are the call we would expect most often here, usually followed by a question about the ants.

Kreupelbosch: what drives crawling insects here

Argentine ants are a constant summer problem, and crickets and rain spiders come in from the garden. Fishmoths like damp cupboards.

Homes are mostly large family houses on generous plots, with pools, garden cottages and sometimes thatched lapas. Many date from the 1960s and 1970s, with tiled roofs and timber trusses. Big trees close to roofs and dense gardens give pests easy access.

It sits on the lower slopes near Tokai forest and the Constantia valley, with greenbelts and small streams running through the area. Winter rain is heavy and gardens stay green and damp well into spring. Old oaks and pines are home to grey squirrels, and the greenbelts let rodents and insects move from garden to garden.

A note from the field

A common myth is that crickets are a sign of a dirty home. They are mostly drawn in by light, warmth and damp, and a spotless house with a gap under the patio door can have just as many.

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

1. Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
2. Raised, soft ridges and tunnels in the lawn, especially after watering.
3. Loud chirping at night that stops as soon as you walk towards it.
4. Crickets sheltering in the garage, under appliances or behind skirting boards.

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.

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.

Prevention that actually works

• 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.
• Keep the garage and storeroom tidy and dry, since crickets love damp cardboard and clutter.
• Seal cracks in walls and around window frames, and check that airbricks have intact mesh.

How much will it cost?

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.

Questions we get asked in Kreupelbosch

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