Lakeside is squeezed between the mountain and Zandvlei, with Boyes Drive above and the railway line and Main Road running through the middle. Having both a mountain slope and a big vlei on your doorstep means you get pests from two very different directions.
Crawling insects around Lakeside
Damp lower-lying houses get fishmoths in cupboards and bookshelves. On the mountain side, rain spiders, baboon spiders and the odd scorpion come in from the fynbos.
Homes range from older cottages and family houses on the slopes to townhouses and small complexes nearer the vlei. A lot of the older houses have suspended timber floors and big trees in the garden, which gives rodents and borer something to work with. Garden flats and outside rooms are common and are usually the first place a pest problem gets noticed.
Zandvlei and the wetland around it are a breeding ground for midges and mosquitoes when the water warms up. Up the other side, Boyes Drive and the Silvermine section of Table Mountain National Park bring fynbos, rocks and the odd scorpion right to people's back walls. The South-Easter blows hard here in summer, and the winter rain soaks the lower roads near the vlei.
Tell-tale signs
- Raised, soft ridges and tunnels in the lawn, especially after watering.
- Small chewed holes in clothing, curtains or paper stored in damp places.
- 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.
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.
Mole crickets are often blamed on lawn grubs or dry patches, and people keep watering a lawn that is actually being cut from below. The soap water test is a cheap way to find out.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Cricket Control questions from Lakeside
Are the mosquitoes in Lakeside coming from Zandvlei?
Mostly, yes. Zandvlei and its wetland edges are prime breeding water in warm weather, so homes nearby notice the swarms on calm summer evenings. Clearing standing water at home and treating resting spots like dense shrubs cuts the numbers down.
Do you come out to Lakeside for cricket control?
Yes. Lakeside is part of our regular South Peninsula route, along with Muizenberg, Marina da Gama, Kirstenhof, Steenberg. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
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.
I live near Boyes Drive. Should I worry about scorpions?
You may see the odd one, mostly after rain or in late summer when they move about. Keep rock piles and woodpiles away from the house and check shoes left outside, and call us if they keep coming indoors.
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.
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