Mamre is an old Moravian mission village north of Atlantis, surrounded by open farmland and West Coast veld. Life here is quieter and more rural than the city, and the pests follow suit: field mice, crickets and grain pests more than city rats.
The local picture in Mamre
Crickets and ants come in from the veld in summer, and scorpions shelter under stones, bricks and wood. Shake out boots and gloves left outdoors.
At its heart are the historic mission buildings with whitewashed walls and thatched roofs, and around them are family homes, newer subsidised housing and smallholdings. Thatch and old timber need regular checks for borer and nesting rodents. Outbuildings, sheds and chicken coops on bigger plots attract mice and rats.
Mice and rats from the surrounding farmland are the main concern, especially in autumn and winter. Flies are common in summer near livestock. Ants, crickets and scorpions come in from the dry veld.
What gives them away
- Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
- Small chewed holes in clothing, curtains or paper stored in damp places.
- Crickets sheltering in the garage, under appliances or behind skirting boards.
- Raised, soft ridges and tunnels in the lawn, especially after watering.
- Loud chirping at night that stops as soon as you walk towards it.
Something most people miss
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our cricket control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Keep the garage and storeroom tidy and dry, since crickets love damp cardboard and clutter.
- Fit brush strips under exterior doors and garage doors so crickets cannot walk straight in.
- Seal cracks in walls and around window frames, and check that airbricks have intact mesh.
- Swap bright white outside lights for yellow or warm-coloured bulbs, which attract fewer insects.
- Water the lawn deeply but less often, as constantly damp soil suits mole crickets.
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.
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.
Questions we get asked in Mamre
Do you come out to Mamre for cricket control?
Yes. Mamre is part of our regular Blaauwberg & West Coast route, along with Atlantis, Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand. 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.
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.
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.
Why do we get so many mice in Mamre in autumn?
When the surrounding wheat fields are harvested and the weather cools, mice lose their cover and food and move into homes and sheds. Sealing gaps before the season starts makes a real difference.
Can you treat borer in a thatched roof?
Yes, we inspect thatch and roof timbers for beetle activity and treat it with methods suited to thatch. Older mission-era roofs especially benefit from a regular check.
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