Plumstead is a settled, leafy suburb with long-standing families, a lot of oak and jacaranda shade and older homes that have been added onto over the years. That patchwork of old and new building is what keeps us busy here.
Crawling insects around Plumstead
American cockroaches come up from drains and sewer lines in older homes, while German cockroaches are more of a kitchen problem in flats and shops. Fishmoths and silverfish like the damp built-in cupboards.
You'll find solid brick semis, 1940s and 1950s bungalows with suspended wooden floors, and blocks of flats closer to Main Road. Many houses have extensions, outside rooms and converted garages, and the joins between old and new are classic entry points. Under-floor voids in the older homes hold damp, which suits cockroaches and fishmoths. Shops and takeaways along Main Road bring their own rodent and cockroach pressure.
Plumstead sits below the Constantiaberg on the wetter side of the peninsula, so winters are properly damp. Mature trees and established gardens give squirrels and roof rats easy highways from one property to the next. The railway line between Wynberg and Diep River also acts as a corridor for rodents.
Roof rats and squirrels in ceilings are the most common call, followed by German and American cockroaches in kitchens and drains. Fishmoths show up in older homes with damp under-floor spaces. Summer brings ants and wasps.
How to tell you have a problem
- Birds and hadedas probing the lawn intensively, which is often a sign of mole crickets or other insects underneath.
- Crickets sheltering in the garage, under appliances or behind skirting boards.
- Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
- Small chewed holes in clothing, curtains or paper stored in damp places.
- Loud chirping at night that stops as soon as you walk towards it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Want the full step-by-step? See how our cricket control service works.
Stopping a repeat visit
- Clear leaf litter, mulch, firewood and garden rubbish away from the walls of the house.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Questions we get asked in Plumstead
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.
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.
I'm selling an older house in Plumstead. Do I need a beetle certificate?
Many sale agreements ask for one, so it's worth checking your offer to purchase. We can inspect the roof and floor timbers and give you a written report.
Do you come out to Plumstead for cricket control?
Yes. Plumstead is part of our regular Southern Suburbs route, along with Wynberg, Diep River, Southfield, Heathfield. Most bookings are done within about 48 hours, and after-hours visits can be arranged.
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.
Are the scratching noises in my Plumstead ceiling rats or squirrels?
If it's mostly during the day it's usually squirrels; at night it's more likely rats. Either way we inspect the eaves and roof line to find the entry point before treating.
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