Cricket Control Scarborough

Scarborough is a small, quiet village on the Atlantic side of the peninsula, wedged between fynbos-covered mountain and a wild stretch of beach. Many homes stand empty for weeks at a time, and pests make the most of that.

Crawling insects in Scarborough: what we see

Fishmoths love the damp, salty air and stored linen, and rain spiders and other spiders shelter in cottages. Ants trail in through window frames in summer.

Homes range from older wooden holiday cottages and timber-clad houses to modern architect-designed places on the slopes. Some have thatch or exposed timber, and many have large decks. Holiday homes that sit closed up for long periods let rodents, fishmoths and cockroaches settle in without anyone noticing. Wood and damp sea air together put timber at risk.

The village borders Table Mountain National Park, with fynbos, rocky slopes and the Schusters River lagoon nearby. It's exposed to Atlantic mist, salt spray and strong winds, and winters are wet and cold. Wildlife from the park, including baboons, is part of life here, and damp conditions suit fishmoths and wood beetles.

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.

Signs to look for

1. Crickets sheltering in the garage, under appliances or behind skirting boards.
2. Loud chirping at night that stops as soon as you walk towards it.
3. Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
4. Small chewed holes in clothing, curtains or paper stored in damp places.
5. Birds and hadedas probing the lawn intensively, which is often a sign of mole crickets or other insects underneath.
6. Patches of grass that brown and die, and lift easily because the roots have been cut.

How we handle cricket control in Scarborough

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Cricket Control questions from Scarborough

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