Cricket Control in Schotsche Kloof

Schotsche Kloof is the upper, steeper part of the Bo-Kaap, climbing toward Signal Hill. Homes are close together and families have often lived here for generations, so we work with households who know their neighbours and their pest history well.

Crawling insects in Schotsche Kloof: what we see

German cockroaches spread through flats via shared ducts and plumbing. Ants come in through cracks in old walls during dry weather.

There's a mix of older flat-roofed terraced cottages, newer renovations and the large blocks of council flats that the area is known for. Shared walls and flat roofs make it easy for rats and cockroaches to move from home to home. In the flats, cockroaches and bed bugs travel through service ducts and shared refuse areas. Renovated homes sometimes trap old pest problems inside new walls.

The area sits on the lower slopes of Signal Hill, which brings strong South-Easter winds and run-off in winter. The hillside's open veld and brush shelter rodents, and stormwater can carry debris down the slopes. Winters are wet and summers hot and windy.

Tell-tale signs

1. Crickets sheltering in the garage, under appliances or behind skirting boards.
2. Raised, soft ridges and tunnels in the lawn, especially after watering.
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.

Something most people miss

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.

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.

Keeping them out afterwards

• 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.
• Water the lawn deeply but less often, as constantly damp soil suits mole crickets.
• Clear leaf litter, mulch, firewood and garden rubbish away from the walls of the house.

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.

Frequently asked questions

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