University Estate is a small hillside neighbourhood on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak, above Woodstock and next to Walmer Estate. Steep streets and a view over the harbour come with the bush and the old drains that bring rodents and roaches calling.
Crawling insects in University Estate: what we see
American cockroaches live in the old drainage, and fishmoths like damp under-house storerooms. Argentine ants trail up through terraced gardens in summer.
Homes are a mix of older semi-detached houses, small freestanding homes and a few newer builds squeezed onto the slope. Many are built close together with shared walls, so a mouse problem rarely stays at one address. Retaining walls, terraced gardens and storage spaces under the house all give pests shelter.
Devil's Peak and the Table Mountain National Park greenbelt sit just above, and in summer the South-Easter tumbles down the slope hard. Winter rain runs off the mountain and through the streets, keeping retaining walls and low rooms damp. Fire-scarred slopes higher up occasionally push rodents downhill.
Rats and mice from the mountain edge and older drains are the main concern. Cockroaches, fishmoths and ants are frequent in damp lower rooms. Pigeons and timber borer turn up in the older houses.
What gives them away
- Large numbers of crickets attracted to outside lights on warm nights.
- Birds and hadedas probing the lawn intensively, which is often a sign of mole crickets or other insects underneath.
- 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.
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.
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.
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
- Fit brush strips under exterior doors and garage doors so crickets cannot walk straight in.
- Clear leaf litter, mulch, firewood and garden rubbish away from the walls of the house.
- Swap bright white outside lights for yellow or warm-coloured bulbs, which attract fewer insects.
- 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.
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.
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 University Estate
Do you come out to University Estate for cricket control?
Yes. University Estate is part of our regular City Bowl & Atlantic Seaboard route, along with Walmer Estate, Upper Woodstock, Zonnebloem, Woodstock. 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.
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.
Is it normal to get rats in University Estate after a mountain fire?
It can happen, because animals displaced from the slopes move downhill looking for food and shelter. Sealing entry points and setting up bait stations around the property usually brings it under control.
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 rent a room in University Estate and think I have bed bugs. What should I do?
Tell your landlord straight away and send us a photo on WhatsApp so we can confirm the identification. Bed bugs spread between rooms, so the whole house usually needs inspecting.
Office 021 012 5825 · WhatsApp us
