how to get rid of parktown prawns

How to Get Rid of Parktown Prawns A Guide for South African Homeowners

Parktown prawns also known as king crickets or wandering violin mantises are a common nuisance pest in many South African gardens and homes. With their large size, intimidating appearance, and ability to damage plants, it’s no wonder homeowners want to get rid of these uninvited guests. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about identifying, preventing, and safely controlling parktown prawn infestations.

What Are Parktown Prawns?

Parktown prawns (Libanasidus vittatus) are a species of king cricket native to South Africa. They earned the nickname “prawns” due to their resemblance to the shellfish, with long antennae and a brownish segmented body. These nocturnal insects can grow up to 10 cm in length, making them one of the largest pests found in South African households.

Parktown prawns thrive in warm, humid environments with plenty of shelter and food sources. Typical habitats include leaf litter, compost heaps, dense vegetation, and cracks or crevices in the soil. During the day, they burrow underground or hide under debris, emerging at night to feed.

While parktown prawns play an important role in breaking down organic matter, their large numbers can become a problem in residential settings. Let’s look at why they can be a nuisance and how to identify an infestation on your property.

Problems Caused By Parktown Prawns

• Damage to gardens and landscaping: Parktown prawns feed voraciously on plant roots, leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits. This can result in wilting, loss of vigor, dieback, and even death in your prized plants.

• Unsightly holes and tunnels in the soil: Their extensive burrowing damages lawns and garden beds, leaving unsightly patches of disrupted soil.

• Indoor invasions: During certain times of year, usually the mating season, parktown prawns will seek shelter indoors. Finding these creepy pests crawling through your living space can be very unsettling!

• Foul odor when crushed: Parktown prawns release a foul-smelling odor as a defense mechanism when threatened. This scent can linger for quite some time.

Signs of a Parktown Prawn Infestation

Here are some of the most common signs that parktown prawns may have invaded your outdoor areas:

• Visible damage to plants, especially chewed leaves, wilting seedlings, etc.

• Presence of large burrows (2-3 cm wide) and muddy tunnels in soil.

• Clumps of coarse soil or mud pellets on lawn, garden beds, or against foundations.

• Nocturnal lawn or garden activity where you can see them roaming around.

• Chirping noises emerging from vegetation at night. The males make these sounds during mating calls.

• Finding live prawns indoors, especially during summer or rainy periods.

• Cracked dry mud trails along walls or other vertical surfaces. This is a sign they climbed up from burrows.

If you spot any of these signs, it’s recommended to act quickly and implement control measures before the infestation grows.

Preventing Parktown Prawn Invasions

While it’s difficult to keep parktown prawns out of your yard entirely, there are some effective prevention strategies you can follow:

• Eliminate food sources – Remove piles of dead leaves/grass clippings, keep compost in sealed bins, and clear excess plant debris.

• Reduce suitable habitats – Fill in areas of bare soil, keep grass mowed short, and prune dense/overgrown vegetation.

• Use barriers – Install fine mesh screen over vents, drains, and foundation weep holes. Caulk around windows and doors.

• Manage outdoor lighting – Use yellow bulbs instead of white/blue and keep nights as dark as possible.

• Encourage natural predators – Attract birds, hedgehogs, reptiles, and amphibians to your garden.

• Inspect potted plants – Check any new plants thoroughly for eggs before bringing indoors. Quarantine if uncertain.

• Apply desiccant dust barriers – Diatomaceous earth or silica aerogel around potential entry points.

The key is making your landscape less attractive and accessible to parktown prawns looking for food and shelter. Consistent prevention practices will help curtail infestations.

Non-Toxic Prawn Control Options

For mild parktown prawn invasions, start with these non-toxic control remedies:

• Hand picking at night – Collect prawns after dark using a flashlight and gloves then drop them into a bucket of soapy water.

• Trapping – Lure prawns into homemade traps baited with lettuce, cucumber slices or juicy fruits. Empty traps daily.

• Hot water drenches – Boiling water poured directly into burrows and hideouts will kill prawns.

• Insect growth regulators – Apply products containing methanoprene or hydroprene near active burrows. These interrupt the prawn life cycle.

• Nematodes – Use beneficial Steinernema feltiae nematodes to parasitize and kill prawns. Apply to soil and repeat as needed.

• Encourage predators – Promote habitat for birds, hedgehogs, rats, frogs, etc. to boost natural predation.

• Diatomaceous earth – Dust areas where prawns are active. The sharp edges cut their bodies, causing dehydration.

• Barriers – Ring vegetable gardens with 18-inch copper flashing sunk 6 inches into soil to block burrowing routes.

Monitor to assess effectiveness and reapply remedies approximately every 2 weeks until prawn populations dwindle. Combining multiple non-chemical options often yields the best results.

Chemical Pesticides For Parktown Prawn Control

For heavy infestations that overwhelm non-toxic methods, certain pesticides are effective at killing parktown prawns:

• Carbaryl dusts/liquids – Carbaryl insecticides applied into burrow openings or sprayed over vegetation provides good control. Use strictly as per label directions.

• Bifenthrin sprays – Products containing bifenthrin as the active ingredient can provide up to 6 weeks of residual prawn control when applied around borders and foundations. Exercise caution not to contaminate edible plants.

• Cypermethrin-based sprays – Broadly effective against pests including parktown prawns. Spray infested areas in evenings when prawns are active. Do not use where pollinators are present.

• Snail baits with metaldehyde – Specially designed molluscicide pellets also affect prawns when ingested. Scatter near burrow openings and runs. Avoid contact with pets.

• Chlorpyrifos granules – Insecticidal bait that disrupts the nervous system of prawns, eventually causing paralysis and death. Apply around yard perimeter.

Carefully follow all label precautions and guidelines when using pesticide products. Only use chemicals specifically registered for parktown prawn control in South Africa. Test in small areas first and monitor for any unintended impact on beneficial garden life.

Hiring Professional Prawn Extermination Services

For severe, recurrent infestations, the most effective solution is hiring professional pest control operators. Reputable extermination companies have access to advanced techniques and chemicals – like Fipronil and specialised insect growth regulators – that typically provide superior control compared to DIY methods.

Benefits of professional parktown prawn extermination:

• Fast knockdown of large populations using strong pesticides not available to homeowners.

• Precise chemical application with specialised spray equipment into hard-to-reach prawn hideouts.

• Customised treatment plans based on inspection findings and consideration of your property conditions.

• Follow-up visits and retreatments as needed to achieve full eradication.

• Advice on proofing your home’s exterior to prevent future prawn invasions.

When hiring prawn exterminators, check for licenses, insurance, and experience dealing specifically with parktown prawns. Request a detailed plan of how they will treat the infestation along with expected costs. With professional assistance, even the most stubborn prawn infestations can be eliminated for good.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parktown Prawns

Q: How can I tell if I have parktown prawns in my garden?

A: Signs like chewed up plants, large burrow holes in soil, chirping at night, visible prawns roaming around, and finding them indoors indicate an active infestation.

Q: Are parktown prawns harmful to humans or pets?

A: Parktown prawns do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases. Their strong legs and antennae could potentially scratch skin. The foul odor released when crushed can cause temporary nausea. Overall, they pose very little danger to people or