How To Get Rid Of Parktown Prawns?

Parktown Prawns are big bugs that cause trouble in South African gardens. They’re not really prawns, but a type of cricket. These pests can mess up your lawn and plants if you don’t stop them. In this guide, we’ll show you how to spot them, keep them away, and get rid of them if they invade your garden.

What Are Parktown Prawns?

Parktown Prawns are weird-looking insects that were first found in Mpumalanga back in 1899. They’ve since spread to cities like Johannesburg. These bugs can grow up to 10 centimeters long (that’s about as long as your hand!) and look pretty scary with their spiky legs and big jaws.

How to Spot a Parktown Prawn

To deal with Parktown Prawns, you need to know what they look like:

1. They’re big – about as long as a pen or pencil.
2. Their bodies are bright orange with dark stripes.
3. They have super long antennae (those are the feeler things on their heads).
4. Their legs are strong and spiky, which helps them jump really high.

Why Parktown Prawns Are a Pain

Even though these bugs help break down dead plants, they can be a real headache when there are too many of them:

1. They eat plants in your garden, leaving ugly patches.
2. Sometimes they come inside houses when it’s rainy or cold outside.
3. When scared, they spray a stinky black goo that smells awful.

Signs You Have a Parktown Prawn Problem

Here’s how you can tell if Parktown Prawns are bugging your garden:

1. You see the big insects crawling or jumping around.
2. Your plants look chewed up, especially the grass and leafy stuff.
3. You find little tunnels in the dirt around your yard.
4. At night, you hear loud cricket-like sounds.

How to Keep Parktown Prawns Away

It’s easier to stop Parktown Prawns from coming than to kick them out later. Try these tips:

1. Keep your lawn short and clean up dead leaves and stuff.
2. Turn off outside lights at night – these bugs like bright lights.
3. Fill in any cracks around your doors and windows.
4. Get rid of rotting plants in your garden.
5. Plant strong-smelling herbs like lavender near your house.
6. Check potted plants for bugs before bringing them inside.

Natural Ways to Get Rid of Parktown Prawns

If you want to avoid using chemicals, try these natural tricks:

1. Make a spray from crushed garlic and water to spritz around your garden.
2. Plant marigold flowers – Parktown Prawns don’t like how they smell.
3. Spread used coffee grounds around your plants.
4. Use something called diatomaceous earth (it’s a special kind of dirt) around your garden.
5. Invite birds, frogs, and lizards to your garden – they eat Parktown Prawns!

Using Chemicals to Control Parktown Prawns

If the natural ways don’t work, you might need to use stronger stuff:

1. Use snail bait that also works on Parktown Prawns.
2. Try insecticides made for crickets and similar bugs.
3. Spray special bug repellents around the edge of your property.

Getting Professional Help

If you’ve tried everything and still have problems, it might be time to call in the experts. Pest control professionals can:

1. Figure out how bad the problem is.
2. Make a plan just for your garden.
3. Use safe and strong methods to get rid of the bugs.
4. Help you stop them from coming back.

Smart Pest Control

For long-term control, use a mix of different methods:

1. Keep an eye out for Parktown Prawns regularly.
2. Change your garden to make it less inviting for these bugs.
3. Use traps or pick up the bugs by hand (wearing gloves, of course!).
4. Bring in animals that eat Parktown Prawns.
5. Use bug sprays only when you really need to.

Thinking About the Environment

While trying to get rid of Parktown Prawns, remember to:

1. Be careful not to hurt good bugs or animals.
2. Keep bug sprays out of streams and ponds.
3. Try to use earth-friendly methods when you can.

Common Questions

Q: Can Parktown Prawns hurt people?

A: They look scary, but they don’t bite or sting humans.

Q: How fast do Parktown Prawns make babies?

A: Really fast! One female can lay hundreds of eggs that hatch in just a few weeks.

Q: Will Parktown Prawns damage my house?

A: No, they won’t eat your house like termites do. They mostly just bug your garden.

Q: How long do Parktown Prawns live?

A: They usually live for a few months up to a year.

Q: Are Parktown Prawns good for anything?

A: They’re not all bad – they help break down dead plants and mix up the soil.

Conclusion

Dealing with Parktown Prawns takes a bit of work, but you can do it! By using a mix of keeping them away, using natural tricks, and sometimes stronger stuff, you can protect your South African garden from these pesky bugs. Remember, catching the problem early is the best way to handle it. With some effort and the right know-how, you can have a garden without Parktown Prawns bugging you all the time.