Crickets

Pest Status:

Name:

Order Orthoptera

Size:

16 to 22 mm in length

Colour:

yellowish-brown color

Body:

They have dark bands on their heads. Their wings cover half of their abdomen.

Crickets are famous for their chirping sounds, but there’s a lot to these insects. There are over 900 cricket species in the world.

Facts, Identification, and Control

Below are some quick cricket facts, including how to identify and control them.

Facts about Crickets

Crickets can be noisy, but they love to hide.

Where Do They Live?

Crickets love moist and damp areas, such as crawl spaces, bathrooms, wood piles, and basements.

What Do They Eat?

The pests are omnivorous, which means they’ll feed on seedlings, crops, and animal-based materials.

How Did I Get Crickets?

Crickets love the warmth and will find ways to get inside your house when it gets cold to get food, moisture, and warmth. They can crawl in through cracks in your siding, doors, windows, and basement.

How Serious are Crickets Problems?

Crickets can cause problems like:

Being a Nuisance

Crickets can be a nuisance, especially with their chirping, sounds at night. You won’t sleep in peace with these nocturnal pests around.

Damage to Crops

Crickets feed on seedlings and crops, which can lead to a damaged garden.

Destroying Clothes

Some cricket species feed on fabrics and can ruin clothes.

What Can I Do about Crickets?

If you have crickets in your house, you need to limit the use of outdoor lighting to avoid attracting these pests. Seal any gaps around the foundation and window frames. Clear out any clutter and clean up boxes. Use a dehumidifier to dry out any damp areas.

Signs of a Cricket Infestation

You can have a cricket infestation if you notice damage to your vegetables or flowers. Crickets chirp a lot, especially at night when looking for mates. Although they love to hide, crickets jump a lot at night, and you may spot them.

Cricket Prevention and Control Tips

Can pest control get rid of crickets? Yes, pest control can help eliminate these pests. However, you can take other preventative measures like:

Putting Traps Out

Sticky traps can help get rid of crickets to ensure they don’t become a food source for other insects.

Minimize Clutter

Reduce cricket hiding places by getting rid of clutter and clearing out any unused boxes.

Seal Any Gaps

Gaps and cracks around the window frames, doors, and foundation provide easy access for crickets. Inspect your house for these gaps and seal them to prevent access.

Cricket Professional Pest Control

Every home and building is different. If you want to know how to control crickets naturally, home remedies may only work for some time. You need a professional to help manage crickets and similar pests.

More information about crickets

https://www.britannica.com/animal/cricket-insect
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/crickets
http://cricketcare.org/

FAQ

Some common questions you may have about crickets include:

How Do I Control Crickets That Threaten Crops?

You can use pesticides to control crickets. However, a pest control company would be ideal as they have the skills and knowledge to handle crickets that threaten crops.

Do crickets bite humans?

Although they can bite, it is rare for a cricket’s mouthparts to actually puncture the skin. However, crickets do carry a significant number of diseases which, although having the ability to cause painful sores, are not fatal to humans.

Are crickets harmful to dogs?

Since crickets can carry parasites in their bodies and in their waste, eating one can cause stomach worms in dogs and other pets.

What are crickets attracted to?

Crickets are omnivorous, feeding readily on various foods, and are particularly attracted to sweetened beverages and beer. They can also feast on fabric, including clothing and carpet. Wool, cotton, silk, and synthetic fabrics as well as clothes soiled with perspiration are especially attractive to house crickets.