Nothing could be more peaceful than the chirping sound of field crickets in the background on a summer evening.
However, when they decide to move indoors and start to lay eggs, they become a real nuisance. These chirping, flying insects can quickly wear out their welcome. What with the constant noise and potential for spreading disease, you want to know how to stop crickets in their tracks.
While these noisy insects aren’t as damaging as other pests, they can be destructive. Crickets will munch on paper, certain fabrics, and even wood!
Here is some information about why crickets and other insects come into your house. We will offer you some pest control tips about getting rid of field crickets and other species of insects.
What is a House Cricket?
The pests that live inside your home are one of over 900 individual categories of crickets called Acheta Domesticus (Linnaeus). This species can be seen all over the United States, most commonly to the east of The Rocky Mountains.
People who have reptiles for pets, such as lizards and snakes, buy crickets as feed. In addition, some people in the world actually eat them as a less costly form of protein.
The outdoors is a comfortable place for crickets to live. During warm weather, they find sustenance in live insects, plant beds, tall grass, even garbage.
Yet, when mercury levels fall, they prefer to seek the warmth of your cozy home. They will look for entry points by way of the window screens, or cracks in the foundation.
Once inside, they can subsist for an indefinite time period. Living in clothing, carpets, and dark places. Crickets take an exceptional liking to moist places, silk, synthetics, and wool. In addition, the perspiration on clothing offers a tasty delicacy for these insects.
What do House Crickets Look Like?
A house cricket is different from a field cricket, even though they are also seen in the yard. The house cricket differs not only in appearance but also in behavior and what they eat. A field cricket is considered poison to gardeners because they will eat all their crops and vegetation.
The adult field cricket is dark brown to black in color, while the adult house crickets are a light, yellowish-brown hue and have three dark bands across their head. In addition, the adult house cricket has the following features:
- They are a little smaller, from ¾ to ⅞ of an inch long
- Threadlike antennae, usually longer than the rest of its body, and wings lying flat similar to a cockroach.
- Has long hind legs; this allows them lots of power for jumping
Are Crickets Harmful in the House?
When crickets get inside your home, they will do damage by eating several types of fabric. They especially like cotton, silk, and wool. They harm certain items in your home, such as rugs, wall covers, and even cause destruction to wood.
Basically, anything constructed from materials that contain plants or fabric can and will be eaten by crickets. Crickets may also spread infectious diseases by means of their feces.
What Attracts Crickets Into My House?
There are several items that may attract crickets to your house. One of those items might be your garbage or trash container. Crickets come indoors in search of shelter and food.
The outdoor lighting and bright lights also attract these noisy creatures. If you store firewood beside your house, it can provide a home to more crickets.
Crickets are also drawn towards moist environments that are also warm, like your home. They get inside your home through various openings or cracks in masonry, door frames, and windows.
How do I know I have Crickets in House?
The main clue that you have them living in your house is the noise they make. This familiar sound is the noise male house crickets make when searching for a mate.
There are three types most often discovered indoors: camel crickets, house crickets, and field crickets. The house cricket gets its moniker because once it finds the entry points inside, it can survive indefinitely living indoors.
These noisy pests are most popular in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains.
What are signs of a Cricket Invasion?
Crickets love moist, dark areas, such as crawl spaces and basements. In the eastern U.S., it is normally infested by the Greenhouse camel cricket. They are also called cave crickets or spider crickets.
If you suspect an invasion of crickets, you might notice them regularly. You might have seen some in the areas of your home that are moist and dark. For instance, going down to the basement, you turn on the light and see literally dozens crawling around.
Sometimes crickets will find their ways to other areas of your home. One sign that several crickets have been in a certain location is the frass they leave behind. Frass is a dried excrement that bears a similarity to coffee grounds.
How do I control an invasion of Adult House Crickets?
It can be difficult to control an invasion of house crickets, because if they feel threatened, they become silent. Following the chirping sound is hard, since it can be confusing to figure out which direction it comes from.
Below are tips for removing crickets to help get rid of crickets invading your home:
- Find out which room they are in, seal and block all entry points they may use to get into other rooms. Remember, most species of crickets fly, seal all cracks, and close the door.
- Get rid of any water and food sources, this step eventually starves the pests.
- Sprinkle some boric acid in areas you have noticed them congregating.
- Make sure to clean the room well. You need to get rid of any places that might pose as hiding spots for crickets. The least places they have to hide will make their elimination easier.
- Keep in mind one thing--crickets are tiny creatures. They can get into places that people cannot access. Such as behind the baseboards. You might need to use insecticide spray in these areas.
A big invasion of camel crickets can also be managed in a similar manner. Block them from being able to expand their terrain.
Take away the water and food sources, eliminate hiding areas, and use insecticide sprays or boric acid if needed.
Can crickets hurt humans?
Crickets are more of an annoyance and won’t physically hurt you. However, they can spread disease and sometimes create flu-like symptoms.
These pests will forage through the pantry, in search of vegetables, fruits, and even pet food. The main thing they damage is your ability to get a good night’s rest.
Because they are nocturnal creatures, they have been known to chirp all night long.
How long do crickets live in the house?
Once a cricket reaches adulthood, they generally live about eight to ten weeks before dying due to old age. As cold weather approaches, any remaining adult crickets will be killed off within the year.
These pests can live for nearly two weeks without water or food. You might be able to starve them out, yet, they can wreak havoc in the time it takes to kill crickets.
What does it mean when I have a cricket in my house?
There are a variety of different belief’s as to what the presence of crickets in a house means. Some say it is a sign of a future positive financial windfall. Others say it can be a premonition of death to someone close to you.
Then there is another belief that crickets are a sign of good luck. Some say that if you have a cricket in near the hearth or in the kitchen, it is a sign of good luck.
How do you get rid of Camel crickets and other insects in your house?
If crickets constant chirping in your house are keeping you from getting rest, here are some pest control tips to get rid of crickets.
Take preventative measures
The first step to get rid of crickets is to try to prevent them from entering your home. How to do this is to seal all cracks around doors and windows with caulk or some other sealant. Reduce the moisture levels in your home, you might want to enlist the assistance of a dehumidifier.
Apply natural insecticide dust around the perimeter walls of your home. Next, outdoors spray a botanical spray around the outside walls of your home and by the foundation. Ensure to mow your lawn regularly, and flower beds are free of weeds and other debris. Eliminate leaky pipes, remember, crickets love moisture and water.
If you have tried all the above measures and still have crickets, it’s time to take more intense action. You need to assure those chirping bugs have no access to moisture, shelter, and food. If you do this, they will leave.
Vacuum floors Routinely
If you want to remove crickets, the best way to do this is to vacuum your floors regularly. Vacuuming will remove the hard to see, tiny cricket eggs. In addition, after vacuuming, ensure to remove the vacuum bag and set it outside in a sealed trash receptacle.
Ensure the primary focus is on the moist areas of your home. The bathroom and kitchen, as well as the basement.
A Variety of Products for Pest Control
When you have a bug issue, it’s imperative that you find the right products for pest control. You need to find a way to safely and efficiently make your home free of those bugs.
Using Baits
The use of sticky traps is an excellent way to be rid of house crickets. Just make sure they are put in areas away from everyday walkways, because they are extremely sticky. Another method of pest control is boric acid. This is a granular perimeter kind of bait that is used on the outside of the house. Crickets are attracted to the granules, dying after consumption.
What are the identifying characteristics of a House cricket?
There are some specific markings and characteristics that identify a House cricket, such as across the head are three dark crossbands. The major color tones of their body are typically black to light brown hues.
House crickets also have long antennae, wings and large hind legs, which aids them jumping. These insects can grow to around three quarters of an inch long. Young nymphs look much the same as their adult counterparts, only sans the wings.
What are Crickets Attracted to?
Crickets are attracted to outdoor areas such as compost piles, and a home’s exterior near stored firewood. They thrive best in damp areas that are dark and moist place such as a basement. The kitchen, fireplaces, and heaters are favorite congregational spots for crickets during a house cricket infestation.
What are cave crickets?
They are noticeable because of their humpbacked look. The camel crickets are also called cave crickets. This type of insect can be seen all over the United States.
Camel crickets grow to be one-half to one and a half inches in length. The camel crickets are different from true crickets, they lack the organs needed to produce sound. Therefore, they are not able to make a chirping noise, and they do not have any wings.
How to get rid of all crickets, for good!
After trying the home remedies to get rid of those pesky, chirping cricket species, it’s time to call the professionals!
We know how to deter crickets. It doesn't matter if it's field crickets, mole crickets, cave crickets, and any other crickets that make noise!
When you have a cricket infestation, get some sleep tonight. Call A.N.T. Pest Control, we know how to catch crickets and prevent crickets from ruining another good night's sleep!