Here's What You Need to Do to Get Rid of Crickets for Good
Chirp! Chirp! For many of us, we associate the sounds of crickets with childhood memories, like warm, summer nights spent beneath the stars playing outside with other neighborhood kids. But there can be a side of crickets that isn't so pleasant. You may have figured out how to get rid of stinkbugs, but crickets can really test your patience and become a household problem, too. As you research and learn how to get rid of fruit flies, how to get rid of mice, or how to get rid of snakes, it's worth adding how to get rid of crickets to your pest control arsenal.
What kind of crickets are in my house?
The main types of crickets include field crickets, which tend to sport darker coloring and a glossier body, and house crickets, which are lighter in color and usually have dark stripes or bands across the backs of their heads. While they're very common and usually harmless with low chances of infestation, their more pest-like family members, spider crickets, are the ones to truly watch out for as seasons change and pest control rises to the top of your to-do list.
Spider crickets are also known as camel crickets or cave crickets, and do not make the same chirping sounds as common crickets. They attract mates by emitting a smell from their bodies, which means reproduction can speed up when they're trapped together in a small space with little ventilation. They are silent and nocturnal, but when they do venture beyond their hiding place, their defense mechanism is to jump very high when startled or threatened.
While all crickets are harmless to humans, they are certainly unpleasant and can become overwhelming if they take over your home, so be sure to address any sign of a problem as soon as possible.
What are crickets attracted to?
Field and house crickets (or "common crickets") appreciate warmth, and if trapped inside your home are usually found near furnaces, water heaters, or near other appliances that create heat. At night, these crickets are attracted to light, too.
Spider crickets (or camel crickets) prefer dark, damp areas that have minimal activity, like crawl spaces, basements, and other storage areas.
How do crickets get into your house?
Crickets can find their way in just like other insects: through small cracks and openings that may be invisible to the human eye. Unfortunately, crickets (particularly camel crickets) feed on pretty much anything, including other smaller insects, vegetation, fungi, cardboard and other fibers, so they can make themselves at home in plenty of places.
How do you get rid of spider crickets?
Make sure to seal all exterior openings that could prove to be entry points for crickets and their offspring, or areas that could let excess moisture into an unused space. If you are seeing them in a basement or crawl space, consider purchasing a dehumidifier or fan to help with air circulation and mold prevention.
Be sure that your garage or basement (or other storage areas that could easily become cluttered) are as clean as possible and free of any excess debris that could attract and foster an insect population.
Because a camel cricket population can grow quickly, killing one or two as you see them likely won't help much in the long run. Consider purchasing sticky bug traps (wide strips of cardboard with powerful adhesive) and distributing in areas where crickets are commonly spotted. (Just be careful not to step on the traps yourself!)
If your cricket problem continues, call your local pest control expert. They'll likely be able to bring in a heavy-duty spray or other methods to help with your problem.
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