Cricket infestations can turn tranquil homes into noisy war zones full of incessant chirping and property destruction. These tiny bugs may appear innocent enough, but do not let their small size fool you – they can be a plague in the house when you want them the least.
Many people face cricket infestations when seasons change. They are also usually attracted to artificial lighting, the dispersed moths we see on walls, electric light, and buildings, and more at a time, up to thousands, on upright surfaces – light poles, house walls.
Managing the crickets involves knowledge of their behavior and application of specific control tactics. But severe infestations often require professional help to eradicate the problem entirely and prevent a repeat invasion. See details of how you can speak to a professional pest control expert and also learn how to keep cricket infestation at bay.
Why Does Cricket Invade Your Home?
Seeking Warmth and Shelter
Crickets enter homes most often in search of a refuge from the outdoors for harsh environmental conditions, and find places to call home. As it gets cold, they try to escape the cold by coming into houses and sheds, in search of moisture and warmth.
In the fall and winter, crickets move indoors through tiny cracks and openings in your doors and windows. They head for basements, garages, and crawl spaces where the humidity is constant.
Attraction to Light Sources
Light pollution in domestic environments acts as a strong magnet for cricket populations. Flood lamps, security lights, and lighted windows attract huge numbers of crickets into residential areas.
It gets worse for public buildings under constant artificially bright lighting. Many commercial buildings and stadiums attract large numbers of crickets because they routinely use bright white overhead lights, usually keep them on, and create a lot of heat.
Access to Food and Moisture
There are plenty of available food sources inside buildings to maintain cricket numbers during the cooler months. House crickets can be destructive pests, laying waste to clothes, carpets, and anything covered in fabric.
Cricket survival and reproduction are supported by leaky pipes, damp basements, and condensation around appliances. Such water sources allow crickets to make a home for themselves in your house.
How to Prevent Crickets?
Eliminate Entry Points
Closing access points for potential entry is the basis for successful cricket control. Look for cracks in foundation walls, gaps around doors and windows, and openings where utilities enter the building.
Make sure you focus on any locations, such as where building materials and other structures meet, or gaps can form over time. Take steps to seal all gaps, and fit door sweeps on outside doors and screens on windows and vents.
Reduce Outdoor Attractions
Lighting your property can make a big difference in reducing the attraction of crickets to your home. Install yellow or sodium vapor lights rather than bright white lights outdoors that insects do not like.
Clean up debris piles, wood piles, and overgrown vegetation near the foundation of your home, as crickets can hide and breed in these areas. Ensure good drainage on your property to get rid of standing water.
Control Indoor Conditions
Maintain low moisture levels in your home to deter crickets. Dehumidify basements and crawl spaces to keep humidity below 50 percent. Keep food sources in sealed containers and ensure that living spaces are free from any crumbs and organic materials.
If you have a carpeted home, there may be crumbs or eggs present that the field crickets are feeding on. Take your vacuum cleaner on a regular basis for a spin to remove those elements along with the crickets.
Professional Monitoring and Treatment
Routine professional inspections can find these before they become a large infestation. Early detection and prompt intervention can prevent small problems from turning into major crises by the time the treatment protocol comes to an end.
Professional pest controllers are able to carry out targeted treatments using professional products and equipment not available to homeowners. Preventing cricket infestations before they become established is a situation requiring the correct treatments, used at the right time.
