Crickets

Will the true cricket jump up please?

“True Crickets” are related to grasshoppers and katydids. There are some insects that are called crickets but they are in a different family altogether. What makes a cricket a cricket? And why do they find their way indoors to keep you up at night with their constant “song?” Yes, that noise is supposed to be a song – to woo the lady crickets!  Hearts Pest Management provides pest control for crickets. Mormon, Jerusalem, House, and Field crickets. True crickets are in the family Gryllidae although they do share a common ancestor with grasshoppers, katydids, and locusts, they all belong to the order Orthoptera. There are several different species of true crickets but the most common, and annoying around the home, are the Field and House crickets.

How do crickets make noise?

True cricket males have ridges on their wings which they rub together, forming a sort of instrument they use to serenade the lady crickets. Loud chirping is a song to attract females and ward off other males; soft chirping means the male cricket is courting a nearby female. Now that we have identified what the cricket in your closet is singing, let’s figure out how to make them go away…

Why do crickets come inside the house?

Crickets are harmless but when they jump, it can scare the bejeebers out of you! You’ll find more crickets seeking shelter indoors when it starts to cool down during the fall. Field crickets can’t reproduce indoors, so they are less likely to come inside. You’ll find these crickets around trash cans. They’ll eat a variety of things including rubber and plastic. House crickets, on the other hand, eat food similar to humans. They are omnivores that consume vegetables, meats, fruits and in nature, rotting fruits and leaves and other insects. Indoors, House crickets will also eat fabric, leather, certain types of cloth, and paper. Clothing is fair game as well any food sitting out.

Hearts Pest Management will treat both inside and out for crickets but here are some things you can do:

• Lure them from corners and crevices with a spoonful of molasses in a shallow bowl, filled halfway up with water. Of course, you’ll then have to get rid of the crickets on your own. …
• Vacuum regularly, and if you had crickets, you may want to clean the carpet to get rid of any eggs they may have laid. Make sure to throw away the contents of the vacuum cleaner!
• Another thing that is helpful, not just for crickets but spiders, ants, and other bugs, is to seal up your home. Check windowsills, baseboards and other areas that may have small cracks or holes.
• Keep trash covered. Crickets can smell it. If they have a nice food source, crickets will breed and enter your home.
• Cutting back on vegetation several feet from your house; wood piles or compost should be well away from the house too. Rotting leaves in drains and roof gutters and other plant debris attracts crickets and they will often nest in these areas.

For information on the following species please “jump” to our cricket pages:

Jerusalem Crickets; House Crickets; Mormon Crickets; Field Crickets

Hearts will provide a free inspection should crickets be an issue in and around your home. Please call today at:

800-986-1006

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