House Crickets

What do house crickets look like?

A house cricket is between ¾ and ⅞ of an inch in length. It is tan and has three dark crossbands on the head. It has three pairs of legs. The front four legs are small, and the two legs just before the abdomen are big and powerful. On the head of the cricket are two threaded antennae. Shooting off the end of the cricket, at a forty-five-degree angle, are two appendages that look like antennae but are not. These appendages are called cerci. Crickets use them to detect vibrations. Female crickets have a third and more extended appendage called an ovipositor, which rests between the cerci and shoots straight out, often at an upward tilt. A female cricket uses the ovipositor to lay eggs.

What do house crickets eat?

House crickets eat a variety of foods, including the following:

• Protein-rich sources
• Honeydew, nectar, and other carbohydrates
• Seeds
• Other plant-based materials

Are house crickets dangerous?

House crickets do not physically harm people, but they can damage property. They are not known to attack and bite, but when handled, they may cause a pinching bite.

How do house crickets damage property?

These crickets graze on several food sources, and their grazing activities can cause damage. You'll find house crickets eating flowers, seeds, grass, vegetables, fruits, honeydew, decaying leaves, mulch, and more in your yard. They also feed on insects and larvae. While their eating of insects and larvae will help you with your pest control, their plant-eating activities can cause damage to your vegetation.

When house crickets get into your home, you may find them feeding on many things you don't consider food. They'll eat the fibers in shirts, pants, wool blankets, sheets, carpets, drapes, and more. They'll feed on wallpaper, photos, documents, and other paper products, particularly if the paper has starchy glue. You may also find house crickets in your pantry. They eat many foods, including fruit-based products, grains, cereals, wheat, bran, rice, and pet food.

What are house crickets attracted to?

The most apparent attractant is food. House crickets gravitate to yards that offer food options. If you have lots of plants, they'll come to feed on them. If you have pests around your home, they'll come to feed on those. But other factors can attract crickets to your home.

• They're drawn to yards with exterior lighting and light that emanates from porches or indoor spaces.
• Crickets are drawn to heat sources, particularly when night temperatures drop. They explore gaps where warmth is leaking out.
• Crickets prefer humid habitats. Dense vegetation and tall grass are prime locations to find these insects.

Altering these conditions can deter house crickets. Here are a few suggestions:

• Replace white lights with bulbs that emit yellow light. Insects cannot see yellow light, so they aren't attracted to it.
• Use weatherproofing materials, such as door sweeps, weatherstripping, and caulk, to hold heat in and seal potential exterior entry points.
• Keep grass cut, remove weeds, and trim landscaping to reduce habitats.
• Rake leaves as soon as possible to reduce leaf litter or piles.

Diligence can reduce the populations of crickets on your property and, therefore, decrease your chances of an indoor cricket infestation.

Why do house crickets chirp?

Male crickets produce the distinctive sound associated with crickets. They create this sound by rubbing their leathery front wings together. Why does a male cricket do this? They do it to attract a mate. That sound you find so annoying is what draws a female cricket. She doesn't find it annoying at all.

How do I get rid of house crickets?

If it’s too late and you’ve already seen or heard house crickets in your home, call Marathon Pest Control. Our pest control specialists offer residential pest control services targeting these and other pests. By offering year-round pest treatments, we not only eliminate active infestations but also prevent new ones from developing.

How do I prevent a house cricket infestation?

Implement the steps above to discourage house crickets, and sign up for year-round pest control from Marathon Pest Control today!