Crickets

Brief overview of crickets

Crickets are a mainly nocturnal species of insect that are distantly related to grasshoppers. They live successfully in a wide variety of habitats; and when found living outside, they are considered to be a beneficial species. They are omnivores and their diet includes feeding on a variety of nuisance insects, weeds, and decaying plant materials

What do crickets look like?

There are more than 900 species of crickets found living across the world; two of the most common cricket species in our area are the camel cricket and the house cricket.

Camel Crickets

Camel crickets were named because of their humpbacked appearance; they also have large, powerful legs that they use for jumping out of harm’s way. Adults grow to be ½ to 1 ½ inches in length and are light brown to dark brown. Some of their body segments may be mottled or have dark bands on them. Camel crickets do not possess sound-producing organs and do not chirp.

House Crickets

The house cricket is one of the most common species of cricket to invade homes and other buildings. They are most often identified by the loud chirping sounds the males create by rubbing their front wings together. They create this sound in order to attract a mate. House crickets are yellowish-brown and have 3 dark bands going across their head. Adults grow to be ¾ to 7/8th inches in length.

Where am I likely to see crickets?

Crickets live in a variety of places; outside you are most likely to run into them in places like underneath stones, woodpiles, landscaping ties, fallen trees, and rotting logs. Crickets tend to move indoors during the winter months or if it becomes too hot and dry outside. Inside homes and other buildings, crickets typically prefer damp, dark areas like basements, crawl spaces, underneath sinks, and laundry rooms.

Are crickets dangerous?

Crickets are considered to be a nuisance pest when found inside. They are not known to pose any health risks to people, and they are not known to bite or sting. However, it is important to know that crickets living inside can damage personal property. They have the ability to chew through and damage items like curtains, upholstered furniture, clothing, wallpaper, and smaller-sized houseplants.  

How do I get rid of crickets?

Though crickets are not dangerous, no one wants to share their home or space with these bugs. At Adams Exterminating Company, we offer pest control plans in Lewisville, Denton, and throughout North Texas that effectively eliminate and prevent crickets. Contact us today to discuss your specific situation and how our pest control treatments for crickets can help you get rid of your cricket problem.