Cricket Control

Cricket control is a professional pest control service that should be handled by a professional pest control expert, The control of the insects often requires the use of chemicals that can only be obtained by a professional with all the right licenses and insurance, these chemicals are often regulated by the state to control where and how they are applied. To find a pest control professional use this link.

Damage Caused by Crickets

Aside from the fact that no one likes to be confronted with a large insect crawling across their floor at night, crickets can be noisy at dusk, and be a nuisance when they swarm around outdoor lights. Some species of crickets will get into whatever food they can find, and may damage fabrics and paper products. Mole crickets may damage turf grass strawberries and other fruit touching the ground.
House crickets (and occasionally camel crickets) have the potential to become permanent residents in a home, whereas field crickets will die off by early winter in colder areas.

Types of Crickets: Field Crickets, House Crickets, Mole Crickets and Camel Crickets

The house cricket is ¾ inch long, yellow-brown, with three dark bands on the head.
Field crickets are also about ¾ inch long, black and robust-bodied. They feed on grasshopper eggs, and the pupae of moths, butterflies, and flies.
Mole crickets are 1-2 inches long and are usually brown or black. The body is covered with light brown velvety hairs. As the common name implies, they resemble miniature moles because of their large, shovel-like forelegs, which they use for digging and burrowing. They are most likely to invade a house through gaps or cracks in the foundation, and cracks in or openings around basement windows.
Camel crickets, also known as stone or cave crickets, are pale-brown and wingless. Some of them have high, arched backs, giving them their name. They like damp environs, so take necessary measures to reduce excessive moisture indoors. Fix any plumbing leaks, and repair any water damage afterwards (fans or dehumidifiers can be helpful). Make sure the rain water drainage system on your house is working properly and isn’t leaking water into your roof, walls, basement or crawlspace. Make any necessary repairs to gutters, downspouts, and splash bricks. Make sure that water is directed safely away from the foundation of your house at the point where the downspout reaches the ground.

How Crickets Get in Your Home, and How to Keep Them Out

When dealing with a cricket infestation, keeping them out is nine tenths of the battle. Following are the most likely ways crickets can enter a home; address any of these issues your home might have.
· Open doors and windows, especially cracks around poorly-fitting windows.
· Gaps, rips, or holes in window screens.
· Gaps around or under doors, including garage doors. Pet doors may also be a point of entry.
· Cracks or gaps in the foundation or siding; foundations damaged by tree roots are especially vulnerable.
· Gaps or cracks under basement windows.

Look Outside, Too for Cricket Control

The following measures will help to reduce the potential for all sorts of pest problems – not just crickets – by reducing the amount of pest habitat immediately surrounding your home or building.
· Keep grass, weeds, and other vegetation mowed short.
· Clean up any debris and leaf piles.
· Clean infrequently used lawn furniture and play houses; also clean under porches and stairwells, and remove any debris from these areas.
· Firewood piles should be kept at least one foot away from homes or buildings, and be elevated six inches or more off the ground.
· Pick up any ripe fruit that’s fallen to the ground.
· Outdoor lights may attract crickets; once they’re close and swarming around your porch light, they’re more likely to invade. Use yellow bug lights or high pressure sodium bulbs.

Chemical Control of Crickets

There are a number of products available for use against crickets, both indoors and outdoors. Be sure to read, and follow, label instructions carefully. Do not use pesticides in areas where children or pets may be exposed to them.
If you’re having trouble getting rid of crickets, our professional insect control technicians can inspect your property and give you expert recommendations, tailored to your specific situation.

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