CRICKETS

There are over 100 species of crickets in the United States. However, there are only a few types of crickets that enter homes including, the Camel, House and Field crickets. Camel crickets get their common name from their humpback appearance. Crickets are typically found in cool, moist areas such as: under mulch, stones, railroad ties, wood piles, debris, etc. Field crickets can severely damage and destroy field crops, vegetable crops and are found outdoors around buildings in damp areas. House crickets often enter houses where they can survive indefinitely. During warm weather, they typically live outdoors however, when they weather becomes colder they seek shelter in inside places such as houses and sheds. Once they are inside of your home, they feed on your carpets, clothing and fabrics including but limited to wool, cotton and silk.

Camel crickets get their name from their overall humpbacked appearance. Unlike other crickets, they do not chirp because they lack sound producing organs. Adult camel crickets are light to dark brown in color with some mottling and dark banding on some of their segments. They do not have wings, instead they use their enlarged hind legs to jump. Adults grow to be between ½ and 1-½ inches in length.

House crickets are light yellowish-brown with three dark bands behind the head, and long, pointed wings. Their body length is about 3/4 inch long. House crickets are common outdoors and are particularly common around garbage dumps. Like field crickets, house crickets are strongly attracted to light. They feed on plant material and dead or weakened insects. House crickets can feed on fabrics, such as silk and wool, and can cause severe damage, especially if they are numerous.

Field crickets have a 1/2–3/4 inch long body and are dark brown to black. They have rounded wings that almost cover their body. Field crickets are well known for their singing. You can estimate the approximate temperature in degrees Fahrenheit by taking the number of chirps in 15 seconds then adding 40.

Field crickets are commonly found in fields, pastures, along roadsides, and in yards where they feed on a variety of plants. They also are known to feed on dead or weakened insects, including other crickets. Field crickets are strongly attracted to light. When indoors, they can feed on fabric, such as cotton, linen, silk, and wool. They tend to feed on material soiled by food or perspiration. Damage to these fabrics is more likely when large numbers of crickets are present.

CRICKET CONTROL

Treatment for crickets is covered under your general pest control which involves spraying insecticide around the perimeter and inside the dwelling.