How Crickets Can Invade Your Home (and Attract Other Pests)

Crickets enjoy a reputation as harmless insects. After all, their chirps make the perfect soundtrack for a lazy summer night. But these small bugs create some pretty surprising problems for home and business owners. Our team at Burns Pest Elimination, serving Nevada and Arizona, offers these cricket control tips to ward off an invasion.

Should I Get Pest Control for Crickets in Arizona?

Unlike many insects, crickets don’t bite, sting, or spread disease. They do, however, eat fabric, wallpaper glue, and other household materials. Their chirping can be either annoying or relaxing, depending on who you ask. This “music,” created by rubbing their legs together, can be either part of the mating ritual or a warning of perceived danger. That’s no consolation, however, if you’re trying to sleep. And when large groups of crickets chirp together, scorpions may come running in search of dinner. In our book, that’s enough to warrant a call for pest control.

Cricket Prevention Tips Around the House

While you probably don’t want scorpions attracted to your home, the cricket does have other predators, too. And if a house full of salamanders, snakes, rodents, bats, and other creepy crawlers isn’t your idea of natural cricket control, these measures can help keep them away:

• Turn off lights (especially outdoors) at night.
• Water the lawn and garden during the day.
• Trim vegetation away from the house.
• Don’t let fallen fruit collect in your yard.
• Store firewood as far from the house as possible.
• Avoid having decorative rocks and mulch near your house.

These noisy pests are most active in summer and come out at night to eat, so focusing your prevention efforts during these times will be your best bet.

Other Forms of Cricket Control

Cricket populations can often be found near foundation gaps. Seal these and all cracks and holes around your home’s exterior. This, along with the following measures, work against crickets and other pests seeking food, water, and shelter in your home:

• Put pet food away at night.
• Ensure that your trash can is tightly sealed.
• Clean up all spills and kitchen messes immediately.
• Store food in airtight containers or the refrigerator.

If your cricket control efforts fail, professional help is in order. Call Burns Pest Elimination or request a free quote for effective cricket control in Arizona and Nevada this summer (or any season)!