How Do You Know If You Have A Cricket Infestation

Even though they are among the least dangerous pests you can discover in your house, crickets can disrupt your sleep and harm your possessions over the long term.

Crickets mainly feed on fabric during an infestation, such as clothing and upholstered furniture, but they won't hesitate to devour paper, houseplants, and pet food.

Unfortunately, a cricket infestation can appear to occur overnight in some parts of the country, which is bad news for homeowners.

Despite the fact that these insects cannot physically hurt people or animals or spread diseases, many houses must deal with a cricket infestation every year.

Before it's too late, you can determine if you are vulnerable to a cricket infestation by looking out for early warning signals.

Discover the reasons for a cricket infestation and how to avoid having one within your home.

What Causes A Cricket Infestation

In the United States alone, there are over 100 different species of crickets, with the majority living east of the Rocky Mountains.

Homeowners near the eastern coast of the United States and in some areas of Southern California are particularly at risk for a cricket infestation since crickets prefer warm, humid temperatures.

Any time of the year, intense rainstorms can bring these insects indoors, but for a variety of reasons, fall is when a cricket infestation is most likely to happen.

First of all, since cricket eggs hatch in the spring and early summer, they are fully developed by the beginning of the fall.

Second, grass and other plants are what crickets normally eat. Crickets will seek shelter indoors when it becomes chilly outside and these plants start to wither in order to obtain food and warmth.

Homes with substantial brick or wood piles, or with grassy flowerbeds are more likely to have a cricket infestation because these insects like to live in regions with long grasses, bushes, or trees.

Since crickets can nest in small spaces, they frequently assemble in congested sections of a house, such as a garage or an attic.

Crickets are attracted to bright lights as well, so they will gather around houses with strong exterior lighting.

Signs That You Have A Cricket Infestation In Your Home

If your home has a cricket infestation, you'll probably notice it, but there are some telltale indications to look out for before calling an exterminator.

If you see several crickets inside your house, that is the easiest way to tell if you have a cricket infestation.

One or two crickets may occasionally enter your home through ripped window screens or cracks in the external walls without causing you any concern, but if you notice more and more crickets gathering there, it may be a sign of something more serious.

In order to determine whether you have a cricket infestation, we also advise listening for the crickets' chirps.

Male crickets often sing at night while mating or courting females; these insects seldom ever do so during the day. It's common and perhaps expected to hear crickets chirping outside in the summer.

However, an infestation is most likely to have occurred when the chirps get so loud that you have problems falling asleep.

By routinely inspecting your clothing and furniture for worn-out edges, you can determine whether you have a cricket infestation.

Crickets are particularly attracted to fabrics made of wool, silk, cotton, and some kinds of synthetic material.

These insects chew the corners off of upholstered furniture and make huge holes in garments instead of the small ones that moths and other bugs that consume fabric frequently do.

We advise doing laundry frequently if you believe your home has a cricket infestation because these pests are attracted to perspiration-soiled clothing in particular.

How To Prevent A Cricket Infestation

It is considerably simpler to prevent a cricket infestation than to contain one after it has already started. We advise taking the following precautions in the spring to protect your house from a subsequent infestation:

• Pruning plants and moving garbage or wood heaps away from doorways
• Keep your lawn and patio clean and free of clutter.
• Clean and tidy up untidy spaces like the attic or garage.
• Fill in any holes and cracks located in the outside walls or foundation of your home.
• To get rid of cricket eggs, vacuum your furniture, carpets, and curtains.
• Change the light bulbs in outdoor lighting from white to yellow-tinted ones.

When they do an annual or regularly planned inspection, a professional pest control specialist will search your property for crickets.

We strongly advise you to take this precaution if you aren't already in order to safeguard your home and well-being.

Conclusion

As soon as you see the warning indications of a cricket infestation, you should contact an exterminator.

The size of your property and the surroundings will determine the best course of action for treating a cricket infestation in your home.