Cricket Pest Control Guide
Quick Facts About Crickets
Crickets are common insects in Tennessee, especially during spring and summer months. While their distinctive chirping is often associated with warm summer evenings, crickets can become unwelcome guests when they find their way inside homes during late summer and early fall before dying off in winter.- Size: Varies by species (½ to 1½ inches)
- Color: Typically brown, black, or tan depending on species
- Shape: Cylindrical body with long antennae and prominent hind legs
- Active Season: Spring through fall (most active during warm months)
- Lifespan: 8-10 weeks as adults
- Behavior: Primarily nocturnal, attracted to dark, moist environments
What Do Crickets Look Like?
Crickets have elongated bodies with large hind legs designed for jumping, long antennae, and wings that lie flat against their backs. Different cricket species in Tennessee have distinctive appearances, from the spider-like camel cricket to the traditional field cricket. Most are brown to black in color, though specific markings and body shapes vary significantly between species.Key Identifying Features
- Strong, enlarged hind legs adapted for jumping
- Long, thin antennae often as long as or longer than the body
- Cylindrical or slightly flattened body
- Males produce chirping sounds by rubbing their wings together (except camel crickets)
- Primarily active at night
- Most species attracted to light
Common Tennessee Cricket Species
Camel Crickets
- Appearance: Humpbacked, spider-like with exceptionally long legs
- Size: Up to 1½ inches
- Color: Mottled brown
- Distinctive traits: Do not chirp, can jump up to four feet, spread frass (feces) on walls
- Habitat: Dark, damp areas like basements and crawl spaces
Field Crickets
- Appearance: Humpbacked, spider-like with exceptionally long legs
- Size: Up to 1½ inches
- Color: Mottled brown
- Distinctive traits: Do not chirp, can jump up to four feet, spread frass (feces) on walls
- Habitat: Dark, damp areas like basements and crawl spaces
House Crickets
- Appearance: Similar to field crickets but slightly smaller
- Size: ¾ to 1 inch
- Color: Yellowish-brown with three dark bands on the head
- Distinctive traits: Can live indefinitely indoors, produce continuous chirping
- Habitat: Can infest homes, found in warm areas like laundry rooms and kitchens
Mole Crickets
- Appearance: Unusual front legs adapted for digging
- Size: 1 to 1½ inches
- Color: Brown with velvety texture
- Distinctive traits: Create tunnels in soil, rarely enter homes
- Habitat: Lawns and gardens where they tunnel underground
Health & Property Risks
Health Concerns
Crickets pose minimal direct health risks to humans.
- May cause sleep disturbance due to chirping
- Slight potential for allergic reactions to cricket parts or frass in sensitive individuals
Property Damage
Crickets can cause various types of property damage.
- Damage to fabrics, paper, and occasionally rubber or plastic materials
- Field crickets may damage crops and gardens
- Mole crickets create tunnels that damage lawns and uproot plants
- House crickets may contaminate food if they access pantry areas
- Camel cricket frass can stain walls and furnishings
Effective Cricket Control: Simple Solutions for Your Home
Keeping Crickets Out
Prevent crickets from getting inside by creating barriers:
- Seal cracks and gaps in your foundation, walls, and around windows and doors
- Add weather stripping and door sweeps to exterior doors
- Fix torn screens on windows and vents
- Cut back on outdoor lighting that attracts crickets to your home
- Create a buffer zone by keeping plants away from your foundation
Making Your Property Less Cricket-Friendly
Simple changes to discourage crickets from hanging around:
- Reduce moisture by fixing leaky pipes and improving drainage
- Clear out clutter in basements, crawl spaces, and storage areas
- Store firewood and building materials off the ground and away from the house
- Keep your lawn well-maintained to prevent mole cricket problems
- Clean up leaf piles and yard debris where crickets hide
Treatments That Work
When you’re dealing with established cricket problems:
- Apply perimeter treatments around your foundation as a protective barrier
- Use targeted spot treatments in areas where you see cricket activity
- Try granular baits outdoors, especially for controlling mole crickets
- Apply dust formulations to cracks and crevices where crickets hide
- Use liquid treatments for lawns affected by mole crickets
Natural Control Options
Environmentally-friendly ways to manage crickets:
- Place sticky traps in corners and along walls to catch crickets
- Apply diatomaceous earth around entry points and hiding spots
- Encourage natural predators like birds and beneficial insects
- Use nematodes in your lawn to control mole crickets naturally
- Focus on moisture control to make your home less appealing to crickets
When to Call Professional Help
Professional cricket pest control becomes necessary when:- DIY methods have failed to control the infestation
- You’re experiencing a large-scale invasion, particularly of camel or house crickets
- Mole crickets are causing significant damage to your lawn and landscaping
- You need accurate identification of the cricket species for targeted treatment
- You want comprehensive, long-term protection against seasonal cricket invasions
