Field Cricket Identification Guide
Quick Facts About Field Crickets
Field crickets are the dark crickets that sing from lawns and fields on summer nights. In late summer and fall, they can move toward buildings in large numbers, and many end up inside.- Size: About 1/2 to 1 inch
- Color: Dark brown to shiny black
- Wings: Winged; males chirp loudly, especially at night
- Season: Most noticeable in late summer and fall
- Where found: Lawns, fields, and around foundations; indoors in garages, basements, and ground floors
- Diet: Plants, seeds, other insects, and indoors, fabrics and paper
How to Identify Field Crickets
Their dark color sets them apart from tan house crickets, and their wings and chirping set them apart from silent, humpbacked camel crickets.See our house cricket guide and camel cricket guide.
Why Field Crickets Come Inside
As nights get cooler in late summer and fall, field crickets move toward the warmth of buildings. They’re also drawn to lights. Gaps under doors, around windows, and along the foundation let them in. Most don’t survive long indoors, but they can be noisy while they do.
Damage and Nuisance
Indoors, field crickets may chew fabrics, especially soiled clothing, as well as paper. Loud chirping at night is the most common complaint. They don’t bite, sting, or spread disease.
How to Keep Field Crickets Out
- Seal gaps around doors, windows, and the foundation before late summer
- Install door sweeps, especially on garage doors
- Switch outdoor lights to yellow bulbs
- Keep grass mowed and trim vegetation along the foundation
- Move woodpiles, stones, and debris away from the house
A perimeter treatment in late summer can stop fall invasions before they start. See our quarterly pest control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a field cricket look like?
A dark brown to shiny black cricket about 1/2 to 1 inch long, with long antennae and wings.
Why are there so many crickets in the fall?
Field crickets move toward buildings as nights cool, looking for warmth, and they’re attracted to lights.
Do field crickets damage anything?
Indoors, they may chew fabrics and paper.
How do I stop crickets from chirping in my house?
Find and remove them, often near walls, baseboards, and dark corners, and seal the gaps they’re using to get in.
How do I keep field crickets out?
Seal gaps, add door sweeps, use yellow outdoor lights, and clear vegetation and debris from the foundation.
