At night, the sound of crickets outside can be soothing. But when you have crickets around your Dallas property, bad things can happen. Find out what dangers come with the presence of crickets.
Crickets In Dallas
There are a few different types of crickets you might encounter in Dallas. However, the most common type is the field cricket. This insect ranges between .6 inches and 1 inch long. It may be black, brown, or red. Another common cricket is the camel cricket. Typically light or dark brown, this type has no wings and a humpbacked appearance. Meanwhile, ground crickets are small and brownish-red in color. They have wings and also have bristles on their abdomen. Male crickets are the only ones that make noise. When you hear a chirping cricket, you can be confident that it's a male.
The Problem With Crickets
While most people view crickets as a nuisance, they don't see them as harmful pests. They get annoyed by the constant chirping but don't realize that crickets are more than a nuisance. Crickets can do some serious damage.
Crickets can get into your home and when they do, chaos ensues. They chew on fabric and may also spread disease. Although the diseases aren't fatal, they are hazardous to you and your family. They spread disease through their bites, feces, and physical contact. Typically, crickets don't bite humans. But they do have the ability to bite. The bite isn't very painful, but it's not pleasant. To protect yourself and your children from crickets, be proactive. Cricket protection is key.
Keeping Crickets Away
Are you ready to protect your home? If so, there are a few simple steps you can take to deter these pests.
1. Adjust Your Lighting
Most crickets are active at night. For some reason, they are highly attracted to lights. If you have bright lights outside your home or your indoor lights are visible from outside, crickets will wander towards your home. Then they are much more likely to enter and become a nuisance. If you want to keep them away, adjust your lighting. Use curtains in your windows and only use outdoor lights when necessary.
2. Seal Entry Points
As with most pests, an effective way of keeping crickets out is to eliminate entrances. Examine your doors and windows for gaps. If you find any gaps, seal them up with caulk or sealant. You should also check your foundation for cracks and other small openings. At times, there are holes around plumbing fixtures and wiring. Seal those up as tightly as possible.
3. Hire A Professional
Some people turn to DIY methods to keep crickets out. However, doing so is a challenge. Store-bought insect sprays aren't usually effective and may be a waste of money. Other methods, like making your home less appealing to crickets, are difficult to do.
For instance, you can try to seal up all potential entry points. But to the untrained eye, it's almost impossible to find and seal all the cracks and crevices. Crickets will find a way in. Adjusting your lighting is no guarantee, either. At times, you need your outdoor lights. You can't always keep your lights out, so you can't always keep crickets away.
The best way to keep crickets out of your home is with an ongoing relationship with a professional pest control company. With their tried-and-tested methods of pest control, they know how to effectively deter crickets. After inspecting your property, they will form a plan for protecting your home. Call the professionals at All-Safe for the best results.
FAQs
Crickets can get into your home and when they do, chaos ensues. They chew on fabric and may also spread disease. Although the diseases aren't fatal, they are hazardous to you and your family. They spread disease through their bites, feces, and physical contact.
Are crickets bad to have around your house? ›
Crickets are not dangerous and pose no significant risk to humans. However, many people find them to be annoying nuisances, especially when crickets enter homes and begin singing. Indoor crickets also pose a risk to fabrics as they like to chew and feed on textiles made from wool, cotton, linen, and other materials.
Why are there so many crickets in Dallas? ›
Dry seasons may lead to larger quantities of crickets, but they don't always provide an abundance of food and may drive them to seek out alternatives. If they happen to get inside your house, they may decide to make a meal of carpets or fabrics, particularly those stained with food.
How do I deal with crickets in my yard? ›
As a natural alternative to treat Cricket infestations, you can make hot peppers and dish soap with water in a spray bottle and treat areas where they have been active to kill and repel them.
What are the negative effects of crickets? ›
The risk with crickets doesn't lie in their bite; it lies in the diseases they carry, such as E. coli and salmonella. They are also known to have worms that can be excreted in their feces. If you touch a cricket or its feces, there is a possibility to develop a sore/rash on your skin.
What does it mean when you have a lot of crickets in your yard? ›
Food sources: Crickets are omnivorous and attracted to areas with abundant food supplies. They feed on plants, other insects, and decaying organic matter. Gardens, compost piles, and garbage bins can provide ample food sources, making these areas attractive to them.
What month are crickets most active? ›
Late summer and fall are when adult crickets become especially abundant around homes and commercial buildings.
How long is the cricket season in Texas? ›
Known to spring up seasonally in Texas, crickets can be found more often in late summer and fall. They are nocturnal creatures, preferring dark, damp areas in which to live and reproduce. Furthermore, crickets are attracted to cooler temperatures and lights around homes.
What do crickets hate the most? ›
Scents such as peppermint, lavender, citronella, or vinegar are often unpleasant for crickets. Using essential oils or natural repellents with these scents around your house may help discourage crickets from entering.
What scares crickets away? ›
Crickets are deterred by certain plants like thyme, sage, rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and cinnamon. By mixing any of the essential oils of these plants with water and then drenching an area suspected of harboring crickets, you can drive them away.
Crickets aren't known to be harmful or dangerous. These vocal insects are essentially just a nuisance pest, particularly if their concerts keep you awake at night. However, once inside your house, field and house crickets may feed on fabric (cotton, silk, wool, fur and linen).
What is the superstition about crickets? ›
Native Americans believed crickets brought good luck as well, and avoided mimicking the chirping out of respect for the insect. Bug superstitions suggest that it's very bad luck to kill a cricket, even on accident.
How do you know if you have a cricket infestation? ›
The most obvious sign of a house cricket infestation is the presence of crickets in the home. They are drawn to warm, moist environments within structures. Another sign of a cricket infestation is the chirping noise the male house crickets often make, which is done when they rub their front wings together.
Are crickets good to have in your yard? ›
Crickets are essential for lawn ecosystems
Outside, crickets are beneficial. They eat the seeds of many weed species and break down organic matter (which results in nutrients returning to your soil). Crickets are also critical food sources for birds and amphibians.
Can crickets cause infestation? ›
During an infestation, crickets typically feed on fabric, like clothing and upholstered furniture, but will not shy away from eating other household objects, like paper, house plants, and pet food. Unfortunately for homeowners in some regions of the country, a cricket infestation can seemingly happen overnight.
Are crickets bad for your yard? ›
Contrary to popular belief, crickets are not always harmful to your garden. In fact, according to Michigan State University, crickets can benefit the garden ecosystem, as they feed on organic matter, weed seeds, and even small pests. However, some types of crickets, like mole crickets, can be more harmful than helpful.
Are crickets good for anything? ›
Crickets are a good source of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and fiber and may benefit gut health. Plus, they're a more environmentally friendly protein option than other animal-based proteins, such as chicken or beef.
