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Crickets as a whole are not much of a problem for the Do It Yourself Pest Control Person, with the exception of the Mole Cricket.
Cricket Control
Once you have removed any harborage areas and sealed up any entry points, you can apply Demand SC, Suspend CS, Talstar P,or Demon WP insecticides around the foundation of your home to create a barrier. In a crawl space and other void area the use of Delta Dust will continue working for several months and is completely water proof. When using Talstar PL granules broadcast in a 5 to 8 feet wide path will help against cricket invasions especially the Mole cricket. Baits such as Maxforce Granuluar Insect Bait, or Niban Comfort Grip are especially effective when applied to the soil in a band between cricket habitats and the home. Never use baits and liquid, or granule barriers together in the same zone. But you can use bait as an attractant to make your crickets cross the treated barrier and get quicker control. Glue Boards are also used to successfully capture and kill crickets, especially the camel cricket. Use glue boards around entry points for crickets.
As the Do It Yourself Pest Control Person you are the one responsible for any Drift of Pesticide or contamination of waters in the area. So please read and follow the label very carefully.
| The Field Cricket is usually black and varies in length from 0.5 to 1.25 inches. The brownish-colored rear wings project back beyond the front wings like pointed coat tails. Field crickets invade homes most often during the fall in response to cooler nighttime temperatures. They are also attracted to lights at night, and this often brings them into close proximity to buildings. Once inside, they may cause damage to items such as cotton, linen, wool, silk and fur. Materials soiled by perspiration or food are more likely to be damaged by crickets. Sometimes they'll chew on something wet, just to get moisture. They also consume dead or dying insects, including their own species. At times field crickets may also cause damage to field crops. Once they're in your home, they'll wake you up in the middle of the night with their chirping songs |
| The House Cricket is light yellowish brown in color and has three darker brown bands across the head. The adult stage varies in length from 0.75 to 1 inch.During warm weather, house crickets can live outdoors and are especially fond of garbage dumps. Like the field cricket, house crickets are driven indoors by cool temperatures. All stages are able to live in buildings year-round. Adults are attracted to lights at night. Inside buildings, house crickets are normally found in warm, dark places. Once inside, they may cause damage to items such as cotton, linen, wool, silk and fur. Materials soiled by perspiration or food are more likely to be damaged by crickets. Sometimes they'll chew on something wet, just to get moisture. They also consume dead or dying insects, including their own species. Once they're in your home, they'll wake you up in the middle of the night with their chirping songs. |
The Camel Cricket 's hump-backed appearance when viewed from the side is where the name originates. They have jumping hind legs and long antennae like other crickets but they are wingless and so are unable to chirp. Color varies by species, ranging from light tan to brown, often having dark brown bands on some segments. Adults range from 0.5 to 1.5 inches in length. Camel crickets are usually associated with cool, damp, dark habitats. Since they are often found in caves, they are also commonly called cave crickets. Outdoors, they may be found under stones and logs and in other cool, damp habitats with suitable amounts of organic matter, which they use for food.
Like other crickets, camel crickets will invade buildings in the fall seeking suitable places to pass the winter. In these cases, they often remain in basements or crawl spaces and seldom damage items in the home. They are usually considered a nuisance only by virtue of their presence. |
Mole Crickets are the most difficult for the Do It Yourself Pest Control Person.
The Mole Cricket is abundant in the southeastern United States, where several species are pests of turf grass. Mole crickets look just like their name implies. They are normally about 1.5 inches long and light brown in color. They have beady eyes and their shovel-like front legs are short, stout, and used for digging. Doing sometimes major damage to lawns and gardens.
Mole crickets live underground, where they tunnel through the soil and feed on plant roots. Unlike other crickets, they are poor jumpers. They are also weak fliers, but they take to the air when their tunnels are flooded. It is during these times that they are found walking across the ground and may enter homes. Once inside we know they look frightening, but most sources say mole crickets are not known to damage anything in the home. A few sources say they might damage some fabrics and other similar items.
Check out our Mole Cricket Management page for tips and help. |
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