You’ve just gotten into bed and laid your head down after a long day. You start to drift off to sleep, when suddenly the silence is broken by a high-pitched “CHIRP”! There’s a cricket in your house and the chances of you finding it, much less catching it, are slim. While the chirps can be more than slightly annoying, crickets can eat holes in clothes, drapery, furniture and other fabrics. And that’s more than annoying!
Cricket Problem in Your Basement or Crawlspace
The Suburban Exterminating staff is busy answering calls and emails for Long Island cricket problems. Attracted by your home’s welcoming lights, crickets seeking shelter may enter through cracks in the foundation or tiny openings around windows or doors. Let’s talk about cricket problems around Long Island:
Basic Facts about Crickets on Long Island
What kind of crickets are found on Long Island?
On Long Island, you may find field crickets, camel / cave crickets or house crickets. Overall, in the United States, there are over 120 species.
House crickets can damage silk, woolens, paper, fruits and vegetables. House crickets typically invade in large numbers and can create a lot of damage to a lot of different products. While field crickets don’t always live long, they are also hard to control. Camel crickets don’t make any sound.
Why do crickets come inside?
Crickets are just starting to move inside to get warm. They also move into homes to look for water. Crickets love your basement and crawlspace when it is similar to a cave – dark and damp.
How long do crickets live?
House crickets get their common name from the fact that they often enter houses where they can survive indefinitely. Most crickets can live for a year or more. They grow by molting.
What do crickets do? How do they behave?
Crickets hide in the daytime – making them nocturnal. They hide to avoid predators.
Which do you prefer? The sound of a leaf blower or the sound of crickets chirping?
Male crickets choose a spot to get the loudest sound that they can. They rub their legs together to make that chirping sound. They defend these places from other males. Males sometime have chirping “duels”, each one trying to sound better for potential mates.
Crickets are more active and chirp faster/ louder on a warm night.
What do they eat?
Many crickets are omnivores: they eat fruit, nectar, seeds, small insects, some leaves, and will even nibble on dead larger animals. For food, camel crickets consume wood, carpet, fungi, cardboard, other insects, and even other camel crickets in some instances.
How to prevent crickets from invading?
Start by running a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in your basement or crawlspace. You’ll see fewer crickets, sowbugs, pillbugs, centipedes, silverfish and others!
You should also look outside to see where insects can easily enter your home. Are there any unsealed cracks, crevices or openings by pipes? Seal those openings. Don’t forget to check your dryer vents. Open dryer vents also allow bugs to enter your home. Fix all leaking pipes and your leaky sump pump.
Getting Rid of Crickets on Long Island
If you are experiencing a cricket infestation, please give Suburban Exterminating a call at (631) 864-6900 or (516) 864-6900. We will correctly identify the invading pest and create a pest control solution to cover all phases of extermination. We also look for unsealed cracks, crevices and openings outside your home – sealing with caulk as part of our services.
Suburban Exterminating can take care of your cricket problem or protect your home and family year-round.
