Spring Crickets can be one of the seasons most noisy nuisance. Prevention is the first step at fighting these pests. Spring is the most common time for crickets to appear as they normally hatch their eggs during this season. As the nymphs or baby crickets start to eat, they begin to grow and molt many times as they reach the adulthood stage. Throughout summer and spring, more generations will develop. Most species of female crickets lay single eggs in moist soil by inserting their ovipositor in the ground and they will extrude the eggs. Over a lifetime, female crickets can lay up to 400 eggs. Most cricket species live from spring until fall season but eventually die as the temperature becomes cold.
Crickets are small to medium-sized insects roughly 0.2 to 2 inches in length and are typically light brown, dark brown, or even black in color. While there are over 100 species of crickets in the United States alone, the most common species in the New York and Long Island area are the House, Camel and Field Crickets. When the crickets become too much of a nuisance, call the professionals with Arrow Exterminating. They are well-versed in identifying and providing pest control any time of the year.
What is Attracting these Spring Crickets?
Crickets have always been part of the natural ecosystem, but there are many attractants that can draw the chirping insects close to your home or even inside of it.
- Crickets are drawn to light even though these insects prefer to live in the dark. Street lights, porch lights, even light from lamps reflecting from a window will draw crickets close to the light source.
- Crickets are drawn to moisture. If you have ever noticed louder than usual cricket chirping at night after a rainstorm, this is the reason. Crickets need moisture to survive, this species also prefers to live in a moist environment over a dry environment. This is why crickets inside the home are typically found in the kitchen or the bathroom.
- Crickets are also drawn in by warmth. Crickets can survive for short periods of time outside during warmer months because their metabolism allows them to generate body heat by rubbing their wings together (also known as stridulation). If a cricket finds its way inside your home through an open window or door during this period, its chances of surviving increase exponentially because it no longer needs external sources like the sun for warmth.
Prevention Tips
Crickets can be a nuisance, not only do they chirp consistently, but they can bring diseases and parasites, including E coli bacteria and salmonella.
- Keep the grass, vegetation, and landscaping trimmed. Above all, crickets want a place to hide and lots of grass and plants provide this coverage. You’ll discourage them from hanging around for long if you keep your grass short, keep vegetation minimal, and trim your landscaping.
- Keeping your use of outdoor lights to a minimum will not only keep your electric bill under control, but will avoid sending a welcome beacon to all of the crickets in your neighborhood. If you use outdoors lights, yellow bulbs are best, which are less attractive to pests.
- Repair any cracks in your door seals and tears in window screens. Crickets will use these areas as a way to get into your home.
When to Call the Professionals
Undoubtedly you have tried everything to keep these springtime crickets at bay, but if they have made their way in, it’s time to call for help. The most effective way to prevent crickets and other household pests is with professional, year-round pest control service with Arrow Exterminating. With our innovative pest control technology and over 75 years of experience, the experts with Arrow Exterminating Company are the best call to make. Contact us today for a free quote!
