What Causes Cricket Infestations?
For many homeowners, a cricket infestation can pose quite a problem. Aside from their incessant chirping, crickets can also cause plenty of damage to your home. Generally, crickets will feed on an array of different foods, fabrics, wallpaper, fruit and other items. Crickets also have a tendency to gather around lights and other areas in your home. A basic house cricket will be between 3/4 and 7/8 inches long and will be colored a yellowish brown. House crickets will have long antennas and wings that lay flat across their backs. While house crickets will most often live and breed in garbage, they may seek refuge in your home when the temperature begins to drop. Because a female cricket can lay roughly 720 eggs at one time, an infestation can spread quickly. To limit the chance of an infestation, you should fill any gaps or crevices in your baseboards and other dark areas.
Next, try to reduce the openings into your home. For instance, if your windows are open, you should always have some type of screen in place to prevent insects from entering your home. Also, if you have any damp and dark areas in your basement, you may want to remove the moisture to prevent crickets from gathering there. Also, by keeping your lawn trimmed and free of weeds, you'll reduce your chances of experiencing a cricket infestation. Use caulking and sealing to cover any cracks or crevices in the foundation of your home as well. If you have a fireplace, do not store your firewood directly next to the foundation of your home since this can be another popular breeding ground for crickets. While one or two crickets in your home shouldn't be of much concern, you may want to consider installing insect traps if this becomes a problem.
