Question:I have a problem with small black crickets. I was wondering if there is anything that I could do to stop them from entering my house. I do not know how they get in here but I am sick of them.

Answer: Probably what you have are field crickets (Gryllus pennsylvanicus). They are the shiny black species that often come in this time of year. They can be a problem throughout the house by their chirping (the males) and just being there! They have been developing all summer and have become adults in the last few weeks and are looking to mate, lay their eggs in the soil, and die after the first few frosts.

Field crickets migrate to the edges of houses and will enter through doors and windows. Remember that they can fly and will fly to light outdoors and will fly to lights at night.

Control of these insects outdoors is not easy. Perimeter treatment of the house may be effective in reducing their numbers for only a few days. You may kill a lot of crickets, but it seems there are more where those came from, and the site will soon be re-populated. In fall, as night temperatures decline, the house foundation and siding traps some of the daytime heat. The heat is detected by crickets, and they are naturally attracted to it in the evening. If you are going to spray the perimeter of the house; do it in the evening after the sun goes down. You can use any garden insecticide or ornamental plant insecticide, since the crickets are sensitive (not resistant) to almost any material.

Control of these insects indoors may be accomplished by using sticky traps, such as those sold for cockroach control; place them near doors and windows at ground level, and where you have heard them chirping. The gel baits (not the plastic stations) available for cockroach control may be effective; place small amounts of this bait where you have seen or heard the crickets. You can try rolling up some sections of newspaper and placing these in sites that crickets have been seen. They may use the newspaper as a harborage site (give them a few days) and then you can pick up the newspaper roll and take it outside or to the trash.

Related Questions: The Orkin Man used the information above to also answer the following questions submitted by Orkin.com users.

• Question: I”ve been having a problem with crickets for about 6 weeks now. They seem to be mainly in my bedroom which makes it impossible for me to sleep as I am a light sleeper. I have located and disposed of four so far, they are very small. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Would I have to sign a contract to have Orkin treat my home for this?
• Question: Can you spray the outside perimeter of a building for crickets at this time of year?

Read more about cricket control in our Pest Library.