Crickets
Facts, Identification, & Control
Latin Name
Order Orthoptera
Appearance
What Do They Look Like?
- Size: House crickets measure 16 to 22 mm in length. Field crickets can grow to measure more than 2.5 cm in length. Ground crickets are much smaller than other common crickets.
- Color: House crickets are light yellowish-brown in color and exhibit three dark bands atop their heads. Field crickets are brown or black in color. Ground crickets are brown.
- Wings: Held flat against the body, their wings cover at least half of their abdomen, but some species are wingless. Young appear similar to adults, although their wings are underdeveloped.
- Characteristics: Most of these pests have large jumping hind legs with long thin antennae that are approximately half the length of the head and abdomen combined. Females feature a long ovipositor in the rear, which is used to lay eggs within the soil, and both sexes have segmented, taillike appendages known as cerci.
How Did I Get Crickets?
Crickets typically prefer to live outside, but homeowners dealing with crickets tend to have exactly the right conditions in the home to draw the pests indoors such as:
- Bright outdoor lights
- Moisture in homes
- Poorly sealed gaps
How Serious Are Crickets?
If crickets get inside, they are more of a nuisance than a serious problem. These pests are nocturnal and chirp to each other throughout the night, creating conditions that are poorly suited for a good night’s sleep.
Damage
They are a destructive presence in agricultural communities, as they feed on crops and seedlings at night. They infest in large numbers and some species may feed on fabrics and can ruin clothes.
Signs of Infestation
Possible signs of a cricket infestation include:
- Agricultural damage
- Chirping
- Sightings of these insects
How Do I Get Rid of Crickets?
What Orkin Does
Your local Orkin technician is trained to help manage crickets and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin technician will design a unique program for your situation.
Orkin can provide the right solution to keep crickets in their place and out of your home or business.
Behavior, Diet, & Habits
Crickets renew soil minerals by breaking down plant and animal-based materials. They also provide food for other animals, including:
What Do They Eat?
These pests are omnivorous, meaning that they will eat:
- Crops
- Plant and animal-based materials
- Seedlings
Where Do They Live?
Most crickets prefer damp, moist conditions. Residents may notice these insects in different places including:
- Bathrooms
- Basements
- Crawl spaces
- Under logs and rocks
Life Cycle & Reporudction
Crickets complete a gradual metamorphosis from egg to nymph to adult. When attracting a mate, male crickets create sound by rubbing their forewings against each other. Their songs attract their species.
Cricket Chirp
Crickets have different chirping “songs” for:
- Attracting mates
- Fighting
- Sounding alarms
Click hear to listen to a cricket “sing.”
More Information:
