Having insects within and around our homes is not a new thing, but it can be quite discomforting when you consider the possibility that they could be harmful to human health or causes certain forms of pollution such as noise pollution. One of such insects includes cricket; it is a very familiar insect that is found in your houses or backyard. Although well known for the chirping sound they make at night, crickets are of great importance to nature as they play an important role in the tearing down of plant elements and rejuvenating the minerals in the soil.
Several times, when faced with a cricket infestation, many people wrongly assumed that crickets are the same as a grasshopper. By so doing, they apply inappropriate treatment to get rid of the crickets, with no positive results. Even though both insects belong to the same order – Orthopnea, they are treated differently.
Therefore, this article will help you demystify all your inquisitiveness about what crickets are and enable you to identify a cricket when you see one. The Life Cycle of cricket is summed up in just three (3) stages, excluding the Larvae and Pupa stages undergone by some other insects. It comprises the; Egg, Nymph, and Adult stages. The duration of their entire life cycle solely depends on their immediate environment, and it lasts four to eight weeks.
After breaking through the egg capsule, the nymphs are without wings but have a similar structure to an adult cricket with limited variation. Becomes prey for the matured crickets. After 8-10 times of shedding its hard exoskeleton – known as molting. The new, soft, and milky white exoskeleton of the nymph will start growing wings after four weeks as it gradually attains maturity. Once the wings are fully developed, the cricket has just two goals: feeding and reproduction. To avoid further misconception on how to get rid of crickets in your homes;
Here Is How to Identify A Cricket
An adult cricket is about 1 inch, with long protruding antennae from their heads. They produce a chirping sound by brushing their wings together, while their ears are attached to their front legs. The body of an adult cricket is divided into three parts: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. Crickets have three sets of legs and two antennae. Most adult crickets possess wings and are mostly omnivores, and their diet involves feeding on plant matter and insects. Crickets average a two months life span.
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Some Common Crickets You Can Find Around:
- House Cricket – just as the name implies, the house crickets are those you find in your homes and offices. House crickets are active during the night with a disturbing chirping sound. They can hide in the fireplace, balconies, kitchens, behind your furniture, and some other small openings in your apartments.
- Roesel’s Bush Cricket
The Roesel’s Bush-cricket has small size with a yellow/brown pigment. They possess a spotted abdomen, while the females’ have an ovipositor that resembles a sword positioned at the end of their body. They are predominant in the United Kingdom, and some North American regions such as Canada. The Roesel’s Bush-cricket never stops making a disturbing buzzing sound. Irrespective of if the weather is hot.
- African King or Parktown Prawn Cricket
Named after a South Africa community where they are very popular. The African King’s crickets are not true crickets, but they are one. Also, it has been beneficial to gardeners who use them in their gardens to control the snail population. These crickets are omnivores and sturdy, their diet is not limited to just vegetable matter. They consume both dog and cat food, including their excretion.
- Camel Cricket –
Because of its long spidery legs and a hump-like feature on its back, hence the name Camel Cricket. The adult camel crickets do not have wings, and they are common around greenhouses. In harsh weather, camel crickets seek humid and cool habitats such as a laundry room or bathroom. And this can very dangerous if they find their way into your apartment. The camel cricket is sometimes referred to as ‘cave cricket’ because of its choice of habitat.
- Jerusalem Cricket –
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Also known as ‘old baldheaded men’ because it has a rounded body that compares with the human head. Just like the African King Cricket, the Jerusalem crickets are not true crickets. They are one, because of similar stridulating habits. Jerusalem crickets bites but are not poisonous, they also exhale an offensive smell to ward away predators.
- The Mormon Cricket –
Originally a katydid, it was named Mormon crickets after it infested the first Mormon settlement in the state of Utah. Common to the region of Western North America, their exoskeleton can come in brown, black, green, or purple color. These colors can be changed by the Mormon crickets if they are in their swarming stage. Diet for Mormon cricket includes grasses and vegetables. While they are also used as food by coyotes, crows, and some American Native tribes.
- Australian Field Cricket –
Assisted by humans to grow in large numbers in the 5th century and late 80s. The field cricket or Teleogryllus oceanicus are a few of its many names. They are black or dark brown, having stripes on the back of their heads. They make a distinct sound by flapping their wings rapidly. The males of this species are always at loggerhead to find a female partner ready to mate, while the females of the species are quite picky about their mating partner. The winning male can only attract the female cricket with fitness and suitability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do crickets get in the house?
Crickets are a disturbance, especially when they make a chirping sound at night. One of the major questions often asked about this insect is how they find their way into the house. Considering their small sizes, they do not need a big opening to get into your apartments. More so, they are attracted to light such as security, which means you are likely to experience cricket infestation with security lights around your home. It is advisable to reduce the usage of the heavy lights around your homes and also seal off any openings on the wall. This will prevent crickets from gaining access to your homes.
Are crickets Dangerous?
There is no known record of crickets being dangerous, although they bite, the mouthpiece of cricket can not cut through the skin. However, they carry certain diseases that can be spread through bite and body contact. These diseases cause severe sores, but they are not dangerous to humans. They can feed on most kinds of fabric such as cotton, silk, wool, fur, and linen, once they invade your home. Crickets are a nuisance with their strong vocals that might keep you up at night if you are a light sleeper.
Can cricket fly?
This depends on the type of cricket common to your region, or which you are familiar with. Since crickets have wings, several people are of the assumption that crickets are flying insects, but that is not accurate. Most individuals assume that just because crickets have wings, then they are flying insects. Crickets are divided into seven groups, and the answer to this question depends on the type of cricket. For example, Jerusalem and camel crickets have no wings, and so they cannot fly. Instead, they jump or produce jerk moves depending on the distance they intend to move. They have legs that resemble the grasshoppers, and this is what they used to maneuver. Others, such as house crickets, are fully winged, and they can fly. Other than flying, these crickets use their wings to make chirping noises as communication.
How do crickets make their sound?
The sound made by crickets is called Chirping. It is not just a random sound; it is a mating call made by the male species to locate a female partner. Whereas, some other male cricket chirps after successfully mating. The chirping sound, d however, is produced by a stridulating mechanism – the sound comes from rubbing their wings together. With the teeth-like structure at the edge of their wings when it comes in contact with the upper parts that look like a scrapper, a distinctive chirping sound is produced.
Are crickets nocturnal?
Yes, they are. This is because during the day they sleep, but are always active at night. Making chirping sounds and always hunting for food. They also mate at nights, however, they are subjected to threats from other nocturnal animals like bats. But crickets have been able to adopt a strategy to keep safe from dangers, whenever they sense bats are in the vicinity, by taking advantage of the echolocation made by bats.
How do you get rid of crickets in the house?
Removal of crickets and their eggs with a vacuum works well in getting rid of house crickets. The most effective way to get rid of crickets and prevent future infestations is to reduce areas of moisture in and around your home.
What is the best way to get rid of crickets?
To eliminate crickets and their eggs from your store, a vacuum is the most effective method. By so doing, you do not damage other goods inside the store and you can easily reach for all the nooks and crannies. To prevent future infestations, reduce the quantity of moisture in and around your store.
What scent can help me get rid of crickets?
Peppermint, lemon juice, and musk cologne all have strong artificial scents. The scent produced by these herbs is disliked by crickets. Making the environment u habitable for crickets to thrive. It also advisable to have these plants in your gardens and around your home too.
How to Get Rid Of Crickets
Though it seems like crickets are everywhere and can not be eliminated from your homes and surroundings, no matter how much you try. Do not allow that to deter you, because it is possible to get rid of crickets. There are ways to keep them away from your homes, one of the best ways involves, the use of yellow lighting in place of white and other lighting systems. While also making sure you block window and door gaps.
Clutter of grasses should be avoided by clearing the perimeter of your house often. Long grasses, piles of stones, and a stock of firewood are the major settlement of crickets around your homes. Because they serve as a favorable shelter. Getting pets like cats will also help you get rid of crickets because they serve as food for cats. You can never be too careful when dealing with these pests.
The following are methods by which you can naturally get rid of crickets:
Baits
Using a boric acid granular as a perimeter bait around the exterior of your house is a preventive treatment. This is one of the best methods you can use to curb the infestations of crickets. That is because they can eat anything and will always look for it themselves without stress.
Dusts
Using dust for house crickets has been a proven method for indoor treatment. Some insecticide dusts have a dehydrating effect on bugs. When used on crickets, they clasp their legs and exoskeleton, making the cricket immobile. It dehydrates them until they die.
Diatomaceous Earth
Created from the skeletons of algae and desiccates the insect it is used on. Although, bit has certain limitations. Which makes it a tool for controlling crickets, and not total eradication. It takes time before it can kill crickets, so it is not a go-to remedy in times of cricket infestation.
Silica Insect Dust
Closely related to diatomaceous earth, the silica insect dust also kills insects by dehydrating them until they are dead. Although, it is more potential than diatomaceous earth and can be used on other insects like ticks, bed bugs, spiders, fleas, cockroaches, and many other pest in wall voids, basements, attics, crevices and cracks etc. It is extremely effective than diatomaceous earth.
Boric Acid Insect Dust:
Here is another option used in the prevention and control of crickets. It is suitable for dealing with crickets within walls, crevices and cracks, where crickets are hiding and causing issues. Another area where it is effective is the basement area.
Conclusion
Whenever you are dealing with a pest, you must know what you are dealing with. Because most of these pests belong to the same family and often look alike. Knowing what crickets look like is very important if you want to get rid of crickets. Be it within or outside your home. Although they may not be harmful, they can become a nuisance when you sleep at night. Or even render your clothes useless. This article will give you all the needed knowledge to help you carry out a successful elimination.