Crickets are a common insect that can be found throughout New York during the fall, as they work their way inside homes in search of warmth and humidity for the cooler months.
They’re widely known for their loud chirping noises, but did you know the three most common cricket species in New York are also known for damaging clothes, furniture, and curtains? You definitely don’t want these pests in your home!
Here are a few tips for how to get rid of crickets in your house this fall.
What Types of Crickets Are Common in New York?
In New York, there are three main cricket species we deal with most often. We did a full breakdown on all three in our recent blog post, The Three Types of Crickets You’ll See in Your Home This Fall, so if you want the full scoop, check there!
Here’s a quick rundown of each type:
House Crickets
- Likely the most common type of cricket you’ll see in your home
- Almost an inch long
- Yellow-ish brown bodies with three dark stripes behind their heads
- Winged with large hind legs
- Do chirp
- Common in basements, garages, bathrooms, and kitchens
Cave/Camel Crickets
- Antennae that are shorter than half the length of their bodies
- Humpback appearance
- As large as 1 ½ inches long
- Don’t chirp
- Common in basements, crawl spaces, closets, outdoor sheds, and garages
Field Crickets
- Around ¾ inches long
- Dark brown or black bodies
- Long, rounded wings and powerful hind legs
- Most often found outdoors in fields and grasslands
- Do chirp
- Common in basements and crawl spaces
What Attracts Crickets to Homes?
If you have crickets in your home, there are likely getting inside for a few simple reasons. It’s important to identify what is attracting the crickets so that you can remove or minimize their habitat.
Here are some cricket attractors:
- Warmth
- Moisture (both inside and outside your home)
- Food (crickets have a varied diet of fruits vegetables, other insects, and even textiles)
Damage Caused by Crickets
Cricket damage can be extensive. Not only will they munch on any nearby fruits and vegetables, grass, grains, and leaves, but as we hinted at earlier, they’re also known to eat fabrics! All three cricket species common to New York are known for commonly damaging clothing, curtains, furniture, and pricey fabrics like silk with their chewing.
How to Prevent Crickets
The most effective way to prevent crickets is by taking steps to make your home less attractive to them. Keeping the area around your home free of debris and other food sources will help keep it clean, dry, sealed, and well-ventilated.
Keeping your home well-lit is also an important step in preventing crickets; because they like damp dark places, if you keep areas of your home that receive less light free of moisture and clutter, it will discourage them from setting up camp there.
How to Get Rid of an Existing Cricket Infestation
When you’re dealing with any sort of pest infestation, it’s always best to call in Knockout Pest Control for a professional inspection of the problem and expert advice on how to move forward in treating the issue. Doing so will help ensure your home is treated safely, thoroughly, and in such a way that you get peace of mind from future infestations.
To schedule an estimate, call 1-800-244-PEST.
