Crickets

Phoenix Arizona is home to several types/species of crickets.

While all kinds of crickets may be considered a nuisance because of their “chirping,” none bite nor carries diseases.

Crickets mate and lay eggs in the soil during late summer before succumbing to old age or freezing temperatures. The eggs over-winter in the soil and hatch in late spring or early summer. The tiny immature crickets, called nymphs, look exactly like the adults (except they have no wings) and feed on the same types of food. Within approximately 90 days the nymphs mature into adults.

Indian House Crickets and Field Crickets are the two most common crickets found in the metro Phoenix area.

Indian House Crickets

Light yellowish-brown or tan in color with darker bands and spots, about 3/4-inch long when mature; these are the most common and troublesome crickets. They
often gather around foundations and doors outside and readily come inside through cracks or openings. They are the only type of cricket that may live and produce young indoors. They typically hide during the day and come out at night to feed on crumbs, pet food, and plant debris.

Indian House Crickets are primarily nuisance pests. The males attract females by “chirping” at night, which can be extremely annoying for homeowners. The “chirping” sound is produced by the males rubbing their wings together. These crickets also may produce piles of unsightly droppings. When there are extremely high numbers of Indian house crickets they may feed on fabrics and drywall. Outdoors, they may damage young garden plants and annual flowers.

Field Crickets

Larger than Indian house crickets (slightly more than 1 inch when mature) and usually dark brown to shiny black in color, field crickets also enter houses and buildings. These crickets prefer to live and breed outdoors where they feed on several kinds of plants.  Occasionally they invade homes in search of hiding places but do not produce
young indoors.

Field crickets are known to chew on and damage woolens, cottons, silks, synthetic fabrics, furs and carpeting. Clothes with perspiration stains, food spills are particularly
attractive. Outdoors they  may damage young garden plants and annual flowers.

It’s important to control cricket populations as they will attract other insects such as scorpions, black widows that feed upon crickets.

Prevention is the easiest way to manage cricket problems. Insect-proof your house by preventing entry, eliminating food and water sources, and limiting the use of night lighting which attracts insects.

Use caulking and weather-stripping to fill all or openings, cracks, gaps, and holes in foundation, siding, windows, doors, screens, and other possible entry points.

Remove vegetation and debris that could serve as a hiding place or breeding site near the house.  Keep all doors closed at night. Make sure all doors (including screen and garage doors) are tight-fitting.

Keep lights off at night as much as possible.

Put pet food away & keep kitchen clean.

Check potted plants for Indian House Crickets.

Monthly pest control service can eliminate heavy cricket infestations.