I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t like a warm summer’s night. Few things compare to being able to sleep on top of the blankets. Not only that, but between the smells of the last smoldering embers on the BBQ and fresh-cut grass, you could hardly ask for a better night. At the constant chorus that holds it together? Why, crickets of course! They’re one of my favorite bugs, in fact. But just like anything good, too much is a bit rough. Nobody wants to hear those chirps from inside the house. That’s why today we’ll be discussing Tampa cricket control.
Tampa Cricket Control: Overview
Did you know that crickets and grasshoppers aren’t the same things? Crickets are nocturnal insects that are related to grasshoppers. They have round heads, long antennae, cylindrical bodies, and large hind legs. They live only about ninety days on average.
Crickets thrive in moist, warm environments. Around the house, they gather near heaters, heat sources in the kitchen, and fireplaces. Outside you’ll find them in droves around mulch and woodpiles. However, they can be found in other places as well.
The most likely types of crickets to infest your home is the gray-brown colored house crickets, and the darker field cricket. You may also find mole crickets and camel or “humpback” crickets around the house. So there could be one of many reasons to look into Tampa cricket control. These bugs normally live outdoors, however, temperature changes and food shortages can drive them to overwinter in your home for food and shelter. Outside of the obvious issues like the noise, they can chew on fabric, paper, and vegetation in your home.
While crickets don’t normally bite people, cricket waste can carry such diseases as E. coli and salmonella. Handling crickets or their waste can lead to a chance of skin sores. Ingesting food exposed to cricket feces can cause gastrointestinal distress, infection, and more.
Signs of a cricket infestation
Even if this feels like a bit of a no-brainer, knowledge is important when battling best infestations. There are some tell-tale signs to look for when it comes to finding out if you need some Tampa cricket control. The most obvious of that is going to be spotting multiple crickets in your house at once. Sure, it may be normal for one or two to wander in through an open window or a hole in a wall, but seeing more and more of them could be a sign that you’ve got an issue on your hands.
And though the males spend most of their time chirping at night, you should still listen out. If the sound of these little bugs chirps is so loud that you can’t sleep, then it may be coming from inside the house. Unfortunately, if you reach that point, you’ll likely have a pretty substantial infestation already. Also, as I mentioned above, look for chew marks from the insects. Crickets love wool, silk, cotton, and certain synthetic fabrics. And they don’t eat small holes like other fabric-eating pests, such as moths. These guys go to town on your clothes and create large holes in your clothing. They also chew on the edges of furniture at times. They love your sweat, so if you want to save your clothes make sure to wash regularly if you’re currently struggling with an infestation of these little guys.
House Crickets
As a little aside, let’s touch on the humble “house cricket”. They get their name from the fact that they enter homes quite often, and can survive there with no issue. Originally, this species was from Europe, but if you live east of the Rocky Mountains, there’s a chance you could need a cricket exterminator at some point for these guys. Unfortunately, they’re just as loud as any other species of a field cricket.
You can identify house crickets by their appearance. They are a light yellowish-brown in color and have three dark crossbands on their head. They are about 3/4 – 7/8 inch in length and have a threadlike antennae that are often longer than their body, and wings that lie flat on their back. Nymphs are wingless but otherwise, look similar to adults. Like other crickets, they move into your home during the winter thanks to things like electric lights that attract them. Moisture and warmth are two of a cricket’s favorite things.
While house crickets don’t pose a health risk to humans, they can cause damage to property, specifically clothing, carpets, and areas covered in fabric. Favorite fabrics include wool, cotton, silk, and synthetics. As house crickets typically surface feed, they leave the area roughened from pulling the fibers loose while eating. In the case of a heavy infestation, large areas of fabric may be eaten out. This is why it’s important to get rid of crickets as soon as possible.
Tampa Cricket Control: What can you do?
When it comes to most serious infestations, once they’re already established, there’s not much Joe Layman can do to fix it. Instead, look to contact a pest control specialist in your area, especially one that specializes in non-chemical methods. Time and again chemicals have been proved to be harmful to human health, and you need to take steps to make sure that you don’t become a victim of that.
But, as for what you can do, there’s a few steps you can take to prevent these infestations before they happen. Vacuum well and often, that will remove cricket eggs and any lagging adults. Also, repair and improve the seals around your windows and doors. Few things will stop bugs from getting in your house like closing their entryways.
Continuing with that theme, keep windows firmly and completely shut during all months that you leave them open unattended. And if you do plan on leaving them open, fix any tears or holes in the insect screening that the bugs may be able to wiggle through.
Finally, outdoor lighting can attract crickets and other insects, so consider using amber bug lights or motion-activated light.
