The quintessential image of summer involves nights filled with cricket chirps. Some
cultures around the world are so charmed by that chirp that they commonly keep crickets
in cages as pets. In pop culture, a singing cricket helps a puppet find his conscience,
another performs concerts in Times Square, and a strangely silent one helps a young
Chinese girl become a warrior.
Yet these worldwide insects can be a nuisance, too. They can be quite destructive to a garden, stored fruits and vegetables in the home, and will even eat through fabrics, such as stored clothing. The field cricket's larger cousin, the cave cricket, can also be a problem. Their large size and grotesque appearance make them look like something straight from a horror movie, and their tendency to jump long distances can be quite startling.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Trim back any decorate plants from around the outside of the building. Make sure lawn is well-manicured, with no high grass. Remove any outside debris, including woodpiles. Make sure all cracks and holes are sealed with caulk or sealing foam, and that all window screens are secure and in good repair.
OUR TREATMENT
A general spray on the inside will take care of any crickets already in the house, whereas a spray on the outside will keep them from coming in.
Yet these worldwide insects can be a nuisance, too. They can be quite destructive to a garden, stored fruits and vegetables in the home, and will even eat through fabrics, such as stored clothing. The field cricket's larger cousin, the cave cricket, can also be a problem. Their large size and grotesque appearance make them look like something straight from a horror movie, and their tendency to jump long distances can be quite startling.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Trim back any decorate plants from around the outside of the building. Make sure lawn is well-manicured, with no high grass. Remove any outside debris, including woodpiles. Make sure all cracks and holes are sealed with caulk or sealing foam, and that all window screens are secure and in good repair.
OUR TREATMENT
A general spray on the inside will take care of any crickets already in the house, whereas a spray on the outside will keep them from coming in.
Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are courtesy Wikimedia Commons or the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.