Much akin to cockroaches, crickets are insects that grow into adulthood through a gradual metamorphosis. The young, known as nymphs, look exactly like adults, except their wings are not yet fully developed. There are two common species of cricket in North America, the house cricket and the field cricket, both of them are capable of infestation.
House crickets actually start their life cycles outdoors but will move inside in great numbers at their earliest convenience. Adult house crickets range from are ¾ inch to 1 inch in length, and typically are light yellow brown with three dark bands on their heads. They can and will eat pretty much anything, chewing on things such as crumbs, damaged silk, wool, soft wood and other fabrics. You’ll rarely see a house cricket during the day, as they stay hidden until nightfall. While you may not catch one running around while the sun is still out, you’ll likely hear their distinct chirping. After you first hear the chirping, your best bet to find them is in warm places like kitchens, basements, cracks, crevices and even behind baseboards.
Whether you live in the south, Midwest, east or west coast, you’ll likely see field crickets. They’re widespread and often attracted to well lit-up areas at night. This variation of cricket is slightly longer than the house cricket, ranging in color from dark brown to gray to black. Field crickets prefer to live outside feeding on plants, not necessarily seeking out shelter like its house cricket cousin. However, they will make their way indoors if they run out of food sources or if there is undesirable weather. Turning off lights during periods when crickets are numerous is an easy way to keep them from seeking out your home as a nest.
Whether you have a few crickets or a swarm of hundreds, contact the professionals at Solidified Pest Control to rid them from your property!