How Do Crickets Get into a Home and How Do You Get Rid of Them?

Although not harmful to humans, crickets can ruin fabrics, contaminate food supplies, and thrive in the hidden nooks of your residence. Their constant chirping can also become quite bothersome.

The types of crickets you might encounter in Northern Virginia homes include house crickets and camel crickets. House crickets are light brown with dark stripes and tend to congregate near sources of heat and light. Camel crickets are recognizable by their humped backs and they prefer damp and dark environments, such as basements.

What Draws Crickets Indoors?

 

Knowing the habits of crickets helps decipher why they might be coming into the home. These are some of the most common reasons people see crickets in their home:

• Shelter from Temperature Extremes: When temperatures drop, crickets seek refuge inside to avoid the chill. Similarly, during the sweltering summer months, they may find their way into cooler and shaded parts of homes, such as basements or garages, as they thrive in temperatures between 80°F to 90°F.
• Moisture and Humidity: House cricket eggs incubate best at 65% to 75% relative humidity. Conditions including leaking pipes, stagnant water, and humid areas such as basements and bathrooms create perfect environments.
• Light Sources: Crickets are drawn to UV-emitting lights. Bright outdoor illumination around doors, windows, or porches can attract them, allowing them to enter through small openings. Using sodium vapor bulbs can help minimize insect activity.
• Food Availability: As scavengers, crickets will take advantage of any available food inside. They will eat unsealed grains, pet food, and leftover crumbs. Certain species are known to feed on natural fibers, which can damage fabrics such as clothing, carpets, or upholstery.
• Clutter and Hiding Spots: Cardboard boxes act as shelter and provide food for crickets. Indoors, stacks of boxes, laundry, or dense plant growth outside (like tall grass, mulch, or woodpiles) can create perfect hiding spots.

How to Prevent Crickets from Entering

 

Crickets feast on gardens, food-soiled items, pet food, and cardboard.  This is why it is important to store food in airtight containers, immediately clean up spills and crumbs, and remove pet food bowls at night. Also, be sure to minimize moisture and fix any leaks and lower humidity levels to make your home less appealing to crickets. In addition, be sure to adjust your lighting and seal entry points by caulking any cracks in walls, windows, and foundational areas.

Cricket Infestation? When to Call a Professional Pest Control.

 

DIY techniques can address minor cricket problems, but ongoing issues may indicate underlying threats in your residence. Pest control specialists, such as Alexandria Pest Services, utilize targeted solutions that focus on both safety and effectiveness. Be sure to call us if infestations are expanding quickly or health risks are present, such as cricket droppings causing allergies.

Count on Alexandria Pest Services to Get Rid of Your Pest Problem in Northern Virginia!

 

Concerned about household pests? To arrange an inspection and begin your journey to a pest-free home, get in touch with Alexandria Pest Services right now. Call us at 703-923-0925 to schedule a professional pest evaluation in Springfield, Alexandria, Burke, Fairfax, and throughout Northern Virginia . We can help you get rid of these invaders in your home or office! Contact us today to learn more.