House Crickets
While posing more of a nuisance than a threat to humans, house crickets are omnivorous scavengers that feed on almost anything and are known to cause damage to clothing, silks and vegetables/fruits. Common to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill region and the Southeastern United States, house crickets are characterized by their loud nocturnal chirping, which can cause sleep disruption in humans.
Size:
7/8 in.
Color:
Light brown or yellowish-brown
Body Structure:
Striped head with long slender antennae, thorax and abdomen featuring 2 sets of wings, which are held flat against the body.
Characteristics:
House crickets’ characteristic chirping is produced by the male cricket rubbing its forewings together to attract female crickets during mating. Crickets often produce up to 2 generations of offspring each year, laying anywhere from 100 to 400 eggs at a time. House crickets mature in about 90 days with the total life cycle spanning about 2-3 months.
Habitat/Behavior:
House crickets are generally nocturnal scavengers. In the wild, crickets can be found under rocks or logs where the omnivorous insects eat everything from plant materials to detritus. When making their way indoors, house crickets often feed on anything from clothing and paper to fruits and vegetables and will make themselves at home in clutter.
Prevention/Treatment:
Eliminating clutter where crickets burrow is a good prevention measure. Likewise, sealing gaps around door frames and fixing torn window screens will help keep crickets out of your home. Because crickets’ breeding cycle is relatively long compared to other insects, treating for crickets once may not be enough to keep them at bay, as a new generation is just around the corner. If you are fighting this nuisance pest, it is suggested that you consult a pest control professional to determine the most effective treatment plan for your home. Find out more about options for controlling house crickets.
