Types Of Crickets To Know About
The house cricket is the most common type of cricket that you are likely to encounter around Chicago. These insects range in color from light brown to a more greyish brown and have round heads, thinner oval-shaped bodies, and easily recognizable large hind legs. These pests are attracted to moisture and warm areas around your home, and they may be much easier to find in your during periods of cold weather. Crickets also enjoy darker places, so you will be able to find them in the kitchen, basement, or bathrooms.
While many individuals may regard crickets as harmless, these pests can bring several problems into your home or business. As crickets gather in your house, they are prone to make an obnoxiously loud chirping noise; if you are wondering why crickets chirp, it is because males spend the night chirping as part of their mating song. Over time, this may lead to sleepless nights as the male crickets repeatedly chirp and grow increasingly louder.
Crickets can also bring the risk of diseases into your home as they walk through rooms and contaminate food storage areas. They spread both E. coli and salmonella, and if you eat food that has come in contact with crickets, you may contract other types of gastrointestinal upset.
Additionally, crickets have a penchant for chewing on items around your home that are composed of fibrous keratin, including items such as furniture, fabrics, or vegetation. The more crickets you have invading your home, the more damage you will find.
Cricket Prevention Tips
If you want to know how to get crickets out of your house, you can follow some of the following tips. These tips work on all types of crickets that you may encounter.
- Warm, moist areas are major attractants for crickets. Be sure to fix any leaks inside or outside your home and ensure there's proper ventilation throughout your property. Pay special attention to your basement, kitchen, and bathrooms, as these are areas frequented by crickets.
- Make sure to seal up all potential entry points for crickets to stop them from invading your home in the first place. Mend gaps and cracks in windows and doors, taking the time to replace screens, door sweeps, and weatherstripping.
- Outdoor lighting may attract crickets to your property due to the warmth of the light. Consider investing in amber-colored bug lights or motion-activated lights to deter crickets.
- Clean up around your house regularly and make sure to vacuum consistently to remove any traces of cricket eggs or waste that may have made it into your home.
How To Get Rid Of Crickets
If you have seen signs of crickets in your home and are wondering how to get rid of crickets, you should consider an ongoing relationship with the professionals at Aerex Pest Control. Our experts can show you how to get crickets out of your house and provide you with targeted, effective solutions for protecting your Chicago property from these pests.