However you think about crickets, the truth is that they can be rather challenging to deal with if they get inside your Chicago, Illinois home. There are many different species of crickets, but the one that usually invades area properties is the house cricket.
These crickets are a light brown to yellowish color and have three dark stripes on their heads. They are only about ¾ of an inch long and have six legs. When they rub their front wings together, they make that characteristic chirping noise.
House crickets can be both dangerous and destructive to have around, so this guide will help you prevent them.
Why Are Crickets Such A Problem?
While many find crickets annoying, you might not know just how harmful they can really be. To start with, they can cause property damage as they will chew on all kinds of items, including furniture, plastic, and more.
However, the biggest concern with crickets is that they can carry diseases. Luckily, they aren’t known to spread any fatal illnesses, but they can cause painful sores that show up on your skin. They could also cause some allergic reactions or asthma issues if you are sensitive to their discarded skins. Because of this, you’ll want to avoid coming into contact with them.
Also, you should sanitize anything that they touch, especially in kitchen spaces. If crickets have come into contact with any food items, it is important to throw them away.
Effective Cricket Prevention Steps
Overall, the easiest way to prevent crickets is to look at the factors that bring them around in the first place. Crickets aren’t that complicated to understand as they are primarily attracted to humid environments with access to food. Also, they can be drawn in by lighting, especially outdoor lighting.
So, to prevent them, you should do what you can to reduce or eliminate these elements. Here are a few ways to do so:
- Reduce outdoor lighting and make sure the lights point away from doors and windows.
- Clean up excess clutter inside of your home and around the property. Make sure to include garages, sheds, and any other outbuildings in this decluttering process.
- To reduce humidity, fix leaky plumbing and check that you have good ventilation in basements and attics.
- Seal up entry points around the house by repairing broken screens and patching holes in the walls using caulk. You can also install door sweeps and weather stripping around entrances.
- Remove organic debris from your property. This includes old leaves and grass clippings.
By minimizing the factors that attract crickets and the common ways they could enter your home, you strengthen your chances of avoiding a cricket infestation.
How To Get Rid Of Crickets For Good
If despite your efforts, you find yourself dealing with crickets, the easiest way to remove them is with assistance from Aerex Pest Control. We have over 70 years of experience eliminating crickets and other dangerous pests from Chicago homes.
We also provide continual residential pest control plans that will prevent crickets and other pests year-round. To find out more, just give us a call to request your free quote.