Cricket extermination may seem extreme, but if you notice signs of these pests in your yard, garden, or home, you really should waste no time in addressing the issue. Do you hear chirping? “House crickets” typically surface indoors, while “field crickets” are usually outside. While crickets don’t present a hazard to humans, per se, they can do damage to your property and become a noisy nuisance.
Generally, exterminating crickets from an average property (inside and out) only requires a single visit from a local pest control professional. The average cost of getting rid of crickets is $175-$325, with the average homeowner spending around $250 on a single visit from a professional to remove crickets from a 3,000 sq.ft. property.
Cricket Extermination Costs | |
---|---|
National average cost | $250 |
Average range | $175-$325 |
Low-end | $150 |
High-end | $675 |
If you want to regain your peace and quiet, get rid of crickets quickly with a professional exterminator. Generally, they can take care of the problem in one visit by setting traps, applying pesticides, and pinpointing the areas of entry. Generally, exterminators come, assess the situation, conduct an inspection, and discuss options with the homeowner. Application of cricket bait and traps may require that homeowners are home during these appointments. Exterminators usually charge by the job, rather than the hour, and many provide an initial assessment for free. It usually costs around $250 for single treatment of a 3,000 square foot dwelling for cricket removal.
You may also enter into a contract with a pest control company, which involves routine visits every month, two months, quarter, or however often you want them to come, inspect for pests, and address the issue promptly. The cost of this is typically per visit and at a discount from the average house call of $250 previously mentioned; the rates range from $40-$250 per visit under these contracts, depending on frequency, pests involved, and the exterminator that you use. Another advantage of these arrangements is that you can call on them if you suspect an issue and they typically respond quickly–often at no additional cost.
Your exterminator will inform you about the best methods to deal with your infestation; many techniques depend on the accessibility of the crickets and where they are hiding. Tough-to-reach spaces, like behind baseboards or in attics, may require additional visits and fees to resolve your cricket conundrum.
Some methods employed by exterminators to get rid of crickets include:
Cricket bait often contains toxic Bifenthrin or boric acid and it can be used to lure and kill crickets. The bait is ingested by crickets, which later kills them. This bait is placed around dark corners and crevices, where these pests like to hide. Ask your exterminator about the bait being used to determine its toxicity to pets and humans in the house. In high amounts, it may be harmful.
Cricket sprinkle is granular bait, another form of cricket bait, which works well outdoors or in difficult to access areas of the home. Sprinkle is typically insecticide that can be dispersed easily, and that is alluring to crickets. Applied to the perimeter of the infested area, sprinkles work as crickets eat them and later die off. Most granular sprinkles are pet-safe, but talk to your exterminator to be sure. This is used in grass, gardens, garages, along walls, in crawl spaces and more–anywhere that crickets hide and where it won’t be consumed by pets or children.
Professionals may use cricket dust outside, in attics, or in crawl spaces. This works well when your home is infested with hard-to-find crickets. Deltamethrin dust is applied for crickets to ingest or crawl through, which will impact their nervous system, eventually killing them. While this low-odor pesticide is effective, it is less hazardous to larger beings, like pets and people, though prolonged exposure to large amounts could be toxic.
For a couple crickets that are keeping you awake chirping, enlist an exterminator to use cricket traps. These are typically non-toxic, though traps should not be used within reach of pets or small children, and are ideal for tough to reach spots if the exterminator is able to access such spaces. The exterminator will place glue boards in the middle of the area where chirping is heard, and within a couple of days the cricket should be trapped. Baited traps are effective, easy to hide, and long-lasting.
Cricket spray refers to a spray pesticide used by exterminators to treat areas under the house, along walkways and paths, and near sheds and entry points, where crickets can lurk. Spray pesticides often carry warnings and hazards, so talk to your exterminator about your options if you have pets in your home. Sprays work well in hard-to-reach spots and are typically very-effective.
Many professional exterminators offer services using EPA-certified products for clients that are concerned about this. Additionally, you can ask that preventative measures be implemented to avoid infestation at all.
Many people may mistake a cricket for a grasshopper, as they do resemble each other. Crickets are cylindrical, with six legs and two long antennae or feelers on their head. Crickets generally are one-to-two inches in length, though indoor house crickets are smaller than outdoor field cricket breeds. Most crickets in this country are dark colored–brown, black, or green.
If you consistently see crickets around your home or property, you likely have an infestation on your hands. If you hear them chirping at night or notice deterioration and chew-marks on fabric, you may have crickets. Take a closer look with a magnifying glass to see where they have gnawed on your property, as they are similar to silverfish and will eat anything they find around your home.
There are several different cost factors involved in resolving a cricket infestation besides the type of extermination method you choose. Consider the following when figuring the costs to get rid of crickets in your home:
In the simplest terms, crickets are divided into two different types: house crickets and field crickets. Since there are over 900 different species of crickets, it can help to know what kind/type/breed you are dealing with in your home and geographic locale. There are many distinctions that can help you in figuring out the type of crickets you have on your property. While all crickets are nocturnal, not all of them chirp or fly. Crickets are non-stinging and non-venomous, though some species can cause significant damage to property:
Basement crickets are not so much a species of cricket, but rather a group of species. Camel, cave, and spider crickets are all considered basement crickets. That is, they are the type of cricket that you will find in a basement, crawl space, or other moist, dark habitat.
Camel and cave crickets are often left behind after house crickets have laid eggs indoors. They prefer warm, damp spaces, so they are often found near plumbing and fireplaces. Most don’t bite humans, some chirp, and they are usually brown or tan. These are often the same kind of crickets that you find in crawl spaces or basements, thus they are sometimes called basement crickets.
If you are wondering how to get rid of spider crickets, call a professional exterminator. Spider crickets are large and brown, resembling the wolf spider. Spider crickets can bite and they jump, which can make them frightening and intimidating for homeowners. You will find spider crickets in dark, damp places, which makes them basement crickets, too.
There is some confusion surrounding the Jerusalem cricket: is it a bug or a cricket? Also called the Jerusalem bug or potato bug, the Jerusalem cricket spends its life underground, outdoors. These pests don’t have wings so they cannot fly, but they have a very strong jaw and bite. While not poisonous, their bite hurts and leaves welts. These crickets are quite large and found primarily in the western US and Mexico.
If you notice damage to gardens or landscape, you may be dealing with a southern mole cricket. What is a mole cricket? Exactly what it sounds like: a cricket that has the tendency to burrow in the soil. So, where do mole crickets live? They live underground, laying their eggs, and typically remaining outside for the duration of their lives. An interesting fact is that this species will play dead if trapped or cornered, moving rapidly to get free quite spontaneously.
The term “field crickets” generally refers to black crickets, which are black in color and primarily found outside. These crickets grow bigger and are more aggressive than house crickets. They jump and lay their eggs in the soil. These crickets are native to most of the US, most common in the eastern US including Florida. Field crickets will try to get inside your home when the weather turns colder and are attracted to lights, which often help guide them in. They will chew on and eat property, fabric, food, and other insects. True to their name, field crickets can also do damage by chewing on crops, gardens, and fields.
Wondering what kinds of damage are caused by crickets? Are crickets harmful to humans? The extent of risk and damage depends on several factors, including the types of crickets that you are dealing with:
Type of Cricket | Damage it causes |
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Camel cricket/cave cricket | Gnaw on belongings in the home Not considered dangerous or harmful to humans |
Spider cricket | Can jump and bite or gnaw Property damage is usually minimal |
Basement cricket | Damage is minimal unless dealing with an infestation or extreme case |
Jerusalem cricket | Easily provoked and bites humans, leaving welts |
Southern mole cricket | Can do significant property damage with their burrowing habits, including tearing up gardens and landscaping |
Field cricket | Feed on and ruin items like fabric, wool, cotton, and furniture They will eat and soil food products Outside they can damage fields, crops, and gardens |
Protect your property and prevent a cricket infestation with some common-sense strategies that work. Clutter, moisture, and easy-access cause crickets to come inside during cooler seasons. If you want to use pesticide to prevent crickets, you may discuss service plans with area exterminators for recurring visits and costs. Be proactive and prevent crickets with these tips:
Female crickets lay hundreds of eggs, which take about a year to hatch. Once hatched, crickets take 45 days to three months to become adult crickets. The male crickets chirp to attract females during summer months, which is mating season. Crickets are less active during winter months and in colder weather.
Indoor crickets are usually called house crickets, and they gain entry through open windows, doors, and other gaps and cracks in the home. These pests like moist, warm places, which is why they usually live outside during summer months. Finding a cricket that gets in the home can be tricky; they tend to be quiet when a human is nearby. Since crickets are attracted to heat, they can typically be located in a kitchen or near a heat source, like the furnace. They are quite sneaky, hiding in outlets, wall sockets, baseboards, or small cracks in walls or fixtures.
Crickets love a damp, moist garden patch, and they do bring some positive traits to this environment. Crickets can help to reduce the number of other pests that could be feeding on your vegetables or flowers, though, granted, crickets themselves can do irreparable damage to certain types of plants, too. The best way to address crickets in the garden is by intentionally planting deterrents, like garlic, cilantro, clove, and other odiferous herbs to drive them away. If you believe they are nesting on your property, deprive crickets the water they need by ceasing overwatering your property. This will force the pests away in search of a new place to nest. If the infestation persists, call a professional, who will handle the situation with effective cricket removal methods.
Crickets have a purpose in the yard and garden, as they help to break down soil and garden debris. While generally harmless, some homeowners may have allergies or sensitivities to these pests. Using pesticides around the outside of the home can help curb crickets; a professional exterminator can spray the yard and garden in a single visit (depending on the size of your property) at a rate that starts at around $250 per application per 3,000 square foot property.
Property owners may also get creative with what they plant in order to curb crickets. For instance, you can first clear and trim your landscape to deter pests and then add some plants that will drive them away. In the case of crickets, plant things like garlic, cilantro, and clove, these will help keep them away.
Crickets love a damp, dark environment which is why many head to cellars, crawl spaces, and basements when the weather outside becomes too cool. Make sure to remove items that are inherently attractive to pests, i.e. wet, moist, or damp material, vegetation, and belongings. Set traps and seal up entry points, as you would in any other area of the home. Dehumidify the space if possible using a tabletop dehumidifier and call an exterminator if the situation doesn’t improve.
A garage may seem like the perfect place to store building materials or belongings, which makes them susceptible to moisture. This can be very appealing to crickets (and other pests) who may be looking for a damp place to nest. Set sticky traps or hire a professional exterminator to apply pesticides, preferably pet friendly and non-toxic, around the garage walls. Also, you should keep the grass and vegetation trimmed back around the perimeter to deter pest activity. Curb clutter kept in your garage to keep crickets at bay.
The first thing to do is to caulk 1 and seal any entry points to your home to prevent further cricket infestation. This problem generally merits calling in a professional to locate the crickets as they can be quite illusive. These pests can become silent and sneaky when they sense humans are near. Generally, your exterminator will focus traps near appliances and base boards of walls where crickets may be hiding. Severe situations may call for the exterminator to return to check your trap each day.
Can’t find a pesky cricket inside your home? Check sources of heat, like your hot water heater or furnace vents, first. Crickets can burrow and make themselves very small to fit in cracks behind the wall’s baseboards. These pests also can fit in light sockets, electrical outlets, and plumbing. It is very difficult to locate crickets since they become silent when humans are near, so it makes the most sense to hire an exterminator to track down the pest.
If you are wondering how to catch crickets, you must know how to attract crickets. They like bright, white light and moist, warm places. Crickets also sense when a human is near, becoming quiet and ceasing their chirping, which makes them illusive. Outside, crickets will survive on other insects, while indoor crickets will eat about anything, including clothing, linen, and furnishings. If you are asking yourself, “how long does a cricket live?,” you should know that the lifespan of a cricket is about 90 days in nature, and the males typically die as soon as mating season is over. Crickets that find their way inside your home can live longer, even indefinitely, with food and water sources nearby. Crickets are illusive and jump, so it can be tough to catch them. Professionals use sticky traps with bait to lure and remove crickets from a home in many cases.
Crickets are insects that are closely related to the grasshopper and a member of the same family as millipedes and centipedes. These pests prefer to be outdoors except when the weather turns foul or severe. If you leave access to your home at a time when crickets are seeking shelter, they will likely come in. Crickets are drawn to dark, damp spaces.
House crickets may not necessarily be a health risk, but they do cause property damage. Crickets eat anything including fabric, carpeting, synthetics, and other fibers. The more crickets in your home, the more detrimental the situation becomes. Furthermore, the incessant chirping of crickets can become a nuisance that causes many homeowners to literally lose sleep.
There are numerous holistic and non-toxic approaches to getting rid of crickets, though the fastest and most effective may be to hire a one-time extermination, typically starting at $250 per visit. Some DIY ways to get rid of crickets include sticky traps, essential oils, and preventative measures.
Resolving a cricket infestation can cost from $250-$1,000 when hiring a professional for the job.
According to Chinese tradition as well as Native American tribal lore, crickets are supposed to be a sign of good luck, which is why they are kept as pets in many Asian households. The chirping of crickets may be soothing to some, though others may become annoyed by the sound.
Usually, crickets become a problem when the weather gets colder and they are looking for a warm, moist place to be. Plus, they are opportunists, in that they can breach a home through cracks, gaps, and openings. Generally, these pests prefer to be outside, but will invade and infest the home if the weather outside is severe.
The sound of crickets can become a nuisance, especially inside the home. The closer you get to finding the source of the chirping, the quieter crickets become, however. This makes it difficult to locate the cricket and quiet the din.
Preventing crickets from accessing the inside of the home is the best approach to avoiding infestation. Vacuum up eggs thoroughly and keep moisture to a minimum. Maintain your yard and landscape to prevent overgrowth that is alluring to pests, including crickets.
Talk to contractors about further steps that prevent crickets from accessing your property. Weed the garden, mow the grass, clean up debris, reduce clutter, and consider enhancing ventilation throughout the home’s crawl spaces, cellars, and basements. Modify your outdoor lighting to be less welcoming to this species of pests. While you are at it, take time to fill in holes and repair masonry to further prevent access.
Crickets will find their way inside the home during cooler weather, and since they are drawn to light, may venture indoors when the opportunity strikes. Typically, most crickets live outside, usually near or around garbage, dumpsters, or compost 2 heaps.
If you hire a professional exterminator, expect to pay anywhere from $250-$1,000 to fully remove crickets from your property.
Cost to get rid of crickets varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.