It only takes 30 minutes of on-and-off chirping in the middle of the night to drive any individual mad. There is little that is more valuable than sleep. If you have had trouble with loud and obnoxious crickets, you have an idea of how annoying these pests can be! Thankfully, you don’t have to tolerate the noise! Here are seven quick and effective cricket prevention tips for your Fort Worth home.
What Are House Crickets?
There are many different species of crickets that live here in America, but only one that is known for invading homes frequently. They are aptly named house crickets. You can identify these pests by their yellowish-brown bodies, six legs, and the three dark crossbands on their head. One thing that sets crickets apart from most other insects is their ability to jump over three feet into the air. House crickets can even fly if a situation demands it!
Crickets are best known for their incessant chirping sound during the night. This melody is only produced by male crickets and is used to attract a mate. If you have sat on the porch of a rural home at night, you know how loud an orchestra of crickets is. Bring that sound into your home, and one single cricket can keep you awake all hours of the night. Have this happen inside your home more than a few nights in a row, and it might drive you mad!
The Problems Crickets Cause
Crickets are much more than a melodic and sometimes annoying tune. They are also destructive. Outside of homes, crickets damage garden flowers and vegetable crops. Inside, these pests chew on clothing, fabrics, furs, and carpeting. If only a single cricket snuck into your Fort Worth home, you wouldn’t notice any serious damage. However, a larger infestation can cause much damage! You will begin to notice holes in fabrics, or damage to fur and carpets around your home.
In addition to being destructive, house crickets carry and spread bacteria and parasites. House crickets spread these sickness vectors through their fecal matter and their bodies. If you find a cricket inside your home, do not catch it with your bare skin, or if you do, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after you have caught it, and release it outdoors.
How To Prevent Crickets
Although a huge problem around homes, crickets are fairly predictable pests. They will almost invade through some sort of damage in your home’s exterior, and come inside to avoid inclement weather or hunt for food. To reduce these factors and prevent crickets around your home, use these seven prevention tips:
- Use a caulking gun or some liquid cement to fill in holes, gaps, and openings in your home.
- Be sure your weather stripping is in good condition.
- Install door sweeps under all exterior doors.
- Repair or replace damaged window/door screens.
- Address moisture problems in and around your home.
- Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible.
- Turn off exterior lights at night or replace their bulbs with insect-repellant ones.
To have a current infestation dealt with, turn to the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite. Using only the highest quality products, we will treat your home and ensure that crickets get out and stay out!
Call us today to find out more about our pest control, or to schedule a service visit for your Fort Worth home!