The repeated chirping of a cricket “somewhere” in your home or business is annoying. Try to ignore it; but, after a while, you will be on a seek and destroy mission. Following the “chirp” in an attempt to eliminate the offender can prove quite difficult. Then, once you find it, you have to catch it! While Fort Worth may be known for its hospitality, cricket is definitely not a welcome addition to your property.
6 Common Crickets Around Fort Worth
There are multiple species of crickets in the Fort Worth area. With such variety in the species, it is important to be able to identify what type is infesting your property.
Common Fort Worth species are as follows:
- Camel Crickets: Coloration ranges from dark-light brown to darker mottled areas. These crickets have long legs that make them look almost like spiders. Camel crickets have a humpbacked body with very long antennae and no wings. This type of cricket does not chirp.
- Ground Crickets: Coloration is dark brownish-red. A smaller species, the ground cricket does have wings and a bristle-covered thorax.
- Field Crickets: Coloration is black with a large head and antennae that are longer than its body; it also has a distinct chirping sound.
- House Crickets: Coloration is yellowish-brown with 3 dark bands across their heads with thread-like antennae. Known for their loud chirping, these are the most common crickets found inside a property (thus their name – house cricket).
- Jerusalem Crickets: Coloration is yellow to brown with dark stripes on its abdomen. This is a larger species with a big head and beady black eyes. They have long antennae but no wings. They are known to make a scratching or hissing sound.
- Tree Crickets: Coloration is white to light green in color. They have slender bodies with wings and a long antenna. Males produce a high-pitched sound (“song”) to attract females.
How Do Crickets Get Into My Fort Worth Property And Are They Dangerous?
The most obvious sign of a cricket infestation is seeing or hearing crickets in your home or business. Since crickets are nocturnal, they usually hide in dark warm places during the day. During warm weather, crickets typically live outdoors and are especially fond of brightly lit buildings. They feed on plants, dead or live insects, and other crickets. Once cold weather appears, crickets will seek a warm, moist environment. When they are comfortably situated within your property, they can chew on and damage houseplants, upholstered furniture, rugs, wallpaper, curtains, and clothing.
Crickets can transmit diseases to people through a bite, physical contact, or contact with droppings. Transmission of these diseases is not considered harmful to humans, however, some people have been known to develop painful skin sores.
7 Prevention Techniques To Deter Crickets From Your Fort Worth Property
Keeping crickets from accessing your property is important. Multiple entry points can invite crickets to seek a warm and moist environment in your home.
Some prevention techniques are as follows:
- Reduce/adjust outdoor light sources, and seal cracks/openings around them.
- Reduce areas of moisture in and around your property.
- Keep lawns mowed.
- Weed plant beds.
- Move woodpiles away from your property.
- Ventilate crawl spaces, basements, etc.
- Seal all possible points of entry such as window/door frames, holes in masonry, soffits along the eaves of homes, and garage doors.
Removing Pesky Crickets From Your Fort Worth Property
Crickets can be quite skillful at leading you on a merry chase. The professionals at All-Safe Pest & Termite offer customized residential and commercial services and treatment plans that use low-toxic treatments to remove pests. Call All-Safe Pest & Termite today for safe, fast, and effective pest control.