Eliminate and Prevent Crickets in NJ and PA with Cooper
What is a Cricket?
Crickets have two distinctive features: their large back legs and their chirping. While all crickets can be identified by their powerful hind legs, it is only the male crickets who chirp in order to attract females. There are two types of crickets that are commonly found indoors in New Jersey and Pennsylvania:
House Crickets
Pictured Above: House Cricket, Photo Credit: National Pest Management Association
House crickets generally live outdoors but they may invade homes in large numbers. They are generally between ¾ of an inch and 1 inch long when fully grown and are a light yellowish-brown in color with three dark bands on their heads. House crickets will attack paper, damage silk, woolens, fruits, and vegetables all kinds of foods, and even rubber. However, unless large numbers occur, such damage is usually minor. House crickets like warm places such as kitchens, fireplaces, and cracks and crevices and behind baseboards. Though they can be irritating, house crickets are harmless to humans.
Camel Crickets
Pictured Above: Camel Cricket
Camel crickets, also referred to as spider or cave crickets, are larger and more intimidating in appearance than house crickets. They grow between ½ of an inch and 1½ inches long. The unique humpback positioning of their legs are the easiest way to identify them. Camel crickets are light to dark brown in color and favor cool, damp places. You can find spider crickets living among other household pests in places such as garages, basements, crawl spaces, and under woodpiles. Anywhere that high levels of moisture exists can attract spider crickets. They are harmless to humans but can be alarming due to their size. To learn more about camel crickets, read our blog post by clicking here.
Why are there crickets in my house?
Pictured Above: Crickets and cockroaches found in a crawl space
Crickets normally find their way inside when they are seeking warmth and moisture. They tend to prefer living outside in the warmer months and will tend to be less of a problem then. Crickets generally like to inhabit dark and moist areas such as the basement or garage. They are most active at night, hiding in dark warm places during the day. Just like flies and mosquitoes, crickets are attracted to lights, and often flock to them by the thousands.
Why should I be worried about crickets?
Pictured Above: Spider Cricket
Because crickets will eat practically anything, they can cause damage to clothing and curtains in your home, though the damage is seldom significant unless they are present in large numbers. Like most household pests, crickets try to avoid humans. They thrive where conditions are dark where we will not be spending the majority of our time such as crawl spaces and basements. Crickets are more of a nuisance than a direct threat to humans. These jumping pests often travel alone so if you hear chirping, that doesn't necessarily mean you have a heavy infestation.
How do I get rid of crickets?
Making changes to the landscaping on your property is helpful in reducing the number of crickets infesting your home. Be sure that the lawn is well maintained and there are not stacks of things such as firewood along the foundation. Sealing cracks and crevices where they can get in to the home is also very important. Pesticide applications to exterior and baiting or pesticide treatments inside can be very effective in dealing with crickets. You can try to seal up all cracks, crevices, and potential entry points where the crickets could enter your home. You can also switch to yellow (sodium vapor) lights outside since they will attract fewer crickets to them.
How does Cooper get rid of crickets?
One-Time Cricket Control Service
Cooper Pest Solutions provides targeted treatments on a reactionary basis to eliminate existing spider cricket infestations at your home. One of Cooper’s trained technicians will visit your home and treat the areas of high cricket activity such as a crawl space or basement. Service expectations for 100% spider cricket elimination are up to 7 days. Additionally, at no additional expense, our technician will treat the exterior of your home to prevent further spider cricket infestations. Coverage under this program is 90 days, with unlimited service calls in this period.
Our Home Intensive Plan is designed to provide preventive pest and rodent control for your home, year round. Cricket control and elimination is included with this program and if you happen to have a cricket invasion, all you need to do is to call us and we’ll come out and treat the area at no additional expense.
This is our most popular service for homeowners. The service plan includes four preventive services per year. Each service is unique and will be accompanied by a detailed 30-point inspection report with detailed findings as well as providing you with important recommendations for your home. Each year you will receive three exterior maintenance services (March – November) and one interior service (December – February). The winter service will focus on the interior of the structure and is geared towards rodents and other pests that may live within the structure. Unlimited service calls are available in between the quarterly visits for all covered pests if any problems arise.
Cooper’s Home Traditional Plan is a quarterly maintenance service meant to protect your home against over 20 common household pests including crickets. One of our highly skilled, state-certified pest control professionals will visit your home 4 times per year to examine for undetected pest activity. If the pest management professional finds crickets, regardless if you were aware of their presence or not, they will perform treatment to eliminate their breeding source. Unlimited service calls are available in between the quarterly visits if any problems arise.
How soon can you get here?
At Cooper Pest Solutions, our goal is to provide fast, convenient service with the peace of mind that you are in good hands. We understand that pest problems can be stressful and overwhelming, so we strive to provide same day or next day service. Call us at 1-800-949-2667 to learn more about our cricket control options or to schedule service at your home.
How can I prevent crickets in the future?
Make sure that you keep your lawn well maintained and keep mulch and wood from piling up against the foundation of your home. You can also switch to yellow (sodium vapor) lights, which attract fewer insects to your home. It is also important to seal cracks, crevices, and other entry points around the home.