Pest Control Guide - Crickets in Indiana, Illinois, & Kentucky
Crickets can be a damaging pest to wood, carpet, and other organic materials in the home. They also create disruptive noise at night, and leave bodies and droppings in the home, especially in the basement. Common species include:
CAMELBACK CRICKETDescription
- Camelback cricket or cave crickets are about ½"-1/4" in length.
- They are brown with a mottled appearance.
- They are wingless and produce no chirpings sound like other crickets.
- They are found in areas of high moisture such as basements or crawlspaces.
- They are known to eat fabrics.
- Treat the exterior perimeter of the structure
- Treat the interior perimeter of basements
- Treat interior of crawlspaces
- Treat around pipe openings and penetrations.
- Directive treat (fog) crawlspaces if population is large to get quick knockdown.
- Eliminate moisture concerns to prevent further activity.
HOUSE CRICKETDescription
- House crickets are ¾"-7/8" in length.
- House crickets are light brown in appearance.
- House crickets can live indoors indefinitely unlike field crickets.
- House crickets were introduced to the US by Europe and are not native.
- House crickets are a nuisance pest because of their constant chirping.
- House crickets can be controlled by general interior treatments.
- Exterior perimeter treatments should be performed to prevent further crickets from entering the home.
- Crawlspaces should also be treated.
- Granular insecticide baits may be used to aid in control of house crickets.
FIELD CRICKETDescription
- Field crickets are ½"-1/8" in length.
- They are black and shiny with wings that cover their body.
- Field crickets are common crop damaging pests but are nuisance pests in structures because of their constant chirping.
- Field crickets generally do not live long after entering a structure.
- Exterior perimeter treatments will control and prevent further field cricket populations.
- Treatment around windows and doors will also help control cricket populations.
- Treatments to basements and garages may be needed to control existing cricket infestations.
