Cricket Pest Control
More than just a source of annoying chirping, crickets can be a destructive nuisance, causing issues inside and outside of the home. If left unchecked, these pests can breed quickly, and if you’ve heard the telltale noise in your home or are noticing unexplained dead patches in your grass, you may already have a cricket infestation. The sooner you schedule cricket extermination, the better. Contact Champion Termite and Pest Control, Inc. today and save some money with our pest control coupons!
Types Of Crickets
There are two main types of crickets considered pests in Florida: house crickets and mole crickets. As these crickets affect different parts of your property, it’s important to understand the difference between the two, so you can receive the right type of pest control. If you’re unsure what type of pest you’re dealing with, it’s best to rely on professional pest identification.
What Are Mole Crickets?
Similar to their namesake, mole crickets spend most of their lives underground, where they create extensive tunnel systems. Because they tunnel near the soil’s surface, their activities often sever the root systems of plants and grasses. They also rely on these roots and shoots of grass as a food source, causing the grass to die and creating dead, brown patches. Furthermore, mole cricket’s natural predators — raccoons, armadillos, and birds — can wreak havoc on your landscaping as they hunt for their next meals. Mole crickets are active year-round but cause most of their damage from March to June and late August to early October when it’s warm, and they are reaching adulthood. Mole crickets are nocturnal, so you likely won’t see or hear them during the day.
What Are House Crickets?
Unlike mole crickets, house crickets prefer the safety and easy food and water sources available in your home. House crickets can often be attracted to pet food, but other food items, such as fruits and lettuces, can also attract them. The issue with house crickets is that if you see or hear one, there are probably dozens more you don’t see, as this pest can multiply quickly. House crickets are about 2 cm long and light brown with antennae and stripes on their heads. House cricket infestations can happen year-round but are more likely in winter when pests may seek refuge in warm homes. They are also nocturnal, so you may not hear or see them until after dusk.
Signs Of A Cricket Infestation
Mole crickets often prefer bermudagrass and bahiagrass but may also affect other types of grasses. Common signs of mole crickets include disturbed soil raised in irregular lines. Dead patches of grass can also be a sign of mole crickets, though other factors may cause this. Additionally, grass that feels spongy when you walk on it can be a sign of mole crickets burrowing and detaching the grass from the soil.
House crickets may be easier to detect simply because of their closer proximity. Many people first notice the male’s “calling song,” which is used to attract females. You’ll most likely notice this chirping sound around dusk. Chewed spots in fabric, such as on furniture, may also be a sign of a house cricket infestation. Of course, spotting a cricket in the home most likely means there is an infestation as these pests breed quickly.
Cricket Infestation Prevention
Because crickets can be attracted to moisture, limiting the amount of moisture in and around your home is key to prevention. Regularly mow your grass and weed plant beds. Ensure wood piles are located away from your home and that gutters are clear to maintain proper drainage. Proper ventilation in attics and crawl spaces is also important to prevent moisture build-up. Prevent more than just cricket infestations by sealing entry points around door and window frames and holes in the ceiling, walls, and masonry. Also, ensure any food, including pet food, is properly stored in airtight containers.
Cricket Removal & Extermination
Hearing a cricket is one thing, but removing or exterminating an infestation can be a trickier business. Instead of employing a DIY approach, a professional cricket exterminator will know how to get rid of crickets inside the house and around your property fast and efficiently. Contact the expert exterminators at Champion Termite and Pest Control, Inc. to receive pest control services in Palatka, Green Cove Springs, Middleburg, Orange Park, St. Augustine, and Starke. We also provide bed bug and termite extermination services.
