Crickets

Item: Pointe Pest Control
Rating: 5
Author: insiteadvice

Live Cricket-Free with Pointe!

Pointe Pest Control is committed to keeping your home pest-free in every season. Our team of experienced and state-certified technicians are dedicated to providing safe and effective pest control services for the Western Illinois and Eastern Missouri areas. If a pest problem is not completely resolved after a visit, our technicians will return until it is eliminated.

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The Noisiest Pests in Town

Crickets are at their best when they are depicted as wise side characters in animated movies. In real life, they are a noisy, destructive pest to have, both indoors and outdoors. These insects range in size from sixteen millimeters to two inches long. They have two lengthy antennae and are usually light brown, dark brown, or black in color. Some cricket species have long wings, while others solely rely on their powerful legs to get around.

In fact, this may be one of the most well-known trait of crickets, second only to their chirping. They share a similar anatomy to grasshoppers, as both have long hind legs that act as springs and propel them through the air. Crickets can leap up to thirty inches, which proves to be a useful skill as they try to evade their many predators in the wild. But when they decide to use a house as a cozy shelter, this jumping ability makes catching these pests even more difficult. Instead of trying to eliminate these agile pests yourself, schedule an appointment with Pointe Pest Control to receive efficient cricket control that is effective beyond the visit.

Hungry, Hungry Crickets

The common diet of crickets does not pose much of a problem until they venture into a backyard or house. Crickets are omnivores, but they seem to favor organic material over other insects, given the choice. In their natural habitat, crickets enjoy grasses, vegetables, flowers, seeds, and grains. Although they are not always thought of as garden pests, crickets can do some irreversible damage to a garden or backyard if left for long enough. But they can also devour aphids and garden pest larvae while they are hiding amidst the greenery, so crickets can have some purpose outdoors.

However, there is no valid reason for crickets to invade the home. If a cricket makes it indoors, either accidentally or to establish a new shelter, it will seek out other food sources of the organic variety. The common targets include papers, kitchen crumbs, and organic fabrics, especially if there is any kind of food stain on the material. This is why one of the earliest signs of a cricket invasion is the sudden appearance of small jagged holes in closet clothing. Crickets seem to favor fabrics of organic origins, such as cotton, wool, linen, and silk. Whether you are finding crickets in your closet, garbage, garden, or kitchen, our team of caring technicians is here to solve your pest problems.

Chirp Thrills

The chirping of crickets has been the background music of summer for centuries, and has even been referenced in multiple country songs. But why do crickets chirp in the first place? It is clearly a method of communication, but it is essentially the mating call of crickets. Male crickets rub their front wings together – a process called stridulation – and produce a song that differs with the species. Female crickets are more attracted to louder, faster chirps since these qualities typically signify a fitting mate. Crickets primarily chirp when they are either searching for a mate or announcing their victory over another male cricket they just fought.

There is an old wives’ tale that claims the temperature in Fahrenheit can be determined by the rate of cricket chirps. The most commonly referenced equation is Dolbear’s law: add 40 to the number of chirps counted in 15 seconds. While this may give a general idea of the outside temperature, it is not entirely reliable for determining the exact degree. There are multiple factors that can affect the rate of a cricket’s chirps. Crickets naturally chirp more when it is warmer outside since they are ectothermic, like other insects. Plus, the overall health, age, and diet of the cricket affect the types of chirps that it produces. This chirping is great for assessing the location of a cricket that made its way inside, but when it comes to determining the temperature, it may be best to stick with a trusty thermometer.

Call Us for Cricket Prevention!

Thorough Inspection

We begin by inspecting the area for eggs, live crickets, and entry points.

Targeted Treatments

We will then apply our treatments to the house’s exterior, especially around doors and windows.

Cricket-Free Guarantee

With our attentive services, we completely treat for crickets and dozens of other pests.

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The Crickets of the Greater St. Louis Area

There are about 100 cricket species that are known to reside in the U.S., but even fewer are easily found in populated areas. In St. Louis, 3 species are known to cause the most problems for homeowners and business-owners alike.

House Crickets – Acheta domesticus

Despite their name, house crickets are mainly driven to live indoors when the weather turns cold. Otherwise, they live in garbage dumps and in warm areas outside. These crickets are light brown and grow up to one inch long. The three dark bands across their heads are their telltale markings. House crickets can survive indoors as long as they have food and water, and like to stay in the warmer parts of the structure. House crickets feast on dead insects, pet food, silk, wool, cotton, and any food-stained material.

Field Crickets – Gryllinae

These crickets live up to their name by living in fields most of the time, but they can venture indoors when they see lights or feel the warmth. Field crickets are black and up to 1.25 inches long, with rear wings that protrude beyond their back legs. Due to their primary diet of crops, field crickets are no friend to farmers. They also eat dead insects, fur, cotton, and silk, but tend to prefer vegetation above all. While field crickets thrive outdoors with their diet and mating, they are just like other crickets with their need for a warm winter shelter.

Camel Crickets – Ceuthophilus spp.

These large brown crickets, known for their creepy heads and huge back legs, are a nightmare pest for many people. However, these crickets are generally the least destructive of the three. They stick to fungus, dead insects, organic matter, and papery items. Camel crickets usually live in a damp, dark setting that is cooler, like under logs or in basements. It can be difficult to find these 1.5-inch-long crickets because they differ from other crickets in one notable way: their lack of wings means they cannot chirp!

In general, crickets may bite a person who gets too close. But their mouth parts are not strong enough to puncture skin, and most species would rather flee than fight. When you want a pest control company that tackles crickets head-on, call Pointe Pest Control.

Crickets Not Welcome

There are three main signs of a cricket infestation. One is the sound of chirping coming from inside the home, rather than out in the lawn. The second is finding new, small holes in clothing and papers. The last one – and the most obvious – is finding one or more live crickets inside. They usually reproduce outdoors since they use soil as a protective barrier and temporary home. Female crickets lay eggs in soil, sometimes within a week of becoming adults. After hatching, the nymphs resemble tiny wingless crickets and will molt up to twelve times before becoming adults. They mate shortly after, and typically live for about six weeks total.

Crickets are primarily attracted to our homes for the warmth they provide in winter and the illuminating lights that draw them in. The best way to prevent crickets is to take away anything that would make it easy for them to stay. Check for any leaks both inside and outside of the home, and repair these as soon as possible. Also, keeping up on the yard work will give crickets less space to hide. Mow the lawns regularly, and trim back any plants and trees from the house. Since crickets are small enough to enter through most cracks and gaps, sealing any entry points is crucial. Use caulk for smaller imperfections, and fill larger holes with copper mesh before sealing. No one wants to find themselves living in a home with a noisy pest!

Pointe Knows Cricket Control

When you want to go beyond the basics of DIY pest control, Pointe Pest Control is here for you. Our experienced technicians use their extensive knowledge of pests to eliminate them in any life stage or habitat. We begin each visit with a complete inspection of the property in order to find entry points, eggs, and live or dead crickets. Our team will then create a treatment plan that fits your specific pest situation and property layout, as we want to treat your specific pest problems.

Cricket control is similar to the pest control for other invasive insects. We typically use a combination of barrier treatments and exclusion work to treat and prevent crickets. Our technicians will apply effective pesticides to the exterior of the house and its foundation, as this kills any crickets that gather around the home. We also treat around any doors and openings to create a barrier around the most used areas. To completely block out any invading pests, we will fill all small cracks and gaps along with treating them, and we will point out larger gaps to you during the ending conversation. When you receive pest control from Pointe Pest Control, you can be sure that no stone will go unturned by us while solving your pest problems. Give us a call today to schedule your appointment with our dedicated team of certified technicians!

Very Pleased

Professional responsive service to reduce the crickets that have invaded my garage! Saw instant results, through coverage of the whole house including eaves and gables, and all entry points like hose bibs, electrical boxes, lights, etc. Very pleased with the personal service and friendly technician.

Jill Crader

Arlington Heights

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Crickets

Crickets

Live Cricket-Free with Pointe!

FREE PEST CONTROL QUOTE

The Noisiest Pests in Town

Hungry, Hungry Crickets

Chirp Thrills

Call Us for Cricket Prevention!

Thorough Inspection

Targeted Treatments

Cricket-Free Guarantee

The Crickets of the Greater St. Louis Area

Crickets Not Welcome

Pointe Knows Cricket Control

Very Pleased

Free Pest Control Quote

Contact Us Form

services

customer care

Email Us

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services

customer care

Email Us

Get Directions