The name house cricket comes from the fact that these crickets often enter houses where they can survive indefinitely. House crickets are reared in commercial cricket factories and sold in bait and pet stores.
Habits
House crickets are nocturnal and usually hide in dark, warm places during the day. Male house crickets chirp and attract females by rubbing a scraper on the inner edge of the left wing against the teeth of a file beneath the right wing. Outside, crickets are attracted to bluish electric lights and can often be seen swarming near them in large numbers. They feed on plants and dead or live insects, including other crickets.
Habitat
During warm weather, house crickets typically live outdoors and can commonly be found in garbage dumps. With the approach of cold weather, they seek shelter indoors, especially in places such as sheds and houses, seeking areas of moisture and fermentation.
Threats
When crickets find their way inside homes, they can damage clothing, carpeting and other fabrics including wool, cotton, silk, and synthetics. They can eat through large areas of fabric and are especially attracted to clothes soiled with perspiration.
Prevention
Reduce or eliminate areas of moisture near your home by mowing lawns, weeding plant beds and removing woodpiles. Change outdoor lights to less attractive yellow bulbs or sodium vapor lamps. Properly screen windows and doors. Seal points of entry outside the home such as around doors and windows, near utility pipes and holes in masonry. |
