Crickets are a common pest in Arizona, and once they invade your home, they can become a real headache. The incessant chirping of male crickets, especially at night, can make it difficult to sleep, and a cricket infestation can attract scorpions and other pests.
Whether you’re dealing with house crickets or field crickets, taking proactive steps can help you maintain a pest-free home.
If you live in Phoenix, here’s a step-by-step guide to effective cricket control.
Key Takeaways
- Crickets get into homes through small gaps, so checking for entry points is the first step.
- Sealing cracks, fixing moisture problems, and changing outdoor lights can help keep crickets away.
- Keeping your yard clean, storing food properly, and using sticky traps can help control crickets.
- If crickets keep coming back, pest control services can get rid of them and stop future infestations.
1. Inspect Your Home for Cricket Entry Points
The first step to keeping crickets out is identifying where they’re getting in. Homeowners in the Phoenix area should check for gaps around doors, windows, garages, and basements.
Crickets often enter through small crevices in foundations, crawl spaces, and walls. Using a flashlight at night can help you spot entry points, as they are most active in the dark.
2. Seal Gaps and Crevices
Once you’ve found potential entry points, use caulk to seal cracks and crevices.
Pay extra attention to areas around plumbing pipes, electrical outlets, and vents. Properly sealing these gaps will not only keep crickets out but also reduce the chances of a termite or cockroach problem.
3. Modify Your Yard
Your yard plays a big role in controlling cricket populations. Overgrown grass, piles of mulch, and stacks of firewood create perfect hiding spots for crickets.
Trim bushes and keep your lawn short to eliminate potential nesting areas. A pest control expert can recommend landscaping changes tailored to your specific environment.
4. Reduce Moisture in and Around Your Home
Crickets thrive in moist environments, so reducing humidity is key.
Fix any leaks around outdoor faucets and ensure your crawl spaces, garages, and basements remain dry. Using a dehumidifier in damp areas can further discourage cricket infestations.
Proper drainage in your landscaping can also help prevent excess moisture buildup around your home’s foundation.
5. Adjust Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lights attract common crickets, field crickets, and house crickets.
If you notice crickets gathering around your porch, garage, or windows, switch to yellow or amber bulbs, which are less attractive to insects.
Motion sensor lights can also help by keeping the area dark when it’s not in use.
Keeping outdoor lights pointed away from entry points will further reduce the likelihood of a cricket infestation.
6. Remove Cricket Food Sources
Crickets will eat almost anything, including paper, fabric, and even other insects.
Keeping your home clean is essential for cricket control. Store food in sealed containers, vacuum regularly, and avoid leaving pet food out overnight.
Because they also feed on dead insects, controlling other pests like cockroaches can help reduce your cricket problem.
7. Set Traps
If you already have crickets inside your home, using sticky traps can help reduce their numbers. Place traps along walls, near baseboards, and in dark areas where crickets hide.
Crickets are often found near garages, basements, and crawl spaces, so focusing on these areas can be effective.
Pay close attention to their back legs and antennae, as these features help identify them if you’re unsure which pests you’re dealing with.
8. Contact a Pest Control Company
If DIY methods aren’t enough, our team at Green Home Pest Control is here to help.
We provide targeted cricket control treatments designed specifically for homeowners in Phoenix. Our exterminators use safe and customized home pest control plans to eliminate crickets and prevent future infestations.
Give us a call today, and we’ll schedule an inspection to find the best solution for your cricket infestation.
21 years of pest control experience
Founder and Owner of Green Home Pest Control
13 year resident of Arizona
