cricket on a white background

It’s cricket season in Austin, and if you have them in your home, you need to get rid them before they cause a host of problems, including attracting unwanted animals like raccoons or mice to your property. Being proactive now about your cricket situation will save you a great deal of hardship later on. Now that fall is here and temperatures are cooling off, more critters will be attracted to the warmth and safety of your home.

Problems Crickets in Your House Can Cause

Crickets might seem like harmless creatures, but that’s not always the case. There are several problems associated with having them in or near the house.

One of the most significant risks is the pest-borne diseases that these insects often have. Since they are exposed to all types of bacteria, crickets are frequently carrying parasites or dangerous diseases, such as salmonella and E.coli.

Another risk crickets pose is the potential property damage they can cause both inside and outside your home. Outside, they can eat through (and pass harmful bacteria into) a backyard garden. Inside, they can eat through books, clothing, bed sheets, and anything else you have lying around.

Plus, there are several animals that might be attracted to your home once there’s a feast of crickets in or around it, such as:

  • Raccoons
  • Mice and rats
  • Bats
  • Snakes
  • Lizards
  • Frogs

How to Get Rid of Crickets in Your House

The best way to keep crickets out is to make sure your home is adequately sealed. Crickets are very attracted to bright lights and you should minimize bright lights near any unsealed areas until you can seal them properly.

You can also prevent them from trying to enter your home by frequently throwing away trash and keeping long grass and bushes away from the immediate proximity of your house.

If crickets have already made it into your home, you can drive them out using a variety of methods. One of the easiest is to simply place nitrogen-fixing plants like sweet peas, garlic, and clover inside or near your house. Weeds such as wormwood can also act as an insect repellent. You may also use sticky traps made with molasses to capture the crickets and return them outdoors.

While crickets have a pleasant-sounding chirp that make many people smile, the reality is that they can cause a variety of problems inside and around the home. Avoid these issues altogether by making your house as cricket-free as possible.

If you have unwanted animals in your home already, contact us or give us a call at 512-363-8070 so we can help you get them out humanely and safely as possible.