When you think of crickets, the image of a do-gooding cartoon character may come to mind, but did you know that house crickets can actually become a problem in New Braunfels homes? House crickets are generally ¾ to an inch long, yellowish-brown in color, with three dark bands across its head. They have six legs, wings, and antennae.
Crickets may be stereotyped as the friendliest bugs to have around your home, chirping away with their melodic sound that makes you think of summer. Still, a house cricket infestation can drive a homeowner crazy, create undue stress, cause damage to the homeowners’ property, and even cause illness. Unless these crickets are oven-roasted and covered in chocolate, you don’t want them in your home.
While you may have other visions in your mind about crickets, you may be surprised to know that an infestation of crickets could actually bring destruction and danger into your home. House crickets will feast on furniture and other household items.
When outside, house crickets eat insects and other crickets, but as the weather cools down, they are drawn to the warmth of your home, and they will eat the fabric until they are ready to return outside in the spring. They are particularly drawn to clothes that have been perspired on.
House crickets also carry diseases such as escherichia Coli, salmonella, and parasites. Their feces can carry worms and cause severe rashes and painful sores if they contact human skin. A house crickets’ feces can also cause symptoms in humans that are similar to the flu.
House crickets are drawn to areas of warmth and humidity so that at the changing of the seasons, they will be on the move to find a new and safe habitat to wait out the winter. Keeping your yard tidy and well-groomed is important to discourage house crickets from taking up residency near your home. House crickets also love hanging out in garbage dumps, so keeping a tight lid on your trash receptacles at all times is a good practice to keep.
Knowing how destructive and dangerous a house cricket infestation can actually be is reason enough to take some necessary precautions to ward off a cricket infestation. Here are some tips for reducing the risk of a house cricket infestation in your home:
- Mow your lawn regularly.
- Keep flower beds weeded.
- Store woodpiles well away from the exterior of your home.
- Keep basements, crawl spaces, and attics well ventilated.
- Inspect your home regularly for cracks and places where house crickets could gain easy access into your home.
- Remove any areas of moisture near the exterior of your home.
- Adjust outdoor lighting to be less attractive to house crickets.
- Call Pinnacle Pest Defense for assistance if you think you might have a house cricket infestation.
If you find yourself with a house cricket infestation in your home, you should call for professional assistance immediately. Our pest specialists are well trained to stop the infestation quickly, saving you and your family the grief of damage to your property and possible illness. Let your conscience be your guide, and call Pinnacle Pest Defense today! We offer both residential pest control as well as commercial pest management solutions.
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