House Crickets

Crickets are a common and often significant nuisance pest for homeowners across Arkansas, particularly during the cooler fall and winter months when they seek warmth and shelter indoors. While generally not a structural threat, their main impact is two-fold:

1. Noise Disturbance: The incessant, loud chirping produced by the males, especially at night, can severely disrupt sleep and peace in a home, quickly turning a few stray insects into a major annoyance.
2. Fabric and Paper Damage:   They are known to chew holes in fabrics (especially wool, silk, and items soiled with food or perspiration), carpets, paper products, and even wallpaper, leaving behind irregular holes and droppings.

Several types of crickets are found throughout Arkansas, especially in warm, humid environments such as basements, garages, and utility rooms. They feed on fabrics, paper, and organic debris, and can become a nuisance when populations increase.

• House crickets are light brown insects commonly found indoors throughout Arkansas, especially in warm, humid environments such as basements, garages, and utility rooms.
• Camel Crickets – also known as spider crickets – are frequently found in Arkansas crawlspaces and basements. They prefer dark, damp areas and often indicate excessive moisture or inadequate ventilation. Their presence may signal underlying moisture problems that can also lead to mold growth or structural issues.
• Other species occasionally encountered include Field Crickets, typically darker and more common outdoors, and Mole Crickets, which burrow in soil and can damage turf and landscaping.

Effective control requires addressing environmental conditions. The moisture control professionals at Legacy can assess crawlspace humidity, drainage, and ventilation to eliminate conducive conditions.  Once moisture is managed, exclusion, sanitation, and targeted treatments can successfully eliminate infestations and prevent recurrence.