House Cricket
Physical Features
The house cricket is straw colored with 3 dark bands on the head. It is ¾ inch to 1 inch long. Long, thin antennae.
Life Cycle
Gradual metamorphosis
A male cricket will call to the female in a three chirp call to attract the female. After mating, the female cricket lays one egg at a time with a total of about 728 eggs in prime temperatures, typically in low 80˚F. The eggs are mainly laid in cracks and crevices in main harborage points. The female releases the eggs from an ovipositor at the tip of her abdomen. The eggs take about 12 weeks before hatching. The nymph will begin to develop going through a series of 11 molts before reaching the adult stage. The time for this to be achieved is between 30-33 weeks.
Habits
- Diet: Omnivores. Prefer fruits, dough products, insects, and meats.
- Activity: Nocturnal
- Preferred Climate: Warmer climates
- Defense: Calling sounds
- Cautions: Will damage fabric or paper. Will migrate in large numbers.
- Home Invasion: They like warm places so may migrate inside when weather is getting colder. Often they are found in wall voids, behind baseboards, under pots, near trash cans, wood piles, near fireplaces, garbage dumpsters, and other places where warmth is available.
Helpful Hints for Control
- Seal cracks and crevices that crickets can enter to live.
- Regular trash removal.
- Minimize lighting at night or use yellow lights.
- Regular pest control service to keep all pest levels low that may attract crickets to the area for food.
Interesting Fact
In 1939, swarms of house crickets in India were documented being as large as 220 yards long and 100 yards wide.
