A study from Nielsen Music recorded that 90% of people listen to music. Are you included in this statistic? If so, do you have a favorite genre? Some people do, others do not. Crickets have a favorite type of music that they enjoy playing loud on a nightly basis. Have you ever heard a melody of chirping late at night? Then you may already know what we are talking about. If you would like to keep this chirping out of your Norfolk home, here is the most effective way to prevent crickets.
What Are House Crickets?
House crickets are six-legged jumping pests that commonly invade homes around Norfolk. These ¾” to ⅞” long pests are best identified by their yellowish-brown bodies, long wings, and the three dark crossbands on their heads. Not native to the United States, but originally from Europe, house crickets are best known for the loud chirping sound they produce using their front legs. Only male crickets produce this sound, which they use to attract females. Out in nature, the sound of a thousand chirping crickets is peaceful; however, one single cricket, chirping inside a home late at night, is maddening beyond belief.
Problems Associated With Crickets
If you have ever dealt with a cricket inside your home, you already understand the frustration of hearing this chirping late at night, getting up to find it, and having it stop before you find its source. This occasionally leads to sitting; in the dark, in the middle of the room, tired, trying to pinpoint using only sound where your home’s intruder is hiding. We don’t have to explain to you why this is frustrating.
Being obnoxious is not the only problem house crickets pose. House crickets can also spread dangerous diseases and parasites. Just a couple of the most common sicknesses these pests spread are salmonella and E. coli.
House crickets also love to chew on fabrics around a home. This behavior often leads to damaged clothing, drapes, and carpets.
How To Prevent Crickets Around Your Home
House crickets invade homes in search of shelter, water, and insects to hunt. Limiting these factors will help tremendously to keep these chirping annoyances out. Here are several general exclusion tips for you to use to keep crickets out of your Norfolk home.
- Keep your home as clean as possible.
- Pick up after your pets and clean out their food and water bowls after they have finished with them.
- Be careful not to leave food out on the counter and instead store leftovers away inside airtight containers.
- Address leaky piping and fixtures in and around your home.
- Make sure your gutters are not blocked up or damaged.
- Use a dehumidifier around particularly humid areas of your home.
- Repair or replace broken or worn weather stripping, door sweeps, and screens around your home.
- Use a caulking gun or some liquid cement to fill in openings, gaps, and cracks found in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Turn exterior lights off at night or invest in insect-resistant bulbs.
- Keep your lawn and landscaping well maintained.
A Better Solution To House Crickets
Preventing house crickets on your own is a huge task. If you are looking for an easier and more effective way to keep these pests out of your home, your best option is with an ongoing relationship with the professionals at PESTOUT. We will put into place measures that ensure pests like house crickets stay outside where they belong.
Reach out to our team to find out more about our methods or to schedule an inspection for your Norfolk property.