Why Do Crickets Take Over New York Homes in the Fall?
As the summer fades and fall arrives in New York, you may begin to notice a new unwelcome visitor: crickets.If you’ve ever wondered why crickets seem to take over your home just as the cooler temperatures begin, you’re not alone. Understanding what attracts crickets in the house and how to get rid of crickets in the house can help you enjoy a pest-free season!
The Types of Crickets You’ll See in New York Homes
New York homes typically see with three main types of crickets pop up in the fall:
- House Crickets: These are the most common invaders. They prefer warm, dark areas and are often attracted to the warmth of your home as temperatures drop.
- Field Crickets: Usually found outdoors, these crickets may still wander inside as they seek warmth and shelter.
- Camel Crickets: These creepy, humpbacked pests prefer cool, damp environments like basements and crawl spaces, making them frequent fall invaders.
What Attracts Crickets in the House?
Crickets, like many other pests, are driven inside this time of year by the changes in the weather. As the fall season brings cooler temperatures, they seek warm, cozy shelter to spend the colder months, lay eggs, and hide from predators. Cluttered storage areas, garages, and attics provide them with plenty of cover.
House crickets especially love to find shelter in dark, warm areas like attics, kitchens, and basements. Camel or cave crickets, on the other hand, thrive in damp environments, which makes basements, laundry rooms, and bathrooms prime locations for them.
Outdoor lighting can also attract crickets to your home (especially field crickets), and once near your doors and windows, it’s only a matter of time before they find a way inside.
How Do Crickets Get in the House?
Crickets are opportunistic pests. They can slip through tiny cracks in your foundation, gaps, and improperly sealed windows. Openings for utilities like air vents, dryer ducts, and chimneys can also serve as entry points for these pests. Crickets can also easily enter through gaps under doors, torn screens, or open windows.
Once inside, crickets typically seek out dark, moist places where they can hide and lay eggs. Their activity is mostly nocturnal, so you might not even realize you have an infestation until you hear their telltale chirping.
Why Do Crickets Chirp?
Cricket chirping is how male crickets attract mates, but this sound can be a nuisance. The chirping gets louder and more frequent as temperatures cool, making them especially bothersome in the fall. The warmer your home, the more active they’ll be, so it’s not uncommon to hear house crickets chirping away during the colder months if they’ve found their way inside.
How to Get Rid of Crickets in the House
Dealing with a cricket infestation can be frustrating, but there are steps you can take to prevent them from taking over your home:
- Seal Entry Points: Inspect your home for those areas we mentioned previously, such as cracks, gaps, and other openings that crickets can use to enter. Seal these areas with caulk or weatherstripping to block their access.
- Reduce Moisture: Since crickets, particularly camel crickets, are attracted to moisture, use a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces to make your home less inviting.
- Turn Off Outdoor Lights: Field crickets are drawn to light, so consider using motion-activated or less bright lighting around your home to reduce their attraction.
- Declutter Storage Areas: Crickets love cluttered spaces where they can hide. Keep storage areas clean and organized to remove their hiding spots.
Why Professional Cricket Control is Key
While there are several ways to make your home less appealing to crickets, sometimes these methods aren’t enough to completely eradicate an infestation. That’s where Knockout Pest Control comes in. We offer expert solutions for how to get rid of crickets in the house, ensuring your home stays cricket-free all fall and winter long.
Our experienced team can identify the crickets in your home—whether it’s house crickets, field crickets, or camel crickets—and develop a customized treatment plan to keep them out for good. We don’t just handle the infestation; we prevent it from happening again by addressing the root causes of the problem.
Knock Out Crickets Before Fall Takes Over!
Don’t wait until you’re stuck with noisy, unwanted guests all fall and winter. Let Knockout Pest Control knock out crickets before they become a bigger problem.
Contact us today for a cricket inspection and to learn more about our comprehensive fall pest-proofing services. We’re here to help keep your home protected year-round, and we respond to every call like it’s an emergency because your comfort and safety come first!