Crickets chirp in the summer months with their characteristic song and are quite harmless if in small numbers. However, when they start breeding indoors they can damage all paper products, clothing, furniture, and even walls. Here are some small tricks to be able to control the presence of crickets in your home and to prevent them from taking over your cellar.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Remove the Shackles from the House
Step 1. Use a cricket lure
This very simple method is the most immediate and effective for attracting crickets from corners and cracks.
- Put a few tablespoons of molasses in a shallow bowl and fill it halfway with water. Place it in the room where you have the problem of their presence. Crickets love molasses and will jump into it as soon as they smell it. Empty the bowl regularly.
- On the market there are chemical baits whose use is basically based on that of molasses seen above. If you decide to use this type of bait make sure that people and pets stay away from them as they are toxic.
Step 2. Place traps
There are sticky traps that are not toxic. These traps are ideal around children or pets who may be sensitive to frequent use of poisonous spray insecticides. Place the traps in the most risky areas, such as near walls, windows and doors. Choose the hottest and humid areas to attract crickets more likely.
Step 3. Use a spray insecticide
Most spray insecticides are effective at killing crickets. It is possible to use both a generic and a specific one for crickets to be sprayed in the corners, along the windowsills and in all other areas where you have noticed an infestation. Be very careful when using these sprays as they are highly toxic.
Step 4. Remove the eggs
Crickets lay their eggs inside homes, which could cause the infestation to quickly lose control.
- Try vacuuming the affected area with a vacuum equipped with a high-capacity filter. This type of high powered device will allow you to remove eggs from carpet and any other areas where they may have been deposited. Once finished, throw away everything that has been vacuumed in a well-sealed plastic bag.
- Most insecticides that kill crickets will also kill the eggs, so spray them along the baseboard and various finishes.
Method 2 of 3: Remove Cricket Nesting Areas
Step 1. Seal the house
The simplest way to prevent crickets from entering your home is to seal doors and windows. Since they can get into the tightest crevices, be sure to carefully check where they might enter or nest.
- Fill all the small cracks in the windows and the cracks in the walls.
- There are accessories to apply under the doors to prevent the crickets from going through them.
- Make sure all vents have a protective shield
Step 2. Seal your waste
The smell of garbage attracts crickets. Sealing garbage cans well will prevent crickets from proliferating in your yard and therefore inside your home.
Step 3. Prune the vegetation
Crickets build their nests in tall grass and other types of vegetation. Prune your plants and regularly take care of the grass in your garden to ensure that they have no chance of nesting.
- Make sure that the plants are far from your home, so that even in the case of nesting they do not have easy access to your home.
- Prune the ivy and any other type of cover.
- Piles of wood and mulch should be kept well away from the house.
- Check drains and keep gutters clean. Check that they are never clogged with foliage or other debris as this is another area where crickets are likely to build their nests.
Method 3 of 3: Making the Property Inhospitable
Step 1. Eliminate too bright lights
Crickets are attracted to light, so if the house is brightly lit in the evening they will be attracted to it.
- On the market there are low intensity or LED lamps with a more amber color specially designed not to attract insects.
- If your garden is lit up at night, keep the lights away from your home.
- Close the blinds and shutters in the evening so that the lighting in your home does not call them back.
Step 2. Let natural predators thrive
Lizards and spiders are natural predators of crickets so if you let them live in your garden they will keep the population in check.
- Do not use insecticides which are also toxic to predators.
- Cats and birds are also natural predators. So let your cat get out of the house and consider setting up a bird feeder in the garden.
