While characters like Jiminy Cricket make crickets seem wise and harmless, crickets are actually far different from their Disney counterpart. The biggest difference is the harm they can cause to humans. Crickets carry parasites and diseases like E. coli and salmonella that they can pass onto humans. Their feces contain worms that cause painful sores and rashes. In addition, they feed on almost anything, like plants, paper, leather, wood, glue and clothing. Fortunately, you can take steps to keep them away from your home. Here are a few.
Keep Up with Lawn Care
Landscaping is one of the most important steps in avoiding a cricket infestation. Start by mowing your lawn frequently. Remove weeds regularly to avoid giving crickets places to hide and breed. Keep gutters and drains clean and clear of debris, and eliminate standing water around your house. These steps will help alleviate the risk of crickets becoming a problem.
Store Wood Properly
Wood attracts many types of pests, crickets included. The backyard is a convenient place to store wood, but you need to make sure to store it properly. Keep piles of wood at least 20 feet away from your home, ideally stored in a shed and a few feet off the ground. Most importantly, make sure the wood doesn’t get wet; moisture attracts crickets and other pests.
Remove Indoor Moisture
Just like moisture outdoors, indoor moisture can attract crickets to your home. Crickets come in through gaps in the structure of homes seeking water. To avoid attracting pests this way, consider using dehumidifiers in especially humid parts of the home like the bathrooms and kitchen. Keep attics, basements and crawl spaces well ventilated so moisture can escape. This will help ensure that crickets don’t find the inside of your home appealing.
Close Off Entry Points
To keep crickets and other pests out of your home, seal up the entry points. Insects and even rodents can make their way in through tiny gaps and cracks. Start by repairing seals on windows and doors. Caulk any gaps, and replace worn out weather stripping. Then, check your window and door screens for tears. If any exist, repair or replace the screens. This will keep crickets and other pests out.
Clean Up
Pests generally don’t want to engage with humans, so they find places to hide. Keeping your home free of clutter and dirt can greatly reduce your risk of pest problems. Crickets hide under clutter and lay eggs in carpets. To avoid an infestation, or clean up after you’ve had one, do a thorough carpet cleaning. Vacuum all rugs and carpets, then seal the vacuum bag and filter in a plastic bag, disposing of it outside the home. This will eliminate attractants and remove existing cricket eggs from your floors.
Crickets may seem like fun, whimsical creatures, but they can be a menace. If crickets have invaded your property, Pro-Staff, a Clive pest control company, can help. Give us a call at 515-279-7378 or contact us online to learn more.