The house cricket, likely native to southwest Asia, was introduced to the United States and Canada in the 1700s through human migration. Now it lives outdoors in southern California and the eastern states, with the curious exception of the Florida peninsula for reasons still unknown. House crickets are popular feeder insects for reptile and amphibian owners, making them a common sight in their homes, pet stores, or facilities that house these animals.
During warm weather, house crickets seek shelter under outdoor objects. But as temperatures drop, they begin to enter structures and are drawn to warm areas, like kitchens, fireplaces, furnaces, and water heaters. These nocturnal insects usually make their presence known at night, when emerging in search of food or when adult males produce brief, rhythmic chirps by closing their upper wings together. The inner edge of the left wing has a scraper that is run across a file underneath the right wing to create this characteristic sound.
To manage house cricket populations, scatter granular bait around outdoor objects and along structural perimeters to reduce their numbers. Alternatively, apply a residual barrier to exterior perimeters, including doorways, windows, weep holes, and other potential entry points. If house crickets find their way indoors, they can breed and create infestations, often hiding and laying eggs in dark crevices and behind baseboards. To effectively address these indoor infestations, use an aerosol with a straw applicator to reach those hidden spots.
