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Crickets are nocturnal, light brown or black insects with long back legs. During the summer, their loud chirping at night can be a nuisance whether the crickets got in your home or are in your yard. While crickets are typically harmless to humans, their droppings can spread harmful bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. Luckily, there are natural, non-toxic options as well as chemical solutions to get rid of crickets no matter where they are. We’ll explain all the best remedies, plus how to stop crickets from coming back.
Things You Should Know
- Get rid of crickets inside by setting out bowls with molasses and water, or by leaving sticky bait traps along your baseboards.
- Try applying diatomaceous earth inside of cracks and crevices in your home. Seal any openings to the outside with caulk or screens .
- Cut overgrown plants and move woodpiles away from your home to get rid of nesting sites. Apply granular bait or barrier spray around your home to keep crickets away.
Steps
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Make homemade molasses traps to attract and catch crickets. Fill a shallow bowl or jar with 1 part molasses and 10 parts water and thoroughly mix it together. Leave the bowl of molasses bait where you’ve seen or heard crickets in your home, or near cracks and crevices in your floorboards. The crickets will be attracted to the sweet smell of the molasses and hop inside, but they won’t be able to get back out. [1] X Research source
- Crickets prefer living in warm, moist areas of your home, so try placing the molasses traps in your basement, bathroom, laundry room, or attic.
- Empty and change the traps once or twice a week until you don’t see any more crickets inside.
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Sweep and vacuum to remove crickets and eggs. Use a broom on hard floors to sweep up any debris, dead crickets, or eggs that have gotten inside. Then, go over any carpeted areas with a vacuum cleaner that has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. The suction will pull out the eggs and crickets deep in the carpet fibers. When you’re finished, empty the vacuum and dustpan into a plastic bag, and seal it shut. [2] X Research source
- While crickets normally prefer to lay eggs outside in the soil, they may still try to nest in warm, moist areas of your home, like in the basement or laundry room. Cricket eggs look like small grains of rice that are only a few millimeters long.
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Swat or smash any crickets you find. If you’re able to see the cricket, grab a flyswatter or heavy shoe and squash the bug . Use some paper towel to wipe up any remnants of the cricket that are stuck to the swatter or the floor. [3] X Research source
- After you kill a cricket, spray an all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant on the surface and wipe it up to get rid of any bacteria.
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Set adhesive traps near your home’s baseboards. Set sticky traps along problem areas where you’ve seen crickets, like near walls, windows, and doorways. As the crickets pass over the traps, they’ll get caught in the adhesive and starve. [4] X Research source
- Sticky traps are non-toxic, so they’re great pest control options if you have pets or children. [5]
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Expert Source
Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist Expert Interview. 20 January 2021. - Check your sticky traps about once a week, and replace any that are full of crickets.
- Sticky traps are non-toxic, so they’re great pest control options if you have pets or children. [5]
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Expert Source
Samuel Ramsey, PhD
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Dust diatomaceous earth into gaps and crevices. Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder that slices through the cricket’s exoskeleton to dehydrate them. Put on a dust mask before you start so you don’t inhale any of the diatomaceous earth. Apply the dust along cracks, crevices, and floorboards where you’ve seen crickets. [6] X Research source
- Reapply diatomaceous earth every 1–2 weeks.
- Avoid applying diatomaceous earth wherever pets or children can access it because it could lead to irritation. [7] X Trustworthy Source National Pesticide Information Center Organization run by Oregon State University providing objective, science-based information about pests and pesticides Go to source
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Apply a spray insecticide to kill larger infestations. Look for an insecticide that’s specifically labeled to kill crickets. Spray the insecticide onto window sills, entryways, baseboards, and corners of the room. Let the spray dry completely. As crickets move through the treated areas in your home, they’ll quickly die out. [8] X Research source
- Follow all the instructions on your package of insecticides to ensure you apply it safely and properly. Standard spray insecticides with pyrethrin have to dry completely before they're safe around children and pets.
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Trim your lawn and overgrown vegetation. Start by mowing your lawn regularly and keeping the grass short so you don’t have hiding places for crickets to build their nests. Get rid of any weeds in your yard and trim back any bushes or tree branches that are touching the exterior walls of your home. Keep your plants trimmed back and your lawn mowed so they won't have a place to nest. [9] X Research source
- Get rid of climbing ivy growing on your home because crickets could climb up it and find a way to easily get inside.
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Clean up debris piles to remove potential nesting sites. Get rid of any woodpiles, grass clippings, trash, or compost that you’re storing right outside your home because they’ll attract more crickets. If you do keep any compost piles or stacks of wood in your yard, place them about 20 feet (6.1 m) away from your home to prevent crickets from getting closer. [10] X Research source
- Check your drains and roof gutters for leaves and other plant debris that might have piled up. Clean your gutters when they’re dirty to prevent crickets from nesting there.
- Keep a lid on your trash can and set it on top of wood blocks to keep crickets away from it. [11] X Research source
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Sprinkle granular bait around your home’s perimeter. Wait until the ground is dry and there isn’t any rain in the forecast to apply the bait trap. Open the container of bait trap and lightly spread it around the outside of your home. Apply the bait so it extends 2 feet (61 cm) out from the walls. Rather than going inside your home, crickets eat the bait on the ground and the chemicals kill the insects. [12] X Research source
- Typically, 2 pounds (0.91 kg) of granular bait will cover 1,000 square feet (93 m 2 ), but double-check the application instructions on the package.
- As an added benefit, granular bait traps are also really effective for getting rid of cockroaches.
- Note that granular bait contains chemicals that can be harmful to children or pets.
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Spray an insecticidal barrier around your home’s foundation. Look for a chemical insecticide specifically labeled to kill crickets. Use the spray wand on the insecticide to apply the chemicals so they extend 1 foot (30 cm) out from the wall and 1 foot (30 cm) up the foundation. Be sure to spray into window wells, crawl space vents, and weep holes in bricks as well. [13] X Trustworthy Source University of Missouri Extension University of Missouri program dedicated to research-based, practical public education Go to source
- Pesticide barriers usually last for 2–3 weeks, but follow the specific reapplication instructions to keep crickets away.
- Insecticidal barriers aren’t as effective on bare concrete, so use granular bait traps instead.
- Keep pets and children away from insecticidal barriers until they’re dry since they could cause irritation.
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Spread an insecticide over your lawn to treat mole crickets. Mole crickets have large bulky heads and claw-shaped front legs to dig through the soil. If you have patches of dead grass caused by mole crickets, water your lawn heavily and then wait until the evening of the next day. Spread an insecticide with neonicotinoids, organophosphates, or pyrethroids in the early summer. Water your lawn after applying the insecticide treatment so it soaks into the soil. [14] X Research source
- Wait for your yard to dry completely before letting pets or children out because the wet chemicals could cause irritation.
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Clean and declutter your home regularly. Crickets thrive in areas with clutter or debris so they have places to build their nests. Sweep and vacuum your home at least once a week to get rid of any food scraps. Be sure to throw away cardboard boxes and paper products as well because crickets will eat them or use them as nesting materials. [15] X Expert Source Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.- Regularly clean and wipe countertops with a multi-purpose cleaner and disinfectant to kill any bacteria left from cricket droppings.
- Take some time to clean areas where crickets may hide, like underneath appliances and furniture.
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Seal cracks and openings in your home. If you notice any cracks, crevices, or gaps along the floorboards of your home, apply caulk to fill in the space and prevent crickets from getting in. [16] X Expert Source Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist Expert Interview. 20 January 2021. Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows to help fill in gaps while they’re closed. Then, check your doors, windows, and any exterior vents to see if they have screens. If you notice any damage, fix the screens or replace them . [17] X Research source -
Turn off bright exterior lights at night. White, neon, or mercury vapor lights outside of your home are more likely to draw in crickets, so turn them off at night when the insects are active. Avoid turning on the lights until you’re able to replace them with yellow lights that are less attractive to crickets. [18] X Trustworthy Source University of Missouri Extension University of Missouri program dedicated to research-based, practical public education Go to source
- If you light your yard at night, place the lights well away from your house or use motion-activated lights so they don’t turn on as frequently.
- Close your blinds and shades at night so the bright glow from your home won't attract crickets.
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Run a dehumidifier when it’s humid. Crickets thrive in warm, moist environments, so areas with high humidity, like the basement, laundry room, or bathroom are all places crickets may hide. Run your dehumidifier to draw the moisture out of the air so crickets are less likely to stick around. [19] X Research source
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Spray a chili powder repellent around your home to deter crickets. Pour 2 cups (470 ml) of water into a spray bottle and add in a spoonful of chili powder . Put in a few drops of dish soap and mix the solution together. Lightly spritz baseboards, plants, and entry points with your repellent since crickets are driven away by the spicy capsaicin. [20] X Research source
- Add a clove of minced garlic to the solution for added power against larger cricket infestations.
- Reapply the spray once every 1–2 weeks to keep your home protected.
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Attract natural predators to your yard. Lizards, spiders, and birds are natural cricket predators, so if you allow them to live on your property, they will naturally control your cricket population. Put out a bird feeder and use native plants in your landscaping to attract birds and other beneficial predators. When you see spiders or lizards in your yard, leave them alone and let them thrive so they can keep hunting crickets. [21] X Research source
- Spraying your property with insecticides can also get rid of a cricket’s natural predators. Limit or avoid using them outdoors if you’re able to.
- Pet cats will hunt crickets that get inside your home.
- If you have crickets tunneling in your lawn causing dead grass, spread beneficial nematodes over your yard. Nematodes infect the crickets with a bacteria that kills them. [22] X Research source
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Look for light brown or black insects with long back legs. The most common types of crickets you’ll deal with are house crickets and field crickets. While both kinds can grow up to around 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, house crickets have a light tan body while field crickets are usually dark brown or black. Both types of crickets have long antennae and long back legs like a grasshopper. Typically, crickets live outside, but they may find their way inside during colder weather. [23] X Trustworthy Source University of Missouri Extension University of Missouri program dedicated to research-based, practical public education Go to source
- Crickets are harmless to humans, but their droppings may contain bacteria that could contaminate surfaces in your home.
- If you see crickets with a large bulky head and claw-shaped front legs in your yard, then you may have mole crickets that burrow underground and rarely get into homes. [24] X Research source
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Listen for loud chirping noises. When crickets are trying to attract a mate, they rub their wings together to make a loud chirping sound. If you hear a high-pitched chirping noise inside or outside that goes away as you get closer, then you may be dealing with crickets. [25] X Research source
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Check for damage on clothes, upholstery, and plants. Crickets may chew on synthetic and natural fabrics, carpets, and garden plants when they’re hungry, so keep your eyes out for new damage. If you see frayed edges or holes on fabric, then you may be dealing with crickets that got inside your home. [26] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I stop crickets from getting inside of my house?Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”One of the clearest reasons why people have homes full of crickets is that they have pest entry points on the outside of their home that allow these organisms to easily get inside. These can be cracks in the foundation, breaks around the pipe that hoses are attached to, broken grout around bricks, etc. Sealing up these entry points can prevent crickets from getting inside.
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QuestionWhat attracts crickets?Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”Clutter, especially cardboard boxes. They love to chew on cardboard boxes. They can feed on the paper fibers that the cardboard is made out of as a good source of sugar and food for them. In addition to that, when cardboard is allowed to sit for long periods of time, especially if it gets a bit damp, small amounts of micro-fungi grow on it that the crickets are attracted to. A warm, humid basement with cardboard boxes is a great place for crickets to hang out.
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QuestionWill spraying insecticide around the perimeter of my home help?Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an Entomologist and a researcher with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dr. Ramsey has extensive knowledge of symbiosis and specializes in insect disease spread, parasite behavior, mutualism development, biological control, invasive species ecology, pollinator health, and insect pest control. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Entomology from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Ramsey’s research on bees has enabled researchers to develop targeted control techniques to restore honey bee populations worldwide. He also hosts a YouTube series called “Dr. Buggs.”Most pesticides that can be sprayed outside of the home are broad-spectrum insecticides, which means they can impact hundreds of different species of insects. If you're spraying them directly on the soil, you can expect that you're going to kill a lot of beneficial insects in addition to the crickets themselves. So I don't recommend it. It is typically better to simply prevent the crickets from getting inside.
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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- I would like to point out that it's also important to look for sources of standing water if you're eradicating crickets. I found a slowly dripping water line behind my refrigerator with hundreds of eggs right next to it.
- Make sure you always pick up crumbs and clean after eating. Bugs, especially crickets, will be attracted to any leftover food they come across and keep coming back for more.
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Warnings
- Read all the safety information before applying insecticides and follow all the instructions on the package to ensure you use them correctly.Thanks
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about pest control, check out our in-depth interview with Samuel Ramsey, PhD .
References
- ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/pest-control/guides/how-to-get-rid-of-crickets-in-4-steps/
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/pests/uppdl/files/factsheet/crickets_08.pdf
- ↑ https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1004.pdf?q=indian-cricket
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/pests/uppdl/files/factsheet/crickets_08.pdf
- ↑ Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Entomologist. Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.
- ↑ https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1004.pdf?q=indian-cricket
- ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/Xi9vt3SwZEE?t=53
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/pests/uppdl/files/factsheet/crickets_08.pdf
- ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/pest-control/guides/how-to-get-rid-of-crickets-in-4-steps/
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/crickets
- ↑ https://youtu.be/SigB-E6_Zf8?t=104
- ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7366
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/mole-cricket-management-in-turfgrass/
- ↑ Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Entomologist. Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.
- ↑ Samuel Ramsey, PhD. Entomologist. Expert Interview. 20 January 2021.
- ↑ https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1004.pdf?q=indian-cricket
- ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7366
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/crickets
- ↑ https://todayshomeowner.com/pest-control/guides/how-to-get-rid-of-crickets-in-4-steps/
- ↑ https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1004.pdf?q=indian-cricket
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/mole-cricket-management-in-turfgrass/
- ↑ https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7366
- ↑ https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/mole-crickets/
- ↑ https://extension.usu.edu/pests/uppdl/files/factsheet/crickets_08.pdf
- ↑ https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/extension.arizona.edu/files/pubs/az1004.pdf?q=indian-cricket
About This Article
Article Summary
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To get rid of crickets, start by putting a spoonful of molasses in a bowl and filling it up halfway with water. Then, place the bowl in a room where you've seen crickets and wait for them to hop in and get trapped inside of it. You can also set out sticky traps and apply bug spray to corners and windowsills to keep crickets out of your house. Since crickets can lay eggs inside, you may want to vacuum around your home using a HEPA filter, which will be strong enough to suck up any eggs. To learn how to keep crickets off of your property, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "We first noticed crickets in our garage earlier this year. Didn't really want to hire an exterminator. We tried the Molasses/water solution last night. This morning I counted 16 dead in the water and put one out in another corner. 2 dead in 1 hr." ..." more
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"We first noticed crickets in our garage earlier this year. Didn't really want to hire an exterminator. We tried the Molasses/water solution last night. This morning I counted 16 dead in the water and put one out in another corner. 2 dead in 1 hr."
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"This article was insightful because of my lacking knowledge of crickets. Since reading and implementing I have reduced my cricket population significantly. No more outside lights and fixed accessibility through doors and windows. Thank you."
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"I knew nothing about crickets, except that they make a pleasant chirping sound outside the home on warm summer nights. I never even knew that they were considered pests and that they can bite. This article was very informative."
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"I have a big cricket problem. Before reading this article, I was not aware that tall grass contributed to my cricket problem. I'm mowing it ASAP. Thank you."
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