LucyBradley,Agent Issued April,1998by: Roberta Gibson,Research Cooperative Extension Specialist, Entomology Urban Horticulture College of Agriculture
http://ag.arizona.edu/extension/ Field Crickets Indian HouseCrickets 90 daysthenymphsmatureintoadults. (except theyhavenowings)andfeedonthesametypesoffood.Withinapproximately early summer.Thetinyimmaturecrickets,callednymphs,lookexactlyliketheadults or freezingtemperatures.Theeggsover-winterinthesoilandhatchlatespring Crickets mateandlayeggsinthesoillatesummerbeforesuccumbingtooldage Life Cycle considered anuisancebecauseoftheir"chirping,"nonethembitesorcarriesdiseases. expect differentkindsofindoororoutdoordamage.Whileallcricketsmaybe Several kindsofcricketsarefoundinArizona.Dependingonwhichyouhave,may and annualflowers. may damageyounggardenplants fabrics anddrywall.Outdoors,they house cricketstheymayfeedon extremely highnumbersofIndian droppings. Whenthereare produce pilesofunsightly together. Thesecricketsalsomay homeowners. The"chirping"soundisproducedbythemalesrubbingtheirwings The malesattractfemalesby"chirping"atnight,whichcanbeextremelyannoyingfor Field Cricket Indian House Description: Cricket cricketsprefer buildings. brown usually dark when mature)and more than1inch crickets (slightly Indian house enter housesand field cricketsalso black incolor, out atnighttofeedoncrumbs,petfood,andplantdebris. produce youngindoors.Theytypicallyhideduringthedayandcome or openings.Theyaretheonlytypeofcricketthatmayliveand foundations anddoorsoutsidereadilycomeinsidethroughcracks common andtroublesomecrickets.Theyoftengatheraround bands andspots,about3/4-inchlongwhenmature;thesearethemost Larger than Problems: Description:
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Indian HouseCricketsareprimarilynuisancepests. MANAGEMENT
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- - - - - To managecricketpopulations: diseases. These cricketsdonotbiteorcarry crickets inMaricopaCounty. Crickets arethetwomostcommon Indian HouseCricketsandField
directions on thelabel. labeled forcrickets &followthe if pesticidesareused,select ones lizards, birds,spiders); encourage naturalpredators (cats, squashing ortrapping; remove themfromthehouseby food &keepkitchenclean; reduce foodsupply,putawaypet by sealingcracks&openings; prevent theirentryintothehouse CRICKET
Publication AZ1004 live and breed outdoors where they feed on several Cultural Strategies kinds of plants. Occasionally they invade homes in Prevention is the easiest way to manage cricket problems. search of hiding places but do not produce young Insect-proof your house by preventing entry, eliminating indoors. food and water sources, and limiting the use of night Problems: Field crickets are known to chew on lighting which attracts insects. and damage woolens, cottons, silks, synthetic fabrics, * Use caulking and weather-stripping to fill all furs and carpeting. Clothes with perspiration stains or openings, cracks, gaps, and holes in foundation, food spills are particularly attractive. Outdoors, they siding, windows, doors, screens, and other may damage young garden plants and annual flowers. possible entry points. * Remove vegetation and debris that could serve as The song of the field a hiding place or breeding site near the house. cricket is temperature * Keep all doors closed at night. Make sure all dependent. The tone and doors (including screen and garage doors) are tempo drop with a drop in tight-fitting. temperature. Count the * Keep lights off at night as much as possible. chirps in 13 seconds, add * Put pet food away & keep kitchen clean 40, and you will have the approximate temperature * Check potted plants for Indian House Crickets. in degrees Fahrenheit. Mechanical Strategies Physically kill or remove crickets: There are many non-toxic methods for managing cricket populations. Jerusalem Crickets * Fly swatter * Vacuum cleaner Description: Rarely found in Arizona, they are * Heavy shoe * Sticky traps sometimes called Apply Diatomaceous Earth (DE) between walls and other "children of the places where crickets hide during the day as well as to earth" because their areas through which crickets walk. This abrasive, fine, oversized, round white powder is actually tiny sharp fossil shells which will head with two, gradually wear through the cricket’s outer shell, causing it to dehydrate and die. Wear a dust mask during bead-like, black eyes Jerusalem Cricket gives them a fancied application to prevent inhaling which could lead to resemblance to a miniature child. They are pale yellow respiratory problems. to brown in color. These crickets are wingless as adults and have large, stout legs with spines at their tips used Biological Strategies for burrowing into the soil. Jerusalem crickets are Encourage natural predators: Many cats prey on active at night and seldom seen, except by gardeners crickets and keep indoor populations down. Keep cricket digging in the soil. numbers down outdoors by encouraging natural enemies No Significant Problems: Unlike other like lizards, birds, and harmless spiders. crickets, they are useful predators, catching and eating many other insects and spiders. Jerusalem crickets are Chemical Strategies mostly harmless, except they may bite if handled too Apply a crack & crevice treatment: Boric acid or carelessly. They do not enter homes. other pesticide applied to cracks and holes will kill crickets
that pass through the barrier. Cricket Management Pesticide application: If populations are high and you Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to choose to treat with residual sprays, apply after 10:00 address cricket problems. There is no single, perfect p.m. to foundations, baseboards, in closets, under solution for the control of crickets. Often some stairways and wherever cricket hiding places are found. combination of the following suggestions will work. Applications made in early summer when crickets are Begin with the least toxic strategies at the top of the list small are more effective than late summer applications. If and only move down the list when necessary. The you use pesticides, select one that is labeled for use on further down the list you go, the greater the crickets. Always read and follow carefully the instructions environmental impact. Is there a problem? First on the container label. determine if there has been enough cricket damage to URL: http://ag.arizona.edu/extension/pubs/garden/az1004.pdf
warrant control. Only you can decide how many Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College crickets are too many. of Agriculture, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona College of Agriculture is an Equal Opportunity employer authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to sex, race, religion, color, national origin, age, Vietnam Era Veteran's status, or disability.