Finding crickets in your basement may seem harmless. However, the presence of crickets can pose various problems to homeowners. They’re known to spread bacteria, chew on stored materials, attract other insects, and their persistent chirping can be annoying. So, if you’re dealing with basement crickets, follow these tips for a pest-free basement.
What Kind of Crickets Are in My Basement?
There are many types of crickets, but the crickets that make their way into your basement the most often are house, field, and camel crickets.
- House crickets. They are light brown and measure around 1 inch in length. They have long antennae and wings, but not all fly. Male house crickets chirp to attract females and prefer warm environments around garbage dumps.
- Field crickets. These species tend to be brown, black, or green and can grow to over 1 inch in length. While they prefer meadows, pastures, and yards, they may enter your basement through open windows, doors, or other openings. Like house crickets, males chirp to attract females.
- Spider crickets. Also known as camel or cave crickets, these are the sneakiest ones because they don’t chirp and prefer to stay in dark, moist corners. They have a tan body and a hump and tend to eat any organic debris they find.
How to Get Rid of Spider Crickets
Spider crickets tend to be the sneakiest due to their inability to chirp and their tendency to hide in damp corners; they’re also the hardest to detect until their population grows too much.
Traps
- Sticky Traps. You can buy sticky traps at most hardware stores or create DIY ones with duct tape. However, the ones you buy at the store have an attractive scent that makes them want to jump into them, where they’ll get stuck on the surface.
- Soapy Water. Place a small container with soapy water where spider crickets hang out. The scent will attract them, but when they jump in, they’ll drown. Empty and refill the trap as needed.
- Electric Traps. These traps have sensors that detect movement and deliver an electric shock. If you use them, remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and place them in places where spider crickets hang out.
Chemical Treatments
- Insecticide and Boric Acid. Spray these around your basement’s corners and under decks, sheds, doorways, windows, furniture, appliances and foundation walls. Do it once a month to limit the spider cricket population. Another option is sprinkling boric acid, a natural pesticide. However, it’s toxic to pets and humans in high quantities, so only use it if there’s no risk of children or pets ingesting it.
- Diatomaceous Earth. Diatomaceous earth is a powder made from fossilized microalgae that is very toxic to crickets. You can sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your yard and home to kill crickets. This may be a better option than insecticides if you have allergies, children, or pets, since it is non-toxic for humans, even when ingested.
- Cedar or Neem Oil. Mix cedar or neem oil with water and spray it around your home and yard. Contact with these oils causes crickets to dehydrate or lose control of their hormones.
Tips to Prevent Basement Crickets
In addition to getting rid of the crickets living in your basement, you want to prevent others from entering in the future.
- Seal Cracks and Openings. Look for cracks in your home’s foundation or around the basement’s windows (if any) and seal them with the appropriate materials.
- Remove Potential Food Sources. Crickets chew on fabrics and other materials stored in the basement. Take away food sources by cleaning your basement at least once a week.
- Use a Dehumidifier. Crickets are attracted to moist places, so getting a portable dehumidifier and putting it in your basement makes sense if you live in a humid area where your basement would benefit from being drier anyway.
- Trim the Lawn. If you have grass and other plants around your home’s foundation, trim it as much as possible to prevent spider crickets from making it their home and staying closer to your basement.
When to Call Pest Control Services
While DIY methods can effectively manage a small cricket infestation, severe cases require professional intervention. Professional pest control services can identify the type of cricket infesting your basement and implement targeted strategies to eliminate them. They can also help prevent future infestations with preventative treatments.
When you hire a professional pest control service, expect a thorough home inspection—followed by a customized treatment plan that combines chemical treatments and traps. After the treatment, they may offer a follow-up visit to ensure the infestation has been eradicated.
Getting Rid of Basement Crickets Is Possible
Dealing with basement crickets can be a significant nuance, but it’s not an impossible pest to treat. With DIY traps, chemical treatments, and preventative measures, you can reclaim your basement from these unwelcome intruders.
For out-of-control infestations, it’s best to seek professional help. Pest control specialists can handle severe infestations, ensuring you have a cricket-free basement and lasting peace of mind.
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