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General Characteristics:

- The house cricket is found in Southern Ontario and Quebec

- The fall field cricket is found south of the Boreal Canadian forests

- A House Cricket adult is about ¾ inch in length with brownish-yellow colour blend and three dark bands across the head

- A field cricket is black to dark reddish brown in colour and measures about 1 inch in length

- Both species are most common outdoors, but can be a nuisance indoors and when in large numbers

- The crickets are omnivorous so they will eat and drink a variety of sources

- They prefer a variety soft plant material but will also eat and damage some fabrics, fruits, vegetables, paper and other foods

- They are very common in late summer during breeding season

Reproduction:

- Field crickets over-winter as eggs / Nymphs mature through spring and summer and adults are most common during late summer and fall

- House crickets lay eggs on moist sand or moss and over-winter as adults inside structures or some other sort of shelter

Signs of Infestation:

- They are mostly active at night and can produce an annoying constant (high pitch) auditable sound

- These sounds which can be heard are made by male to signal female for courtship

- They will seek structure in fall to over winter and if found to be a nuisance can be controlled with a variety of indoor and outdoor control methods

Control Techniques:

- We recommend professional consultation if problems persist to determine the
most appropriate solution

- Some areas around your structure may be conductive for crickets and each structural/environmental condition is unique and sometimes requires a professional evaluation

Please click here to contact a Focus Pest Control professional to inquire about further treatments for this pest species.


References:

Benett, Gary W., et.al.. Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations. Duluth: Advanstar Communications, 1988. Pp. 36, 251.

“Species Acheta domesticus - House Cricket” (On-line). Iowa State University Entomology.
Accessed May 15, 2009http://bugguide.net/node/view/31207.

“Species Acheta domesticus - House Cricket” (On-line). Iowa State University Entomology. Accessed May
15, 2009 at http://bugguide.net/node/view/8007.

Disclaimer:

The Focus Pest Control ‘Pest Library’ is an educational resource written largely to educate the general public about common pests in Ontario. The Focus ‘Pest Library’ does not include all species in Ontario, nor does it include the most recent scientific data about species we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While Focus Pest Control staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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