How To Get Rid Of Crickets In My Lawn In South Africa
Overview
Crickets are orthopteran insects which are related to bush crickets, and, more distantly, to grasshoppers. In older literature, such as Imms, “crickets” were placed at the family level, but contemporary authorities including Otte now place them in the superfamily Grylloidea. House crickets should be booted before they settle in. While it’s rare for them to bite humans unprovoked, crickets can carry parasites and such diseases as E.coli and salmonella, so you certainly wouldn’t want the pests hopping around in your kitchen, pantry, or anywhere else sneaky insects hide. Nor would you want them feasting on your fabrics or important papers. So check out these pest control tips to discover where crickets are hiding, how to kick them out, and clever ways to keep them from coming back.
How To Get Rid Of Crickets In My Lawn In South Africa
1. Listen up!
The first step to removing crickets is figuring out where, exactly, they are. So follow the sound of chirping, and be stealthy in your approach. If crickets hear you coming, they’re likely to quiet down.
2. Investigate dark areas.
Focus your search on areas that provide cover, as crickets are fond of nesting in dark, moist environments. Outside, check along the perimeter of patios and walkways, beneath decorative planters, under layers of mulch, and in the compost heap. Inside your home, investigate behind appliances, under sinks and in vanity cabinets, along the edges of carpets, and underneath furniture.
3. Reach for the vacuum.
Enlist your vacuum in any area where you suspect crickets. Even if you don’t capture adult bugs, you may well get their tiny eggs, which is crucial to preventing a more serious problem. Empty the vacuum dirt cup or bag immediately outdoors when you’re done.
4. Break out the boric acid
Often used as a pesticide, this weak monobasic Lewis acid of boron can be effective against crickets and other insects. It typically comes in powder, pellet, and tablet form, and should be placed in areas where crickets nest. Keep pets and children away from these areas—if accidentally ingested, it’s highly unlikely to be fatal but could cause vomiting and other flu-like symptoms.
5. Stick it to ‘em!
Sticky traps and glue boards can also catch crickets—and you can even DIY your own. Fill a jar with a 1 to 10 mixture of molasses and water. The sweet smell will attract the pests, the stickiness will trap them, and the water will ultimately drown them. If these techniques fail, try a store-bought pesticide spray, following directions closely and only using the product in likely cricket nesting zones, like under the kitchen sink.
6. Manage moisture.
Reduce areas of moisture in and around your house. Repair leaky faucets and appliances that use water. Ensure there’s ample ventilation in a crawl space and the basement. Invest in a robust dehumidifier for the basement
7. Do preventative outdoor maintenance
Ensure that your home’s immediate surroundings hold as few cricket enticements as possible. In the yard, keep the grass neatly mowed and appropriately watered and the flower beds weeded. Prune trees and shrubs, especially those near your home’s foundation. Store firewood at least 20 feet away from your home. And don’t forget to clear your gutters; they’re a notorious pest harborage.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
How do I kill crickets in my lawn South Africa?
To use baits most effectively, wait until after a good rain or irrigate heavily the day before the application to encourage the mole crickets to come to the surface to feed. Apply the bait in the afternoon and withhold irrigation for a day, if possible. Wet baits lose their attractiveness very quickly.
How do I permanently get rid of crickets?
Sticky traps and glue boards can also catch crickets—and you can even DIY your own. Fill a jar with a 1 to 10 mixture of molasses and water. The sweet smell will attract the pests, the stickiness will trap them, and the water will ultimately drown them.
Why is my lawn full of crickets?
Crickets infest lawns when environmental conditions are hospitable. Warm days, dry soil, and mowing the lawn too short all contribute to cricket infestations.
Can vinegar kill crickets?
Vinegar in water (at 4 oz. per quart) kills crickets in about a minute.
What is the best cricket killer?
Apply Ortho® Home Defense® Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter around the outside of your house to help keep crickets out. Treat your lawn with Ortho® BugClear™ Lawn Insect Killer.
What insecticide kills crickets?
Thoroughly treat the targeted area with a granulated systemic insecticide such as Imidacloprid . 5 Granules. Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide, reaching into the soil to kill the nymphs that cause the damage. An alternative treatment would be using Bifen XTS is a liquid treatment.
How do you get rid of an infestation of crickets?
The most effective way to get rid of crickets and prevent future infestations is to reduce areas of moisture in and around your home. Mow the lawn, weed plant beds and move woodpiles away from the structure. Provide adequate ventilation in crawl spaces, basements, etc.
How do I get rid of crickets outside at night?
You can use vinegar to kill crickets when they come into touch with it. Combine 3 ounces of vinegar with 1 cup of water and spray straight over the bugs. The acidity of the mixture instantly wipes them off. To naturally repel crickets, essential oils can be used as a cricket repellent
Why is my yard infested with crickets?
Crickets infest lawns when environmental conditions are hospitable. Warm days, dry soil, and mowing the lawn too short all contribute to cricket infestations.
What pesticide kills crickets?
As mentioned above, house crickets are not harmless in small numbers, but if they accumulate, they attack everything from paper to rubber. They also invade food and clothing. The most suitable insecticide for house crickets is Demand CS or NiBan Granular.
How do I stop crickets from chirping outside?
Trim tall grass and weeds away from your home’s foundation. Move firewood, rock piles and other debris away from your home and set outdoor trash cans on pallets or wooden blocks. Light attracts crickets, so turn off outdoor lights or use yellow bulbs in them.
What time of year do crickets go away?
What season do crickets go away? Crickets are active in warm seasons, and the sound of their chirping is the male’s mating call often heard on summer nights. They typically die off in the fall, but the problem is, cricket eggs overwinter and hatch a whole new generation in the spring.
Why are there so many baby crickets in my yard?
Roger E. Gold of Texas A&M, the crickets are abundant for two reasons; “One, they have completed development and are reproducing and spreading out. Two, it’s hot and dry so they are moving out of the heat and seeking moisture.” (In MY house!)
Are crickets good for your yard?
Crickets offer benefits to our gardens, too. They eat small pesky insects, such as aphids and scale, and they gorge on weed seeds. One study conducted at Michigan State University found that one female cricket ate 223 weed seeds in just 24 hours.
Where do crickets hide during the day?
During warm weather months, house crickets will typically live outdoors and prefer garbage dumps – gross. They often enter the home looking for moisture; this is a common theme with pests. When the house cricket gets into your house, they’ll usually hide in dark warm places during the day.
How do you bait a cricket?
Catching Crickets with Newspaper. Mix equal amounts of granulated sugar and plain breadcrumbs together. This is cricket food! If you want to catch a few dozen crickets, a cup of sugar and a cup of breadcrumbs should be plenty.