Crickets can be a nuisance when they find their way into your home and the basement is a common place for them to end up. They can chirp loudly at night, damaging items in the process, and they can also attract other pests. If you have crickets in your basement, read on for different measures about how to get rid of crickets in basement.
How To Tell When You Have Crickets In Your Basement
Having just one cricket in your home may not be a cause for concern, but an infestation of house crickets can be a pest control issue.
Signs of a cricket infestation include:
- Seeing multiple crickets inside
- Hearing a loud chorus of crickets at night
- Finding roughened areas and loose fibers on rugs and carpets
- Noticing large holes in clothing
- Seeing chewed edges on upholstered furniture
These problems may be more noticeable in warm, damp environments. It’s also possible to see mandible marks on furniture with the aid of a magnifying glass.
If you’re unsure of what crickets look like, take note of their appearance. House crickets are a light yellowish brown color with three dark crossbands on their head. They measure between 3/4 to 7/8 inch in length. They also have threadlike antennae that are often longer than their body and wings that lie flat. They look similar to cockroaches, with the exception of long back legs.
Getting Rid Of Crickets
Find Their Entry Points
Identify any entry points that the crickets may be using to get into your basement. This could be gaps in the foundation, openings around pipes or cables, or cracks in the walls or floor. Once you have identified these areas, you can seal them up with caulk, weatherstripping, or other materials to block the crickets from entering. You can also add screens to spots you can’t seal off like egress windows.
Follow The Chirping
To locate where crickets are hiding in your basement, listen for their cricket chirp. These are nocturnal insects. Your best chance of determining where they are is to listen for them during the night. To do this, listen for the sound of chirping and approach quietly. Wherever in your basement you hear the sound loudest is where the crickets are. Make sure to be as unnoticeable as you can as crickets will stop chirping if they sense something approaching.
Find Their Nest
If you’re having a hard time determining where crickets are hiding by following the sound of their chirping, there are areas in the basement they are likely to gravitate to. To find where crickets are nesting, look for spots that provide cover and are dark and moist.
Inspect behind appliances, under sinks and cabinets, along the edges of carpets, and underneath furniture. Look in the upholstery and in any storage boxes that contain cloth. Dark, undisturbed and damp areas are where crickets would choose to nest.
Declutter Unnecessary Items
To make your basement a less attractive habitat for the crickets, eliminate unnecessary clutter. Removing piles of debris and getting rid of unused items leaves less space for crickets to hide and nest. A clearer basement is easier to clean as well and makes it less inviting for crickets and other pests.
Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum
Finding crickets isn’t the only problem you have on hand when getting rid of them. Assume that they have laid eggs in your basement. Give your basement a thorough vacuum, paying close attention to carpets and upholstery. Use a strong suction vacuum cleaner to get deep into spaces where cricket eggs might be laid.
Dispose of what you’ve vacuumed up outdoors to get rid of any cricket eggs entirely.
Reduce The Humidity
Like other crawling home invaders, crickets are attracted to the moisture in your basement. If you haven’t already, invest in a good quality dehumidifier to keep the basement dry. A dry basement is less likely to attract crickets. You also get the added benefit of lessening the chance of mold and mildew growth.
Bring Out The Boric Acid
You can use a mixture of boric acid and sugar to eliminate the crickets in your basement. You can get boric acid from any pest control or hardware store. Simply mix it with sugar and place it along entry points where you suspect crickets are entering.
Don’t place the boric acid mixture on upholstery. Instead, run it along the floor and other surfaces. The sugar should attract the crickets to ingest the boric acid and eliminate them.
Check the areas you’ve placed boric acid on every few days and add on as needed. Keep in mind that boric acid is toxic, hence its effectiveness in crickets. Keep children and pets out of the basement while you’re working on eliminating crickets.
Within a week, you should have a cricket-free basement. Thoroughly wipe and clean all areas of boric acid to make it safe for pets and children.
Use Sticky Traps
If you want to save yourself some trouble of making your own cricket insecticide, you can use sticky traps instead. There are plenty available commercially. All you have to do is place them in key areas in your basement. They’ll attract crickets and trap them.
While they’re non-toxic, they can be a nuisance to take off from curious pets and children. Keep them out of the basement or leave the sticky traps somewhere they can’t reach.
Crickets are summer insects so keep an eye out for them during warmer months. It’s always a good idea to regularly inspect your basement and take steps to prevent future infestations from crickets and other crawlies. The effort pays off ten-fold as protecting your basement from insects also protects it from other issues like moisture damage. With a little effort, you can successfully get rid of crickets in your basement and prevent them from returning.
