Of all the pests that could invade your Austin home, crickets seem like they'd be the least threatening, right? They provide that classic summertime ambiance, they've been coined by media as our trusty conscience guide, some cultures see them as a sign of good luck, and other cultures view them as a delicacy, so of course, they can't be that bad. Unfortunately, they're a lot worse than you might think, and with autumn quickly approaching it might be time to learn how to keep them out this year.
The Hopping Mad Facts About Crickets In Austin
The most common cricket species you'll find infesting Austin homes is the house cricket. These crickets are yellowish-brown with dark markings all over their bodies, and their size ranges between ½ to 4/5 of an inch long. They have cylindrical, almost teardrop-shaped bodies, rounded heads, and three sets of legs with the most powerful set at the rear. While these pests are classified as occasional invaders, they will seek out more reliable shelter in the event of heavy storms and cold fronts, making your humble abode a prime choice as winter approaches.
These pests are also classified as nuisance pests, which means they're not particularly dangerous to your home or potentially deadly to have around, but that doesn't mean they're completely harmless. House crickets can still introduce a lot of problems to your home, including pathogen-spreading, food contamination, and cosmetic damage from their keratin-rich diets:
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Books and paper products
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Furniture
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Fabrics and clothing
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Leather
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Fur clothing and taxidermy specimens
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Wallpaper and glue
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Carpeting
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Indoor plants
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Fruits and vegetables
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Grain-based foods
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Nuts and legumes
How To Prevent Crickets From Infesting Your Austin Home
House crickets are attracted to environments that provide ample amounts of moisture and easily obtainable food, so even if you don't have any moisture problems inside your home, if you're dealing with a cricket infestation, then you probably have a moisture problem somewhere on your Austin property. There are ways to combat this, along with other helpful tips to reduce your chances of an infestation:
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Keep your yard cleared of fallen leaves, lawn clippings, and debris piles
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Eliminate any thick underbrush around the perimeter of your property
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Trim back low-hanging tree branches, unruly shrubs, and overgrown garden areas
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Make sure your lawn is draining properly by aerating the soil regularly
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Seal up any potential entry points around the exterior of your home; foundation, loose or damaged siding, exposed wood, seals around outdoor-leading pipes and wires
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Replace worn-down insulation around exterior doors and windows, and install door sweeps on exterior doors
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Repair and replace any damaged and torn screening on windows and storm doors
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Address any moisture problems inside the home; leaky pipes and drains, water damage, install dehumidifiers in moisture-retaining rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and basement
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Keep dried foods in airtight containers
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Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly to keep food particles off the floor.
How To Keep Your Austin Home Fully Protected Against Cricket Infestations
Crickets aren't always deterred with preventative measures like all other pests, and precautions can only reduce your chances of an infestation. Whether you want to be extra cautious or you're already struggling with an infestation, Roberts Termite & Pest Control is here to help. As a family-owned and operated company, we know how important it is to keep your home protected against harmful invaders. We provide effective, affordable pest control treatments for a wide range of common and uncommon pests, and we always use the highest quality pest control products available. So please get in contact with us today, and bid that midnight serenade a not-so-fond farewell.
Tags: cricket control | cricket prevention | crickets |
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