September 24, 2024 – Black field crickets, also known as Gryllus assimilis, are a common pest in Texas, especially in late summer and fall. Here are some facts to know about these these pesky critters:
Black crickets are known to resurge when a summer drought is broken by heavy rainfall. They take this opportunity to swarm, find mates and lay eggs.
During the day, black field crickets hide underground, but come out at night to feed. They can enter homes through small cracks or holes to escape the cold.
They don’t have any venom or poison that can cause neurological damage or numbing like scorpions, and while they do have mouths that can chew and bite, they generally don’t bite people. They do however attract a multitude of other predators. The damage that isn’t done to humans is instead done to their property.
Black field crickets can lay up to 400 eggs at a time, which hatch in the spring and turn into adults in the fall.
Black field crickets can damage carpets, fabrics, and wood, and they can spread bacteria.
To get rid of black field crickets, you can:
- Apply insecticide bug spray in corners and along windowsills
- Place glue cricket traps in basements and kitchens
- Use dim lightbulbs for outdoor fixtures
- Maintain your yard regularly
- Seal all parts of your home
- Have a professional spray your home
