Everyone knows the cricket's siren song of summer nights, and though they may evoke fond memories of childhood frivolity, a cricket infestation in your Las Vegas home would most certainly taint any warm feeling you ever had about them. These insects are, thankfully, uncommon pests and occasional invaders, but with the end of summer rapidly approaching you might discover their evening screams approaching ever closer to your humble abode. If you ever hope to have another quiet night's rest, you'll need to fight the urge to find your own physical manifestation for your conscience, and learn how to safeguard your home against these Jiminy impersonators.
Interesting Facts About Common Crickets In Las Vegas
The most common home-invading cricket in Las Vegas is the house cricket. This cricket is roughly ¾ to 7/8 of an inch long and tan to light brown in color, with darker brown accents and stripes all over its body. They have rounded heads, elongated bodies, wings that rest flush to their abdomens, and large, powerful back legs. House cricket nymphs are a bit smaller than their fully matured counterparts, and also wingless, but otherwise nearly identical.
Most people wouldn't consider crickets to be destructive or even dangerous pests, but that's where they'd be wrong. Crickets are omnivores, as they enjoy plant-based and fibrous foods as well as proteins:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Grains and baked goods
- Living and decaying plants
- Fabrics
- Furniture
- Carpeting
- Paper products
- Living and dead insects, including other crickets
The dietary habits of crickets spell out significant danger for your household items, but unfortunately, that's not where the danger ends. Their usual nesting areas happen to be within dark, damp spaces that are perfect breeding grounds for all sorts of nasty bacteria, and though it's incredibly rare, crickets have been known to inflict a monstrous bite when they feel threatened. Any kind of cricket handling, bitten or not, could lead to painful sores and rashes on your skin. While they're not life-threatening, these dermal lesions are still pretty annoying to deal with.
How To Prevent Crickets From Infesting Your Las Vegas Home
Despite their common name, house crickets really prefer living outside. The only times outdoor living becomes a problem is when inclement weather and the changing of the seasons push them to find more stable living conditions. That's when your Las Vegas home starts looking a lot more appealing, especially if your home has easy entry points and moisture problems. Not to worry though, there are plenty of ways to make your home less appealing to house crickets:
- Keep fallen leaves, mulch piles, and miscellaneous debris away from the perimeter of your home
- Seal up any entry points around the exterior of your home; siding, foundation, gaps around outdoor-leading pipes and wires, worn-down insulation around doors and windows
- Make sure there aren't any leaky pipes and extensive water damage, and repair if necessary
- Keep dried goods stored in airtight containers, and never leave food sitting out overnight
- Wipe down counters and food prep areas daily
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly
- Invest in a dehumidifier for moisture-retaining rooms such as kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and basement
- Inspect for any other infestations that might attract carnivorous insects
- Keep house clutter to a minimum, and air out any darkened corners of your home regularly
What To Do If You're Losing Sleep Over A Cricket Infestation In Your Las Vegas Home
Danger and destruction aside, the sheer magnitude of noise these insects create is enough to make anyone want to abandon their home. If you're struggling with a cricket infestation, don't run for the hills; get in contact with our pest professionals at Anderson Pest Control. We don't just provide exceptional infestation solutions, we also offer prevention, and we make sure all of our treatments are 100 percent transparent. We want our customers comfortable with the service they're receiving, which is why we keep our customers updated on every step we take to achieve our pest-free guarantee. So get in touch with us today to start discussing your cricket control options.