Finding crickets in the house all of a sudden is a normal part of fall in Dallas. One week the porch is quiet. The next, dozens of crickets are piled up under the lights and chirping from behind the washer. It looks like an invasion, and in a way it is. The good news is that it is seasonal and manageable.
Why North Texas gets a fall cricket invasion
Most of the crickets you see this time of year are field crickets. They hatch in spring, feed in grass and leaf litter all summer, and reach adult size by late summer. Then, from roughly August through October, adults start moving in large numbers to find mates.
Crickets are strongly drawn to bright lights at night. As a result, porch lights, garage lights, and lit storefronts collect huge numbers of them. From there, it is a short trip under a door or through a gap into your home. Cooler nights and dry spells also push them to look for shelter, so the problem often peaks after the first fall cold front.
Do crickets cause damage?
Crickets do not spread disease, and they are not a health risk the way roaches or rodents are. However, they are more than just noisy:
- They can chew fabric, especially clothing or linens that are stored in garages and closets.
- They also nibble paper and cardboard boxes.
- Males chirp all night, which can make sleep hard when one is hiding in a bedroom.
- Dead crickets pile up and start to smell, and that can attract other pests.
How to keep crickets in the house to a minimum
You cannot stop a fall cricket swarm across a whole neighborhood. Still, you can make your home much less inviting:
- Change the lights. Switch outdoor bulbs to yellow “bug light” bulbs, or turn porch lights off when you do not need them.
- Seal the gaps. Replace worn door sweeps and weatherstripping, and caulk cracks around windows and utility lines.
- Clear the edges. Pull mulch, leaf piles, and firewood back from the foundation.
- Keep grass trimmed. Tall grass next to the house gives crickets a place to hide during the day.
- Sweep up dead crickets. Clean them out of garages and entryways so they do not draw other pests.
For more everyday habits like these, see our checklist for between pest control visits.
When to call a professional
If you are sweeping up crickets every morning, or you hear chirping inside the walls, a perimeter treatment can help. A barrier around the foundation, doors, and windows stops many crickets before they get in. It works best when it goes down early in the season. Crickets are part of our general pest control service in Dallas, and you can find answers to common treatment questions on our FAQ page.
HK Pest Control Services is licensed and insured in Texas (TPCL #13923) and serves Dallas, Richardson, and Plano. Tired of crickets in the house? Call us at 469-618-9991 for a free quote. Every job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
