Sitting on your front porch on a warm summer Virginia evening, sipping a cold drink, and serenaded by crickets can be magical. However, crickets quickly lose their charm when they interrupt your sleep with their persistent chirping sounds. Making matters worse is that they hide in dark, hard-to-reach areas, making finding them in your home almost impossible.
Keep reading to learn more about crickets in Virginia and how Albemarle Termite & Pest Control can provide you with the best pest control in Virginia.
The Sound That Crickets Make
Though it may be fun to think that crickets in Virginia are creating their iconic chirping sounds using tiny instruments, the truth is that they are using their back wings. The reason why crickets chirp is so males can attract a mate or so they can warn away other males.
The males elevate their wings and rub them together. The comb-like striations on the edge of the wings rub together, creating their iconic sounds.
An interesting fact about crickets is that their chirping becomes more frequent during warmer temperatures. Their frequent chirping in warm temperatures is why warm summer evenings on the porch and the sound of crickets go hand in hand!
However, did you know that not all cricket species chirp? That's right, not all species of crickets can produce sound, so you may be living with crickets and not even know it! Regular pest inspections and services are vital to maintaining a worry-free home in Virginia.
Cricket Entry Points
Crickets live in warm, damp places. Our Virginia yards, gardens, mulch, and spaces under decks offer crickets a nice place to live and plenty of food for these scavengers to eat. Those same outdoor habitats also offer crickets an easy commute into your home.
A cricket infestation often occurs after these pests move into our houses, seeking warmth and moisture. Once inside, they will congregate in places that offer warmth and moisture. Basements, crawl spaces, and bathrooms are areas where we regularly pinpoint cricket infestations.
Knowing where crickets enter your home will help you make the necessary repairs to keep them out. Common cricket entry points include cracks in the foundation, gaps under basement doors, gaps around wires and pipes entering your home, and vents.
Six Cricket Prevention Tips for Virginia Residents
To reduce the chance of crickets moving into your home and keeping you awake at night, limit entry points and the things that may attract crickets to your Virginia home.
Here are six helpful prevention tips to limit cricket exposure to your family and home:
- Eliminate excess moisture around your home by repairing leaky pipes, air conditioners, and fixtures.
- Fill in spaces around pipes and wires entering your home. Place appropriate covers over vents leading into your home.
- Ensure gutters are clear and downspouts direct water away from your home's foundation.
- Keep your home well-ventilated and storage areas clear of clutter.
- Seal any defects you discover in your home's exterior walls.
- Rake back mulch, leaves, and other debris from your home's foundation.
The best way to prevent problems with crickets is to partner with a home pest control professional that can provide you with the year-round pest control necessary to get rid of crickets in Virginia.
Professional Pest Control To Help Reduce Crickets Around Your Home
If you ever find yourself dealing with noisy crickets in your home, don't let your sleep be interrupted for one night longer than necessary. Reach out to us at Albemarle Termite & Pest Control; we are here to help eliminate these unwanted, noisy pests.
Call today, to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Virginia. Our services will remove crickets from your property and schedule follow-up visits to stop problems with crickets and other household pests in the future.