Referral line for Midland, Texas
Cricket control in Midland, Texas
When crickets pile up around the lights and doors, there's more going on than one in the closet. A call connects you with an independent company that treats the outside of buildings.
Calls answered: Early morning to late evening
| Looks like | Black field crickets: dark, with long antennae and strong back legs. |
|---|---|
| Usually found | Around outdoor lights, door thresholds, weep holes and garage doors. |
| Season | Highest in August and September, when rain breaks a summer drought. |
| Call when | Numbers stay high for days, or a business or apartment building is affected. |
How to recognize crickets
Texas A&M AgriLife calls fall cricket outbreaks one of the most predictable pest events in most of Texas. Most are black field crickets. They're outdoor insects and, unlike house crickets, they don't breed indoors or set up a lasting infestation inside. The problem is the number that come in, the noise, and the mess when they die. They can also stain and chew fabric.
Why they show up here
AgriLife says numbers run highest in August and September, when a summer drought is broken by rain and cooler weather, and that the largest outbreaks seem to follow dry springs and summers. Midland, Texas averages about 13.5 inches of rain a year, so dry stretches are normal.
The main draw is light. AgriLife names outdoor lighting as the most important cause of severe infestations. On flat, open land a lit building can stand out a long way, which is why a bright storefront, an apartment walkway or a floodlit yard can collect far more than a dark house next door.
What a visit usually involves
This describes common practice. The company you speak with decides the details.
A visit usually means treating the outside of the building, around entry points and the ground next to the walls. Indoor spraying isn't recommended by AgriLife, and it says insecticides are only a partial answer unless lighting is reduced too. Expect the company to talk about your lights and door seals.
The heaviest flights usually last 1 to 2 weeks, while adults stay active until cold weather. Ask whether one visit or a short series makes sense for your building.
Keeping them out
- Turn off outdoor lights early in the evening during swarm season.
- Change to yellow bug lights or low-pressure sodium lamps.
- Fit door sweeps and seal thresholds and garage doors.
- Stuff steel or brass wool into weep holes, which still lets the wall breathe.
When to call
Call if numbers stay high after you've cut the lighting, or if crickets are getting into a building you manage. One chirping cricket in the laundry room doesn't need a visit.
Common questions
Will crickets start breeding in my house?
Field crickets don't. AgriLife says they do not breed indoors, and that eggs are laid in firm, bare soil outdoors.
Why does my building get more than the house next door?
Usually the lights. Brightly lit buildings draw the largest numbers during the mating season.
Got pests in the house right now?
Call and say what you've seen and your ZIP code. You'll be connected with an independent pest control company. Allow a few minutes for the conversation.
Calls answered: Early morning to late evening