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Occasional Invaders

Crickets

Acheta domesticus (house), Gryllus spp. (field)

Danger Level: 1/5Updated September 2026 · Boise, ID

IdentificationHow to Identify Crickets

Quick Answer

Crickets have cylindrical bodies, long antennae, and enlarged hind legs for jumping. House crickets are yellowish-brown with three dark bands on the head.

Full identification notes

Field crickets are larger and darker (brown to black). Camel crickets (cave crickets) are tan, humpbacked, and don't chirp.

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Crickets Behavior & Habits

Understanding how crickets behave helps prevent infestations

Male crickets chirp by rubbing their wings together to attract mates.

More about their habits

They're nocturnal and attracted to lights. Crickets eat plant material and occasionally fabric, paper, or other organic materials. Large populations can become a nuisance with constant chirping.

Crickets Risks & Dangers

What crickets can do to your health and property

Health Risks

Crickets don't bite or transmit diseases.

Property Damage

Crickets may chew on fabric, paper, or food items.

Full health and property details

Health Risks

They're harmless to humans though their constant chirping can be extremely annoying.

Property Damage

Large infestations can damage stored items. Their droppings can stain surfaces.

Signs of Crickets Infestation

Look for these indicators in your home

Signs You Have Crickets

What homeowners spot first

  1. Chirping sounds at night
  2. Jumping insects near lights
  3. Chewed fabric or paper
More signs to look for
  1. Dead crickets on floors and windowsills
  2. Cricket droppings (small black pellets)

Crickets in Boise & the Treasure Valley

Cricket calls in the Treasure Valley pile up from August through October, once nights cool and porch lights start pulling them up to the house.

More on what we see locally

The garage door bottom seal is the #1 entry point we find, with siding gaps under exterior fixtures a close second. We see the heaviest pressure in rural-edge neighborhoods like Kuna, Star, Middleton, and west Caldwell where homes back up to fields, and around golf-course communities on the Eagle and south Meridian sides. Mormon crickets occasionally swarm elsewhere in Idaho, but we rarely see them in the Valley.

Our Solution

How We Handle Crickets

What our approach looks like

We hit the exterior perimeter to stop crickets at the wall, treat harborage spots like landscape beds and the garage door track, and clean up any indoor stragglers.

Our full approach

Most homeowners see results in 24-48 hours, and we'll point out the porch lights or door sweeps that are pulling them in. Your first visit is $49 with quarterly service.

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How to Prevent Crickets

Steps you can take to reduce the risk of infestation

  1. Reduce outdoor lighting or use yellow bulbs
  2. Seal cracks around doors and windows
  3. Keep vegetation trimmed away from home
More prevention steps
  1. Remove debris that provides harborage
  2. Store firewood away from house
  3. Reduce moisture around foundation

Crickets Questions Answered

Common questions about identification, prevention, and treatment

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Why do crickets chirp at night?

Quick answerMale crickets chirp to attract females, and the chirping speeds up as it warms outside.

You can actually estimate the temperature from a cricket: count chirps in 14 seconds and add 40 for a rough Fahrenheit reading.

How do I stop the chirping?

Quick answerFind and remove the cricket (they're often near the sound source) or treat infested areas.

Reducing outdoor populations through perimeter treatment prevents them from entering. A single cricket can be nearly impossible to locate by sound alone.

Do crickets cause damage?

Quick answerLarge populations can damage fabrics (especially with perspiration stains), paper, and some food items.

A few crickets cause minimal damage. The main issue is usually the noise, not damage.

Think You Have Crickets?

Call and we'll talk through your options. We usually get out within 24 to 48 hours.

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$119/quarter

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(208) 297-7947

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