House Crickets Identification Guide
Acheta domesticus
House crickets are small, light brown insects known for their distinctive nighttime chirping. Originally from Asia, they have become one of the most common indoor cricket species in North America, often invading homes in search of warmth and food.
Taxonomy
House Crickets Coloration
Common color patterns to help identify house crickets
House Crickets
Seasonal Activity
When house crickets are most active throughout the year
Where House Crickets Are Found
Hover over states to see their names. Green regions indicate where house crickets have been reported.
House Cricket Identification Guide
Physical Characteristics
House crickets (Acheta domesticus) are easy to spot by their yellowish-brown to light tan color. They have three dark bands across the top of their head. Adults are 16 to 22 millimeters long (about 3/4 inch). Their antennae are long and thin, often longer than their body. They have strong hind legs built for jumping.
Both males and females have wings. Males have shorter, thicker wings they use to make their chirping sound. Females have a long, thin tube at their rear end called an ovipositor. They use it to lay eggs in soil or cracks.
How to Distinguish House Crickets from Similar Species
House crickets are often confused with other cricket species:
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Field Crickets: Larger and darker than house crickets. They are usually black or dark brown. They make a louder chirp and prefer to live outdoors.
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Camel Crickets: Have a humped back and no wings. They are brown with spots and do not chirp. People also call them cave crickets or spider crickets.
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Jerusalem Crickets: Much larger with a round, bald head. They live in the western United States and rarely come indoors.
House Cricket Behavior and Biology
Nocturnal Activity
House crickets are most active at night. During the day, they hide in dark, warm spots. Common hiding places include behind baseboards, under appliances, inside walls, and beneath furniture. At night, they come out to feed. Males start chirping to attract females.
The chirping comes from males rubbing their wings together. This is called stridulation. One wing has a scraper that rubs against teeth on the other wing. The warmer it gets, the faster they chirp. This is why the sound seems louder in heated homes.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Female house crickets lay eggs in moist soil, potted plants, or cracks. A single female can lay 100 to 200 eggs in her lifetime. Eggs hatch in about 2 weeks when conditions are right.
Young crickets, called nymphs, look like tiny adults without wings. They shed their skin 8 to 12 times over 6 to 8 weeks before becoming adults. The full life cycle takes about 2 to 3 months. This fast growth lets populations spread quickly.
Feeding Habits
House crickets eat almost anything. They are not picky eaters. In homes, they feed on:
- Fabrics, especially dirty clothes with food stains or sweat
- Paper, cardboard, and wallpaper paste
- Fruits, vegetables, and other plant matter
- Pet food and kitchen scraps
- Dead insects, including other crickets
Their chewing can damage fabrics. They leave uneven holes in cotton, wool, silk, and man-made materials. Items stored in damp areas are most at risk.
How We Treat for House Crickets
Our house cricket treatment works like our approach to other pests such as millipedes and centipedes. We focus on cutting down their numbers and keeping them out.
Inspection
Our licensed technicians check your property carefully. We look for areas where house crickets are active or likely to hide. This includes:
- Basements and crawl spaces
- Garages and utility areas
- Behind appliances and along baseboards
- Entry points around doors, windows, and foundations
- Exterior perimeter and landscape areas
We find hiding spots, entry points, and conditions that draw crickets to your property.
Interior Treatment
For active problems inside, we treat baseboards, cracks, and other spots where crickets hide. We focus on warm, dark spaces they prefer. Our products do not repel crickets. This means they contact treated areas without sensing danger, which improves results.
Exterior Treatment
We apply granular and liquid treatments around your foundation. We pay close attention to mulch, ground cover, and other hiding spots near entry points. This barrier helps stop crickets before they get inside.
Entry Point Recommendations
We find gaps and openings that let crickets in. Then we give tips on how to seal them. Common entry points include:
- Gaps under doors (we suggest door sweeps)
- Worn or missing weather stripping
- Cracks in foundations and around windows
- Openings around pipes and wires
- Gaps in garage door seals
Environmental Changes
Long-term cricket control means fixing what draws them in:
- Cut outdoor lighting near entry points, or use yellow bug lights that attract fewer insects
- Clear debris like leaf litter, woodpiles, and tall grass from around your foundation
- Fix moisture problems in basements and crawl spaces with dehumidifiers and better airflow
- Move firewood away from the house and keep it off the ground
Ongoing Protection
House crickets can be persistent, especially in fall when they seek indoor shelter. Our triannual pest control plans (three visits per year) provide ongoing protection. Regular treatments maintain barriers and help monitor for new activity. Customers on active plans can request free callbacks if cricket problems return between scheduled visits.
References
Other Crickets
Explore other species in the crickets family
Commonly Confused With
House Crickets are often mistaken for these similar pests
Where House Crickets Are Found
Hover over states to see their names. Green regions indicate where house crickets have been reported.
Common Questions about House Crickets
Why are house crickets in my home?
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House crickets enter homes seeking warmth, moisture, and food. They are strongly attracted to outdoor lighting at night, which draws them toward entry points. Once inside, they prefer warm, dark areas like basements, garages, and behind appliances. Fall weather changes trigger the largest invasions as crickets seek shelter from cooling temperatures.
Are house crickets harmful?
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House crickets do not bite or transmit diseases to humans. However, they can damage fabrics, paper, and wallpaper by chewing holes in them. They are particularly attracted to soiled fabrics and may feed on cotton, silk, wool, and synthetic materials. Their persistent nighttime chirping can also disrupt sleep.
How do I stop house crickets from chirping?
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Only male house crickets chirp, producing sound by rubbing their wings together to attract females. To stop the chirping, you need to eliminate the crickets. Professional treatment combined with sealing entry points is the most effective approach. Lowering indoor temperature below 70 degrees F can also reduce chirping frequency.
What do house crickets eat?
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House crickets are omnivorous and will eat almost anything organic. They feed on plant material, dead insects, fabric, paper, wallpaper paste, and food scraps. They are particularly attracted to fruit, vegetables, pet food, and garbage. In severe infestations, they may damage clothing and upholstery.
How long do house crickets live?
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Adult house crickets typically live 8 to 10 weeks. Their complete life cycle from egg to adult takes about 2 to 3 months, depending on temperature. Females can lay 100 to 200 eggs during their lifetime, depositing them in moist soil or cracks and crevices.
Can house crickets survive winter indoors?
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Yes, house crickets can survive year-round indoors where warmth and food are available. Unlike field crickets that typically die in fall, house crickets thrive in heated buildings. This is why they can become a persistent problem once established inside your home.
How do house crickets get inside?
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House crickets enter through gaps around doors, windows, and foundations. They squeeze through cracks in weather stripping, gaps under garage doors, and spaces around utility pipes. Outdoor lighting attracts them to your home at night, and they find their way in through any available opening.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that's been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area.