Identify house, field, and camel crickets, cut the moisture and lighting that draw them in, and control them with exclusion and low-pesticide methods.
Call (619) 421 - 2101Crickets are mostly a nuisance rather than a threat, but the endless nighttime chirping — and the sheer numbers that can build up during San Diego’s dry season — make them a pest worth managing. This Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan focuses on identifying the species, sealing crickets out, and removing the moisture and lighting that pull them toward your home.
Crickets come indoors for warmth, moisture, and shelter, and they follow exterior lights to get there. Address those three things and the chirping largely takes care of itself.
Want a tailored cricket IPM plan for your property?
Call (619) 421 - 2101 →Three types turn up locally — and only two of them are the ones keeping you awake.
The classic indoor chirper. It seeks out warm, damp spots near heat sources and is behind most nighttime cricket noise inside homes.
A larger outdoor cricket that wanders inside for warmth and food, especially during dry Santa Ana wind seasons.
A humpbacked, wingless cricket that never chirps. Startling to find in a garage, but completely harmless and moisture-driven.
How GC Termite Control manages crickets — from monitoring to a judicious chemical last resort.
A quick check of the damp, warm spots crickets favor tells you which species you have and where they are getting in.
Sealing gaps and dimming the lights that draw crickets in does most of the work.
Drying out the area around the structure makes it far less inviting.
Local predators keep cricket numbers down outdoors on their own.
Barriers and traps handle the crickets that do make it close to the house.
For persistent infestations, targeted professional treatment finishes the job.
Seal the gaps and remove the moisture and light crickets follow indoors.
Seal cracks and gaps and add door sweeps and weatherstripping
Switch exterior bulbs to yellow "bug lights" near doors and windows
Reduce mulch and dense foliage against the foundation
Water lawns and gardens early in the day
Store food and pet food sealed and keep trash covered
Fix leaks and dry out damp basements and garages
Place sticky or pitfall traps where you hear chirping
Cut vegetation back from the structure
GC Termite Control will track down where crickets are getting in and build an integrated plan that seals them out and keeps the numbers down.
Crickets slip indoors looking for warmth, moisture, and shelter — especially during dry Santa Ana winds when it is harsh outside. They are also drawn to exterior lights near doors. Once in, they chirp from warm spots near vents and appliances, which is why the sound seems to move around.
No. Camel crickets do not bite, do not chirp, and do not damage your home — they are a damp-loving nuisance that startles people in garages and crawl spaces. Reducing moisture and clutter in those areas is the fix.
Seal cracks and gaps, add door sweeps, and switch exterior lighting near entries to yellow bug bulbs so fewer insects are drawn in. Then cut the moisture and mulch around the foundation that lets crickets thrive next to the house.
During the warm months, and especially the dry Santa Ana wind season, when tough outdoor conditions push crickets to seek harborage and moisture indoors. That is the time to make sure the home is well sealed.
