How Long Do Crickets Live? A Cricket’s Life Cycle
Do you have a cricket problem in your home, and are wondering how long crickets will live both with or without a food source? Crickets are scavengers, and can create problems for many unsuspecting homes. In this guide, you'll learn all about the cricket life cycle, how long they live, and a few quick tips on prevention and getting them out of your home.
Crickets can be annoying and loud. When farmers or homeowners ask how long do crickets live, the answer isn’t as cut and dry as they would probably like. There are several different species of crickets and each of them has a different life expectancy, not to mention a number of variables that factor into life span as well.
But it’s important to understand how long crickets can live with, or without food sources. Once they start reproducing in your home, managing an infestation can be tricky. So, it’s critical to understand how crickets feed, and the easiest way to both prevent them from entering your home and reproducing.
Below you will find out more information on crickets and how long each of the main species will live, whether they prefer indoors or outdoors, and other various facts that may help if you are faced with a cricket issue.
Defining Crickets
Crickets are insects that usually dwell in caves or fields. They are typically born in the spring and lay their eggs in the fall so that they aren’t affected by the possible weather later on in the year.
Many people know there are at least three specific species of crickets found but depending on the area of the United States you live in, there could be several more. The life expectancy of a cricket depends on several variables including the species you are talking about and the region in which they are located.
Keep in mind some other pests may look like crickets. Cockroaches come to mind as cricket look alikes, so it’s important to make sure you’ve identified your pest before pursuing the best way to rid yourself of them.
Cricket Reproduction
Crickets reproduce in mass numbers. The males do a mating dance which can last from minutes to several hours, depending on the species. He will “court” the female and then do the deed. The female cricket will then find a place to plant the eggs.
She typically sticks her ovipositor down into the soil to lay her eggs to ensure they survive the season without harm. Usually around May the eggs hatch and the nymphs begin to grow and molt until they reach adulthood. This process usually takes a few weeks, making the crickets adults by August.
Cricket Species
There are various different species of crickets you may find out in the wild, and even occasionally in your home. Below you will find out information on the three most common species and where you will typically find them.
Field cricket
These are the crickets you hear singing during the summer nights and into the early fall. Generally black or very dark brown, these crickets usually blend in well with their surroundings and go unnoticed. While you may occasionally get a field cricket inside your home, they do not intentionally infest home dwellings.
Camel crickets
Because they have no sound-producing organs, camel crickets do not chirp. These crickets are generally found in cool, damp areas. Your basement or crawl space would be the perfect hiding place for this pest, and you wouldn’t even discover they were there unless you checked for them or damage became apparent.
House crickets
While their name may imply they like homes, they usually are found outdoors. They are attracted to lights and are commonly associated with garbage dumps and trash cans. It is possible for them to find their way into your home, but it isn’t as common as finding a field cricket.
How Long Do Crickets Live?
You may be wondering something along the lines of how long do crickets live or what is their average life span, especially if you are dealing with crickets in your home. There are several variables when considering how long crickets live, which can greatly alter things. These are a few things to consider about a cricket’s lifespan.
Predators
The amount of predators in the area that feast on crickets will impact how long crickets will live. Generally in an area where they are in high demand, crickets will last a few weeks, maybe months if they are lucky. But because of the way crickets reproduce, there may be several hatches over the course of a few weeks.
Climate
In the warmer areas of the country, crickets can live past a year. Generally in the areas where there are definite season changes, crickets live from when they hatch in spring until the first freeze. This means crickets have a typical life span of just half a year at most.
Habitat
If you are keeping crickets indoors in a controlled setting, they can live for quite some time. You will have removed their natural predators and avoided any temperature changes. Reports have indicated captive crickets have lived nearly two years if the conditions were perfect.
Where Do You Find Them?
Depending on the species of cricket, they can be found in various places. Of course how long a cricket lives strongly coincides with their habitat and food availability. These are a few of the common places crickets are found and what species typically hangs out in the area.
Garbage Dumps & Trash Cans
House crickets are found in these areas as well as field crickets. They both like to feed on dead insects and decaying matter, so this is typically where they can be found if you are out searching.
Cool and Dark Areas
Camel crickets are all about dark areas where the temperature is comfortable. This includes crawl spaces in the home, in caves, and sometimes under logs and fallen tree branches. If it has low humidity and is tucked away from natural lighting, cave crickets are probably there.
Fields, Pastures, and Yards
Field crickets like to hang out in the outdoors. They are the ones you hear chirping all night long at the end of summer nights into the fall. While they are also known to find their way into homes, they prefer nature. House crickets will also be found outside along the road and other areas where people throw garbage out.
Getting Rid of Crickets
You may find yourself with a cricket problem and will need to get rid of them. When asked how long do crickets live, you almost always find the person asking the question has a cricket infestation. Whether it is in your home or in your yard, these pests can get quite annoying. Below you will find several ways to rid your property of crickets.
Clean Your Yard
This includes keeping your lawn mowed very short, weeding your yard, keeping wood piles or compost piles away from the house, and basic maintenance. If you keep your yard clean, it will keep the crickets at bay.
Reduce Moisture
Try and keep your basement and crawl space areas dry. This will attract less crickets and help you to avoid an infestation. If you happen to have rain buckets in the yard, get rid of them.
Use Insecticides
You can spray the pests on contact or generously spray around your home and yard. Remember to do completely around the foundation of your home. Be sure to read warning labels with anything you buy, especially if you have small children or pets.
Prevention
If you can avoid a cricket problem, you should. Prevention is much easier than dealing with an infestation. Because crickets can live up to a year and sometimes longer, equipping your home and the surrounding areas with protection will save you a lot of time in the long run. These are a few tips for cricket prevention.
Adjust Home Lighting
Both field and house crickets are attracted to light. If you need a porch light, make sure you choose the lowest possible wattage. It is also suggested that once you go to bed for the evening, you shut it off completely. Any outside lights you have either solar-powered or electric should be turned off as well. The less attraction, the easier it is to get the crickets away from your home.
Seal Your Garbage
Crickets are scavengers and love garbage. It is like an all-you-can-eat buffet for them. If you can keep your garbage bags locked in a can, it is the best way. In cases where a garbage can is not available, try to keep your garbage in the garage or away from where it can be exposed to insects like crickets.
Keep Debris Clear
If you have piles of stuff in your yard, they will need to be addressed. Crickets love clutter and will hang out around it. Wood piles should be moved away from the home to the farthest possible place. A compost pile is beneficial, but it should also be moved away from the home.
Wrap Up
How long crickets live depends on several factors including environment, predators, and temperature. While they could potentially be alive for at least a year, the average life span is just a few months. If you find yourself with a cricket infestation, you will need to deal with the issue immediately. Crickets will not die off on their own once they enter your home and the could cause a lot of damage between reproduction and feeding.
How long do crickets live is a common question asked, especially among people that have issues with the pests inside their home or in their yard. Luckily they aren’t too difficult to get rid of like some other pests. Once you handle the cricket issue, you will be glad it is over.
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