Pest Guide · Lake of the Ozarks
Crickets: how they live, why they invade & how to get rid of them
Two kinds bug people at the Lake: house crickets, whose chirping keeps you up, and camel (or "spider") crickets - the humpbacked, jumpy ones that lurk in damp basements and crawlspaces. Neither is dangerous, but camel crickets can chew fabric and stored items, and both come in when it's damp.
How crickets live
House crickets are drawn to warmth and light and will move indoors as nights cool. Camel crickets need humidity and dark - basements, crawlspaces, and garages - where they jump erratically (right at you, it feels like) when disturbed. Populations build in consistently damp, cluttered spaces.
Why they come into your home
Moisture, clutter, and outdoor lighting bring them in: humid basements and crawlspaces, debris and mulch against the foundation, and lights that draw them to the house. Lake homes with damp lower levels are prime camel-cricket habitat.
Signs of a crickets problem
- Chirping at night (house crickets)
- Humpbacked, jumping crickets in basements and crawlspaces
- Chew damage to boxes, fabric, or paper
- Activity in damp, cluttered, dark storage
How to get rid of crickets
Drying out and de-cluttering basements and crawlspaces removes what they need, paired with sealing entry points and a targeted treatment of the harborage areas. Fixing moisture is the difference between a one-time knockdown and them coming right back.
How to keep them out
- Dehumidify basements, crawlspaces, and garages
- Declutter damp storage and use sealed totes
- Seal gaps at the foundation and around doors
- Pull mulch and debris away from the house
- Reduce exterior lighting near entry points
Dealing with crickets at the Lake? All American has treated them since 1971 - local, licensed, and using no-odor products that are safe around kids and pets. We'll identify what you have and put together a plan that actually solves it.
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