One reason crickets and other pests invade your space is because they are in search of something to eat. If they can find a good food source, they will be more likely to stick around. Knowing what these bugs eat will allow you to reduce potential food sources in your home and yard. Check out a list of things that crickets like to eat.
1. Plants & Produce
Plants and produce are the main source of food for crickets, and they will eat what they can find in your yard, garden, and house. They are known to eat grass and flowers. Leaves and other yard debris can be eaten as well. Crickets will eat vegetables such as carrots and leafy greens. They will also eat fruit including apples and bananas. In addition to fresh fruit and vegetables, crickets will eat rotten produce and decaying plants too.
2. Insects
Because crickets are omnivores, they will also eat meat. Though other insects aren’t their primary food source, they will occasionally eat them. This is more prominent if other food sources aren’t available. Crickets will eat smaller insects, including the larvae of bugs. They will also feed on dead or decomposing insects.
3. Food & Pet Food
Crickets will happily snack on treats they can find in your home. Left behind crumbs can be the perfect meal for these insects. They are known to eat grains and seeds. Crickets will also eat your pet’s food. Leaving food in your pet’s bowl can provide them with a potential food source. Crickets can also make their way into open bags or containers, allowing them to eat the food.
4. Fabric & Paper
Crickets will eat fabric and paper items. They like natural fibers like cotton and silk. This can make your clothing, curtains, and upholstery a potential meal. Crickets will also feed on a variety of paper items including books and paper towels. If you have cardboard boxes sitting around, these can be eaten too.
Tips to Prevent Crickets in Your Home
Pest-proofing your space can help to keep crickets from settling down in your home. Check out a few tips to help keep these pests away.
- Remove Food Sources: Limiting access to food sources can help to keep crickets from taking over your space. Clean up crumbs, spills, and trash. You’ll also want to pick up your pet’s food when they aren’t eating. Don’t leave fallen produce in your garden, and clean up yard debris.
- Seal Entry Points: Sealing entry points will help to ensure crickets can’t sneak into your home. Examine your house for cracks, holes, or gaps where crickets could enter. Repair worn seals and damaged screens.
- Eliminate Moisture: Crickets like areas that are damp, so you’ll want to keep things as dry as possible. Remove standing water from your yard and fix any leaky hoses. Check for and repair pipes in your house that are leaking.
- Keep Your Home & Yard Clean: Keeping your indoor and outdoor spaces neat can help to prevent crickets. Wipe down counters, vacuum regularly, and remove trash from your home. Keep your lawn and vegetation trimmed to minimize hiding spots. Remove yard debris, like leaves and grass clippings, that can be a food source.
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Create a Protective Barrier: Spraying the perimeter of your yard and home with a plant-based insecticide spray can help to keep pests away. Our Yard Bug Spray kills crickets and also provides residual repellency protection, creating a repellent barrier that will help to deter cricket activity. You can also spray common entry points with our Home Bug Spray to prevent crickets from getting inside.
Crickets are opportunistic and will eat what they can find in your yard and home. Taking steps to minimize potential food sources can help to keep these bugs away. If you’re dealing with crickets, we want to help. Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution when used as directed.