Q: How do I get rid of crickets?
A: Unfortunately, getting rid of crickets in a basement can be a complex process. For one thing, there are several types of crickets, and different types behave differently. From your description, yours appear to be house crickets. Chemicals used outside the house, spread by licensed exterminators around the perimeter, can help prevent new invasions. Good sanitation outside, such as raking up leaves and debris regularly, can also help. Possible entry points, such as cracks under doors, should be sealed.
Frequent vacuuming of areas where crickets are spotted can be an effective means of control. Traps that catch roaches with sticky materials can be placed in infested areas.
Also keep the basement as dry as possible, using a dehumidifier if necessary; crickets like damp, dark places.
I have seen lots of praise for ultrasonic devices for pest control, but it seems to come from manufacturers and dealers. I have not been able to find an independent testing source that recommends these products for control of insects such as crickets and roaches; the reports I have seen are negative. I favor more conventional methods of control, but I would like to hear from any readers who have tried ultrasonic devices.
For more information on crickets and their control, check out the Web site http://www.bugspray.com .
Quick Tip: Downspout strainers those little metal baskets that fit into the tops of rain-gutter downspouts can help keep downspouts from clogging with leaves and other tree debris. However, the strainers themselves can become clogged with leaves that wash against them. If you have open rain gutters with strainers, check them regularly during the leaf-dropping season and keep them clean.
Gene Austin has been a do-it-yourselfer for 40 years. Send questions to him at 1730 Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422 or firstname.lastname@example.org. Include name, address and daytime phone number.Copyright © 2015, The Morning Call