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Crickets may not seem such a big deal, and this is true if you only have a few in your garden. But when you have a full-on infestation, you will soon change your mind, especially if they make their way inside your home.
In large numbers crickets can be very destructive, eating anything from your garden plants to your clothing, wallpaper, carpet, and wooden materials. Luckily, there are plenty of DIY cricket repellents enough efficient to solve your problem.
At certain times of the year, when the conditions are just right, crickets can invade your home in the hundreds, creating a plague of noisy, black creatures that not only jump but fly.
Many people are frightened of crickets, and it’s not really that surprising when you see them. The most common is the black cricket, which will often hide beneath things during the sunlight hours and come out to feed and socialize at night.
So how do you get rid of these noisy, chirping pests without chemicals and poisons? Read on to find out how easy it is to make natural repellents.
DIY Cricket Repellents
Chili Spray
The good thing about chili spray is that it can be used inside as well as outside without causing any damage to your property. The best mixture is half a cup of fresh chili peppers blended with two cups of water.
It’s a good idea to strain the mixture before putting it into a spray bottle so you don’t have any lumps to block the nozzle. You can use two tablespoons of Tabasco sauce instead if you don’t have access to fresh chili peppers. Spray all of the areas where you think the crickets are gaining entry to your home.
Look for any cracks, garage or basement areas. Also, spray beneath the doors where they may be crawling through. Outdoors, spray it around the ground and the buildings but try not to spray the plants in case it damages them, especially if it is sunny out.
Molasses Trap
A molasses trap is an effective way of trapping crickets as they are attracted to the sweetness of the molasses.
Mix a few tablespoons of molasses with about half a jar of water, enough so that the mixture doesn’t become too thick.
Then place the jar outside where you have noticed crickets hiding. When the crickets go to drink the mixture, they will fall in and drown.
Nitrogen Fixing Plants
These types of plants repel crickets naturally because the nitrogen they put into the soil irritates the crickets.
Good nitrogen-fixing plants include sweet potatoes and clover.
Garlic Barrier
Creating a garlic barrier is a really good way to repel crickets, and it is a totally natural method. You can purchase a garlic barrier spray, which is a natural pesticide, or you could make your own.
Simply mix together several crushed cloves of garlic with some water or alcohol and let it steep for a few days. Then spray it in any areas where you want to keep the crickets away.
Newspaper Trap
For this trap, you will need to use bait, such as a mixture of breadcrumbs and sugar. This method is much more suitable for outdoors though otherwise, you may attract other insects into your home.
At night time, sprinkle the breadcrumb and sugar mixture on the ground where you have noticed crickets before. Then lay a single piece of newspaper over the top and leave it until morning.
You need to get up early before the dew dries and check the trap. By then the crickets will be full on the bait and unable to hop away, so scoop them up with a container and seal it. You then need to dispose of them or kill them.
Beer Bottle Trap
The bait in this trap is of course the beer. After drinking a beer, leave a little in the bottom of the bottle and lay it down on its side outside. This will work well if you put the bottle in an area where you have seen crickets previously.
The crickets will be lured in by the smell of the beer, and once they have crawled into the bottle and enjoyed the beer, they will find it very hard to crawl back out.
Soapy Water
As with many other insects, crickets also do not like soapy water.
When it is sprayed on them, it seeps into their skin which causes some discomfort, so they will stay away in the future.
Natural Predators
Everything has a natural predator, and this includes crickets. The main predators that enjoy feasting on crickets are birds, spiders, and lizards.
If you can, encourage these creatures into your yard (but probably not into your house!) to help get rid of your cricket population.
You could try planting more shrubs and bushes to help entice the predators into looking at what you have on offer in regards to delicious tasting crickets.
Diatomaceous Earth
Another popular natural insect repellent, diatomaceous earth is a powder that can be used inside and outside the home. It works by scratching the skin or exoskeleton of insects which causes them to dehydrate and die.
All you have to do is sprinkle the powder in areas where crickets are gaining entry to your home or around your garden if you want to keep them away completely. It is totally safe for humans and pets, but lethal to insects.
Dry it Out
Crickets love moisture, and they need it to survive. So, if you take away a lot of the wet or damp areas around your home, you will get rid of the crickets. Take note of areas where there may be some dampness, such as in the basement, crawl space, or attic.
Wherever it is dark and moist. Then you can either repair whatever is causing the moisture if it is a leak or installs a dehumidifier to dry the area out. No moisture equals no crickets.
Cornmeal and Borax Poison
Although this poisons crickets, it is still a natural remedy. Mix together two cups of cornmeal and two teaspoons of borax. Place a little of the mixture into a really shallow dish, such as a saucer.
Then place the dish near the cricket entrances and wait. The crickets will be attracted by the cornmeal and killed by the borax. Continue to replace the mixture each week until you no longer see any crickets.
Beer and Borax Poison
Another great method is to mix one cup of beer with one teaspoon of borax. Stir it together to make sure the borax dissolves. Add a little to a shallow dish and place it around the home where crickets have been seen.
When the crickets, which like beer, come into contact with the liquid, they die almost immediately. Make sure you check the dishes regularly and remove any dead bodies; otherwise these will serve as a warning to other crickets.
Lighting Adjustments
Crickets, like almost all other insects, are greatly attracted to light that is bright and white. To keep crickets away from your home, consider replacing the light bulbs on your porch or backyard lights.
If you install a light that is amber-colored or an LED light, the crickets won’t be attracted and you will keep them out of your home.
Even better, unless you absolutely have to have the outside lights on, keep them turned off.
Bio-Control
Using insects to repel other insects or bio-control, is becoming increasingly popular as a method of getting rid of a number of pests.
To keep crickets away, you could use plants that attract the larra wasp, a predator that will feed on the crickets and get rid of them effectively.
Essential Oils
There are a number of essential oils that act as a natural repellent for crickets. These include rosemary, sage, and thyme, but the most effective oil is eugenol, which is derived from cloves.
If you have located where the crickets are coming from or congregating, spray this oil directly onto the insects and they will die. You can also spray it in areas where you think the crickets are hiding, paying particular attention to any cracks or crevices that may be present.
Live Traps
You may wonder why someone would want to trap the crickets alive, but they can have their uses, especially if you like fishing for example, as they make great bait. Or, if you have pets such as lizards or snakes, crickets are a fabulous snack.
To catch a lot of crickets, place some lettuce and some kind of light source into a small container and leave it slightly open overnight. By morning you should have a good collection of crickets ready for disposal.
Landscaping
Remember that crickets are always on the lookout for food, shelter, and moisture, so by removing these items as much as you can, you will repel the crickets. Keep all the grass and any foliage around your home cut, and remove any ground cover plants such as ivy.
Make sure to keep your yard tidy and free from materials like old wood, bricks, and rocks. If they have nowhere to hide, they will go somewhere else.
