That distinct chirping sound of crickets coming from somewhere in the darkness is normally associated with pleasant summer evenings spent outside in nature. However, the moment that sound follows you inside your living room in Dubai or Sharjah, you know for sure something unusual is happening. As temperatures in the UAE skyrocket to 45°C, your cooled-down apartment becomes a paradise for such insects.
Even though crickets usually aren’t much of a threat, their presence may indicate points of entry for other bugs to get into the house. Crickets’ constant chirping can be disruptive, and their gnawing at clothes, books, or even plants can cause some damage. But there is no need to suffer. The first step is to learn why crickets are drawn to your place and apply easy tricks to prevent them from making your home their new home. So, why are crickets drawn to your home, and what can be done to remove them? Let’s explore effective ways to get rid of crickets and prevent them from returning.
Why Do Crickets Target Your Home?
They live mostly outside, but sometimes certain conditions might attract crickets to be near your property. In the UAE, the warm climate and urban surroundings make it possible for insects to have many chances to roam around homes and businesses.
1. Outdoor Lights Attract Crickets
One of the major causes of crickets’ presence around homes during the night is the use of lights. There are some species of crickets that are very much attracted to light. So having bright lights near the balcony, entrance, garden, window, and parking area would attract them to your property. When crickets are already close to the building, they could enter through an open door, window, ventilating point, or even a hole.
Avoiding excessive use of lights outside during the night could be one solution. Moreover, reducing the attractiveness of the outdoor lights and not putting lights near the entrance and window could also help.
2. Small Gaps Give Easy Access
Insects such as crickets are not very big and will find it easier to access your property even through small spaces. It is important to check on areas surrounding windows, vents, doors, balconies, among others, which may be access points for the crickets into your building. Sealing up such gaps is one of the easiest ways of preventing them from accessing your house.
3. Food & Shelter Keep Them Around
These pests consume organic matter and may also be drawn to food debris. Vegetation and trash outdoors, in addition to storing materials and cluttered areas of the property, are potential shelters for these pests. Garbage bins should remain closed at all times, and outdoor clutter and vegetation should be removed from the property.
4. Warm and Sheltered Areas Provide Comfort
Daytime, crickets like to take refuge in locations that are dark and have some cover. This includes storage areas, garages, balconies, gardens, and building foundations. If the area is seldom checked and cleaned, then there will be no sign of the presence of crickets until you start hearing their chirping inside your home.
Are Crickets Dangerous?
Cricket infestations are more of a nuisance than serious threats for most households. It is true that many crickets could make their presence felt in the household. For example, they could chirp in the middle of the night, disturbing people’s sleep, while others would damage some fabrics in the house. The bigger problem associated with crickets is that their appearance could mean that there is a pathway into your home.
How Can You Keep Crickets Away from your Home?
First, take preventive steps which are easy to do. Close doors and windows, fix broken screens, seal visible cracks and openings, use minimum outdoor lights, and maintain your outdoor spaces clear from vegetation, garbage, and clutter.
When one or two crickets come into your house, you can dispose of them and check out the entry points. However, if crickets are consistently coming into your house regardless of these steps, then further inspection of your premises is required.
When Should You Contact a Pest Control Professional?
When you find crickets in your home, you have to hear chirping sounds from the crickets and see several crickets in and around your premises, then you should take assistance from professionals for pest control. The pest control company will check your property to find out the ways through which the pests entered the house and places where they are hiding. Pest control services should not only concentrate on eliminating the pests but also on preventing their reoccurrence.
In case you want to seek pest control in Sharjah or pest control Dubai, then you should choose the best company who will give you a systematic way to get rid of the pests. Ensure, the Pest control services in Dubai will also suggest the prevention methods for the surrounding areas.