The Surprising Ways Crickets Can Damage Your Home in Phoenix

Phoenix is home to pests that thrive in the warm desert climate. Crickets are among these pests. These creatures might seem harmless compared to other pests, but they can damage your property and attract other pests. Also, they can keep you up at night. As a homeowner, you may want to learn about how crickets can harm your home. This can help you determine how to control their population. Also, you can hire Reliable cricket exterminators serving Phoenix once you know the risks associated with these pests. Crickets can be destructive to homes as they:

Chew on Fabrics and Clothing

Crickets chew on fabrics, especially those made from wool, cotton, and silk. They can infest closets, laundry rooms, or storage boxes for these items. Crickets can leave small holes in your clothing or damage upholstered furniture. Homeowners who store seasonal clothes in the garage or attic are especially at risk.

Damage Paper and Stored Items

Crickets can chew on important documents, books, and cardboard boxes. They can turn these spaces into feeding grounds in homes where items are stored in basements, attics, or garages. This can lead to frustrating and costly damage for those who keep keepsakes, files, or stored supplies in cardboard. Over time, crickets can weaken the structure of boxes, leaving contents exposed and at risk from other pests.

Attract Other Pests to Your Home

Crickets can draw more unwanted visitors. Predators such as spiders, scorpions, and certain rodents feed on crickets. Thus, having a cricket problem can increase the chances of these other pests entering your home. In Phoenix, scorpions are already a concern, so an abundance of crickets can be an open invitation for them to come closer.

Feed on Plants and Garden Areas

Crickets can also damage your yard and landscaping. They feed on plant leaves, stems, and fruit. Sadly, cricket damage can make plants look unhealthy and unattractive. If crickets are plentiful outside, they may move indoors in search of food and shelter.

Create Noise That Disrupts Sleep

The familiar chirping sound crickets make is part of their mating call. The sound might be pleasant outdoors, but it can be maddening when inside your home. A single cricket trapped in a bedroom or living room can keep you awake for hours.

Contaminate Food Storage Areas

Crickets can make their way into pantries and food storage spaces. Typically, do not spread disease, but they can contaminate food by leaving droppings behind. In addition, their presence in these areas can be unsettling and unhygienic. Dry goods stored in paper or thin plastic packaging are especially at risk since crickets can chew through them. This can lead to wasted food and the need for more secure storage containers.

Damage Carpets and Rugs

Crickets may feed on the fabric itself or on other organic materials trapped in the fibers. Over time, this can create worn spots and visible damage that require repairs or replacements. High-traffic rooms and rarely used spaces can be affected if crickets find their way inside and remain undisturbed.

Preventing Cricket Problems

Keeping crickets out of your Phoenix home requires a combination of preventive steps. Reducing outdoor lighting at night and sealing gaps and cracks can make your home less inviting. Also, you can control their population by storing clothing, paper, and food in secure containers.

Maintaining a clean and clutter-free environment indoors and outdoors will also reduce hiding spots. Trimming plants and clearing away yard debris can help minimize their shelter options around your home.

Sometimes, cricket problems become too large for simple DIY measures. In these cases, professional help is the best way to eliminate them and prevent future infestations. Green Mango Pest Control offers effective cricket management services. They can locate entry points, remove existing crickets, and apply treatments that keep them from coming back.