The Field Cricket is the most common invader around the Quad Cities area. There are several species of field crickets, ranging in size from 1/4 to 3/4 inch, but the most common is the Black Field Cricket, a large, shiny black insect.

Field crickets spend most of their life outdoors where they feed, develop, and reproduce. It's usually in late summer when they begin wandering in and become an annoyance inside. Their chirping, which is produced by rubbing their wings together, is what's most annoying. Aside from that they're rather harmless when they come inside, however, they have been known to chew on fabrics, such as cotton, wool and draperies. Soiled fabrics are particularly vulnerable.

Cricket control is most effective when done in summer, before they start migrating inside. The key is to stop them at the source by sealing cracks & crevices and applying an insecticide barrier along the perimeter of the foundation. Keeping grass mowed short, eliminating weeds, and keeping woodpiles away from the foundation will also help.