Fall Cricket Explosion Expected Across Central Texas

If you thought the end of summer meant an end to annoying bugs, think again. Crickets are on the way.

Central Texas Prepares for Cricket Surge

As autumn approaches, residents across Central Texas are bracing for an influx of crickets. A major influx. According to KCEN, local pest management professionals warn that the region could face an especially heavy cricket emergence this season.

Rainfall and Development: The Recipe for a Surge

The timing and severity of the fall emergence depend primarily on weather patterns earlier in the year. Crickets deposit their eggs in soil throughout the summer months, and these eggs hatch as temperatures begin to drop in late summer and early autumn. If we get a lot of rain during the spring, crickets have perfect conditions for egg laying. Bright city lights draw the hordes of emerging insects into urban areas.

How to Handle the Cricket Surge

While the initial surge can prove overwhelming for property owners, rest assured that the intense activity typically subsides within a few weeks. To keep the bugs out of your house, make sure the entrances to your home are tightly sealed and turn off outside lights at night.

Turn Off the Bright Lights

You'll do better in cricket swarming season if you reduce outdoor lighting as much as possible. If you need some sort of nightime lighting, there are options. According to Texas A&M, low-pressure sodium vapor lamps and yellow incandescent “bug lights” work well at keeping crickets at bay. If at all possible, only use outdoor lighting for a few hours each night.