TEXAS, USA — You've probably ran into them in droves out in public or even outside of your house.
Swarms of crickets ... everywhere you go.
Heck, one dropped down from the Toyota Stadium concourse and hit me in the face after the FC Dallas match. Orlando City SC, FC Dallas' opponent that night, even played off of the phenomenon with their victory tweet (which was objectively very clever).
Anyway, what's the deal with all these darn crickets everywhere?!
Why are there so many crickets in Texas?
It's common for them to gather in large groups this time of year. Cricket outbreaks typically happen in the late summer and fall, according to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Department of Entomology. The largest cricket outbreaks seem to occur during years of dry springs and summers.
Field cricket eggs are laid in the fall and the females typically prefer bare soil. Each one can produce 150 to 400 eggs. These eggs endure the winter in the ground and hatch in the following spring. Texas Agrilife Extension says numbers appear to be highest in August and September when a summer drought is broken by rainfall and cooler weather.
Where are field crickets typically found?
The Texas field cricket, or Gryllus texensis, are often found in the southwestern portion of the United States, including in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas and parts of Mississippi and Alabama.
They are drawn to artificial light, particularly at places like gas stations, vehicle dealerships and sometimes, in front of homes.
What should I do to keep crickets away? What should I do if one gets in my home?
In an interview with WFAA in 2018, Texas A&M AgriLife suggested turning off outdoor flood lights early in the evening, or, better yet, replacing standard lamps with those that are less attractive to bugs.
AgriLife also suggested sealing all points of entry into your home, like doorways and windows.
If a cricket does get into your home, there’s no reason to freak out. Field crickets are only “accidental indoor invaders,” AgriLife said. They don’t breed indoors or have plans to take up permanent residence there.
AgriLife told WFAA you should, however, watch out for your dirty laundry. Crickets have been known to damage soiled or sweaty clothes.
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