Crickets chirping outside at night and crickets jumping around a damp basement are two different problems, and UGA Extension treats them differently. Call (404) 647-6677 to schedule an inspection.
Field crickets — the ones you hear
Dark brown, about ¾ inch, with the enlarged hind legs built for jumping. UGA Extension notes they’re found outdoors “in wood piles and under flat items, such as boards, lying on the ground” — and they get indoors when those harborage spots sit right against the house.
Camel crickets — the ones in the basement
Larger — up to 1.5 inches — mottled gray-brown, humpbacked, with long antennae and no chirp. UGA Extension identifies them as “common inhabitants of crawlspaces, wall voids, basements, sheds, and other areas where humidity is high.” If you’re finding crickets jumping in a damp basement or crawl space rather than hearing them outside, this is almost always the species.
Why the fix is different for each
Field crickets respond to removing outdoor harborage — woodpiles, boards, debris against the foundation — and sealing gaps. Camel crickets respond to drying out the space they’re in; UGA Extension’s core recommendation is to “properly ventilate, dehumidify, or otherwise dry those areas where camel crickets are found.” Treating a damp crawl space like an outdoor cricket problem won’t fix it.
What we do
We identify which cricket you have and treat accordingly — harborage removal and exterior treatment for field crickets, moisture control and targeted treatment for camel crickets.
Not sure which pest you have?
Schedule a cricket inspection
Call (404) 647-6677.
Source: UGA Extension B1412, Insect and Arthropod Pests of Southeastern Neighborhoods.
