Crickets

What Do Crickets Look Like? The 4 Common Types

Most cricket problems in US homes come down to four types — and matching the cricket to the location is what makes control work. Indoor traps won’t fix a lawn, and lawn granules won’t quiet a basement. Use this quick reference, then open the guide for your suspect.
Cricket type comparison at a glance
Cricket typeKey lookWhere you find themBest guide
House cricketLight tan to yellow-brown, ¾–1″, three dark bands across the head; loud nighttime chirpBasements, garages, warm indoor cornersIndoor cricket guide
Field cricketBlack or dark brown, robust body, long antennae; strong chirp outdoorsYards, patios, foundations, occasional indoor wanderersCompare control products
Camel cricketHumpbacked, tan and mottled, wingless, very long legs; does not chirpDamp crawl spaces, basements, garagesCamel & indoor guide
Mole cricketBrown, cylindrical, shovel-like front legs built for digging; rarely seen above groundLawn soil, garden beds, turfgrassMole cricket lawn guide

All Cricket Guides

Filter by what you need right now: getting rid of them, preventing them, or understanding the pest.
IdentificationWhat do crickets eat

What Do Crickets Eat?

Diet by species, why they chew fabric indoors, and what to feed a pet cricket — the full food breakdown.

Read more

No guides in this category yet.

Quick Test: Which Cricket Problem Do You Have?

The fix depends on the cricket and where it’s active. Answer three quick questions and we’ll point you to the right guide — indoor control, lawn treatment, or product comparison.
Question 1 of 3
Result

Read the full guide

Cricket Control FAQ

Why do I only hear crickets at night?
Crickets are nocturnal, and the chirping is a male’s mating call made by rubbing his forewings together. One or two outside is normal background noise, but persistent loud chirping inside usually means a male has gotten indoors and should be located and removed.
Are crickets dangerous to people or pets?
No. Crickets don’t transmit diseases and rarely bite. Large house or field crickets may pinch if handled directly, but it’s harmless. The real nuisance is noise indoors and, with camel or house crickets, occasional chewing on fabrics.
Will indoor traps get rid of mole crickets?
No — and this is the most common mistake. Mole crickets live underground and damage grass roots from below, so sticky traps and indoor sprays do nothing. They need lawn-level treatment: granules, a bifenthrin concentrate, or beneficial nematodes applied to the soil.
How do I keep crickets out of the house?
Seal cracks around foundations, doors, and windows; reduce indoor moisture with dehumidifiers and by fixing leaks; switch outdoor bulbs to yellow “bug lights”; and keep the yard mowed with woodpiles and debris cleared away from the foundation.
What attracts camel crickets to my basement?
Dampness and darkness. Camel crickets thrive in humid crawl spaces, basements, and garages. Improving ventilation, running a dehumidifier, sealing gaps, and placing traps in dark corners is far more effective than spraying.