A cricket’s life cycle starts with the mother laying hundreds of eggs in the spring. After a roughly 14-day incubation period, a nymph hatches. The nymph sheds its exoskeleton 8-10 times before becoming a fully grown cricket ready to mate. From egg to adult takes about three months — and then the adult itself lives another two months before dying.
Quick Answer: How Long Do Crickets Live?
The average cricket lives about 90 days (8-13 weeks) from egg to death. Males die shortly after mating season; females live until the next generation hatches. Mole crickets are the exception — they live up to 2 years underground. Without food, most crickets survive about 7 days. Without water, they die even faster — within 3-5 days.
If you are dealing with crickets in your home, the lifespan matters less than the breeding cycle: one undetected female can lay hundreds of eggs that hatch into a full new generation within 90 days.
Cricket Lifespan by Species
The 90-day average hides real differences between species. Here is what to expect for the cricket types US homeowners commonly encounter:
| Cricket Species | Typical Lifespan | Indoor vs Outdoor |
|---|---|---|
| House cricket | 8-10 weeks as adult, ~90 days total | Lives longer indoors (up to 12 weeks) — fewer predators and stable temps |
| Field cricket | ~90 days, dies in first frost | Outdoor; rarely survives winter |
| Camel / cave cricket | 1-2 years (overwinters as nymph or adult) | Thrives in damp basements and crawl spaces year-round |
| Spider cricket | Same as camel cricket (same species) | Indoor basements, garages |
| Mole cricket | Up to 2 years | Underground — emerges only briefly to mate |
| Captive (pet shop) cricket | 8-10 weeks with good care | Stable indoor conditions, but same biological limits |
The biggest practical takeaway: if you have camel/cave crickets or mole crickets, you are dealing with a multi-year infestation, not a seasonal one. House and field crickets are different — they cycle within a single year, but their fast breeding means an indoor population can multiply through multiple generations before fall.
Cricket Lifespan Cycle
How Fast Do Crickets Grow?
After about two weeks, the first nymphs start to hatch from eggs. The average newborn nymph is only about an eighth of an inch long, has no wings, and looks like a tiny wingless version of an adult. Female nymphs have not yet developed an ovipositor — the egg-laying organ that distinguishes mature females.
To become a fully grown adult, each nymph needs to shed its exoskeleton roughly 8 to 10 times. This molting process takes about three months, plus an additional month for the wings to fully grow and harden.
How Fast Do Crickets Reproduce?
As soon as a nymph completes its final molt and becomes a full adult, it is capable of mating. So the cycle from egg to next-generation egg is only about ten to twelve weeks under good conditions — warm temperatures (80-90°F) and reliable food.
A fully grown adult cricket is about an inch long and consists of a head, thorax, and abdomen, with three pairs of legs. It then spends about two months in the adult mating stage before dying. This is the period when chirping is loudest and indoor cricket populations multiply fastest.
How Do Crickets Reproduce?
As spring approaches, males begin rubbing their forewings together to produce a chirping sound aimed at attracting females. The same display also attracts rival males, turning the chirping into a competitive territorial display that often ends in a fight for dominance.
After fighting off rivals, the male watches for signs of female interest. A receptive female orients toward the source of the chirping. The male then modifies his chirp — switching to a softer “courtship song” — to single out that specific female.
Once mating is complete, the female dismounts and immediately begins searching for another mate. Most males die shortly after the mating season ends, exhausted from continuous singing and fighting.
For a deeper look at why and how males produce these songs, see our guide: Why Do Crickets Chirp?
Do Crickets Lay Eggs?
A single female house cricket can lay hundreds to thousands of eggs over her lifetime — the exact number varies by species and conditions. She uses her ovipositor to deposit eggs in soil, soft wood, or, indoors, in undisturbed cracks in walls, baseboards, and behind appliances. She hides them carefully because adult crickets — including her own species — will eat eggs if they find them.
Eggs need a stable temperature of 80 to 90°F to develop. This is exactly why an indoor cricket problem can spiral so quickly: heated US homes match the ideal incubation range year-round, while outdoor populations are limited to summer breeding.
After about a week, the female may move surviving eggs to a new hiding spot if the original location becomes risky. How many eggs ultimately hatch depends almost entirely on how well she has hidden them from cannibalistic adults.
How Long Do Crickets Live, Total?
An average cricket lives about 90 days from hatching to death. Adult males die almost as soon as mating season ends; females live somewhat longer — usually until the next generation has hatched. The cycle from egg to adult to next-generation egg takes 10-12 weeks under ideal conditions.
Found Crickets in Your Home?
Act fast — the female may have already laid eggs
If you are hearing chirping or finding crickets indoors, the 90-day lifespan works against you: a female that laid eggs last week will produce a new generation before you notice. The two most-used products by US homeowners for indoor cricket control are sticky traps placed along baseboards, and a contact spray for entry points and active hiding spots:
Cricket Traps Indoor (12-pack)
Sticky traps for house, field, and cave/camel crickets. Place along walls, behind appliances, and near baseboards where crickets travel at night and where females are most likely to lay eggs.
Cricket Canceller Spray (70 oz)
Contact spray for crickets along foundations, garage doors, basement vents, and indoor cracks. Pairs well with traps — sprays handle entry points before eggs can be laid, traps catch the rest.
For more options including XL traps for cave/camel crickets and outdoor concentrates, see our full guide to the best cricket killer products.
How Long Do Crickets Live Without Food?
A cricket’s diet consists mainly of plants, insects, fruits, and occasionally other crickets. Their appetite is large for their size — they will eat almost any organic matter they find, which is why they will sometimes resort to cannibalism when other food is scarce.
Without any food at all, most cricket species survive about one week. In a state of natural dormancy (cooler temperatures, reduced metabolism), they can stretch this slightly longer. But active adult crickets in a heated indoor environment die quickly when food runs out — usually within 5-7 days.
How Long Do Crickets Live Without Water?
Water matters even more than food. Without access to water or moisture, most crickets die within 3-5 days — faster than starvation. This is why crickets are strongly attracted to damp basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages with leaks, and any indoor space where humidity is high.
The practical implication for homeowners: fixing moisture problems can be as effective as setting traps. A dehumidifier in a basement, a repaired bathroom leak, or sealing a damp crawl space removes the resource crickets need most to survive indoors.
Where Do Crickets Go in The Winter?
Most outdoor adult cricket populations die off in the first hard frost. Some species survive winter by hibernating as nymphs or eggs, then resuming development when temperatures rise in spring.
Most outdoor field cricket males have already died by autumn from mating exhaustion; females follow shortly after the next generation of eggs has been laid. The eggs themselves overwinter in protected locations and hatch the following spring — this is the standard pattern for house and field crickets in the US.
Mole crickets are the exception. They overwinter deep underground, where the soil stays warmer than the surface. Mole crickets actually prefer winter conditions to summer heat and emerge in spring to feed on roots and mate. Their underground lifestyle and slow life cycle give them an effective lifespan of up to two years — far longer than most other cricket species.
For mole cricket lawn damage specifically, see our money page: How to Get Rid of Mole Crickets in Your Lawn.
Do Camel Crickets Die in The Winter?
Camel crickets (also called cave crickets or “sprickets”) are the second exception to the typical cricket lifespan. Like most cricket species, they spend winter either as a nymph or as a hibernating adult — but unlike field and house crickets, their preferred habitat is already protected from winter cold.
Camel crickets thrive in basements, crawl spaces, and other dark, humid areas that stay stable in temperature year-round. They actually become more active during winter months in heated homes, because the indoor warmth keeps their metabolism going while outdoor populations are dormant.
For homeowners, this means a camel cricket infestation does not pause in winter. If anything, it gets worse. For dealing with these larger crickets specifically, our guide to the best cricket killer products covers XL Giant Glue Boards designed for cave cricket size.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cricket Lifespan
How long do house crickets live?
House crickets typically live 8-10 weeks as adults, with a total lifespan of about 90 days (3 months) from hatching. Females live longer than males because males die shortly after mating season ends.
How long do crickets live in a house?
Indoor crickets often live longer than outdoor crickets — up to 12 weeks — because they are protected from predators, weather, and food scarcity. However, indoor crickets that find no food die within 7-10 days, and without water they die in 3-5 days.
How long do mole crickets live?
Mole crickets are the longest-lived common cricket species, with a lifespan of up to 2 years. They spend most of that time underground. Their longer life means mole cricket lawn damage can persist across multiple years, not just one season.
How long do crickets live without water?
Most cricket species die within 3-5 days without access to water or moisture — faster than they die from starvation. This is why crickets are strongly drawn to damp basements, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
How long do crickets live without food?
Crickets die from starvation in about 7 days. Females may survive slightly longer if they have already laid eggs and are not actively producing more. Cricket species in dormancy can stretch this to 10-14 days.
How many eggs does a cricket lay in a lifetime?
A single female house cricket can lay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand eggs across her adult life, depending on species and conditions. House crickets average 100-700 eggs per female; some species lay more.
What is the lifespan of a pet cricket?
Crickets kept as feeder insects for reptiles or amphibians typically live 8-10 weeks if given stable temperature (75-85°F), water gel, and a balanced diet. Their biological maximum is the same as wild crickets — captivity does not extend their lifespan.
Do crickets bite or pose a health risk?
Most crickets do not bite humans. Some can deliver a weak pinch if cornered, but cricket bites are harmless and rare. For details on which species can actually bite, see our guide: Do Crickets Bite Humans?
What kills crickets fast?
The fastest indoor approach combines sticky glue traps along baseboards with a contact spray on entry points. For best results, deploy both. See our guide to the best cricket killer products.
Bottom Line: What to Do About Crickets in Your Home
A 90-day cricket lifespan sounds short until you do the math. Without intervention, an indoor cricket population can establish two to three full generations within a single year. A single female can lay hundreds of eggs — and indoor temperatures (80-90°F in heated homes) match the ideal incubation range perfectly. By the time you hear chirping, eggs may already be incubating in cracks you cannot see.
If you are finding crickets in your basement, garage, bathroom, or anywhere in the home:
- Act early. One pair of crickets can become hundreds within 90 days. Waiting “to see if they go away” almost never works indoors.
- Deploy glue traps along walls. See our guide to the best cricket killer products for the right traps by species (regular for house/field crickets, XL for cave/camel).
- Reduce moisture. Crickets die without water in 3-5 days — a dehumidifier in the basement is one of the strongest non-chemical controls available.
- Seal entry points. Door sweeps, foundation cracks, garage door seals, and basement vents are the main entries.
- Consider professional help for camel cricket or mole cricket problems. Their multi-year lifespans mean DIY can take longer. See our comparison of top US pest control services — most offer free inspections.
Understanding the cricket lifespan helps you act at the right time. The faster you intervene, the fewer eggs are laid, and the smaller the next generation becomes — turning a 90-day problem into a 2-week one.