How to Catch a Cricket Inside a Building

Co-authored by Samuel Ramsey, PhD

Last Updated: August 20, 2024 Fact Checked

While crickets may be cute up close, they can damage house plants, furniture, and clothes, if given free rein in a house. They can also chirp for incessant periods of time, which you may well know if you are reading this article.^{[1]
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Research source} If you suspect a few of these critters have taken up residence in your home, one solution is to squash the crickets or use insecticides. However, if you're feeling compassionate towards the bugs, or are just not in the mood for cleaning up cricket guts, here's a simple way to catch and release your crickets.

Steps

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In order to do this you will need a quiet house. Carefully go from room to room listening for the characteristic chirping.^{[2]
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Research source} Crickets can usually be found underneath furniture or appliances and in closets. If, however, you suddenly turn the lights on in a previously dark room they may be out in the open.^{[3]
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Research source}
A large, clear drinking glass is preferable, so that the rim can safely enclose the cricket without out touching any antennae.

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If they are underneath something, you may have to rearrange furniture or shock them out. Try flourishing a long, thin object or brandishing a flashlight in the area where the cricket is hiding. Unfortunately, you will have lost the element of surprise after that.
If you make any jerky movements, the cricket will jump three to four feet depending on its size, so steady the hand and move down slowly until the cricket is trapped.
Slide the glass over the paper.

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I hear a cricket that seems to be coming from the air conditioning vent. How do I get rid of it?

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If you don't care if it dies, get sticky traps and food traps.

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How do I locate a cricket?

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Listen for the chirping. Just keep following the sound until you find your cricket.

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I have a pet cricket named Joey, and he's lonely. There are no crickets in my house; I need a quick and easy guide on how to find crickets and where they mostly live.

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Most of them live in long, weedy grass. Try looking in open, grassy areas in bright sunlight. Sit down or get close to the grass and watch for a while. Also, try rustling the grass. It is likely that crickets will jump when you do this.

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Tips

If you're getting lots of crickets in your house, it's possible that you have different entry points for these critters, which might include cracks in the walls or even in the foundations.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist

Expert Interview}

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If you mess up the first time, the cricket will be more alert and harder to catch the next time.

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If the cricket you are trying to catch is crawling instead of hopping around, you can just slide him/her onto a piece of paper. Then fold up the paper so he/she doesn't fall out and chuck 'em out the window or door.

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Warnings

Sometimes the only way to get rid of a cricket is to squish it. This can be an unpleasant process however, because of their meaty nature. If you have a serious cricket infestation in your house consider using insect poison.

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Don't drop the cricket when it's jumping around inside the cup.

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Wash the glass and your hands after using it.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services

Go to source} Crickets are known to carry disease causing germs that cause painful sores in humans.

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Crickets love clutter, especially cardboard boxes. If your house has humid and cluttered places, the crickets might end up reproducing and making a mess.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Samuel Ramsey, PhD
Entomologist

Expert Interview}

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