Typically, nature sounds are soothing. Cricket sounds, for instance, are welcome when you are out star-gazing or exploring the night in the summer with your buddies.
However, they can be a nuisance when you are trying to catch a good night’s sleep.
The thing with cricket sounds is that they are loud and consistent – they can go the whole night.
If you have been having sleepless nights because of this noise, then you came to the right place.
In This Article – We will highlight ways to get rid of cricket noise so that you can sleep soundly and peacefully.
Table of Contents
Why Do Crickets Make Noise at Night?
Crickets are nocturnal insects, meaning that they are most active at night. This is when they come out to play.
Also, while they are awake, crickets try to mate with each other, and the noise they make is actually male crickets trying to woo and impress the females.
They also use the noise to mark their territory and warn off other male crickets.
Crickets make the sounds by rubbing their wings together. The correct name of the process through which they make the sound is stridulation.
Even so, not all cricket species stridulate. For instance, while house crickets make a lot of noise, camel crickets are very silent.
A Fact: Cricket noise is so loud, its volume is the same as that of a motorbike or a lawnmower, so you cannot possibly ignore it.
Ways Of Getting Rid of Cricket Sounds
The good news is that there are several methods to reduce or completely eliminate cricket noise.
Some are simple, while others require a bit of effort and commitment on your side.
These methods are discussed below.
Use of Traps
One of the easiest ways to reduce the nightly noise made by crickets is by trapping the insects and reducing their numbers.
This can be achieved using pest catchers, of which there are several in the market, so you would have a variety to choose from.
Most pest catchers are large boards, complete with a sticky surface. The sticky surface is achieved using either glue or adhesive.
These pest catchers work by trapping crickets that happen to step on them. So, it helps to lure the insects to the trap using foods and scents that crickets like.
Pest catchers tend to be all-weather, so you can leave them outside during summer through winter. The adhesive/glue does not dry either.
In Addition: Most of these traps are as safe to use in the house as they are in the yard.
Keep The Yard Clean
During the day, crickets tend to hide in dark, damp places.
These include:
- wall cracks
- rotting lumber
- and under rocks
You want to identify these places and get rid of them accordingly.
Without hiding places, crickets will be discouraged from lounging around your home.
Also, you ought to take note of things that attract crickets to a place. Normally, crickets are attracted by food, light, and shelter.
Getting rid of these attractions will also make your home less desirable for these insects.
Therefore, keeping your garden, lawn, and driveway clean is imperative.
Also, mow your lawn regularly to keep it short and neat, such that crickets can’t hide therein.
Introduce Cricket Predators
Cricket predators will hunt down and consume the insects, thereby decreasing their numbers and, by extension, the noise they make at night.
Cats and dogs are natural cricket predators. They hunt the little bugs in their hiding places and eat them.
Birds also enjoy eating crickets. You can attract birds by creating nest boxes in your garden or putting out feeding tables in the open.
Similarly, frogs are cricket predators, and you can attract them by putting up ponds on your lawn.
Kill Lights
Crickets are attracted to light, especially during the night.
They tend to congregate in areas that exude light, such as outside windows.
If you want to keep these bugs at bay while you are sleeping, then switch off the lights in your room and in the neighboring rooms.
Killing outdoor lights that are not in use is also a plus.
Alternatively – Replace white lightbulbs with sodium vapor bulbs or bright yellow bulbs. These do not attract crickets as much.
Also, you could invest in light-blocking curtains, which keep light from escaping through your window.
Cricket-Proofing Your Home
Cricket proofing involves sealing cracks in walls, doors, fences, and any other space that crickets can pass through.
Also, cover the space between your door frame and the floor if it is big enough to fit these small bugs.
As far as cricket-proofing your home is concerned, you want to keep your windows and doors closed as soon as the sun goes down.
In addition, keeping your home cool and dry reduces its conduciveness for crickets.
As we have already seen, crickets like a humid and moist environment.
Low Temperatures
If you hear crickets in your home, you can use temperature control to reduce the noise the insects make at night.
Usually, crickets are super active and chirp a whole lot at temperatures between 82⁰F and 86⁰F.
To Quiet Them Down – You ought to lower the temperatures so that they become less active. When they are less active, crickets chirp less.
So, you can control the temperature when you are going to bed, just so you can enjoy your sleep.
Note that this method works in a controlled environment, as it is near impossible to alter the general temperature of your home environment.
Use Of Vinegar, Salt, and Scents
A mixture of vinegar and water kills crickets within seconds.
Spray the mixture directly on the bugs for effectiveness, as the mixture works on contact. While it is not as effective as vinegar, a salt mixture also kills crickets.
Elsewhere, essential oils act as natural pesticides. The best oils to get rid of crickets with include thyme, sage, and rosemary.
Spray them in places with crickets or places you suspect may have crickets.
In Addition: These little bugs are repelled by the smells of lemon, cinnamon, and peppermint.
Earplugs and White Noise Machine
If you do not want to interfere with the insects, then you can get yourself items to reduce the noise while sleeping.
Earplugs and white noise machines help drown away the loud and non-stop cricket sounds.
Earplugs are easy to use, affordable, effective, and more importantly, you will not have to kill the bugs for the sake of your comfort.
You just need to put them on when you are sleeping, and outside noise will not get to you.
White noise machines make fan sounds or other programmed sounds that cancel not only cricket sounds, but also sooth you to sleep.
Soundproof Your Room
Another method that will spare you from having to deal with the insects directly is soundproof technology.
Soundproofing your room eliminates all external sounds from getting in, so you will not have to suffer through the stridulation of crickets all night long.
You can soundproof your room using noise-blocking curtains or special soundproofing materials like acoustic panels.
Call Pest Control
If none of the other methods are working, or you simply do not have the time for it, call pest control for help.
Most pest control units are prompt and use chemical insect killers to rid your home of bugs.
However, many units are gradually adopting environmental-friendly methods of getting rid of crickets and other bugs.
So, if you are an environment-savvy individual, you can make that clear before pest control comes over.
Final Thoughts
All humans require enough sleep every night to be able to function optimally.
It can be awfully frustrating if the sleep is disrupted by incessant noise all night long.
Cricket noise is one of the sounds that can make it hard for one to enjoy a full night of peaceful sleep.
If you are suffering this inconvenience, there are ways to remedy this situation.
This article has highlighted ways through which you can get rid of cricket noise at night, so you can enjoy your beauty sleep.
Good luck!
