Crickets. They seem to be everywhere this year, and even though their populations are larger than usual, officials say it is probably not a population explosion.

“Just based on observations, reports and requests for information, we can say that this is the most crickets we have had this decade,” Dr. Don Lewis, an ISU Extension entomologist, said.

“Part of the reason why 1995 seems like such a bad year for crickets is because we have come through four or five years when we had very few crickets,” Lewis said. “But historically, over the long run, this is probably closer to an average year than an outbreak year.”

Heavy rainfall is one of the mortality factors that influences cricket populations.

With increased numbers of crickets outside, there is a greater chance of crickets finding their way into people’s homes. Crickets that get into people’s homes may be annoying, but will probably not cause any damage.

“Concern about cricket damage in the house is overrated,” Lewis said. “Certainly if you have a lot of crickets for a significant period of time there could be damage to fabrics, to paper [including books and wallpaper], or even plant materials in storage such as bulbs and seeds. But in the long run, there is a lot less damage than people fear.”

Crickets do not breed or lay eggs in houses. Their life cycle occurs entirely outside, and it is only adults which accidentally get indoors that can be a nuisance.

Modern changes in our lifestyles, fabrics and home construction have also made crickets less of a household problem than they would have been years ago. When more natural fibers were used in carpeting and clothing, there would have been more food resources available to crickets in the home.

The biggest problem for people is the noisy chirping of the males, which has been known to keep people up at night. Their preference for dark recesses and their nocturnal activity can make them very difficult to eliminate. However, crickets may be more of a threat to farmers. As crickets grow through the summer, they will eat just about any type of succulent plant material. However, high mortality rates and the fact that full-grown adults do not eat very much serves to minimize their economic impact.