Nature sounds can be quite soothing and at the same time irritating depending on the situation. Cricket chirping sounds can be quite soothing when star gazing or exploring nature late summer evenings.
On the other hand, the chirping noises can be a nuisance when trying to get some good night’s sleep or reading a book on the veranda.
The easiest way to get rid of cricket noise at night involves using a pest catcher like Catchmaster Cricket XL, Largest Cricket Trap Available.
Unfortunately, this is a short-term solution.
The long-term and most effective solution would understand that crickets are attracted by light, food, and shelter and getting rid of such attractions.
Why Do Crickets Make Noise at Night?
Male crickets create their trademark sound by rubbing their legs together. The high-pitched sound is produced by the leg serrations rubbing against the sharp edges. This behavior, known as stridulation, aims to seduce the female for mating.
Female crickets are completely silent and do not chirp. In reaction to their mating call, they fly or wander towards male crickets.
The conduct of females is known as phonotaxis. It refers to an organism’s migration toward a sound source.
Male and female crickets both have ear receptors in their legs. A difference as minor as 5 dB might greatly affect a female’s choice to move to the male cricket. Males raise their wings when initiating a call. With every sound they emit, the wings create a pulse by rubbing together. The temperature has a crucial part in determining the pulse rate. The pulse rate increases as the temperature rises.
According to a research carried by Bristol researchers and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the chirping noises are all about survival. Female crickets will be attracted to males that are stronger. Whereas other variables of attractiveness can be faked, a feature like size cannot be.
Larger males generate noises with a lower pitch. Smaller crickets emit higher-pitched noises. Females listen attentively and judge the size of the cricket based on the pitch’s vibrations.
Below are effective and long-term ways on how to get rid of cricket noise at night. These are simple hacks that don’t involve pest control companies.
1. Use a Trap
As earlier mentioned, the easiest way would be to set up a trap.
My recommended is the Catchmaster Cricket XL designed to catch crickets, including cave, camel, house, and field crickets.
It features a large board with a sticky glue/ adhesive such that when a cricket steps on it, it becomes glued to the board.
The non-poisonous attractant scents attract both crickets and spiders, and the adhesive is made to withstand a variety of temperatures.
The glue retains its superior adhesivity and doesn’t dry.
You can improve the effectiveness of the trap by pieces of carrot peels.
2. Keep your Garden Clean
Keeping your garden clean is one of the long-term methods of getting rid of cricket noise in the yard.
The first step involves getting rid of all attractants in the garden, including food, shelter, and water.
Removing the source of food can be a challenging undertaking.
You need to ensure that you get rid of water around and dry out damp areas.
Crickets are also attracted to outdoor lights, just like how other bugs are attracted by light sources.
You should replace your outdoor lights with sodium vapor bulbs or those bright yellow bulbs.
One recommended pick is the Sunlite 03635-SU LU150 Sodium Light Bulb.
During the day, crickets tend to hide from predators in the following areas:
- Burrow underground
- Inside wall cracks
- Under plant pots
- Rotting lumber
- Under rocks
They surface at night and roam freely in the garden. Keeping your lawn tidy and the grass cut short will make it hard for crickets to find a hiding spot.
Additionally, if you have potted plants or anything that may trap moisture around your house, it’s advisable to move it far from home.
Get rid of decomposing leaves around your home. You can use something like a leaf blower to blow them away from the house and burn them. Alternatively, some vacuum cleaners have a blower port that can serve as a leaf blower.
3. Make your Home Bugproof
Cricket-proofing your home will not only keep the bugs out but also contribute to some noise reduction. You need to deal with the doors- especially sealing the gap between the door frame and the floor.
Here is a detailed guide on how to seal a door from the inside– for soundproofing and bug-proofing. You should also ensure that you keep the doors and windows closed or simply install bug screens.
Because cricket loves warm and humid spaces, you should ensure that your house is cool and dry. Light blocking curtains or soundproof blinds are a perfect way of blocking light from escaping your home.
As we’ve already seen, light attracts crickets- and so blocking it will keep these minor bugs far from your home.
4. Cricket Natural Predators- Cat and Dog
Cats and dogs are cricket’s natural predators. They will hunt these tiny creatures from their burrows and feed on them.
My dog loves hunting those that burrow, especially at night when they chirp. If you’re afraid of letting loose your dog, you can supervise them or simply get a dog tag with a tracker to keep an eye on its whereabouts.
You should also encourage predators into your garden. For example, birds enjoy feasting on crickets. You can encourage birds to your garden by introducing nest boxes and feeding tables to attract these natural predators.
Additionally, frogs love eating crickets. You can set up a pond in your garden and encourage frogs to create a habitat. This is a long-term solution to your cricket noise problem.
5. Try Heat Method
I would recommend this method if you keep live crickets for your pet. According to research, crickets are highly active at a temperature range of 27°C (82°F) and 30°C (86°F). It’s at these temperatures that they are mostly vocal.
Dropping the temperature to around 23°C (74°F) will significantly quieten their chirping. This method is only possible only for those rearing crickets in a controlled environment. It may not work for anyone who wants to get rid of cricket noise from their yards.
6. Try Vinegar, Salt, and Scents
Did you know that salt and vinegar mixture are will kill crickets instantly? Here’s what to do to make sure you get an instant kill:
- Mix vinegar with water or salt with water with a ratio of 4 ounce per quart- approximately 110 millimeters per liter.
- Spray the mixture in areas where you spot crickets.
Salt isn’t much an effective method compared to the vinegar mixture; therefore, you should increase the concentration for a lethal dose.
Did you know that essential oils serve as natural pesticides? For the best results, I would highly recommend rosemary, sage, or thyme essential oils. Simply spray them to the areas infested with crickets to keep them at bay.
7. Get a white noise machine or earplugs
If everything highlighted above fails, you need to invest in a quality white noise machine or earplugs.
If you work at home, a quality white noise machine for the office will drown out background sounds, including cricket chirping allowing for improved productivity.
On the other hand, if you can’t get a good night’s sleep, investing in good earplugs for sleeping will also help you block noises allowing for a quiet and peaceful goodnight sleep.
Conclusion
As you can see from the discussion above, there is more than one method to eliminate cricket noise at night.
Alternatively, you can soundproof your room.
This will not only eliminate chirping noises but also outside sounds from leaking into your home.
References:
Meet Mike O’Connor, (a DIY enthusiast), living in Cincinnati, a city ranked as the noisiest in the USA.
As a work from home dad, I have a first hand experience of how noise can truly affect your well being.
Soundproofing isn’t something that should be taken as a hobby, it should be a skill that every homeowner should be equipped with.
Most of the work documented on this blog comes from purely first hand experience, and the products recommended work as indicated.