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Crickets in your Phoenix house: what they are and what to do
That loud chirp from behind the fridge, garage shelf, or recessed light is often a house cricket. In Phoenix, crickets can build up around warm, sheltered spots outside, then wander indoors through small gaps. This page will help you tell if it's crickets, lower the activity safely, and know when a local pest control company is worth a call.
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- Chirping after sunset
- Jumping insects near baseboards
- Crickets in garage or bathroom
- Activity near doors at night
- Crickets gathered near foundations or doors
Crickets in Arizona homes are usually Indian house crickets, house crickets, or field crickets. University of Arizona Extension notes that common Arizona crickets don't bite or carry diseases, so the main issue is noise and indoor nuisance. Start by sealing low entry points, reducing outdoor hiding spots, and using indoor glue traps where pets and kids won't reach them.
Crickets like cover near the ground. Around homes, they can use spaces under pots, rocks, debris, concrete edges, driveway gaps, patio voids, and other shaded places. Once numbers build outside, a few may slip into the house.
Entry is usually low and simple. Gaps under doors, dryer vents, torn screens, cracks in exterior walls, and openings around pipes or HVAC lines can let crickets move inside. After that, they may hide behind appliances or in other hard to reach spots.
The chirping comes from males. They call in the evening and can keep going for hours, which is why one cricket can feel like a bigger problem at 2 a.m. Sound can bounce indoors, so the cricket may be several feet from where it seems to be.
Finding one cricket indoors doesn't prove you have a major infestation. Seeing them night after night, hearing several calls, or finding many around the foundation points to outdoor shelter and entry points that need attention.
- About 0.5 to 1 inch long
- Long antennae and jumping back legs
- Light brown to dark body color
- Wings may be short, long, or hard to see
- Males chirp at night
- Often hides in tight dark spots
Mostly a nuisance
For people, common Arizona crickets are mainly a nuisance pest. They don't bite or carry diseases, based on University of Arizona Extension guidance. Heavy cricket activity can matter more in the Valley because crickets are prey for other pests, including spiders and scorpions.
Arizona house crickets may be found from May through December. Around Phoenix, calls and indoor wandering are most noticeable on warm nights, often during the late summer stretch many residents call cricket season.
What's different in the Phoenix area
Phoenix homes give crickets plenty of small shelters: slab edges, garage thresholds, decorative boulders, meter boxes, patio gaps, and the narrow space where stucco meets the stem wall. Warm nights keep them active, and irrigated yards can add the cool cover they use during the day.
Often confused with
What you can do today
Seal low gaps
Check door bottoms, weatherstripping, window screens, dryer vent covers, and cracks near exterior walls. Focus near the slab and garage first, since crickets often enter close to ground level.
Clear ground cover
Move debris, pots, stacked items, and loose yard clutter away from the foundation. Raise stored items off the ground where you can.
Use indoor glue traps
Place glue traps indoors along walls where crickets travel. Keep them away from pets, children, and outdoor areas because lizards or birds can get caught.
Reduce hiding spots outside
Watch from a distance around decorative rocks, firewood, planters, and patio edges. Don't lift items. Call a professional to check and seal risky gaps.
Watch light and doors
Close doors at night and repair screens that don't fit well. If outdoor lights draw insects to entry areas, limit the time they're on when possible.
When to call a pest control company
Call a local pest control company when crickets keep showing up indoors after sealing and cleanup, when the noise is affecting sleep, or when you see many crickets around the foundation. A technician will look for outside harborage, low entry points, gaps around utilities, voids near concrete, and places where crickets may be breeding near the home.
Not sure what you're dealing with?
Describe it on the phone. The company on the other end handles these calls every day and will know what to ask.
Common questions about crickets in Phoenix
Are crickets in the house dangerous?
Usually, no. Common Arizona crickets don't bite or carry diseases, so they're mostly a noise and nuisance issue.
Why do I hear crickets but can't find them?
Male crickets often hide behind appliances, inside wall gaps, or near recessed fixtures. Their calls can bounce, so the sound may seem to come from the wrong spot.
How do crickets get inside Phoenix homes?
They can enter through door gaps, dryer vents, torn screens, cracks, and openings around pipes or HVAC lines. Many entry points are close to the ground.
When is cricket season in Arizona?
House crickets in Arizona are listed from May through December. In Phoenix, activity is easiest to notice on warm nights when males are calling.
Do crickets attract scorpions?
Crickets are prey for many animals. If you have lots of crickets around the house, it can support hunting pests such as spiders and scorpions nearby.
Get the crickets problem looked at
One call connects you with an independent pest control company in your part of the Valley. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.