For most of us, a cricket is a cricket is a cricket. They are rarely seen, and the songs they sing are a welcome sound when around a campfire or relaxing on our porches. That is unless there are thousands of them serenading while you are trying to sleep. Eggs are laid in the fall, up to 400 per female, and they sit in the ground until the following spring. By the next fall, the nymphs can fly and take to the air en masse looking for a mate. Dry springs and summers lead to very large numbers in August and September when the weather cools, and the rains begin. There are more than five species we deal with here, and the Camel Cricket makes the list of scariest bugs you’ll see in Virginia.
The insect first appeared on the scene about 250 million years ago, and they have taken root in many cultures. They appear in The Bible and represent a person whose spirit can leave the body. In China during the Tang Dynasty, they were caught and kept in cages and signified a fighting spirit. For Native Americans in the east, they were a sign of good fortune, but they meant bad luck in the west. The Cheyenne used them to predict the movement of buffalo herds. If one lands on you, it may mean you are anxious about something (if you weren’t already, you probably would be.)
If you dream of one, good luck may be on the way, but dream of stepping on one and be prepared for bad news. If someone catching a cricket appears, keep your business plans close to the vest, they may be trying to steal your idea. Wondering how hot it is? According to the Farmer’s Almanac, they can be used to tell the temperature. Just add 40 to the number of chirps you can count in 14 seconds.
It’s the males who sing, and when it comes to their songs, they have more than one in their repertoire. They have different courtship songs, one from far and one from up close. There is even a special song for post-mating bliss. They sing to intimidate male rivals and, if they hit the right notes, can cause females to fight each other for his affection. Mole Crickets dig out burrows that reflect the sounds and amplify their tunes.
They do not pose a direct threat to humans, but the damage they cause to plants, gardens, and agriculture is in the hundreds of millions. One infestation alone put Utah in a state of emergency with expected losses of 25 million dollars. In our homes, though, they’ll eat what we do but also paper, carpet, clothing, and furniture.
If crickets are taking a bite out of your sleep, call the most trusted company in Midlothian and the surrounding areas, Victory Pest Management. We are veteran-owned and well-trained to handle infestations of crickets, ants, spiders, and more. Call us today for an estimate, and the victory of pests will be yours.
