ILLINOIS PEST IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

Crickets of Illinois

Crickets are jumping insects with long antennae and powerful hind legs. Illinois homes may encounter house crickets, field crickets and camel crickets, each with different habits and preferred hiding places.

This guide covers identification, sounds, diet, life cycle, risks, habitat and common infestation signs.

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Common Crickets Found Around Illinois Homes

House Cricket

Tan to light brown with three dark bands across the head. House crickets may reproduce indoors around warmth, food and moisture.

Common areas: basements, kitchens, utility rooms
Sound: loud repeated chirping

Field Cricket

Usually dark brown or black and more robust than a house cricket. Field crickets live outdoors but commonly wander into buildings.

Common areas: lawns, foundations, garages
Sound: strong chirping, often seasonal

Camel Cricket

Humpbacked, wingless crickets with extremely long legs and antennae. They favor cool, damp environments and do not chirp.

Common areas: crawl spaces, basements, wells
Key trait: high, sudden jumps

Cricket Diet and Habits

Crickets are mostly nocturnal. Many species feed on plant material, dead insects, fungi and organic debris. Indoors, house crickets may also chew paper, fabrics, food residue and stored products.

Male house and field crickets chirp by rubbing specialized areas of their wings together. Temperature influences the rate of chirping.

Cricket Life Cycle

Crickets develop from egg to nymph to adult. Nymphs resemble smaller wingless adults and molt repeatedly as they grow.

Field crickets generally complete their life cycle outdoors. House crickets can continue breeding inside warm buildings, while camel crickets rely on dark, humid shelter.

Cricket Signs and Household Risks

Persistent nighttime chirping inside walls, basements or living spaces
Live crickets around floor edges, utility areas or garages
Small dark droppings near hiding places
Damage to fabrics, paper or stored materials during heavier indoor activity
Camel crickets jumping from damp, dark storage or crawl-space areas

Crickets do not damage structural wood and are not considered major disease vectors. Their primary concerns are noise, nuisance activity, contamination and occasional damage to household materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all crickets chirp?

No. Male house and field crickets chirp, but camel crickets are wingless and silent.

Are camel crickets dangerous?

Camel crickets do not bite or sting. Their sudden defensive jumps can be startling, and large populations may feed on stored materials or organic debris.

Why do crickets come inside in fall?

Seasonal temperature changes and outdoor crowding can push field crickets toward warm, protected structures. Lights and unsealed doors or foundation gaps increase entry.

Hearing or seeing crickets indoors? Visit our Cricket Control Services page.

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