As a nature enthusiast, you are bound to love wildlife. Their beauty and even the sound of those creatures make you go gaga. However, it’s all good up until a certain point. At night, even an avid naturalist would like to sleep with no disturbance at all. But chirp sounds by cricket are something that you hear only at night. So, how to get rid of cricket noise at night?
While hearing cricket chirping at a campsite or on a hiking trip sounds pretty amazing, the chances of feeling the same in your house are very slim. As crickets chirp only at night, this might be a big issue if you are a light dozer. Most people can’t relax unless there is total silence around them. If you live in a place where crickets are frequent visitors, consider your sleep gone.
Besides, not only the chirping sound but also the presence of insects is enough to bother you. While not all crickets make such sounds, still, cricket in the house means trouble in paradise.
Why Do Crickets Make Noise?
There is a popular myth that crickets generate the chirping sound by rubbing their rear legs together. But it is just a misconception. Instead of the legs, a cricket actually uses its wings that have veins going down the lower side. During the friction, the comb-like parts of the veins scrape with the other wing’s surface. Thus, a unique chirping sound is created.
They communicate through this specific ‘song’ like vibration. Did you know that the chirping sound is made by male crickets only? They sing to attract female crickets. That specific sound is also one kind of warning sign to the other male crickets.
Some might be mistaken to think that crickets and grasshoppers are the same. But that is not true. Think about it, what does a grasshopper look like? Well, their antennae are shorter. Also, they make sounds by rubbing their hind legs against their wings. While the crickets are nocturnal, the grasshoppers are diurnal.
You can also sense the weather condition by hearing their chirping style. If the weather is cold, the sound will be slow and sluggish. In warm weather, the sound will be fast.
How to Overcome the Cricket Noise at Night?
From outside to inside of your house, you can actually use several methods to get rid of the cricket chirping. Either you can eliminate them from your home, or take measures to muffle the chirping sounds only.
1. Clean Your Yard
If your yard is filled with unwelcomed crickets, and you want to know how to get rid of crickets outside the house naturally, these few tricks are going to help you a lot. The first thing you have to do is remove their shelter, water, and food.
- Dry out the damp areas of your house yard.
- Get rid of any stagnant water.
- Use sodium lights or bright yellow lights outside of your house.
- Put away useless fixtures, rock piles, wastes, etc.
- Frequently trim your lawn.
- Use the diatomaceous earth in its usual hiding place.
2. Make Them Leave Your House
You might be thinking, how long will a cricket live in my house? The answer is very simple, as long as your place seems inviting to them. It means you have to make your home unlivable for those noisy creatures!
- Make sure to close the doors and windows so they can’t come inside. You can use a bug screen as well.
- Block all the gaps and holes in the windows and doors.
- Crickets prefer a warm and damp environment. Therefore, keep your home dry and cool.
- Fix all the dripping pipes and remove water from the sinks and counters.
- Keep the temperature under 74 degrees.
3. Bait Them
You can trap crickets in a jar or cup by following simple tricks. Take a bowl and put a mixture of molasses and water or pour some maple syrup inside. You can use cornmeal as well. They will slip and drown in it.
4. Use A Predator
If you want to remove crickets right away, you can use other animals to do the job. Reptiles, bugs, some birds, etc. can be the perfect predator to hunt down the crickets. For more convenience, a dog or a cat will do too. However, if you are not into having any pets at all, just call pest control.
5. Get Earplugs:
Covering your ears is the quickest and most effective method if you want an instant solution for cricket noise. Use earplugs to block your ear, the ones with foam would be comfortable for your slumber. If you have problems wearing those, wearing napping products like earmuffs is better.
For the best result, use wireless noise-canceling earphones or headphones with an auto switch-off option. It can give you a calm environment for a sound slumber.
6. Soundproof Your Bedroom:
If nothing is working for you, soundproofing your room from outer chaos would save you from crickets and other annoying noises as well. You can hire professionals for help, or you can do it yourself considering your budget.
7. Use a White Noise Device:
White noises can suppress other sounds and make you think they have stopped. Use a white noise machine that produces the sounds you prefer. The electrical ones usually come with control options so you can personalize them. However, such devices can be so addictive that you won’t be able to sleep without it anymore.
Final Words
Getting rid of crickets is not so difficult if you know exactly how to do it. Most of these methods are helpful and reasonable, and you can execute them yourself. However, if you keep crickets as your pet’s food, you might need to keep them for your convenience. In that case, these tricks on how to get rid of cricket noise at night won’t be necessary.
You can keep them in an aquarium and cover them with a thick blanket during day time. So, they would chirp thinking it is night. At night, place the aquarium under a bright light.
That’s all for this article. Hopefully, by following these tips, you can sleep peacefully from now on!
