Close up of a House Cricket. Interstate Pest Management serving Portland OR & Vancouver WA talks about 8 Facts Wikipedia Won’t Tell You about crickets.

Crickets

Of the 900 known species of crickets, 100 live in the United States. These insects derive their name from the chirping noise they make, which sounds like “crik” – “et” to many.
While crickets are viewed as nuisance pests by many, there are also cultural associations with these insects. In China and Zambia, crickets are thought to bring good luck. In Barbados, they signal impending wealth. In Brazil, they are believed to predict rain, pregnancy, illness, or sudden income. In some cultures, they are harbingers of death. High in protein, crickets are fried and eaten by humans in some parts of Asia. They are also bred and kept as pets by people all over the world.

 

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Description

 Size 1/2 to 2 in.
 Color green, red, brown, or black and may have markings of a different color
 Body Structure head, thorax, abdomen, six legs, two long antennae (called feelers), two pairs of legs, and two sets of wings that lay flat against the body.
 Characteristics Crickets use their antennae to find food and detect motion in potential prey. They are omnivores who will eat just about anything. Crickets consume other insects and plant-based items, especially those that are decaying. However, these insects are opportunistic and will eat paper, fresh fruit and vegetables, fungi, and fabric. Some species also demonstrate cannibalistic tendencies, feeding on other weak or injured crickets.

Crickets communicate by rubbing their wings together to create a chirping sound. Chirping, also called stridulation, is most often done by males to attract females or ward off other males. Aside from mating, crickets tend to be solitary animals, living alone.
 Habitat & Behavior Crickets live on every continent except Antarctica, with the most species found in tropical locales. Outdoors, crickets live under rocks, logs, leaves, grass, soil, and debris. Some types, especially the aptly-named house cricket, prefer to live indoors where they seek out cracks and crevices for shelter and protection of their eggs.
 Commonly Active Spring / Summer / Fall
 Risks of Infestations Because they eat other insects, crickets are an asset to your property when outdoors. However, when they find their way into your home, crickets can be both disruptive and destructive. House crickets will eat fruit, vegetables, clothing, paper, linens, and other items they find around your home. Their chirping, which occurs at night, can also be loud enough to disrupt or prevent sleep.