Crickets are Mother Nature’s unique creation, and pretty much everyone is fascinated by the sound they make. Some people find the chirping of these insects calming and relaxing. However, if you’re reading this article, my guess is that you’re tired of the cricket symphony. Would I be right to say that it’s keeping you up all night?
Maybe it’s time for you to reclaim your sleep. That’s not always easy though. Fortunately, I’m here for you and I’ll show you how to get rid of cricket noise at night.
If you’re unable to tolerate the nighttime chirping, know that you can easily silence it. Furthermore, you can even get rid of the crickets, if you want to prevent an infestation.
Key Things You Need to Know About Cricket Chirping
Although crickets are most (in)famous for their chirping, not all species actually produce sounds. For example, in the U.S. alone, there are more than ten different types of this insect. Among them is the camel cricket, which leads a quiet existence — it doesn’t chirp. To be honest, it doesn’t even look like a cricket since it bears a striking resemblance to a spider, so I guess the no-chirping thing also makes sense.
In contrast, other species have the power to drive you mad with the irritating noises they make. For instance, have you ever heard of Allard’s ground cricket? This little fellow can easily take the crown for most maddening chirping. Talk about a fire alarm potential!
Luckily, one of the most common types of crickets in North America is the house cricket. Compared to many of its annoying “cousins,” it makes noises that are a bit more melodic. Another interesting fact about it is that it enjoys living close to humans. Unfortunately, that’s bad news for people who can’t stand the ongoing cricket music festival.
Why Do Crickets Make Noise at Night?
Crickets are nocturnal animals, which automatically makes them more active at night. Although you might occasionally hear their chirping during the day, for the most part, crickets prefer to perform their repertoire once the sun sets.
Did you know only male crickets make noises? They do that to warn off other males. Also, this “talent” of theirs allows them to attract and impress female crickets. So, keep in mind that if you stop the love chirping, you may break a lot of tiny hearts.
Best Ways to Get Rid of Cricket Noise at Night
Fortunately, there are various ways in which you can put an end to cricket noise at nighttime. Depending on your preferences, you can rely on either one of these techniques. What’s more, you can even combine several of them for optimal results.
Keep the Chirping Out
What do you do if you hate the sounds made by crickets, but you don’t want to harm the insects? Simply try shutting out the noise. You can use various products to block out the chirping. Furthermore, you can take things further by soundproofing certain zones of your home.
Isolate Your Ears
If you’re sharing a bedroom with a person who loves cricket chirping, isolating your ears may be your only option. While not all of them are equally comfortable, they are quite effective.
- Noise-canceling headphones: Instead of listening to irritating cricket noise, enjoy a relaxing music playlist. Although noise-canceling headphones are comfy, they may prevent you from sleeping on your side.
- Earplugs: If you prefer to sleep in complete silence, go with foam earplugs. Compared to other similar products, they’ll fit better in your ear. Also, this chirp-blocking product is very cozy and soft enough to rock all night.
- Sleeping earmuffs: Sticking something inside your ears is not everyone’s cup of tea. Although the noise-canceling properties of earmuffs are not quite impressive, they’ll tone down the unpleasant sounds. Best of all, some of them are designed like sleeping masks and they will block out light.
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Block out the Chirping With White Noise
Sometimes, the best way to cover cricket chirping is by using white noise as a distraction. Today, you can find an abundance of sound and white noise machines online. However, it’s worth noting that these are two different types of products.
White noise machines make a fan-based noise. In contrast, sound machines produce electronic noises such as nature sounds and ambient melodies. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, buy a sleeping fan.
Still, before you commit to this solution, know that it has one major disadvantage. You may become so dependent on your sound machine that you may have a hard time falling asleep without it. So, you may need to take it with you everywhere you go, including when you’re on holiday.
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Soundproof Your Home
If your entire family is not happy with the cricket noises, you might want to consider soundproofing your house. Usually, such home improvement projects are not cheap. Nevertheless, you can save some money by focusing only on your windows.
There are plenty of window soundproofing products and methods that you can use. For example, you can hang noise-blocking curtains in the bedrooms.
If these tricks fail to keep the chirping out, you’ll need to adopt a more dramatic approach. For starters, you can soundproof your home by using DIY methods to reduce noise coming through the walls. Alternatively, you can buy soundproofing materials, such as acoustic panels.
Keeping Crickets at Bay
Unfortunately, shutting the cricket noise out of your home is not always enough to control the situation. Sometimes, the chirping may suggest that you’re dealing with an infestation.
Although these small insects are not dangerous to humans or domestic animals, they are quite the troublemakers. If crickets get inside your house, they may destroy many of your possessions. They particularly enjoy feasting on fabrics like silk, cotton, and wool. Therefore, if you don’t take adequate measures, your clothes and carpets may soon be covered in holes.
Get Rid of the Cricket to Get Rid of the Noise
If you’re ready to take on a more proactive approach toward your insect problem, use the methods I listed below. For your convenience, they’re arranged from most to least cricket-friendly ones.
Eliminate cricket temptations
To keep crickets away from your home, limit their access to food and water. Also, regularly mow your lawn and clean your yard so that they have nowhere to hide.
Change your outdoor lighting
Like many nocturnal insects, crickets are attracted by artificial sources of light. However, they can’t stand light bulbs that mimic natural daylight. So, replace your outdoor lighting with sodium-vapor bulbs.
Keep it cool
Crickets are most comfortable when the air temperature is 80–90°F (26–32°C). Therefore, if the insects have sneaked into your home, use the cooling mode of your air-conditioning to kick them out.
Cricket-proof your home
To prevent the insects from getting inside, fill all wall cracks and install bug screens. If the humidity in your home is too high, invest in a dehumidifier.
Try baiting them
Make a DIY cricket trap by pouring some honey or maple syrup into a small bowl. The noisy “intruders” love sweet treats, and they’ll happily jump in the sticky bait.
“Recruit” predictors to help you out
Get rid of crickets by welcoming one of their natural predators into your yard. Many animals eat these insects, including cats, dogs, and birds. If you’re not ready to get a pet, you can at least place a bird feeder in your yard. It will attract some of crickets’ natural predators like swallows and cardinals.
Rely on pest control services
If you don’t want to get your hands dirty, hire professional pest control technicians. They will use fast and humane methods to exterminate any uninvited chirping guest.
Bonus Tips for Those Who Keep Crickets in Their Home
Some crickets live in captivity. While it may sound odd to invite a cricket into your home intentionally, many people do it. For example, fishers like to use this insect as bait for freshwater fish such as trout and crappie. Furthermore, owners of pet lizards buy crickets to feed their exotic companions.
Last but not least, some people keep these chirping insects as pets. Although this may not be the most popular choice of a domestic animal, it has its advantages. For starters, caring for them does not require a lot of time and effort. Furthermore, they are not dangerous or aggressive.
If you happen to share your home with crickets willingly, you’ve probably had enough of their nighttime symphonies. Still, you, too, can reclaim your sleep by relying on a couple of tricks:
- Keep males and females together: As mentioned, only male crickets produce noises. However, once they mate with a female, they significantly tone down the chirping.
- Turn night into day: Illuminate your cricket container or aquarium with a bright yellow light at night. That will trick the insects into thinking it’s daytime, and they’ll stay silent. In the morning, cover the plastic crate with a piece of cloth and let the crickets chirp the day away.
In Conclusion
Although cricket noise at night can be annoying, there are many products you can use to block out the chirping. However, you may need to take more drastic measures against these small insects. Otherwise, you may be forced to reclaim not only your sleep but also your home.
