Cricket populations in East Texas are many times normal. This year East Texas has had wet weather (they stole our Indiana rain!) which makes conditions ideal for crickets. Typically dry weather will lead to high mortality of crickets. Fewer than 50 percent of the eggs will hatch in a normal year. This year has been rainy and the crickets hatched early and often. Hordes of crickets cover buildings and doorways. One pest control company in San Antonio reported sweeping 30 pounds of crickets from inside a shopping mall. Crickets cover the sidewalks, making squishy crunchy sounds as pedestrians stomp through the swarms.
Crickets are primarily a nuisance, but they can be destructive to household goods with their chewing. At night, a cricket can be quite noisy, often calling from a crack or crevice protected from the sleepless residents. The crickets are expected to be an issue for several weeks.
OMG! 30 Pounds!
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