Crickets Hopping In 

14^th February 2018

Reports are coming from certain parts of New Zealand of an invasion of crickets. Not the England, Australian or Blackcap cricket teams or their supporters, but the black field cricket insect that chirps annoyingly at night and keeps people awake.

Reports have been received from Otorohanga and other parts of the North Island of large numbers of crickets hopping into homes, shops and other buildings. It is likely that the recent weather conditions have been responsible for increasing numbers of the crickets and their sudden move to find shelter indoors.

Black field crickets are normally only a problem in Northland, Auckland, parts of Taranaki, and Hawke’s Bay. Eggs are laid in moist soil from February to May, and nymphs (immature adults) emerge from November to January. The crickets reach adulthood from February and live for two or three months.

They inhabit cracks in the soil and eat surrounding crowns of grasses. During long drought periods, the growing crowns of grasses are attacked; this often kills the plants and leaves the soil open to weed invasion.

When numbers grow large they can often invade homes and outside their chirping can be loud and sleep-depriving.

To get rid of field crickets follow these steps:

• Kiwicare LawnPro Protect or NO Ants Ant Sand will kill the insects in the soil as eggs and nymphs and adults the hide in cracks in the ground will also be killed on contact with the insecticide.
• Crickets will enter buildings close to the lawns and pasture where they are feeding and breeding. NO Bugs Super can be used to treat surfaces and reduce the infestation of this nuisance pest.

David Brittain
Kiwicare