Corsicana —
The current cricket invasion many are experiencing in parts of East and Central Texas isn’t particularly unusual, but the timing is, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist.
Dr. Michael Merchant, AgriLife Extension urban entomologist at Dallas, said he’s had a number of reports from Central and East Texas folks concerned with the high number of crickets they’re seeing this year.
“I attribute this to early warm temperatures and recent rains that serve as a trigger for cricket flights,” Merchant said. “This is the earliest cricket infestation that I can recall though. We usually have cricket swarms following our late summer and fall rains.”
Merchant said cricket outbreaks are among the most predictable pest occurrences in Texas. Most of the invaders are black field crickets belonging to the Gryllus assimilis complex.
“We usually see this phenomenon in August and September when our typical summer drought is broken by rainfall and cooler temperatures,” Merchant said. “That’s happened earlier this year, leading to the high numbers we are seeing now.”
Merchant said field crickets are outside insects which don’t breed or live indoors, so the chance of damage is minimal.
“During severe outbreaks, like some are having now, they can become a nuisance around homes and businesses due to the sheer numbers. They swarm up walls, over sidewalks and eventually die, causing an unsightly mess and foul odors,” he said.
Merchant said home and business owners can greatly reduce the onslaught by turning off outdoor lights that attract the insects. He said bright outside lighting is the leading cause of high cricket concentrations.
“If it’s practical, just turn off your outside lights as early in the evening as possible or replace the bulbs with low-pressure sodium vapor lamps or yellow incandescent ‘bug lights’ which aren’t as attractive to crickets as brighter light sources.”
Merchant said it’s also important to seal all entry points to your home, especially those near bright lights. He recommends using steel or brass wool as a temporary barrier, because it’s easily stuffed into weep holes, cracks and other entry points, but doesn’t hinder needed air flow.
“Insecticides should only be considered as a last resort due to safety and environmental concerns, and even then only as a partial solution to the problem,” Merchant said. “Insecticides should be used with reduced outdoor lighting for best results. Crickets drawn to bright lights will continue to cause problems no matter how much insecticide is used.
“The good news is the heaviest mating flights, which is what these infestations are, only last a week or two. If this naturally occurring invasion gets on folks’ nerves too bad, I recommend they catch a few for bait and go fishing!”
—————
On the web: http://citybugs.tamu.edu
—————
Want to “Soundoff” on this story? Email: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
Latest News
Related Photos
-
Photo courtesy Texas Agrilife Crickets are a yearly problem, but this year they've arrived a bit earlier than ususal, mainly due to warmer weather.
Discussion
Crickets get jump on summer
Early infestation due to warmer weather
- Latest News
-
-
City spraying for mosquitoes
The City of Corsicana and the Corsicana/Navarro County Health Department want to get the word out about a pesky warm weather creature — mosquitoes.
-
Linda Coleman devotes 27 years to Workforce
Imagine if you came the aid of a friend, someone who’d lost their job, their means of support, and you helped them find employment. How warm would the feeling of satisfaction be?
Now imagine that feeling times about 40,000 — and that’s how Linda Coleman must feel after 27 years of helping people find jobs at the Workforce Solutions, North Central Texas. -
Pioneer Days gets kids away from electronics, down to nitty-gritty
It’s the hands-on activities that bring kids back each year to enjoy Pioneer Days. Although their everyday lives are about stuff on screens — cell phones, television, video games — Pioneer Days is about getting their hands dirty, and sometimes climbing trees.
-
City grants tax abatements
The Corsicana City Council granted tax abatements to Guardian Industries and the proposed water park when the group met in regular session Tuesday. Both companies will be given 50 percent abatements for 10 years, and both are proposing sizable investments and the creation of dozens of new jobs.
-
Former Kerens VFD treasurer arrested for theft
The loss of $2,900 from the Kerens Volunteer Fire Department in May has led to the arrest of the group’s treasurer, Kaell Mullen.
Mullen has been charged with theft of more than $1,500 and less than $20,000 by a public servant, a third-degree felony. -
Workshops to be held to review restoration bids
There are three contractor proposals to consider for the proposed restoration of the Navarro County Courthouse, but a decision on the next step in the project is still likely a few weeks away.
Commissioners opened the proposals for the restoration project shortly after the 2 p.m. deadline Tuesday, along with proposals for asbestos abatement in conjunction with the project. -
Local Beat 6/19/13
A listing of meetings and events of interest from throughout Navarro County
-
Nominations underway for annual Daily Sun contest
It’s time to nominate your favorites for the annual “Best of the Best” contest sponsored by the Corsicana Daily Sun.
This year’s contest marks the 17th annual “Best of the Best” competition, a fun way to pay tribute to your favorites in a variety of categories of business, people and life in Navarro County. -
10 things to know for Tuesday, June 18
A daily look at things being talked about in the news around the world.
-
Help available in Corsicana for substance abuse
Penelope had been down a long, dark road ... a back injury at work led to a surgery. Even after her operation, she still had so much pain she was forced to take pain pills.
- More Latest News Headlines
-
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
