Why Crickets Come Into Your Southlake Home in Winter (and How to Keep Them Out)

Crickets

Hearing chirping sounds inside your home during winter can become frustrating very quickly. Many Southlake homeowners start noticing crickets when cold weather arrives, even if they never had problems during warmer months. The chirping usually starts at night and often comes from walls, baseboards, or garages.

Crickets enter homes during winter because of temperature changes and moisture. When outdoor temperatures drop, crickets leave yards, mulch, and woodpiles to look for shelter near homes. Houses provide steady warmth, moisture, and small entry points that crickets can slip through.

One cricket may not seem like a problem, but repeated chirping or frequent sightings often signal a cricket infestation. This guide explains why crickets enter homes, where they hide, and how professional pest control in Southlake, TX, can prevent the problem from escalating.

Key Takeaways

  • Crickets come indoors during winter to escape cold weather and find warm, moist areas.
  • Chirping inside the home is usually caused by male crickets.
  • Garages, crawl spaces, and basements are common hiding spots.
  • Professional pest control helps stop cricket infestations and prevents their recurrence.

Video Guide: How to Identify Cricket Species

This video explains how to identify common types of crickets found in North Texas homes, including the house cricket, field cricket, and cave cricket (also known as the camel cricket). It shows differences in size, color, antennae length, and where you’ll usually find each cricket species. Knowing which type of cricket you’re dealing with helps explain the chirping noise and where to focus cricket control efforts.

Why Crickets Come Into Your House in Winter

Crickets move indoors during winter to escape cold weather and find better living conditions. In Southlake homes, a few common factors contribute to this.

  • Cold weather pushes crickets out of outdoor areas and toward warmer indoor spaces.
  • Homes provide steady temperatures and access to moist areas, which crickets need to survive.
  • Crickets enter through small openings such as door gaps, foundation cracks, and pipe openings.
  • Garages often serve as an access point, especially when weather stripping wears down.
  • Once inside, crickets can spread into crawl spaces, along baseboards, and other hidden areas.
  • Without intervention, a few crickets can turn into a full cricket infestation.

We offer professional pest control inspections and targeted cricket control to identify entry points, eliminate active infestations, and help Southlake homeowners get rid of crickets before the problem worsens.

Common Types of Crickets Found Inside Southlake Homes

North Texas is home to several cricket species, including the Texas Field Cricket and mole cricket. Each one behaves differently, which is why identification matters.

Type of Cricket What They Look Like Common Hiding Spots Chirping Behavior Why They Enter Homes
House cricket Yellowish-brown body with long antennae Baseboards, kitchens, garages, and wall voids Loud chirping, mostly at night Drawn to warmth and indoor food sources
Field crickets Dark brown or black, larger body Garages, near doors, basements Occasional chirping Move indoors from mulch, tall grass, and woodpiles
Camel crickets (cave crickets) Light brown, humpbacked body, long legs Crawl spaces, basements, and damp areas No chirping Seek moisture and shelter during cold weather

If you’re unsure which type of cricket you’re seeing, we can identify it and explain why it’s inside your home.

Where Crickets Hide Once They Get Inside

After entering a home, crickets settle in dark, quiet, and slightly damp areas. These spots help them stay hidden and active through winter.

  • Along baseboards, inside closets, and in storage rooms.
  • Behind appliances and in low-traffic areas.
  • Inside garages, which often serve as the first indoor stop.
  • In crawl spaces and basements, where moisture stays higher.
  • Inside small gaps along walls and flooring.

If crickets continue to appear in these areas, professional pest control can help identify hidden activity and address the conditions that allow them to remain.

Why Cricket Chirping Gets Worse at Night

Many homeowners notice that the chirping noise seems louder at night. That’s because male crickets are most active after dark, and nighttime quiet makes their calls stand out more. 

According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, field crickets produce low-frequency sounds, generally ranging from 2 kHz to about 9 kHz, which allows the sound to carry and echo more easily in enclosed spaces.

The chirping sound often echoes through walls, vents, and floors, making it hard to track down. A single house cricket behind a wall or near baseboards can sound like several crickets at once, leading many homeowners to think the problem is larger than it is.

When chirping continues night after night, it usually means the cricket has found a comfortable indoor spot or that more than one cricket is present. Ongoing noise often signals the need for professional cricket control.

Signs of a Cricket Infestation

Seeing a cricket indoors does not always indicate a problem. Repeated activity during winter often points to a larger issue.

  • Frequent chirping sounds coming from the walls or baseboards.
  • Crickets are appearing in the same areas over and over.
  • Crickets often hide in garages, crawl spaces, or basements.
  • Damage to paper, cardboard, or stored fabric when food is limited.

Crickets are sometimes mistaken for other pests, such as termites or bed bugs. A pest control inspection can confirm the cause and identify the right solution.

Why Crickets Are Common in Southlake During Winter

Southlake has mild winters, which allows crickets to stay active longer than in colder areas. During warmer months, they live in mulch beds, woodpiles, and shaded landscaping. When temperatures drop, they move closer to homes for warmth and shelter.

Outdoor lighting also increases activity. Lights attract insects, which draw crickets toward garages and entryways. Homes with bright exterior lighting often see more cricket movement during winter.

Moist soil, clogged gutters, and poor drainage can make the problem worse. Reducing moisture around the home helps limit cricket activity and is part of routine pest control checks.

How Forterra Pest Control Handles Cricket Problems

Cricket control begins with a detailed inspection. Technicians check garages, crawl spaces, basements, and exterior areas to find entry points and conditions that attract crickets.

Treatments focus on active areas and create a barrier around the home. This approach stops crickets at the source instead of only removing the ones you see.

If crickets return, our team provides follow-up service. We design solutions to protect Southlake homes year-round, not just during winter.

Preventing Crickets From Coming Back

After removing the crickets, simple steps can help prevent their return during future cold weather.

  • Seal cracks around doors, windows, and foundations.
  • Replace worn weather stripping and seal small gaps.
  • Fix leaks and improve drainage to reduce moisture.
  • Use a dehumidifier in crawl spaces or basements.
  • Move mulch and woodpiles away from the foundation.

An ongoing pest control service helps address these problem areas and makes homes less inviting to crickets.

Making the Right Cricket Control Choice for Your Southlake Home

Crickets inside your home during winter are more than just a noise problem. They signal that cold weather, moisture, and access points are working together to invite pests indoors. Acting early helps avoid larger infestations and ongoing frustration.

At Forterra Pest Control, we help homeowners across Southlake and the DFW area get rid of crickets and stay pest-free. Our team understands local conditions and delivers reliable solutions that work.

If you’re hearing chirping or spotting crickets this winter, contact us today or request a free quote. We’ll help protect your home and keep unwanted pests out for good.

FAQs

Why do crickets come into houses during winter?

Crickets move indoors during winter to escape cold weather and find warmth and moisture. Homes provide shelter that outdoor areas no longer offer once temperatures drop.

Does chirping mean I have a cricket infestation?

Not always. One male cricket can produce a loud chirp. Hearing chirping frequently or seeing large numbers may indicate a cricket infestation.

When should I call an exterminator for crickets?

If crickets keep returning, chirping continues, or DIY steps don’t work, a professional exterminator can provide effective cricket control and prevent future problems.

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    Forterra Pest Control
    935 S Kimball Ave, #162
    Southlake, TX 76092