Crickets are considered to be primarily nocturnal scavenger insects.In America, crickets are generally called field crickets. There are around 900 different species of crickets all around the world.Crickets are orthopteran insects belonging to the superfamily of Grylloidea. These insects are somewhat related to grasshoppers. The similarity between these insects is that their bodies are flat and light with long hind legs. Crickets also have long antennae and wings. It is with their hind legs and wings that crickets can make the chirping sound you can usually hear at night. Only male crickets make this chirping sound.These insects are very adaptable and are found in forests, gardens, meadows, and even in certain parts of houses. A cricket’s diet includes fruits, flowers, plant leaves, insect larvae, and other smaller insects. During cold seasons, crickets are known to try to find shelter in warm places, including your house, as they cannot survive in too low temperatures.If you enjoyed reading this fun facts article, you might also be interested in finding out can moths bite, and can dragonflies bite here on Kidadl?Are crickets aggressive to humans?There are some species of crickets that are aggressive, while there are others that are the opposite.Generally, crickets cannot be considered as being aggressive towards humans. However, if they feel threatened or agitated for any reason, they might bite a human.Although the bites of most species of crickets are harmless and not painful, there are some species whose bites can sting a lot and can be very painful. There is also the risk that the person who is bitten could be allergic, although it is very rare. Different species of crickets and their bites are discussed below.Different Crickets And Their BitesThere are many different types of crickets present in the world. They are one of the most easily found insects anywhere in the world. Each cricket type has distinctive characteristics that defines it.One of the most common cricket species seen in the United States is the house cricket. House crickets invade the inside of a house in search of warmth and food. Once they enter the house, they can easily survive for months by hiding in cracks, closets, and corner spaces. House crickets have a yellowish-brown color along with wings and large hind legs, perfectly fit for jumping. A house cricket is very much capable of biting. However, its bite is not strong and cannot cause any damage to the human skin.Contradicting the terrible appearance of cave crickets, they are one of the cricket species that is least likely to bite. As the name suggests, these crickets are found in caves and other damp areas like drains or still water bodies.Another variety of crickets is the camel cricket. The camel cricket has a very different body shape compared to other crickets. These crickets get their name due to the humped shape of their bodies. Their bodies are also referred to as spider-like bodies. Camel crickets move indoors when the outside climate becomes too hot or too dry. Camel crickets do not have fangs to bite or sting.Field crickets are also called black crickets. When field crickets invade the indoors of a house, they tend to move towards the damp areas of a house. However, field crickets cannot live indoors for long and may die if they remain inside for more than two weeks. It is a very rare occasion for a field cricket to bite a human, and then too, it is not really harmful.Do crickets bite or sting?Crickets do not have stingers that could be used to sting a threat.Crickets usually bite other insects, and they might also bite humans sometimes. However, their jaws or mandibles are not strong enough to pierce human skin. They do not eject any kind of venom.The bite of cricket might hurt a little, and some types of crickets can bite hard enough to be considered painful. Yet, the bite is not deep enough to draw blood or break the skin. Some cricket types that have the strongest jaws and whose bites are particularly painful are house crickets, Jamaican crickets, black crickets, and crazy red crickets.Do crickets bite only humans?Crickets are omnivore insects that can eat both plants and insects. A cricket bites and attacks smaller insects in order to feed upon them.Crickets do not necessarily tend to bite humans because they want to feed on them or for any such reason. Crickets do not bite mindlessly, unlike some types of bugs and pests. One reason for a cricket to harm a human being would be if the insect feels threatened or uncomfortable.If you are bitten by any cricket, the first step in treatment should be to sanitize the area of the bite. The next step is to carefully wash your hands with antibacterial soap and warm water. Then, apply an antibacterial ointment such as bacitracin to treat possible sores. If the affected area or the rash does not get better or you catch an infection or have an allergic reaction, it is highly advised to go to the doctor to get medical treatment before the symptoms worsen.What diseases do crickets carry?Although the bites of crickets are not very harmful or fatal, you can still get an infection or some other health issue because of the various diseases and parasites that they carry in their bodies.Apart from vegetation, crickets also eat dead insects and their feces. This makes them highly susceptible to consuming some harmful pathogens. Crickets can transmit these infected pathogens to other animals. They can transmit disease through physical contact with their skin, feces, or a bite.The two most common disease-causing bacteria that crickets carry are E Coli and Salmonella. Although a cricket’s bites are harmless and not fatal for humans, people can still catch a disease or a rash that can harm them. The feces of crickets might also contain worms which can be harmful if you come into contact with then. Sometimes, the symptoms can take time to show. However, you should be attentive towards any of the symptoms and get them treated.While in some countries, a few kinds of crickets are considered a sign of good luck, there are some countries like Cambodia where this pest is considered a delicacy. Diseases that a cricket hosts can also be transmitted by ingesting it. Therefore, you should avoid consuming crickets and also be careful not to give your pet animal a (possibly infected) cricket to eat.How do I get rid of crickets?Although crickets are not a danger to a human directly, they are still considered to be a nuisance and pests that create a large number of problems and cause damage. Apart from being able to transmit certain diseases, crickets can also cause damage to the house and the furniture in it.If this pest does not have access to any edible food, it will actually feed on furniture and create holes. These bugs can also cause damage to the rugs on the floor. Their spiky legs can pull and break the rugs in your house. A cricket might also attack any open food left on the kitchen counter and spoil it. These bugs can also cause damage to a vegetable garden in a backyard by eating the leaves.There are several methods, any of which you may use to get rid of these extremely annoying pests. You can either set up sticky traps or use diatomaceous earth, a fine powder of fossil shells. Another method is through the natural predators of a cricket. Some of the common natural predators of crickets are snakes, rats, lizards, birds, frogs, and bats. If there is still a cricket problem, then you should seek professional pest control.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked discovering can crickets bite, then why not take a look at can praying mantis bite, or cricket facts.
Crickets are considered to be primarily nocturnal scavenger insects.
