Do crickets bite? While crickets are not normally known for biting, they can and will bite humans if they feel threatened. Biting is a self-defense mechanism in crickets.
If you are trying to rid your house of a cricket infestation, wear gloves should you attempt to remove them by hand. Otherwise, it might be wise to call an exterminator such as My Pest Pros. Crickets are a common pest problem for Maryland and Virginia homeowners. Our trained and licensed technicians know how to identify the areas crickets like and quickly eliminate them.
In this article, you will learn if crickets can be harmful to humans and what kind of crickets will bite.
Can Cricket Bites Be Harmful to Humans?
While crickets can bite out of self-defense, they normally don’t have an impact on humans because their jaws are often too small and weak to be able to break the skin. However, some crickets are large or strong enough to do damage, especially if you have vulnerable skin.
Cricket bites can be painful, but the most serious outcome could be any one of a number of diseases these insects are known to carry. Crickets can pass on salmonella, E. coli, and even worms. A bite isn’t the only way to get sick, however. If you come into contact with cricket feces, it can also make you sick.
If you get bit by a cricket and develop painful sores around the wound, you may want to consult a doctor. Instead of trying to get rid of a cricket infestation yourself and risk contracting an unwanted disease, it may be wise to call your local pest control company. Exterminators are trained in the safest and quickest way to dispose of crickets.
However, calls about cricket bites are not common. We are more likely to receive calls from homeowners freaked out by crickets or just annoyed by these creepy pests.
What Kind of Crickets Bite?
There are three different species of cricket commonly found in Virginia and Maryland homes. Field crickets, house crickets, and camel crickets are all species to be aware of and two of these are capable of biting humans. Field and house crickets will bite humans if they feel threatened.
It is rare for a cricket to bite a human, but it can happen. Their jaws are designed to munch on plants and smaller insects, so they are not very strong, and their teeth are not sharp.
However, if they bite in a sensitive or weak area of the skin, they could cause damage, so it is always best to wear gloves when attempting to handle a field or house cricket.
If you need to distinguish between the different species of cricket that may be infesting your house, here is a good way to tell house and field crickets from camel crickets. House and field crickets have shorter back legs than camel crickets which are longer than their body length when extended.
Conclusion
While it is uncommon for crickets to bite, they will out of self defense. If they break the skin, they can pass on diseases like salmonella and E. coli. If you have a cricket infestation, call My Pest Pros. We would love to protect your family and home from crickets and other pest problems. Call us at 703-665-4455.