Why Austin gets so many crickets in the fall

Some years, late summer in Austin brings piles of field crickets to storefronts, porches, and garage doors. The big swarms follow hot, dry summers, when crickets move toward irrigated lawns, foundations, and lights.

What draws them to your house

• Lights. Bright white porch and garage lights pull them in from across the yard.
• Moisture. Watered beds and leaky hose bibs next to the slab.
• Gaps. Doors without sweeps and garage doors that don't seal.

Why it matters

Crickets chew fabric and paper, and large die-offs smell. They're also food for wolf spiders and scorpions, which follow them to the house.

How we handle it

An inside and outside treatment plus a yard granule cuts down the numbers around the foundation. During a heavy invasion, we focus on entryways, lighting, and the slab edge.

What helps

• Switch porch lights to yellow or warm LED bulbs.
• Add door sweeps and check the garage door seal.
• Sweep up dead crickets quickly so they don't draw other pests.