A few weeks ago I was finding crickets inside my house somewhat regularly. Not more than one or two every few days, but in my life, that’s already more than I prefer. Something about them grosses me out like not many other bugs can do.
Also, around this time of year there is an increase in the number of wasps flying around, and some even getting inside my house, too. Do they have a secret plan with the crickets to take over my house or what?
My house has a crawl space where I know camel crickets like to hide out. It’s cool and dark down there, kind of like a cave and they love that. I grabbed a flashlight to find out more and once I stuck my head through the crawl space entry, it was quite the sight. Hundreds of those little boogers! It’s the stuff of nightmares, I tell ya!
I decided it was time to call the local pest control specialists so I started looking into an appointment for the upcoming week. I was this close to getting back with Cook’s Pest Control and then I thought, “Can I do this myself? Like, really take control?” I remember what they do when they come by and while I know anything I do won’t be as thorough as the pros, but I’m going to try this!
I went to Lowe’s to pick up a seed spreader and insect killer granules. The plan: spread the insect control around my the entire outside of my house; front, back, and sides. I thought this would help curb some insects, and hopefully the crickets, from gravitating towards my house.
What I thought was really funny is that a few days after I bought all the equipment and stuff, including a handheld seed spreader ($19 at Lowe’s), I went to an estate sale and they had 3 fancy seed spreaders. Of course that’s my luck that I had just bought a smaller one for more money at Lowe’s! The good news is that I hadn’t used the small one yet, so I returned it and bought the better one from the estate sale, for half as much as the new one cost from Lowe’s. Total score!
It’s been a couple weeks since I distributed the insect killer, and so far, it’s mostly working. All the camel crickets are gone from the crawl space. Now my focus will shift to the wasps. I think they are in the chimney, so for a few nights I used the fireplace for 2 reasons: it’s cozy to have a fire, and I want to smoke ’em out. Updates forthcoming.
Have you done your own pest control? What have you learned along the way?
Thanks for stopping by!
-Out of the Wilderness
Out of the Wilderness 