Crickets in the San Gabriel Valley
That 2am chirping in the garage is usually a field cricket that wandered in. Here's how to identify them and stop the racket.
- Field crickets: dark brown/black, 3/4–1 inch
- House crickets: lighter tan
- Loud night chirping (males)
- Drawn to light and warmth
- Gather in garages and water-heater closets
What they look like
Field crickets — dark brown to black, 3/4 to 1 inch, with long back legs and antennae — are behind most late-night chirping in SGV garages. House crickets are a lighter tan and look similar. Only the males chirp, rubbing their wings together to attract a mate.
A third type, the camel (or spider) cricket, is humpbacked, pale and wingless. It looks alarming but is harmless — and, helpfully, it doesn't chirp at all.
Field vs. house vs. camel cricket
| Feature | Field cricket | House cricket | Camel cricket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color | Dark brown to black | Light tan | Pale, mottled brown |
| Size | 3/4–1 in | About 3/4 in | 1/2–1 in, humpbacked |
| Chirps at night? | Yes (males) | Yes (males) | No — wingless |
| Where found | Garages, doorways | Warm indoor spots | Damp, dark areas |
Where they live
Crickets live outdoors in grass, mulch, woodpiles and ground cover, then wander indoors looking for warmth and shelter, especially as nights cool. They're strongly drawn to light, which is why they collect near doorways, garages and exterior fixtures.
Once inside, they gather in warm, humid spots: garages, water-heater closets, laundry rooms and basements. Most are lone strays rather than a breeding population indoors.
Signs of a cricket problem
The obvious sign is the sound — persistent night-time chirping from a garage or wall void that stops the moment you get close. You may also see the crickets themselves near doors and lights, or find them in window wells and garage corners.
Crickets occasionally chew on paper, fabric and stored items, so scattered nibbling on cardboard or cloth in a garage can point to them.
How crickets are controlled
Control is mostly about the perimeter and the conditions that invite them: sealing gaps around doors and the garage, reducing moisture and clutter, trimming back ground cover near the foundation, and switching bright white exterior bulbs for less-attractive warm or yellow lighting.
A targeted exterior treatment knocks down the population around entry points. Our cricket control focuses there, and the SGV pest calendar shows when cricket season tends to peak. Not sure what you're hearing? Send us a note.
Related Pests
Quick Answers
Quick Answers.
Why do I have crickets in my garage?
Crickets live outdoors but wander in for warmth and shelter, and they're strongly drawn to light — so garages near exterior fixtures and doorways collect them, especially as nights cool. Most are lone strays rather than a breeding indoor population.
How do I stop crickets chirping at night?
Only male field and house crickets chirp, so removing the few that wandered in usually ends it. Sealing gaps around the garage and doors, reducing moisture, and switching bright white bulbs to warm lighting keeps new ones out.
Are crickets harmful?
Crickets don't bite people or pose a health hazard. At most they're a noise nuisance, and they can occasionally chew on paper, cardboard or fabric stored in a garage.
When are crickets worst in the San Gabriel Valley?
Cricket activity usually builds through late summer and into fall, when populations are high and cooling nights push them toward warm indoor spaces. The SGV pest calendar lays out the seasonal pattern.
What attracts crickets to my house?
Bright exterior lighting, moisture, and dense ground cover or mulch against the foundation are the big draws. Reduce those, seal entry gaps, and far fewer crickets find their way in.
Are camel crickets dangerous?
No. Camel crickets look unsettling — humpbacked, pale and long-legged — but they're wingless, don't chirp, and don't bite or harm people. They prefer damp, dark spots like crawl spaces and garages.
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