Do Crickets Eat Clothing?

Have you ever stored clothing but wondered how holes appeared on them?

Certainly, those holes didn’t just happen. These must have been caused by a pest, but what exactly could be responsible?

Crickets are sometimes seen around soiled clothing and seem to be attracted to such.

Now the question; what could be the source of attraction?

Could these insects be responsible for the damage you see? To many, concluding wouldn’t be a problem even when there isn’t further verification.

Due to the interest raised by cricket activity, this article will be finding out if these insects eat fabrics.

What Crickets Eat

It might surprise you to know that crickets eat a variety of items. Due to their food choices, these omnivorous insects cause damage to property and grains among other things.

So, what do crickets chew on? These insects will eat whatever they can find around their environments.

Such may include commercially grown crops like barley, vegetables, corn, and wheat. Such destruction occurs irrespective of whether these crops are dried, fresh or rotten.

Crickets are also known to cannibalize their members of the same species. This is in addition to other smaller insects.

However, the appetite of these insects depends on food availability. When food supply dwindles, they begin to feed on insects and other crickets.

So far, the elephant in the room has been ignored, which is; whether crickets eat clothing. These insects do eat clothing.

Crickets and Clothing

Crickets are known to munch on clothing when they can.

In homes, you’ll find these insects feeding on a variety of items such as curtains, drapes, furniture, stored grain, cardboard, and plastic bags.

So, what really attracts these insects to fabric materials? Could it be linked to an insatiable appetite for anything?

Not really! Crickets won’t deliberately go in search of stored clothing simply to feed on them. Instead, they’re attracted for a reason.

Laundry starch, as well as beverage & food stains, form the major sources of attraction.

Such stained areas are considered food to these pests.

In a bid to eat through such stains, they end up boring holes in your clothing. Fabric threads are usually cut apart with a strong chance of ruining your favorite clothing.

The worst part is, you might suddenly find out long after it has happened.

Crickets aren’t the Only Insects that Eat Clothing

Not all damage to your clothes is caused by crickets.

There are other insects drawn to clothing. So, how do you identify the problem? Certain treatments will repel or kill all cloth moths or insects causing damage.

Before we get into details on how to repel crickets, it’s important to first identify other cloth-eating pests.

They include firebrats, roaches, carpet beetles, and silverfish.

Others include case-bearing cloth moths, webbing clothes moths, and termites. So, not all damage caused to clothing is due to cricket activity.

Nevertheless, crickets are still culpable.

The objective is to stop the Damage to Clothes

Whether clothing is damaged by crickets or other pests such as those mentioned above, it’s important to safeguard your belongings.

So, how does one go about the task of preventing such damage? Cricket problems can be combated by setting traps, the use of bug spray, vacuuming, and fixing leaky areas of your home.

Crickets can be prevented by closing your garbage cans, clearing long bushes & grasses around your home as well as preparing soapy water spray.

Also try out cricket treatments like the use of diatomaceous earth, dimming lights, and introducing a predator.

• Setting Traps

Tradition sticky traps can come in handy for cricket control.

All you have to do is get these from your nearest store and place them around infested areas. Your traps can be thrown around to catch more crickets.

This can be disposed of when it gets filled.

• Use of Bug Sprays

There are assorted kinds of bug sprays including those specially designed to catch crickets. You may want to spray around possible entry points for maximum effect.

• Vacuuming

Vacuuming might not seem like a reliable treatment alternative but it does help to limit cricket presence. This picks up both crickets and their eggs.

You’ll have to empty them as far off as possible.

• Fixing Leaky Fixtures

Do you have leaky plumbing fixtures around?

This might unnecessarily attract pests such as crickets. To safeguard your clothes from getting damaged, eliminate the chance of these pests coming around by fixing leaky fixtures.

• Closing your Garbage Cans

Your garbage can serves as a ready attraction to crickets.

Once they get into your home, they eventually spread to other areas of your home including your laundry room or other areas where clothing is stored.

Having your garbage can emptied when necessary and properly closing it does a lot to cut down on cricket presence.

• Clearing Long Bushes & Grasses

Crickets will readily nest around areas with long bushes and grasses. It’s important to ensure none of these are around your surroundings.

This helps prevent eventual damage to clothing.

• Prepping Soapy Water Spray

A lot can be achieved in terms of cricket control using ordinary soapy water. You can add whatever soap product you have including detergents and dishwashing soap.

Any of these does a good job of killing crickets.

• Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth has shown a lot of promise in pest control. This white powder can be sprinkled as a barrier around areas where clothing is stored.

When crickets encroach, diatomaceous earth acts by dehydrating them to death.

• Dimming Lights

We earlier said crickets are also attracted to insects as food.

These insects get attracted by light. As such, you should completely discourage the presence of these insects by simply dimming your lights.

• Introducing Predator

Do you have a cat? If you don’t, you might want to get one. Cats will feed on crickets, thus helping you resolve the problem posted by cricket presence.

This is the safest and easiest way to go about solving your cricket issues.

Crickets do feed on clothing as discussed above. You’ll need to safeguard your clothes by proper storage. We’ve also included a variety of control measures to adopt.

A combination of these methods helps protect your priced possessions.