The very pleasant weather and rainfall we have been experiencing lately has brought with it many natural phenomena, including green landscapes and thriving insect and bird populations across the region.
Abundance in black crickets has been noticed in certain areas of KAUST, these are largely harmless; but certainly could be noisy and cause of nuisance.
Quick Facts & Notes:
- adult black crickets can be 2 to 3 cm in length
- lives for around 3 months
- rainfall stimulates egg lying which happens in soil
- feeds on plant matter (eg. leaves, grass)
- can fly long distances and most active at night
- is a critical food source for many birds
- call Facilities & Community Help Desk 959 if you require assistance with crickets
- black crickets thrive in well-lit areas, try to reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting
- ensure door and window gaps are sealed to prevent entry into your house
- KAUST employs Integrated Pest Management techniques in public areas to safely control these insects, e.g. use of ultra-low volume and aqua based insecticides, approved products, carefully selected application time
Did you know? Walt Disney created a cartoon character called Jiminy Cricket for the animated film Pinocchio!
It is a delight seeing this boom in insects and other life. Please be extra careful as poisoning these insects may have an adverse effect on other animals that feed on them.
Please do not kill cricket, there are harmless for humans and very good for garden environment. Thanks
Thank you for the useful information.
The crickets are so big they’re eating the geckos!