Buzz
Are you irritated by the constant chirping of crickets throughout the night in your basement? Or maybe you need to catch a few to feed your pet snake or use them as fishing bait? There are as many reasons to catch crickets as there are ways to do it. If you want to catch dozens of crickets at once without wasting time, keep reading.
Steps
Catching Crickets with Newspaper
Mix sugar and breadcrumbs in equal amounts. This is the perfect bait for crickets! A cup of sugar and a cup of breadcrumbs will be more than enough to catch a few dozen crickets.
- Do not use spicy or seasoned breadcrumbs. It's best to use plain breadcrumbs, as flavored ones might cause the crickets to stay away.
- You can prepare a large batch of the sugar and breadcrumbs mixture and store the leftovers in a jar for later use. This way, you can continue catching crickets every few days.
Sprinkle this mixture onto the ground where you see the crickets gathering. This method works best outdoors, as using it indoors could attract other pests like mice or cockroaches. It’s best to apply the mixture in the evening, before the crickets come out at night to roam around.
Cover the mixture with a layer of newspaper. Place a layer of newspaper over the area where you’ve sprinkled the sugar and breadcrumbs. Use only one layer, as it needs to allow the crickets to crawl underneath.
Choose a large jar with a lid to catch the crickets. Find a large glass jar or a plastic container with a secure lid. If you want to keep the crickets alive after capturing them, make small holes in the lid.
- There are special containers for housing live crickets. You can find one at a bait shop, online, or by special order.
- You can add a bit of sugar and breadcrumbs into the jar to feed the crickets.
Early the next morning, before the dew evaporates, return to the baited area. This is the best time to catch the crickets. They will be full and resting under the newspaper, waiting for you. If you wait until the sun dries the dew, the crickets will have time to escape.
Lift the newspaper and sweep the crickets into the jar. You can use a rice scoop or a small brush to carefully guide the crickets into the jar. Close the lid tightly once you've caught them all.
Catch Crickets Using a Soda Bottle
Cut off the top of a 2-liter soda bottle. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut around the bottle. Make sure to hold the bottle tightly with your other hand to prevent the knife from slipping.
Invert the top part of the bottle and fit it inside the main body. Remove the bottle cap and position the neck of the bottle downward inside the bottom. Use tape to secure the edges of the two parts together.
Pour sugar into the bottom of the bottle through the neck. Sprinkle the sugar until there’s a thin layer at the bottom of the bottle.
Place the bottle on its side in an area where you’ve previously spotted crickets. This method works both indoors and outdoors. The crickets will crawl into the bottle through the neck to get to the sugar, and most of them will not find their way out.
Return the next morning to collect the crickets. Transfer the crickets into a sealed container and store them for later use.
Catch Crickets Using Duct Tape
Place strips of duct tape where you frequently see crickets gather, with the sticky side facing up. Common spots for crickets include the floor along baseboards or window sills in rooms where you suspect they are hiding. This method is most effective indoors, as tape placed outdoors may collect dirt, leaves, and other debris.
Return to the taped area the following day. The crickets will get stuck to the tape as they attempt to crawl over it, making it easy for you to catch them. You can also use sticky traps or cockroach traps, but they do require a purchase.
Catch Crickets Using a Cardboard Tube
Place a small amount of food inside a cardboard tube. You can use the core of a toilet paper roll or a paper towel roll. The longer the tube, the more crickets you can catch.
Position the tube in areas where you suspect crickets are hiding. This method works well when placed along baseboards or window sills.
Return to the trap the next morning to collect the crickets. Transfer the crickets into a container with holes in the lid for storage.
Catch Crickets Using a Loaf of Bread
Cut the loaf of bread in half. Pre-sliced bread won't work for this method; you need a whole loaf of bread.
Hollow out both halves of the loaf. Use a spoon to scoop out the inside of both halves of the loaf. Place the bread crumbs in a bowl.
Mix the bread crumbs with granulated sugar. Use an equal amount of sugar as the bread crumbs.
Fill one of the hollowed loaf halves with the sugar-bread mixture. Try to pack it as tightly as possible.
Press the two halves of the loaf together and secure them with a rubber band or toothpicks. You can also use tape or plastic wrap to secure the middle of the loaf.
Cut off both ends of the loaf. This exposes the hollow part of the loaf, allowing crickets to crawl inside.
Place the loaf of bread in the crickets' habitat. When you wake up in the morning, you'll find the loaf full of crickets inside.
Tips
- Crickets typically nest in piles of wood, under foundations, in compost heaps, inside walls, and pretty much anywhere there's moisture.
- Crickets may hibernate or die in cold weather.
- To lure crickets outside, you can lightly spray a mist of water on stone or concrete foundations. The crickets will be attracted to the water and will crawl out to drink. This method works well in rock gardens.
- You can feed crickets fresh fruit. If the fruit slices dry out, you can soak them in water or replace them with fresh pieces.
- If you want to keep crickets as food or pets, you can house them in a 30-40 liter container.
What You Need
- Granulated sugar
- Bread crumbs
- Newspapers
- Empty 2-liter soda bottle
- Adhesive tape
- Cardboard tube
- A whole loaf of bread
- Rubber bands or toothpicks
