Posted: 6:47 PM Jul 16, 2012
Reporter: Rashi Vats

Thousands Of Crickets Continue To Invade Parts Of Bryan/College Station

Hot weather mixed with quite a bit of rain means a huge hatch of crickets, and they're creating a nuisance for businesses and residents.

We spoke with experts who say the problem isn't going away anytime soon.

"It is kind of overwhelming. They came out all of a sudden,” said Jeeho Kang, a College Station resident.

You can find thousands of crickets on the ground and creeping up walls of local stores.

"You see it everywhere now. They are indoors, they are outdoors, inside cars, everywhere,” said Kang.

The biggest complaint for many residents is the smell.

Dr. Roger Gold is an entomologist, and he says the strong odor is decaying cricket bodies. He says the strong odor isn't a health hazard.

"This is an unusually productive year for crickets,” said Gold.

High rainfall earlier this year and hot temperatures make the perfect condition for crickets to mate. An adult cricket can live a couple of weeks. They are harmless, but the infestation isn't over.

"There's still time to get another generation in before fall. This is not over yet unless we go to a very dry hot time period,” said Gold.

He says thousands of cricket eggs haven't hatched, and the hungry creatures, alive now, will find food no matter what it takes.

"The crickets are well known to basically feed on anything that's on the ground when they get in these types of numbers,” said Gold.

That includes eating one another.

Experts say the best thing to do is use pesticide and then sweep or vacuum the dead crickets.

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