Why crickets and other bugs are on the move this fall

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Bugs can be a problem all-year, but with the changing of the seasons can come the changing of activity patterns for all sorts of critters. KXAN Chief Meteorologist Nick Bannin spoke with Rebecca Tellar, a licensed pest control professional with Pestie, about the impacts that the changing of the season and our changing weather is having on bugs and what to expect over the coming months.

Read a transcribed version of the conversation below or watch in the video player above.

KXAN Chief Meteorologist Nick Bannin: So it's still very warm here in Central Texas, but as temperatures slowly cool, especially at night, what sort of activity does that mean that these bugs will start to do?

Rebecca Tellar, Licensed Pest Control Professional with Pestie: Yeah, so just like people, those cooler temperatures are more comfortable for the bugs as well, so they will start to become more active, especially as {we} see those temperatures in the 70s and the 80s.

Bannin: We've been pretty dry here lately as well. What does the lack of water supply do to bugs and what does that make them do?

Tellar: So the lack of water supply can actually push pests inside of our house, which is why it's really important to monitor your home. I always recommend homeowners go around their house at least once a month, checking for any new cracks, holes, gaps, anything like that. Get everything sealed up, because when you wash the dishes and you leave a little bit of water in your sink, or you take a bath and there's a little water in your tub, the bugs are going to be attracted to that, and they're going to know where to go. The other thing too that you can do is apply something like Pestie Home Barrier around your home, so if you're unable to seal up everything right away, you will have that extra layer of protection.

Bannin: One of the things that we've seen a lot of lately -- a huge, dramatic increase in the number of crickets around here in Central Texas. I mean, they're everywhere, and you can really hear them and see them hopping around at night. What's causing this big increase this time of year? And when do they go away again?

Tellar: So one of the factors was, I think you guys had a slightly warmer winter last year, looked at like three to five degrees warmer. Those warmer temperatures are going to increase the survival rates of any type of eggs or young that's burrowing in our homes or in our gardens. So that means more crickets in the spring time, crickets take about...three months to develop into those big insects that we see. So we tend to not see them in the beginning of the spring and summer time, so right now all those crickets are in adulthood. They're having a grand old time and again, just like us, they hate the heat, so they're going to be waiting that out. And so when it comes {to} sundown, that's when they're going to start to party. They start making those noises. They're also attracted to those bright white, cool lights a lot of us have on the outside of our home. So I would always recommend to replace those lights with a warm color, like red, orange, yellow color light bulb on the outside of your house, because that can go a long way with preventing those pests....but as you guys start to get those cooler temperatures, you will see a decreased pest pressure for sure.

Bannin: Now, a lot of people invest in getting some pest control around their home, but let's say they are apartment dwellers and they don't necessarily have as much that they have the control of being able to do [prevention] around their apartment. What do you suggest for them?

Tellar: Yeah, making sure that your screens, that you have screens, first off, that your screens don't have any holes or gaps in them...so that's going to be one of the biggest things I see, is people having those gaps around their screens are not tightly sealed in. That's how they're going to get inside. So, yeah, that's a great way to treat and same thing too, if you do have those lights outside your house, even if it's your apartment and it's your entry light changing that light bulb over to a warm, colored light bulb, can go a long way.