Denna
Posts:0
 | | 11/27/2007 10:57 AM |
 Alert | Has anyone else noticed the massive cricket populations in Maricopa? Is this because of the abundance of cow manure that they feed on, or because we lack lizards and other predators? My boyfriend had to kill the 27 black widows that were outside my house perimeter as these are not the most human friendliest of predators.
In my first house in Acacia, by Greystone, my master bathroom had some secret entry point for crickets. I would get 5 a day coming through there. I stopped up everything with liquid nails and they still came. I would often hear them in the walls crawling and chirping.
In my house now, even though the backyard is fully landscaped with concrete and a pool, I still get tons of them. I know more established neighborhoods in chandler or Tucson do not have our cricket population issues.
It reaches plague proportions in the Summers.
Also, when my house caught on fire last year, I would say somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 fly's came in. These are clearly caused by the cows. They also got into my trash receptacle and had cute little fly babies! Don't ever leave your trash outside in the can for 2 weeks. Does anyone think they will ever leave or is this just a benefit of living here? Is there anything we can do as homeowners to destroy and erradicate them? | | | |
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justincredible02
Posts:25
| | 11/27/2007 11:04 AM |
Alert | | I would call a pest company and have them spray every 30 days. | | | |
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drummer72
Posts:3616
| | 11/27/2007 12:53 PM |
Alert | I think we might all turn into flies. Just watch the movie The Fly, and you'll see what the progression of turning into a fly looks like.
Look at it this way, we'll be able to fly and not need to spend money on gas. | |
"Everything for everyone and nothing for ourselves" | |
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Java Lover
Posts:0
| | 11/27/2007 1:02 PM |
Alert | We had horrible crickets in Peoria. Do some sort of pest control, eliminate clutter in the garage, around the house inside and out and make sure you do not have plants close to your house.
Not sure what to say about the flies, but I think drummer is on to something.  | | | |
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azsouthendzone
Posts:528
| | 11/27/2007 1:29 PM |
Alert | | You complain too much. Call a pest control company for god sakes. | | | |
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twinkleblue
Posts:48
| | 11/27/2007 1:56 PM |
Alert | Hi Denna and all, here's some natural repellants for crickets that I found;
"To get rid of crickets, mix some molasses and vanilla extract or lemon juice in water. Crickets are lured to this bait and they drown in it. Be sure to plug up any holes in the house where they are getting in."
"HOME MADE CHILI SPRAY
Blend together half a cup of fresh chillies with 2 cups of water. Add a dash of dishwashing liquid to improve sticking. If you have no chillies substitute with 2 tablespoons of Tabasco sauce. Always spray a small section of the plant to check for leaf burn. Check in 24 hours and if there is no damage spray all the plants you want to protect. Leaf burn with any spray is more likely to occur during hot weather."
http://www.pestcontrolindustry.com/article/natural_cricket_control-59.html
Also, my Mother user Borax around the perimeter of her house for years, it kept the insects at bay.
Deena (with two ee's)
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Grilladawg
Posts:219
| | 11/27/2007 6:24 PM |
Alert | The flys in the summer...but not now.
The crickets, to tell you the truth, in my area I haven't seen much of them or had to deal with them too much.
Here's a good solution, get a cat...hahaha, nature's natural pest control | | | |
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MaytagMan
Posts:37
| | 11/27/2007 6:32 PM |
Alert | | Change your bloomers more often | | | |
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"Miss Kerry"
Posts:317
| | 11/27/2007 8:10 PM |
Alert | We have had quite a few crickets, but Ernie from Stormin Norman takes care of them with a monthly spray - I would absolutely recommend them, because they are a locally owned company, they are very thorough and customer service is excellent!!! (and no, I am not related!! LOL)
Their contact information is (520)568-0426 | |
If you haven't got anything nice to say - don't say anything at all! | |
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mrwonderful
Posts:257
| | 11/27/2007 8:44 PM |
Alert | Menninger Foundation/Topeka, Kansas
They have beds available ASAP | | | |
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DesertDweller
Posts:2559
| | 11/28/2007 7:44 AM |
Alert | If you landscape with bark, crickets and other critters will love your hospitality. Scorpions and tarantulas both eat crickets - I can give you some breeding pairs to get you started if you like 
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Stupid should hurt!
Desert Dweller - Senior Member - Posts: 2982 - Joined: Feb 2006 | |
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LoriR
Posts:35
| | 11/28/2007 4:44 PM |
Alert | | I don't think there could possibly not be crickets or spiders here. It is a new city. The BUGS LIVED HERE FIRST. SO DID THE COWS. I'm not trying to be nasty, but it seems that every post that you write is just so damn negative and it's getting quite old. GET AN EXTERMINATOR. DUH. | | | |
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Fritzydoodle
Posts:979
| | 11/28/2007 5:13 PM |
Alert | Is this because of the abundance of cow manure that they feed on, or because we lack lizards and other predators?
Orthoptera (Crickets) don't eat cow manure - they are herbivores.
Does anything make you happy in Maricopa? | |
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Maricopaknife
Posts:37
| | 11/28/2007 5:59 PM |
Alert | | No Crickets here the Scorpions ate most of them. Then the Rattlesnakes ate most of the Scorpions. | | | |
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NickEl19655
Posts:60
| | 11/29/2007 7:53 AM |
Alert | Our first house was a 1 story with a big tub in the master .
Well ,the contractors caulked around the tub but left a 12 inch gap where it was not possible to fit a caulking gun between the side of the cabinet and the tub surround.
I had seen some debris on the floor keep appearing and eventually I thought they might be coming in that way so I put a piece of clear wide tape and sealed it off but leaving a gap . Sure enough the tape was full of the little buggers with in a few nights .
Also we slightly raised the wooden thresholds to the main doors . | | | |
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darin45
Posts:146
| | 11/29/2007 11:49 AM |
Alert | well I need to chime in..we have a bunch of flies in the last 3 weeks and we live out in tortosa. They are all over the patio and front door, day and night.
plus one morning i open the gararge door and there were like millions of them in the garage!! it was nasty!! our neighbors had them too...thats really odd for this time of year | |
"...you knew that before you came here"- The 85239.com's stupid answer to every comment" | |
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DesertDweller
Posts:2559
| | 11/29/2007 9:27 PM |
Alert | | Yeah, the flies are here late in the year because of the late departure of summer temperatures. Of all the critters, I think I hate flies the most. | |
Stupid should hurt!
Desert Dweller - Senior Member - Posts: 2982 - Joined: Feb 2006 | |
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janedo
Posts:75
| | 11/30/2007 11:53 AM |
Alert | I don't know if it's true... but when we first moved to Maricopa about 3 years ago we were told that the flies were used to pollinate the fields, that could no longer be pollinated with bees because of the increase in population.
I don't think it's because of the cow manure. Wouldn't they stay by the manure? I noticed less flies this last year than the previous years. | | | |
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YZRacer
Posts:1596
| | 11/30/2007 12:16 PM |
Alert | we got some awesome stuff in a red bag from Bug and Weed mart in Tempe. Within days, the crickets were gone. we re-do it every 4-6 weeks and are good. i don't notice a bigger problem here than anywhere else though.
and the flies have been bad the last few weeks, but a good fly swatter has become a game for the kids! keeps 'em busy! | |
If you can't spot the loser, it might be you
Senior Member
Posts: 665
Joined: Jun 2006 | |
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GoinCrazy
Posts:192
| | 11/30/2007 5:28 PM |
Alert | If only I had a fly swatter. I suppose it wouldn't kill me to go to the store and buy a fly swatter.
I have to agree...the flies are AWFUL right now! | |
Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
Unknown
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