How to Catch Crickets

Are you tired of hearing crickets sing and chirp all night long in your basement? Maybe you need to catch some crickets to feed your pet snake or use for fishing bait. There are a number of reasons for catching crickets, and almost as many ways to catch them. If you want to catch crickets by the dozen in no time at all, keep reading.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Catching Crickets with Newspaper

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1
Mix equal amounts of granulated sugar and plain breadcrumbs together. This is cricket food! If you want to catch a few dozen crickets, a cup of sugar and a cup of breadcrumbs should be plenty.
- Don't use spicy or flavored breadcrumbs. Plain breadcrumbs are best for catching crickets, and extra ingredients might deter them.
- You can mix up a big batch of sugar and breadcrumbs and store whatever is left over in a jar for later use. This way you can catch more crickets every few days.
This method may be best to use outside, since sprinkling this mixture indoors may draw other pests, like roaches and mice. Sprinkle the mixture at dusk just before the nocturnal crickets will come out to play.
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Lay it out over the area where you sprinkled the sugar and breadcrumbs. Use no more than a single layer, since you want the crickets to be able to get underneath it.
4
Choose a large jar with a lid for capturing the crickets. Get a big glass jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Poke holes in the lid if you want to keep the crickets alive once you catch them.^{[1]XResearch source}
- There are special containers you can use for storing live crickets. Visit a bait store to check out their options, or look online and order one.
- You can sprinkle some of the sugar and bread mixture in the jar to keep the crickets fed.
This is prime time for catching crickets. Their bellies will be full and they'll be calmly waiting for you under the layer of newspaper. If you wait until the sun dries the dew, the crickets will have time to hop away.
You can use a scoop or a small brush to nudge them into the container. Place the lid on tightly once you've caught your crickets.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Catching Crickets with a Soft Drink Bottle

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Use a sharp knife to cut around the circumference of the bottle. Be sure to hold the bottle tightly with one hand so the knife doesn't slip.
The pour spout should be pointing to the bottom of the bottle, and the cap should be removed.^{[2]XResearch source} Use duct tape to seal the top edge of the bottle.
Keep sprinkling until you have a fine layer of sugar at the bottom of the bottle.^{[3]XResearch source}
You can use this method either indoors or outdoors. The crickets will crawl through the spout to reach the sugar, and a surprising number of them will be unable to find the hole to get back out.
Move them to a sealed container to store them for later use.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Catching Crickets with Duct Tape

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Common areas are on the floor along the baseboards or on windowsills in rooms where you suspect crickets are hiding. This method works best indoors, since tape placed outside will collect dirt, leaves and other creatures.
The crickets will get caught in the glue as they try to walk across, making it easy for you to pick up and dispose of them. A more expensive option would be to use the sticky traps or "motels" made for catching roaches.

Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Catching Crickets with a Cardboard Tube

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Use the type of tube that comes with paper towels or bathroom tissue. The longer the tube, the more crickets you'll be able to catch.
This works well along baseboards and windowsills.
Place them in a sealed container with holes in the top for storage.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Catching Crickets with a Loaf of Bread

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Pre-sliced bread won't work for this method; you'll need to get a loaf of uncut bread.
Use a spoon to dig a hole into both sides of bread. Place the bread you scoop out int a bowl.
Use equal parts sugar and bread.
Scoop in as much as you can fit.
You could also wrap the entire thing around the middle with duct tape or plastic wrap.
This exposes the hollowed-out section so the crickets can get inside.
In the morning, you should have a full loaf of crickets.

Expert Q&A

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Question
What container should I use if I choose to breed the crickets?
Brandon Runyon
Entomology and Pest Control Expert
Brandon Runyon is a board-certified Entomologist based in Evansville, Indiana. He has over 18 years of experience as a Pest Control professional, and is the Technical Director of Swat Pest Management. Swat Pest Management serves areas throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, where they provide safe, cost-effective solutions for client’s pest control needs. He authored Bugged by Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide to Pest Control, a user-friendly guide to commercial pest control practices in hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Entomology, and received a MS in Entomology from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also received an MBA from Western Governors University.
Brandon Runyon
Entomology and Pest Control Expert
Expert Answer
When breeding crickets, use separate containers for breeding adults and maturing young crickets. Having at least two containers is optimal: one for the adult breeding pairs and another for the developing young crickets. It's crucial to separate the full-grown adults from the immatures and eggs, especially when the eggs are fertilized and ready to hatch, as adult crickets may consume the eggs. This segregation ensures the proper care and development of the young crickets without interference from the adults.
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Question
Which method works best?
Community Answer
The duct tape and the soda pop bottle works the best, and can be easily transported.
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What do I do if the crickets are too small?
Community Answer
The trap will work even if the cricket is small - but close the lid after catching it.
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Tips

You can feed your crickets fresh fruits.^{[4]XResearch source} If the fruit dries, just dip it in water or replace it with another fresh slice.
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Common nesting sites for crickets include wood piles, building foundations, compost heaps, inside walls and almost any place where there is water available.
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Crickets will hibernate or die off in cold weather.
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Leave out an empty tissue box that's filled with leaves and rocks to protect them from rainwater sources. With enough time, crickets will probably come once they like your home—then, you can easily catch them.
Keep in mind that these methods won't just catch crickets. For instance, with the soda bottle method, you might catch fire ants instead of crickets.

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