Question about Crickets.....

[Epona]

Aaaaaarggggggh it's just started up for the night. Driving me absolutely fucking insane it is.

Also I think we have wee babby crickets too now.

If I can't get rid of them before then, please at least someone reassure me that they will die during the winter? Please?

 

[Stobart Stopper]

There is one chirping it's little heart out somewhere in my kitchen right at this moment, and is likely to continue for most of the night, even with the lights out We've been plagued with them on and off all summer, inside our flat. I've caught several and thrown them out of the window, but they're fast little buggers and not that easy to catch. It went quiet for a couple of weeks after a cricket-catching spree, but they are back with a vengeance.

A few questions:

1. Are they native to the Newham area? I've never heard them outdoors in London, just in my bloody flat.

2. Are they likely to have come in from outside, or has someone in our block let their lizard-food escape?

3. How in the fuck do I get rid of the noisy little sods? I can't use insecticides because insecticide also kills birds - so any insecticide free ideas would be welcomed....

Borrow a cat! My neighbour's cat is ace at catching crickets.

 

[votisit]

Yes they will die during winter but you really don't have to wait that long. I know you said no insecticide but why don't you close all windows and doors for half hour and spray to your hearts content. The birds won't come inside to eat the dead ones and you can just hoover them up next time you clean under the dishwasher!

I have loads of crickets happily chirruping outside my living room and I really enjoy the sound, makes me feel I'm in Spain again. But I would probably get slightly miffed if one came in and started trying to sing me to sleep. That and the fact that I don't like creepy crawlies too close to me if I'm in bed!

Go for the fly/wasp killer, that should sort them out in minutes.

 

[Groucho]

I know you said no insecticide but why don't you close all windows and doors for half hour and spray to your hearts content. The birds won't come inside to eat the dead ones and you can just hoover them up next time you clean under the dishwasher!

Go for the fly/wasp killer, that should sort them out in minutes.

Epona and silentNate live with a Parrot and a Budgie

 

[Groucho]

WE had one trapped in our spare bedroom and it drove us nuts as we couldn't find it. There seems to have been an explosion of crickets around here lately, they are everywhere. Annoying bloody things. And I hate the way they leap around as well.

There has been an explosion of crickets and grasshoppers in Essex this year. It is too late for 2005 but a new strain of weather hardy giant 'bird-eating' tarantula may be ready for release into the Essex for next spring.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

If that happens I predict that Stobart will flee the country, possibly to somewhere like the Arctic.

 

[Final]

Breeding Goliath spiders in captivity is not straightforward. You can't keep males and females together. However, the UK spider shop are introducing a breeding scheme where you can hire a male to impregnate your female. They currently have a young male Goliath. Not sure if they charge more if the stud gets eaten iduring the mating process, as is known to happen. There are a number of breeders including some who - against all advice and standards - create new strains.

If a person were to breed Goliaths and then to accidentally let the slings (spiderlings) escape in a meadow in Essex they would have plenty of crickets to eat. However, in present British conditions they would be not survive a British winter, or a cold spell in summer. So really it is down to the new strains of spider as our last hope for giant spiders in the UK.

just wait until someone works out a way of crossing them with the scorpions that can survive being frozen in ice for a few hours.

We'll get no peace then

 

[Groucho]

just wait until someone works out a way of crossing them with the scorpions that can survive being frozen in ice for a few hours.

We'll get no peace then

Hmmmmm...


hmmmmmm.....


hmmmmmmm.......




Mwahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!