Crickets in Sydney Homes: Identification, Prevention & Cricket Control Tips

What are crickets and how common are they in Sydney?

Crickets belong to the same insect order as grasshoppers and katydids. You can identify them by their thin antennae — often as long or longer than their body — and large, muscular hind legs built for jumping.

According to the Australian Museum, over 900 cricket species are found across Australia, with around 50 common in Greater Sydney. Warm, humid weather from spring to late summer makes them most active here.

What type of crickets can be found in Sydney?

Common Name	Scientific Name	Appearance	Habitat & Behaviour	Key Identification	Pest Status
Black Field Cricket	Teleogryllus commodus	Jet black to very dark brown, robust body; 20–30 mm long; long antennae; large powerful hind legs for jumping; females have long sword‑shaped ovipositor at rear.	Most common cricket in Sydney suburbs. Native. Nocturnal; hides by day in soil cracks, under rocks/logs, leaf litter, garden beds; emerges at night to feed on plants, decaying matter and insects. Males sing loudly at night to attract females.	Glossy all‑black body; loud, complex trilling chirp that often seems to come from a different direction (ventriloquial effect). Heard far more often than seen.	Minor–moderate pest. Outdoors can damage seedlings, lawns and pasture; occasionally enters homes after rain or in autumn seeking warmth; loud chirping indoors is a major nuisance.
House Cricket	Acheta domesticus	Light yellowish‑brown / straw tan, slender; 16–21 mm long; head usually has three dark cross‑bands; wings lie flat over abdomen; long antennae; strong hind legs.	Introduced species. Thrives indoors and around human habitation — kitchens, laundries, wall cavities, basements, rubbish bins, compost heaps. Active year‑round in heated buildings; attracted to light at night. Breeds continuously indoors.	Paler and smaller than field crickets; distinctive high‑pitched, continuous chirping (louder and sharper than black field cricket).	Common indoor nuisance. Chews holes in fabrics (clothing, carpets, curtains), paper, wallpaper glue and stored food; persistent night‑time chirping disrupts sleep.
Tropical House Cricket (Banded Cricket)	Gryllodes sigillatus	Pale tan / light brown, slightly flattened body; 12–18 mm (smaller than common house cricket); two thick black bands — one across lower thorax, one across upper abdomen; single thin black line between eyes.	Introduced. Widespread in warmer urban Sydney. Found indoors and in sheltered outdoor spots — laundries, bathrooms, garages, under pot plants. Highly resistant to cricket paralysis virus.	Distinctive two bold black bands on body; narrower gap between antenna bases than A. domesticus; higher‑pitched chirp (≈6.2 kHz).	Indoor nuisance. Similar damage to house cricket; increasingly common in Sydney homes and food premises.
Australian / Oceanic Field Cricket	Teleogryllus oceanicus	Dark brown to black, very similar to black field cricket; 25–35 mm (often slightly larger); back of head has faint longitudinal stripes.	Native, common in coastal Sydney. Lives in soil fissures, garden mulch, grassy areas. Populations explode after good rain followed by warm weather.	Head stripes when viewed from above; often found closer to coast than T. commodus.	Occasional garden & nuisance pest. Same issues as black field cricket; mass invasions of buildings in late summer are not uncommon.
Mole Cricket	Gryllotalpa australis (Australian Mole Cricket) Gryllotalpa brachyptera (Sydney Short‑winged Mole Cricket)	Stout, cylindrical, brown, prehistoric‑looking; 25–40 mm long; enormous shovel‑like front legs for digging; short antennae; wings vary (some species short‑winged).	Native. Lives almost entirely underground in permanent burrows in lawns, gardens, sports fields and damp soils. Rarely seen — comes to the surface only at night or after heavy rain washes burrows out. Males sing loudly from burrow entrances.	Unmistakable spade front legs. No other Sydney cricket looks like this. Deep, low‑pitched buzzing trill at dusk.	Lawn & turf pest. Tunnelling damages grass roots and creates raised ridges; feeds on roots, tubers and soil invertebrates. Rarely enters homes.
Tree Cricket	Oecanthus rufescens / Oecanthus angustus	Delicate, slender, pale green / whitish, almost translucent; 12–18 mm long; very long thin antennae longer than body; long narrow wings held like a tent over back.	Native. Lives in trees, shrubs, tall grasses and garden foliage — rarely on the ground. Nocturnal; attracted to lights at night. Males produce a soft, very high‑pitched melodic trill; chirp rate increases with temperature.	Pale green / white colour + slender build = cannot be confused with any other Sydney cricket.	Beneficial / negligible pest. Feeds on aphids, small insects and soft plant tissue; very rarely enters homes; lovely “summer night” sound.
Raspy / Leaf‑rolling Cricket	Family Gryllacrididae (multiple species e.g. Craspedogryllacris, Hadrogryllacris)	Variable — usually brown, grey or straw‑coloured; 15–35 mm; long thread‑like antennae; most are wingless or have very short wings; strong hind legs.	Native, very common in Sydney gardens. Nocturnal; hides by day in silk‑lined burrows in soil, leaf litter or rolled‑up leaves (they produce silk!). Omnivorous — eats plants and small invertebrates. When threatened, makes a harsh rasping/“raspy” sound by rubbing legs against body.	Usually wingless; long antennae; silk‑making habit; raspy defensive noise.	Mostly beneficial. Controls garden insects; rarely enters homes; not regarded as a pest.
Camel / Cave Cricket	Family Rhaphidophoridae (e.g. Australotettix spp.)	Humped back (camel‑like), wingless; 15–30 mm; extremely long thin legs and antennae (can span 100 mm+); light brown, often mottled or banded.	Native. Lives in cool, damp, dark places — under houses, in cellars, garages, rockeries, bushland gullies, under logs. Cannot chirp (silent); jumps enormous distances when disturbed.	Humpback + no wings + absurdly long legs = easy ID. Silent (never chirps).	Minor nuisance. Occasionally wanders into damp ground‑floor rooms; does not breed indoors; harmless.
Ground Cricket	Subfamily Nemobiinae (many small species)	Tiny, 6–12 mm only; slender, brown / grey; long antennae; often mottled; excellent jumpers.	Native. Abundant in lawns, grassy verges, leaf litter and ground cover — you disturb dozens when walking through grass. Males produce a very soft, high‑pitched tinkling chirp.	Size alone — less than half the length of a field cricket.	Not a pest. Beneficial nutrient recyclers; never enter homes; too small to cause damage.

Why do crickets chirp so loudly?

Only male crickets chirp — they make the sound by rubbing special ridges on their wings together, a process called stridulation. They chirp to attract mates, claim territory, or warn other males away.

Research from CSIRO shows chirp speed rises with temperature: roughly 3 chirps per second for every 10°C increase. On warm Sydney nights, this is why their sound can seem constant and very loud.

How do crickets get inside Sydney homes?

Crickets live outdoors in grass, mulch, and garden beds. They wander in accidentally through open doors, windows, or gaps around frames.

Common entry points include cracks along window sills, spaces under doors, and damaged flyscreens. They often move toward light at night — porch lights and security lights draw them close to entryways.

For a full inspection, Contact Sydney’s Best Pest Control.

Do crickets carry diseases or damage property?

Unlike mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas, crickets do not spread human diseases or bite. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy confirms they are not a health risk.

On rare occasions, large numbers may chew fabric, paper, or soft indoor plants — but this is uncommon in Sydney homes. They are almost always just a noise nuisance.

How do I stop crickets coming back?

Outdoor prevention steps

• Clear weeds, long grass, firewood piles, and leaf litter near walls
• Seal cracks around windows and install door seals at thresholds
• Swap bright white or mercury‑vapour lights for warm yellow or LED fixtures
• Turn off unnecessary outdoor lights at night
• Keep garden beds and mulch at least 30cm away from your foundation

Indoor control steps

Crickets cannot breed or survive long without their preferred outdoor habitat. If you find them inside:

1. Remove stacks of boxes, paper, and stored items from floors
2. Dry damp spots in laundries, bathrooms, and under sinks
3. Use sticky traps along walls or near entry points
4. Vacuum up any visible crickets and dispose of the bag outside

If you keep seeing crickets despite these steps, or you have a large population around your home, call us on 1800 819 189 — we can apply safe, targeted treatments that meet NSW Public Health and Food Safety regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do crickets live indoors?

Usually only a few days to 2 weeks — they cannot breed or survive long without outdoor conditions.

Can crickets damage clothes or food?

Very rarely — they may chew soft fabrics in large numbers but do not contaminate food like rodents or cockroaches.

What time of year are crickets worst in Sydney?

Most active from late spring through early autumn — November to March.

Do ultrasonic repellents work on crickets?

Independent testing shows mixed results — physical exclusion and habitat change are far more reliable.

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