When I say that it is impossible to buy a good cricket trap, I am speaking from a lot of experience. After years of settling for mediocre traps I finally decided that I didn’t want to share my house with crickets anymore.
So, I spent an afternoon learning everything I could about crickets from Home Pest Removal and I built a cricket trap myself.
Once you start using a homemade cricket trap you’ll never waste your money on a store bought one again. And don’t panic if you’re not sure how to build your own cricket trap. Today I’m going to be sharing my step by step guide with you.
If you’re wondering what you can do with all the crickets you’ve caught then drop them off with your local chicken farm. They’ll be happy to receive some free food.
How to build a Cricket Trap in 6 Easy Steps
You will begin by collecting everything you need to make the trap. I had most of my materials in my house already. You do not need to purchase anything expensive to make this trap.
Here’s what you’re going to need to build one:
- Some screen or fine netting
- A small wooden crate or box
- A staple gun (if you are using a cardboard box then you may want to use an office stapler)
- A branch or small piece of wood (we will be using this as a prop rod)
- Scissors
- Cricket bait (crickets love vegetable water, and many types of sweet, steamed veggies)
- A light (this needs to be battery operated light, if you can get a blue or red light you will see better results)
Step 1 – Preparing the Crate
We will begin making out traps by preparing our crate (you can also use a cardboard box for this).
The key to the cricket trap is luring the crickets into it. If you do not cut any holes in the side of your box then the crickets will be uninterested in it.
If your crate already has any slits in the side then you do not need to cut any holes in the box. They must be big enough to let the light shine out of the box.
Step 2 – Adding the Netting
Once you have prepared your box, it’s time to add the netting.
When picking your netting make sure to pick one that is very fine. If the holes are too big the crickets will be able to escape. You also want to pick netting that is transparent. If you cannot see through the netting the crickets will not be able to see any of the delicious bait that you have put inside the trap.
You will need to cut 6 pieces of netting. Each one an inch longer than its corresponding side of the box.
Take your stapler (if you are using a crate you will need a staple gun, if you are using cardboard then you will want to use an office stapler) and attach the netting to the bottom and four sides of the trap. Tuck in the extra fabric and staple it down so the crickets can’t break out.
When you attach the final piece of netting to the lid, do not attach the overlapping fabric to anything else. This will prevent any of the crickets escaping once you have closed the lid.
Step 3 – Adding the light
Make sure that you have picked a battery-operated light. If you have to make a hole to fit a wire through then you have created an escape route for the crickets.
I have found that blue and red lights are most successful for attracting crickets. However a white light will work just fine.
You want to make sure your light is bright enough to shine through the netting on the outside of the trap.
Place the light at the very centre of your trap. If it does not want to stand on its own then you may need to make a small stand to hold it upright.
The light will act like a siren’s call the crickets and lure them into your trap.
Step 4 – Adding the bait
Now that you have installed your light in the trap, it’s time to lay the bait.
Crickets enjoy many different types of bait, including baby carrots, sweet potatoes, and even vegetable water. Once you have decided on your bait, get ready to place it in the trap.
The placement of the bait is just as important as the type of bait you use. You want to make sure you place your bait in a 360-degree circle around your light. The bait should also be visible through all of the holes or slits in the sides of your trap.
Step 5 – Setting the trap
Next you will have to choose where you want to set up your trap. Once you have decided this, wait until nightfall and head to your designated spot.
Place your trap on the floor. Take the branch (or whatever you are using as a prop rod), and use it to create a small gap between the lid and the trap.
Turn on your light and then it’s time for you to head to bed.
Step 6 – Checking the trap the next morning
Before the sun rises the next morning go and check the trap. You will notice that your bait has lured all manners of bugs and crickets into your trap.
Before the insects get too scared by your presence, remove the prop rod and place the lid on top of the trap. Make sure it is securely sealed.
That’s it! You now have a functioning cricket trap that you can use over and over again. What you do with the crickets is up to you. They make great foods for pet lizards and snakes. They also make great fishing bait.
Do be prepared for your trap to catch more than crickets. Unfortunately, most bugs are attracted to the same kind of bait as those pesky crickets.
