Black field crickets remain active in the south west, as a dry and warm autumn provided favourable conditions. Identifying and controlling this native species now can help prevent future damage to pastures and crops.
Black field crickets are common in the region, hatching from late spring to early summer and progressing their lifecycle over summer. Females will lay more than 1,000 eggs into moist soil following autumn rain.
Crickets eat existing and germinating pasture and crops, lowering potential crop yields and reducing available feed for livestock.
Controlling crickets will help to protect crops and pastures, prevents egg laying and ensures losses are minimised.
They favour cracked or stony ground, which provides shelter for them during the heat of the day, and are often most active at night or as daytime temperatures start to drop.
Adult black field crickets are winged and measure up to 30 mm in length. They are black or dark brown, with long antenna and large jumping hindlegs similar to grasshoppers.
Young crickets, or nymphs, are slightly lighter in colour, around 4 mm long at hatching and feature white stripes across their backs.
To monitor crickets, lay out hessian or cloth bags over cracks in the soil around 20 m apart.
Count the numbers of crickets beneath the bags several times a day and take steps to control them if there are more than 5 to 7 per bag or more than 20 under one bag.
Cricket control is most effective when baiting, which should be completed once half the population are at least 20 mm long and have begun to develop wings.
Crickets often die underground, meaning the success of the program is not always visible in the paddock.
Weedy paddocks prior to sowing can encourage crickets, so controlling weeds can help to reduce cricket numbers.
When planning a cricket control strategy, it is a good idea to speak to your local agronomist or chemical reseller to develop the most effective control method.
