Can Crickets Transmit Diseases?
Even though we do perceive them as being harmless to us, some areas may well give you cause for concern.
House Cricket by Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
At times, crickets have a strange place in our thoughts in regards to insects. To some, the sound of their chirping signifies summer is in the air, while for others they are a pest and something to be removed.
In this instance, though we will look at something more specific, which is to determine if crickets bite, and are they responsible for transmitting diseases?
These are two important questions to answer if you find yourself infested with them and you want to know if you are in any danger. In general, we don’t need to be that concerned about the potential damage crickets could do to us personally.
However, we should be concerned about our home, and the contents within since that is the main target for crickets to attack. This consensus applies across the 900 or so different varieties of crickets that are in existence. Even though we do perceive them as being harmless to us, some areas may well give you cause for concern.
Do Crickets Bite?
So, do they bite? The short answer is yes; they do indeed bite. But there is no need for you to be alarmed about this part if you have an issue with crickets.
Crickets have very little desire actually to bite us, but that is not to say it can’t happen. But it would be extremely rare for the mouth of cricket to be able to puncture our skin.
Some crickets will never bite humans, though the house cricket is the most likely, this is still rare. The reason why it would be unusual is simply that the jaws of cricket are not powerful enough to puncture the skin.
The cricket has two multi-purpose jaws, and the way in which they operate is perfect for chewing cardboard, vegetation or even other small insects. Our skin is an entirely different thing, and there is not enough downward pressure for them to cause any damage.
The cricket will only bite when it is trying to defend itself, so it will not attack you for no reason. However, if you wish to avoid being bitten, then the main thing is to provide the cricket with enough room to move around if you catch one in your hands. Also, avoid pinching them in the head area as that could provoke a response.
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Some crickets will never bite humans, though the house cricket is the most likely, this is still rare.
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Does a Crickets Bite Hurt?
Even though the bite is unable to cause any damage, it can still hurt. For most, it is a bee sting level of pain, so it is more of an annoyance than anything else. The amount of pain will vary, but it should still not cause any long-term issues.
Camel Cricket
Does Cricket’s Bite Carry Diseases?
The primary problem with crickets is that they can be a carrier of different diseases. They can also house different parasites in both their body and feces.
Two of the most common diseases that you may encounter with a crickets bite are E.Coli and Salmonella. It is not limited to just those two, but these two can make anybody very ill, especially if their immune system is already weakened due to other illnesses.
There is the possibility of worms appearing in their feces. If you come into contact with it, you may develop a skin reaction. While not severe, it can still be troubling and uncomfortable for some. You may want to keep a close eye on your symptoms.
Often the problem that can come with diseases carried by crickets is the symptoms can mimic influenza. So some individuals may not even be aware that crickets are the issue.
Overall, you do have to face the possibility of a bacterial infection, but it will mainly be a minor issue, and they cannot transmit any disease that is fatal to humans.
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Related Article: Interesting Cricket Facts
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Symptoms to Look Out For
Understanding the main symptoms to look out for will help you to identify as to whether or not you have been bitten, and if there is anything for you to be concerned about.
If you are unlucky enough to come into contact with their feces several things may occur in a small number of people. Pay particular attention to the development of a skin rash or some kind of sore to develop.
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If you were to contract E.Coli or Salmonella, then you would develop other symptoms to indicate you have an infection.
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Cricket Bites Treatment
If you feel you have been bitten by a cricket, here a few things you should do:
- Clean the area of the bite and make it sterile.
- Wash the area using an anti-bacterial soap.
- It is advisable to then use an anti-bacterial ointment on the area that includes bacitracin.
- Pay close attention to the area to see if a rash develops or if things become worse.
- If so you may need to visit a doctor to receive antibiotics, but this would be a rare event.
So, the answer to both questions is that yes a cricket can bite you and yes it can carry disease. But neither will be an issue and nor will it come with any long-term consequences. They are still a pest to be dealt with accordingly due to the damage they can cause around your property. So, just leaving them alone is indeed not an option.
Having them removed by a professional will be the best course of action. Also, having this done as quickly as possible to limit the amount of damage. As we said earlier, the worry of a potential bite or disease from a cricket minimal compared to the damage they may cause to your home and property.***
Read more about crickets:
[catlist name=crickets]