Crickets are insects belonging to the order Orthoptera and are recognized by their long antennae, strong hind legs, cylindrical bodies, and characteristic chirping sounds produced by many males. They commonly live in soil, grass, leaf litter, compost areas, cracks, and other sheltered parts of gardens.

Many cricket species contribute to garden ecosystems by consuming organic material and serving as food for birds, reptiles, amphibians, and other predators. Some species primarily consume plant debris, while others may feed on living plants, seedlings, or tender plant material.

Cricket problems are usually more noticeable when populations become large around seedlings or young plants. Damage can include irregular chewing on leaves and young shoots. Crickets may also hide beneath pots, boards, stones, mulch, and dense vegetation, making regular inspection useful.

Keep growing areas reasonably clean and remove unnecessary hiding places around vulnerable crops. Protect young seedlings with physical barriers when necessary. Avoid treating small numbers of crickets unnecessarily because they are part of the natural garden food web. Management becomes more important when their feeding causes noticeable plant damage.