Crickets

by Nebula Haze Crickets will happily eat your cannabis plants and leave small holes in your leaves. Mole crickets may be found digging around your plant roots. If you see this pest, it’s a good idea to get rid of them before they build up in numbers! That being said, crickets aren’t a common problem when it comes to cannabis plants, especially compared to grasshoppers. Tree crickets have been known to chew on cannabis leaves

Young Cricket on Cannabis Leaf

Mole Cricket – these can tunnel under your cannabis plants like moles

Solution: How to Get Rid of Crickets on Cannabis​ Crickets will eat holes out of your cannabis leaves (or tunnel under your plants in the case of mole crickets), and you don’t want that! If it’s just one or two crickets you may not notice any symptoms but if your plants start getting infested with them you’ll noticed tons of spots where they have been munching on your leaves.

1.) Check regularly for signs of crickets, especially at night The best way to prevent a cricket infestation (or any bug infestation really) is to catch them as soon as possible! They come out at night so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out in the evenings. Avoid leaving lights on at night because that attracts them (plus light at night can also mess up your cannabis light periods)! Also make sure to clean your yard and get rid of unnecessary leaf litter, mulch, etc. Crickets can also be attracted to garbage so seal your garbage can up tight!

2.) Cricket Bait & Cricket Traps Cricket bait or traps can be used to lure crickets and capture them. Sometimes they are very effective. Although this won’t get rid of an infestation, it can really help cut down on the numbers of crickets, making your other methods more effective. One of the cool things about this is that it doesn’t have any poison or insecticide, it’s just luring crickets and trapping them. Crickets are attracted to light, so anything that lures them can be even more effective if you combine the trap with a light source. You may need a lot of traps if you have a lot of crickets!

3.) Spinosad Spinosad Products (safe & organic) – Spinosad products are organic and completely harmless to pets, children, and plants. Spinosad products can be used directly to kill crickets on contact and should be sprayed liberally all over the plant. Although maybe not as strong against pests as some of the more harsh insecticides, it does work and it’s very safe for plants, animals and humans. WARNING: Commercial growers click here. Recommended: Monterey Garden Insect Spray with Spinosad (not for commercial growers) Spinosad is an organic insecticide made from the fermentation of a specific soil bacteria (actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa) and kills crickets via ingestion or contact by effecting the insect’s nervous system. Spinosad can be a good choice for organic and outdoor growers, because it is very toxic to grasshoppers , but is less toxic to many beneficial insects, bug predators and spiders. Note: Most spinosad products are effective for only about 24 hours after being mixed with water, so only mix as much as you will need per application. Anything left over will be waste. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to cover all the leaves evenly when spraying them with spinosad products.

4.) Insecticidal soaps Fatty acid salts or insecticidal soaps can be a good choice against crickets. They weaken the outer shell of crickets but are safe to use on your plants and they don’t leave much of a residue which could kill beneficial bugs in your garden. With soaps, coverage is very important as it does not stay on your plant for long, so follow-up applications may be necessary. Although this is considered safe, avoid getting any on your buds! Natria is an effective insecticidal soap. In the case of mole crickets that are tunneling under your plant, also apply this to the ground.

5.) ​Neem Oil Neem Oil will leave an unpleasant taste/smell on buds when used to treat flowering plants, so again, don’t let this stuff get near your buds! There’s also some evidence Neem oil may be harmful to humans so use with care! That being said, Neem oil is an all-natural remedy that is very effective against many different types of bugs and mold, including crickets. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly, since neem oil and water can separate easily. In the case of mole crickets that are tunneling under your plant, also apply this to the ground.

6.) Essentria IC3 Essentria IC3 Insecticide is a mix of various horticultural oils that is organic and safe for humans. It is often marketed as a “bed bug killer” but it can be effective against crickets when the plants are treated regularly. Unfortunately it only stays effective on the plant for about 8 hours so you will want to either apply this daily or combine with other options. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly.

7.) Floating row covers These may not be the best choice for all cannabis growers, but these are very cheap and effective against crickets because it physically prevents them from getting to your plants, while still letting light in to your plants. You can also water your plants through the netting. These are sometimes used to make mini “green houses” on the plants, or some grower will just drap them over the plant as they’re so light and airy they don’t really bother the plant. However, these are much easier to use and are more effective with smaller plants, as it becomes difficult to fully cover larger plants. However, for young plants these can be great! They also protect your plant from wind and some harsh conditions. Floating row covers look like thin netting or mesh

8.) Pyrethrin Pyrethrin-based insecticides are not very toxic for humans and degrade quickly, which is why they’re commonly recommended for vegetable gardens. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly. In the case of mole crickets that are tunneling under your plant, also apply this to the ground. Pyrethrin products break down quickly, over the course of just a day or two. The major problem with them is they are very toxic to bees. Although cannabis plants generally don’t attract a lot of bees, please use this as a last resort, and also try to use it right after the sun goes down because bees sleep at night. This lets it start to break down before they wake up. Use pyrethrin products in the evening to help prevent harm to bees. A popular example is Bonide 857 Pyrethrin Spray Concentrate. Use 3 tablespoons of concentrate per gallon of water.