How to Catch a Cricket

In order to catch a cricket, you must learn to be the cricket. Here is where I come in.

Despite being intimidating at times, crickets are easily spooked. If a cricket escapes into an unknown environment, they will be very likely to seek shelter immediately. Check under sofas, shelves, beds, etc. This is especially true if you have another pet. Younger crickets will be more likely to walk, and older specimens will be more likely to jump. Regardless, you need to act immediately.

Once the cricket is located, you need to ensure you have a proper catching mechanism. A cup works, just like with any other insect. Catching crickets with human hands is still beyond my capabilities, but once I get there I will report back.

To get the cricket from under a piece of furniture, use scent. Crickets detest the scent of thyme, sage, rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and cinnamon. And as I have learned recently, also lavender (preferably sourced from the South of France). Spray or place the scent near the edges of where the cricket is currently stationed, ensuring a clear path of escape (meant ironically).

Once the cricket emerges, use your mechanism of choice and some prayers, hopefully capturing the cricket.

A cricket capture happened to me recently. I named the small, one-legged guy Houdini, in honour of his skills and desires. Once I captured him into the cup, I realised that the lip of the cup was too large for me to safely transport him back into his box, and thusely he passed surrounded by plastic. He is now kept in the morgue, which is a small cardboard box on the top shelf of my refrigerator.

RIP Houdini. Always in our hearts.