Cunning hunters of Fluther: how do I get a cricket out of my living room?

I think you’re probably SOL. They can be nearly impossible to find, especially since they shut up as soon as you start looking for them. He probably won’t be able to survive in that environment much longer, though.

Now, if you had a cat…...

You could try spelling “E N C Y C L O P E D I A” and see if he comes out.

These guys may be able to assist. Yeah I know, that’ll be the day right?

Send me your address and I will Fed-Ex you all the tree frogs and lizards you need for a swift dispatch. lol

By Jiminy, I don’t know how to do that myself.

I’d recommend spiders.

Perhaps you could hire a cat? ;)

You need one of these.

If the sofa is high enough, get down and look for it. Otherwise move the furniture.
Once you have pinned down the location, you may either gas it with bug spray or drive it into the open with water. Depending on the kind of cricket, you may have to swat it.

You could also get a glue trap and hope that the critter find it.

It might be in the sofa. Can you turn it over?

Release the tarantula!

Actually I like the rhythmic chirping of crickets around my house. I find it rather soothing. My sons generally keep a few around in cages in their rooms as food for their scorpions and tarantulas. I rather like the sound when they get a lone chirper, although I wouldn’t want a dozen of them having a jam session at all hours of the night.

@Jeruba I salute your compassion.
I too would have your concerns.
Also,slightly to my dismay.

@janbb, definitely my best lol of the day! How old must we be to remember that?

Guys, you’re a great help, but I don’t want to kill it! No kill! No!

@Jeruba Very, very old!

Well you are all a brave lot. If I were in Jeruba’s position, the question would be how do I get myself out of my living room fast enough. I respect all creatures great and small, but I cannot be around insects of any kind.

@janbb, @Jeruba Could you enlighten today’s youth with respect to the mysteries of crickets and large repositories of information?

@Nullo There was a Disney character called Jiminy Cricket who was a large green cricket and spent much of his time, for some reason, spelling out “E N C Y C L O P E D I A.”

I’m familiar with the character, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him spelling E N C Y C L O P E D I A. This wasn’t part of his Pinocchio routine, was it?

No, it was on the Mickey Mouse Club. The 1950’s version. Jiminy Cricket was a regular, as were various other well-known Disney animated characters. He sang the letters of the word. Look—here it is on YouTube!

By the way, the cricket is silent tonight., I guess perhaps he has bitten the dust…haha. That was a cruel joke at the cricket’s expense. Sorry, little guy. I guess we’ll find you when we ever move the sofa to vacuum.

Maybe he was reading over your shoulder and decided to keep mum.

Oh my, @Jeruba – that does take me back. Remember when we didn’t have any colors in the world!

I’ve heard that they chirp to attract a mate. So maybe he was successful, and he and the missus are now settling down to raise a family under your couch.

Oooooh! Babies! Let’s have a party!

When you approach them, they tend to get quite. I’ve been in a similar situation. I just stay there, not making a noise, even lying down. Eventually they’ll start chirping again. Get a paper, dust pans will likely injure them, and scoop it into a container, jostling it lightly so it won’t crawl or jump out. Don’t be afraid to touch them, their exoskeltons may be smooth and cold, but (generally) not slimey or dirty, and just throw it lightly out side.

It probably wanted to go outside anyway, but needed help.
:-D

Just tried walloping one with a mallet. Didn’t go so well.

[A month later] I never did find it. It went silent that night and never started up again. All the yard crickets went silent the same night; it must have been the end of singing season. So I don’t know if it ever found its way outside. Haven’t moved the sofa yet, though.

While you were worrying, it completed its life cycle.
The problem took care of itself.
:-D

@Civic_Cat Until the eggs hatch, at least.

@Nullo. I figure that it likely ventured in and wanted to get out as much as Jeruba wanted it out. It probably wanted out because it, in it’s cricket’s brain, figured such might be hostile to crickets. If so, I doubt the young would survive. At least I rarely see young crickets indoors.

Mouse trap?

@Civic_Cat I must lend you a Missouri basement some springtime. :D