By Stephanie Jacksis
CENTRAL TEXAS - Thousands of pesky crickets have made their way to Central Texas. They're getting into hundreds of local businesses, including restaurants. So employees are working hard to keep the critters out.
"Constantly sweeping," Red's Corner Grill Manager Todd Smith said. "Make sure they're not in the restaurant bothering any guests or anything like that and just staying on top of them! That'd be a serious health problem, but luckily fried crickets is not on the menu."
Exterminators said the field crickets are multiplying fast.
The bugs usually come later in the year around September or October, but because of the recent rains and cooler weather they're here a little early.
"They're nasty," Killeen Pest Control Gene Cantwell said. "Just mainly the smell from them when they die and the crunch when people step on them. They're really a nuisance."
One female cricket can lay up to 400 eggs. And with a ratio of 8 male crickets to 9 female crickets, they're quickly becoming a burden.
"Especially this time of year," Smith said. "They get a little crazy."
"You know, any kind of insect or pest like that, it's important to keep them out of the restaurant. Mainly, you want to keep everything real sanitized and swept up," Golden Chick employee Terry Delano said. "We have monthly pest control. We're very conscientious about our restaurant and about our cleanliness."
Although some may enjoy the crunching underneath their shoes, pest control workers advise against it. They said doing so can brings more insects to the area, such as ants.
