Cricket and lawn grub control in The Greenways, Amarillo (79119)
More than 80 acres of parkland run through The Greenways, and all that open turf raises field crickets and June beetle grubs by the thousands.Skunks dig for the grubs and crickets march toward porch lights. We work the edge where parkland meets your yard and house.
ZIP 79119Southwest AmarilloRandall County
Why does my Greenways home get so many crickets in late summer?
Homes in The Greenways get heavy cricket traffic because the parkland grass raises large numbers of field crickets, and in August and September their mating flights head toward outdoor lights. They gather at thresholds and weep holes and slip inside. We treat the perimeter and beds, seal entry points, and recommend yellow bug lights. We also treat lawn grubs that draw skunks.
What 80 acres of parkland means for pests in The Greenways
The Greenways is a southwest Amarillo neighborhood with homes built from 1996 to today, wrapped around more than 80 acres of parkland, including Greenways Park and the grounds near Greenways Intermediate on Pineridge Dr. Many backyards open onto green space, which is a big reason people buy here. That same turf is prime habitat for insects that live in grass.
Black field crickets swarm across most of Texas in August and September, especially when rain and cooler weather end a summer drought. Their flights last a week or two and they stay active until cold, with Amarillo's average first freeze around October 20. Outdoor lighting is the main thing that draws them to houses. Homes that back onto parkland in the 79119 ZIP often see crickets piled at the garage door by morning.
The grass also raises white grubs, the larvae of June beetles and masked chafers. Adults fly from late spring through summer, and grubs feed on turf roots from June into October. Grubs bring skunks, which dig shallow holes across lawns at night. Snakes use the parkland edges too, mostly in summer.
Signs the parkland is spilling into your Greenways yard
These are the clues that the open turf next door is driving what you see at home.
Crickets under porch lights
Dozens of crickets gathered around lights and doors on August and September nights.
Chirping inside walls
Crickets that slip through weep holes can chirp from wall voids, laundry rooms and garages for days.
Brown patches that lift
Turf that dies in irregular patches and peels back like carpet, with C-shaped white grubs in the soil below.
Small holes in the lawn
Shallow, cone-shaped holes scattered across the grass overnight usually mean a skunk was digging for grubs.
Spiders around entries
Plenty of crickets feed spiders and scorpions, so webs at doors and windows often rise in late summer.
Pest problem in The Greenways?
Call and describe it. The phone is answered 24 hours a day.
How we handle crickets, grubs and the skunks that follow
These pests are linked, so we treat them together.
Check the parkland side
Our technician starts on the side facing open green space, checking fence gaps, beds, lights and the garage door seal.
Treat beds and perimeter
We apply a granular product in beds and along the fence line where crickets hide by day, plus a residual band at the foundation, doors and weep holes.
Confirm and treat grubs
We pull back turf in damaged spots to count grubs. If numbers are high enough to matter, we treat the lawn at the right time of year.
Deal with skunk digging
Fewer grubs means less digging. If a skunk is denning under a deck or shed, we remove it under TPWD rules and close the opening.
Ways Greenways owners can cut cricket traffic before August
Most cricket pressure here comes down to light and gaps.
- Swap porch and garage lights for yellow bug bulbs by late July.
- Turn off landscape lights facing the parkland on summer nights.
- Check garage door bottom seals and replace worn ones.
- Fit vented covers on weep holes along the parkland side.
- Water the lawn deeply and less often; grubs favor soft, wet turf.
- Vacuum crickets indoors; they can stain carpet and fabric.
Pest control services for The Greenways
Cricket Control
Black field crickets can show up by the hundreds in late summer, chirping in the garage, piling against storefront glass and slipping under doors.
Lawn Grub Control
Brown patches that peel back like loose carpet in midsummer often mean white grubs are eating the roots under your lawn.
Skunk Removal
A skunk denning under your porch, deck or shed brings odor, holes and a rabies concern for pets.
Spider Control
Webs under the eaves, wolf spiders in the garage and black widows in the meter box are all part of life in the Panhandle.
Snake Removal
A snake coiled by the back door, in the garage or under the AC unit needs to be identified before anyone gets close.
Home Pest Control
Spiders in the garage, crickets at the back door and a mouse behind the stove are everyday problems in Amarillo houses.
Pest control questions from The Greenways
Do crickets breed inside Greenways homes?
No. Field crickets don't breed indoors in Texas homes, and the ones that get in usually die within a few weeks. The trouble is the numbers that keep arriving from the parkland during the August and September swarm, plus the chirping and fabric staining. Sealing gaps and changing outdoor lights stops most of them at the door.
How can I tell if grubs are damaging my lawn next to The Greenways parkland?
Pull up a section of brown turf. If it lifts easily and you see several C-shaped white grubs in a square foot of soil, grubs are likely the cause. Skunk digging overnight is another strong hint. Our technician can check a few spots and tell you whether treatment makes sense this season.
Will treating grubs keep skunks from digging in my Greenways yard?
It usually cuts the digging a lot, because grubs are what skunks are hunting. A skunk living under your deck or shed may still pass through, so we check for dens too. If one is denning on your property, we remove it and close the opening with buried wire mesh.