Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Used to bring in cricket 500 a week for the beardies. As they got older & ate less got lazy and started just buying as I needed. Got new beardie and started buying 250 a week again, but was losing alot. Couldn't figure out any changes other than everything had moved upstairs from the basement then the other day it hit me..we had a mite problem and I put up a "No pest Strip'. I think this is what is killing my crickets as rthey seem to have all the symptoms of poisoning on backs waving legs. Am moving crickets back to basement, but why would it affect crickets & not mealworms? Could it be also that the corncob I keep them on is drying them out, although they don't look it? Any help is appreciated.

Elaine

I believe that you have more of a cricket die-off than mealworm die-off, is because crickets ingest more food & have a faster metabolism than mealworms. I would highly suggest to NOT use any feeder insects that have been in that room (with the No-Pest Strip). Also, crickets(Orthopterans) tend to be more sensitive to pesticides than mealworms(Coleopterans).