Wharton County has experienced a larger-than-usual cricket emergence following recent rainstorms. These insects appear after long periods of drought, mate, and die off. Crickets tend to swarm in dry springs and summers, with the most significant numbers in August and September after a summer drought breaks. While they won’t breed indoors, they can damage clothing and create odors. Dimming outdoor lights can help reduce their presence. Fortunately, crickets are mostly a nuisance, causing minor damage to shrubs or gardens. However, in some cases, their overwhelming numbers, like at Fort Bend County Courthouse, can be a sensory challenge, but it’s temporary.