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How to Catch Crickets for Bait

Insects such as crickets can be easily found in natural and human-developed habitats. Hence, these insects are ideal live bait if you are planning a fishing trip, or require feeder insects for exotic reptile pets such as snakes, turtles and chameleons. You can catch crickets yourself, instead of purchasing them from a pet store. All you need is a bait, patience and perseverance.

Things You'll Need

Slice of bread
Wide-brimmed glass jar
Screwdriver
Live crickets
Vegetable scraps

Instructions

- 1
  Look for crickets around your house, under stones, boulders and floorboards on the ground. Search for these insects in areas that have nooks and crannies for them to hide.
- 2
  Prepare a bread bait to catch the crickets. Tear a slice of bread into several small pieces and place it in a wide-brimmed glass jar. Set the glass jar overnight on its side in a field, shed, garden, or in areas where you observed the crickets. Keep the lid near the jar.
- 3
  Retrieve the glass jar filled with the crickets in the morning. Place the lid securely on the jar to trap the crickets and prevent them from escaping. Punch tiny holes on the lid with a screwdriver, to enable the crickets to breathe.
- 4
  Use the trapped crickets as live bait or feed them to reptile pets. You can store the crickets for up to a week. Keep them alive by offering a few vegetable scraps such as carrot and pumpkin skins.

Insects & Science