When I was growing up and my brother and I played in our backyard, I always hated to open the door to the shed where all our toys and bikes were because I knew what was behind that door, and what was going to happen when I opened it.   Those yucky, scary “spider crickets” were going to start jumping everywhere!!  So, I did what anyone else would do…… I flung the door open, jumped back, and waited for them to all do their jumping thing got what I needed and slammed the door back!!!  Little did I know that one day I would know exactly what those yucky, scary things are. 

We called them spider crickets, some call them sprickets, but they are actually Camel Crickets.  And with over 100 different species found in North America, it is believed that camel crickets outnumber humans in the United States.   While camel crickets are not typically hostile, they are scavengers that will feed off of just about anything – including camel crickets.  The good news is that camel crickets won’t pose a threat of harm to humans or pets.  The bad news is they can infest homes, and look pretty scary alone and in groups. Despite sharing the name of the cricket, camel crickets are not known to chirp because of their lack of sound producing organs in their bodies.  Camel crickets have a humpbacked appearance with their heads in the middle of their legs. Their back legs are strong and contribute to their ease in jumping. Most species of camel crickets vary in color from a light tan color to dark brown. Camel crickets have become more known for infesting damp and dark areas of the home, similar to that of other insect populations. Inside homes, they are commonly seen in storage areas, bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements and garages.  Outside of the home, camel crickets can be found in any moist location. Camel crickets are most active during night time hours and are attracted to places that have high levels of moisture and humidity. 

So, now that we know all about camel crickets…..  How do you get rid of them???  If you are outside and seeing them, you should clean up any leaves or debris in your yard.  Anywhere that moisture thrives.  Inside your homes, basements, and garages, there are several options for getting rid of the pesky critters.  You call your friendly staff here at BugLink, and we can assess the severity of your infestation and plan a treatment accordingly.  There are chemical and mechanical treatments, as well as, options for treating the moisture levels you may be facing that the camel crickets thrive in. 

Just think……  no more of those yucky, scary, spider crickets!!!!