Camel Cricket

What it does

Camel crickets, also called cave or spider crickets, are wingless and silent, so they never chirp. Humpbacked with very long legs and antennae, they jump erratically toward whatever startles them, which can be alarming though they are harmless. They are drawn to dark, damp spaces and can gather in large numbers.

Where it lives

They favor cool, humid, dark places: basements, crawl spaces, garages, utility rooms, wells, and under decks, logs, and stones outdoors. They often move indoors during hot, dry spells or cold weather in search of moisture. The invasive greenhouse camel cricket has become common in homes across the eastern US.

How it breeds

Females lay eggs in damp soil in late winter and spring, and nymphs hatch and mature through the warmer months, molting several times. They generally produce one generation a year and can overwinter as nymphs or adults in sheltered, humid spots, so they may be seen year-round in heated basements.

What it eats

Camel crickets are scavengers that eat fungi, plant matter, and organic debris. Indoors, when other food is scarce, they may chew on fabrics, cardboard, and paper, and they will feed on dead insects, making them opportunistic cleanup feeders in damp spaces.

Identification

Adults are roughly 1/2 to 1-1/4 inch, tan to dark brown, often mottled, with a distinctly humped back, no wings, and long, spider-like legs and antennae. Their large hind legs make them strong jumpers. The wingless, silent, hunched look separates them from house and field crickets.

Signs of an infestation

• Humpbacked, wingless crickets jumping in basements or crawl spaces
• Large clusters in dark, damp corners and along foundation walls
• Chewed spots on stored fabrics, cardboard, or paper
• Sightings increasing during hot, dry, or cold weather

Prevention tips

• Reduce humidity in basements and crawl spaces with a dehumidifier
• Seal foundation cracks, vents, and gaps around pipes and doors
• Remove clutter, cardboard, and debris that hold moisture
• Move woodpiles, leaves, and stones away from the foundation
• Use glue boards along walls to monitor and reduce numbers

Professional solutions

Camel crickets usually respond to moisture control, sealing, and glue-board trapping without chemical treatment. For heavy, recurring infestations, a professional can treat entry points and the perimeter and, importantly, help correct the crawl-space or basement dampness that attracts them. Persistent large numbers are the main reason to call a pro.