Camel crickets, also known as cave crickets or spider crickets, frequently invade residential spaces, often causing alarm with their sudden, erratic jumping. These insects thrive in dark, high-humidity environments, seeking shelter in basements, crawl spaces, and garages when outdoor conditions become too dry or cold. Since camel crickets do not chirp and lack wings, their large, powerful hind legs are their primary defense mechanism, resulting in a startling leap when disturbed. Effective, long-term control relies on understanding their needs and implementing chemical-free strategies that modify the home environment.
Identifying the Intruder and Its Habits
Camel crickets are distinguished by their prominent humpbacked appearance, which gives them their common name. They are typically light tan to dark brown and measure between one-half to one-and-a-half inches in body length. Their slender legs and exceptionally long antennae contribute to a spider-like look, often causing confusion upon first sight. Unlike many other cricket species, they do not possess sound-producing organs or the ability to fly.
These insects are strongly nocturnal, hiding during the day in areas that mimic their natural outdoor habitats of leaf litter, under logs, or in caves. They are moisture-dependent, actively seeking cool, dark, and damp locations within a structure. Camel crickets are omnivorous, consuming a variety of organic matter, including paper products, fungi on damp walls, and even other insects. Their presence indoors often indicates excessive moisture and available harborage sites.
Reducing Environmental Appeal
The most sustainable control method involves eliminating the conditions that attract these pests into a structure. Camel crickets require high humidity to survive, making moisture reduction the foundational step in natural pest management. Installing a dehumidifier in basements or crawl spaces is effective for actively drying out the air and lowering moisture content. Ensuring that crawl spaces are properly vented and that there are no leaking pipes or drainage issues will prevent the accumulation of standing water.
Physical exclusion is the next line of defense, focusing on sealing the entry points they use to move from outdoors to indoors. Cracks and crevices in the foundation, particularly where utility lines enter the home, should be meticulously sealed. Gaps underneath exterior doors, especially those leading into the basement or garage, should be fitted with door sweeps to obstruct access. Even small openings around basement windows need attention, as crickets can enter through narrow spaces.
Managing the perimeter of the home is important for reducing the population outside the structure. Camel crickets use outdoor clutter as daytime hiding spots, so removing leaf litter, woodpiles, and debris close to the foundation eliminates these shelters. Firewood should be stored at least 15 to 20 feet away from the house and kept elevated off the ground. Keeping grass and ground cover trimmed back from the foundation removes overgrown vegetation that provides a moist harborage area.
Immediate Non-Toxic Removal Strategies
For crickets already inside the home, several non-toxic methods can be used for active removal. Simple sticky traps, often used for mice or cockroaches, can be placed along baseboards in dark, low-traffic areas like behind appliances or storage boxes. These traps effectively immobilize the crickets when they walk or jump onto the adhesive surface. Placing a small piece of dry pet food or other organic bait in the center of the sticky trap increases its attractiveness.
Another effective trapping method is the use of DIY wet traps, which rely on the crickets’ attraction to moisture and certain smells. A shallow container, such as a deep bowl or jar, can be filled partway with water mixed with a few tablespoons of dish soap. The soap breaks the surface tension of the water, preventing the crickets from floating or escaping once they jump in. Alternatively, molasses or beer mixed with water can attract the crickets, as they are drawn to the sweet scent.
For immediate collection of visible insects, a shop vacuum offers a quick and clean solution. Vacuuming up crickets as they are seen eliminates them instantly and prevents the unsettling jumping reflex. Once collected, the vacuum bag or canister contents should be sealed and disposed of outside the home.
Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE) provides a mechanical method of control and can be applied where crickets congregate. This fine powder is composed of the fossilized remains of ancient algae, and its microscopic edges pierce the insect’s protective waxy exoskeleton. The resulting damage causes the cricket to dehydrate. Diatomaceous Earth must be applied as a very thin, dry layer in cracks, crevices, and along baseboards, as moisture significantly reduces its effectiveness.