Spider crickets, also known as camel or cave crickets, are wingless insects recognized by their humpbacked appearance, long antennae, and notably long hind legs that enable powerful jumps. They typically measure between 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches. These creatures are often mistaken for spiders due to their spindly legs. While they do not chirp like other cricket species, homeowners encountering them often seek to understand their diet and the potential damage they might cause.
Natural Diet
In their natural outdoor environments, spider crickets are primarily scavengers and decomposers, playing a role in breaking down organic materials. They exhibit an omnivorous diet, consuming both plant and animal matter, including decaying plant material such as fallen leaves, rotting wood, and other organic debris. Fungi are also a regular part of their diet, often growing abundantly in the dark, damp habitats these crickets prefer. They also feed on dead insects and other small arthropods, and might even consume small living insects or algae and moss. This varied diet is closely linked to their preferred moist, cool, and dark habitats, where such organic food sources are readily accessible.
Indoor Feeding Habits
When spider crickets move indoors, their diet adapts to the available resources within human dwellings. These opportunistic feeders will consume a wide array of household items, especially in dark and undisturbed areas like basements, crawl spaces, and closets. Their preference for damp environments means they may also feed on mold or mildew that thrives in such conditions. Common household materials susceptible to their feeding include various fabrics, such as cotton, wool, silk, and synthetic fibers found in carpets, clothing, and curtains, as well as paper products like books, cardboard, wallpaper, and important documents. They also consume accessible food scraps, including crumbs, pet food, and any stored food items left open or on the floor. Spider crickets are also opportunistic predators indoors, eating other insects, whether dead or alive, if encountered.
Consequences of Their Diet
The feeding habits of spider crickets can lead to noticeable consequences for homeowners. While these insects do not bite humans or transmit diseases, their consumption of household items can result in property damage. Textiles, paper goods, and other organic materials are particularly vulnerable to their chewing, especially if present in large numbers, with damage appearing as chew marks or holes in fabrics, wallpaper, and some wooden surfaces. Spider crickets are considered nuisance pests due to the damage they inflict and their unsettling appearance and jumping behavior when startled. Their presence is often linked to available food sources and moisture, and accumulations of their dark droppings, known as “frass,” can also stain surfaces.