A spider cricket is an insect often found in homes, particularly in damp, secluded areas. Also known as camel crickets or cave crickets, these names reflect their distinctive physical traits and preferred environments. Their unique appearance, characterized by unusually long legs, frequently leads to them being mistaken for spiders.
Appearance and Identification
Spider crickets have a humpbacked body, giving them the name camel cricket. They typically measure 0.5 to 1.5 inches in body length and are light to dark brown, sometimes with darker mottling. Their exceptionally long antennae, twice their body length, aid navigation in darkness.
Unlike many other cricket species, spider crickets are wingless, thus cannot fly or chirp. Their six long legs, especially the powerful hind legs, are adapted for jumping considerable distances. This appearance often leads to confusion with spiders.
Typical Habitats and Behaviors
Spider crickets inhabit dark, cool, and damp environments. Outdoors, they are found in caves, under rocks, beneath decaying logs, or within dense vegetation like tall grass. Their preference for moisture and darkness makes them accidental invaders indoors, especially during hot, dry weather or heavy rainfall.
Indoors, they gravitate towards areas mimicking their natural habitat. Basements, crawl spaces, laundry rooms, and sheds are frequent locations where they seek shelter due to coolness, darkness, and humidity. Spider crickets are nocturnal, hidden during the day, active at night. When startled, they jump vigorously and erratically, often towards a perceived threat, which can be disorienting.
Are Spider Crickets a Concern?
Though their appearance and tendency to jump can be unsettling, spider crickets are harmless to humans. They do not bite or sting, nor do they transmit diseases. Their mouthparts gnaw organic matter.
Despite no direct health risk, spider crickets can become a nuisance, particularly in large numbers. They can damage household items by chewing through materials like fabrics, wood, cardboard, and houseplants. Dark droppings may also indicate their presence, staining surfaces.
Managing Their Presence
Managing spider crickets begins with environmental control to make your home less appealing. Reducing moisture is a primary step; dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces significantly deter them. Addressing structural issues like leaky pipes or poor drainage also eliminates their preferred humid conditions.
Sealing home entry points is another important preventative measure. Inspect and seal foundation cracks, gaps around windows and doors, and utility line openings. Decluttering dark storage areas, like basements and garages, removes hiding spots and food sources, especially by replacing cardboard boxes with plastic containers. Simple traps, such as sticky traps or bowls of soapy water, can also reduce their numbers.