Spider crickets, also known as camel or cave crickets, are common insects often found in and around homes. They have a distinctive appearance: a humped back, long antennae, and notably long, spindly legs that give them a spider-like look. These wingless creatures can grow up to 1.5 inches and range from light tan to dark brown. Their presence often signals a nearby dark, damp environment.
Natural Activity Patterns
Spider crickets are primarily nocturnal, with activity peaking at night. During the day, they typically remain hidden in secluded, dark environments. Their large hind legs and extended antennae aid in navigating these dark surroundings, as their vision is limited to distinguishing light from dark.
While found year-round, their presence may become more noticeable during specific seasons. Their activity and appearance indoors might surge during warmer or wetter periods. For instance, nymphs hatch in early to mid-spring, leading to an increase in their numbers as they grow into adults. Their life cycle involves three stages: egg, nymph, and adult, with adults and nymphs sometimes overwintering.
Environmental Factors for Emergence
Several external conditions can trigger spider crickets to leave their typical hiding spots. A primary driver is their need for moisture; dry indoor or outdoor conditions often compel them to seek out more humid areas. This explains why they frequently appear in basements, bathrooms, or laundry rooms when outdoor conditions become too dry.
Their omnivorous scavenging nature also plays a role in their emergence. They venture out to find food sources, including organic matter, decaying plants, fungi, and other insects. A moldy piece of bread can attract them, and they may feed on household items like cardboard, fabric, and carpet if other food sources are scarce.
Temperature extremes can also force these insects to seek more moderate shelter. During periods of extreme heat or cold, they may move indoors to escape unsuitable outdoor conditions. Additionally, disturbances from human activity, the presence of other pests, or encounters with predators can cause them to scatter and become visible as a defense mechanism, often by leaping suddenly.
Common Hiding Spots
Before becoming visible, spider crickets typically reside in habitats that provide the dark, damp, and cool conditions they prefer. Indoors, these insects are frequently found in basements, crawl spaces, utility rooms, and garages. They might also inhabit attics or other unused areas that offer consistent humidity and lack of disturbance.
Outdoors, their preferred locations include areas under rocks, woodpiles, leaf litter, and decaying logs. Dense vegetation, tall grass, and holes in the ground also serve as common hiding spots. Spider crickets often transition from these outdoor habitats to indoor spaces through various entry points, such as cracks in foundations, open garage doors, damaged weather stripping, or unsealed vents and windows.