Crickets (Camel Cricket)

Description

• Size: 1/2 to 1 and 1/2 inches
• Color: Tan to dark brown, often with dark bands.
• Distinctive long legs and antennae with a strongly humpbacked body.
• Wingless and do not chirp.
• Other common names include cave crickets and spider crickets.

Habits of Camel Crickets

• Primarily feed and reproduce outdoors, but are often found in homes to escape hot, dry weather and overwinter.
• Eggs are laid in the spring and hatch in April. Populations survive the winter as nymphs or adults.
• Notable ability to jump long distances.

Damage From Crickets

• Primarily a nuisance pest, but their large size and rapid jumping is often alarming.
• There have been some reports of feeding damage to clothes and lace curtains.

Look for:

• Camel crickets indoors in dark rooms, such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, and attics.
• Camel crickets outdoors in firewood piles, underneath stones, or in other moist, protected areas.

How to Control and Kill Crickets

• Reduce nearby outdoor populations by storing firewood away from the building and keeping the landscape free from debris and thick vegetation that may provide shelter.
• Prevent movement of crickets indoors by sealing cracks and entry points such as damaged door frames around the exterior of a building.
• Remove sources of moisture indoors or use a dehumidifier to make interior spaces less conducive to crickets.
• Capture and remove crickets indoors with a vacuum cleaner and glue boards.

Innovative Pest Management serves the Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland area. Call us at (240) 755-0077 to schedule a free quote or appointment.