How to Get Rid of a Camel Cricket

Unless you have seen a camel cricket before, you may wonder what the mystery bug is that continues to invade your basement, crawlspace or laundry room. Camel crickets gets their name from their humpback appearance. They may also be referred to as cave crickets because of their tendency to dwell in cool, dark, moist areas. Getting rid of camel crickets will not be easy, but you can take steps to greatly reduce their numbers inside your home.

Things You'll Need

• Caulk
• Glue traps
• Dehumidifier
• All-natural insecticide

Instructions

1. Examine areas where you have seen camel crickets to identify any gaps or holes near windows or doors. Filling these gaps with caulk will prevent camel crickets and other unwanted pests from gaining entry to your house. Outside, remove any vegetation or wood piles that may be alongside your house. Camel crickets will dwell in these areas, so they should be moved as far from the house as possible.

2. Locate any areas in your house that are damp, humid, moist and dark. These areas are especially attractive to camel crickets and will most likely be the first areas where you spot them. By using a dehumidifier, you can dry these areas out and make them less attractive to camel crickets. Also look closely for damage done to curtains or blankets; camel crickets eat through fabrics.

3. Spray insecticide along the floorboards and inside perimeter of your house. If you have children or pets, or are spraying in the kitchen, make sure you use an all-natural insecticide made from orange peels or other nontoxic ingredients. Outside, spray the insecticide along the foundation of your house and in any suspected problem areas.

4. Place glue traps behind appliances and along floorboards, which are the most likely areas for camel crickets to travel. If you are particularly worried about a certain area of the house, such as a bedroom, you can place glue traps in the doorway to reduce the likelihood that camel crickets will gaining entry.

5. Examine glue traps daily. Camel crickets may live for a couple of days on the glue trap but cannot break free. If glue traps are working, replace with fresh glue traps every two or three days or once they are full. If glue traps are not working and camel crickets continue to appear, consider experimenting by placing the glue traps in different locations throughout the affected areas. If going on vacation, be sure to blockade affected areas with glue traps to prevent camel crickets from spreading through the house.

Tips & Warnings

• Camel crickets do not chirp, unlike field crickets.

• Camel crickets have very poor eyesight.

• Camel crickets do not bite and are not harmful to humans.

• Camel crickets will bound toward perceived threats in an attempt to intimidate.

• Camel crickets also can be identified by their grasshopperlike back legs and long antennae.

• Camel crickets usually do not reproduce indoors. They lay their eggs in soil during spring months but can be tricked into laying their eggs in rotted wood or other material that may have the appearance of soil. Even so, indoor reproduction is most likely to occur in a greenhouse or old barn, where humidity is much higher than in your home.

References

• Ask the Exterminator: Camel Crickets
• North Carolina State University Extension: Camel Crickets