Camel crickets are intriguing insects known for their unique appearance and behavior.
These fascinating creatures get their name from their slightly humped backs and long legs, which give them a spider-like appearance.
Interestingly, unlike other cricket species, camel crickets are wingless and do not produce sounds.
These crickets can be found in various habitats, including humid and concealed areas like caves, basements, and cellars.
Generally active at night, camel crickets have a long antenna and large hind legs that allow them to jump strongly.
Camel crickets come in a range of colors, such as tan, reddish-brown, or dark brown.
Camel Cricket Basics
Identification and Appearance
Camel crickets get their name from their slightly humpbacked appearance. Key characteristics include:
- Long legs, giving them a spider-like appearance
- No wings as adults
- Brownish, reddish brown, or dark brown color
- Large hind legs
- Long, fragile antennae
Due to their physical features, camel crickets are also referred to as spider crickets. They can grow up to 1 ½ inches in length.
Habitat and Range
Camel crickets typically live in:
- Humid, concealed areas
- Caves, basements, and cellars
- Tall grass and other moist environments
These insects are active mostly at night and can be found worldwide.
Camel crickets often become a problem during extremes in weather conditions, such as excessive rainfall or extended periods of hot, dry weather, driving them to invade homes.
In the United States and Canada, over 100 different kinds of camel crickets can be found.
Lifecycle
Camel crickets undergo a simple metamorphosis during their lifecycle. Stages include:
- Egg
- Nymph (looks like a smaller version of the adult)
- Adult
Throughout their life, camel crickets can pose a nuisance as pests due to their tendency to invade homes and outdoor structures.
However, they do not bite or pose any health risks to humans.
Diet and Behavior
Food Sources and Diet
Camel crickets are known for their diverse diet, feeding on a variety of organic materials. Some examples of their food sources include:
- Fungus
- Plant materials
- Animal products
These crickets are also known to eat other insects and even their own kind when food is scarce.
Nocturnal Activity
Camel crickets are primarily nocturnal creatures, meaning they are more active at night.
This is when they venture out to search for food and mates. During the day, camel crickets prefer to stay hidden in dark, damp areas such as:
- Crawl spaces
- Basements
- Caves
Chirping and Sounds
Interestingly, camel crickets do not chirp like many other cricket species.
They lack sound-producing organs, so their nighttime activities remain silent, allowing them to go unnoticed while foraging or searching for mates.
Comparison Table
| Aspect | Camel Cricket | Other Crickets |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | Diverse (fungus, plant and animal products) | Typically plant-based |
| Activity Time | Nocturnal (active at night) | Primarily nocturnal |
| Habitat | Dark, damp areas (crawl spaces, basements, caves) | Various (grass, soil, indoors) |
| Chirping/Sounds | None (no sound organs) | Chirping noises |
Camel Crickets as Pests
Damage to Home and Property
Camel crickets are attracted to dark, moist environments like basements, garages, and laundry rooms.
They can potentially cause damage to household items like clothes, curtains, and paperwork by chewing on them.
Furthermore, they may also feed on plants, including houseplants, and organic materials like mulch.
Specifically, camel crickets can damage garments and linens packed in boxes in a garage or basement, especially if the infestation goes unchecked for some time.
Infestation Signs
When dealing with camel crickets, it is essential to spot the signs of a potential infestation. Some clues include:
- Large numbers of camel crickets inside or near your home
- Eggs or small cricket nymphs in moist environments
- Chewed plants or fabrics
- Presence in basements, laundry rooms, or utility rooms
- Presence of dark fecal smears on surfaces.
Health Risks
Though camel crickets resemble spiders with their long legs and dark brown color, they are harmless and do not bite or transmit diseases.
However, their presence may attract predators like bats to your home, which could bring potential health risks.
To manage a camel cricket infestation, consider the following methods:
- Reduce moisture in affected areas (e.g., using a dehumidifier or fixing leaks)
- Seal up cracks and crevices in your home
- Remove potential hiding spots (e.g., piles of wood or debris)
- Use appropriate pest control methods (e.g., sticky traps or consult a professional)
Prevention and Control
Home Maintenance Tips
- Maintain a dry environment by using a dehumidifier, fans, or natural ventilation.
- Seal gaps and cracks in the foundation to limit entry points.
- Regularly clean moisture-prone areas like basements and crawl spaces.
- Remove potential hiding spots such as weeds, tall grass, and wood piles near the home.
- Fix any water leaks, as dampness attracts camel crickets.
- Keep ground cover and mulch away from the foundation
- Avoid stacking firewood against the house
- Remove clutter under decks that might attract crickets.
Traps and Remedies
- Place sticky traps in areas where camel crickets are spotted; effective for reducing small populations.
- Create a simple homemade trap by filling a shallow dish with soapy water and placing it near cricket activity.
- Additional control methods include sealing gaps and openings, using sticky boards, applying outdoor barrier treatments, and placing insecticidal baits in specific locations.
When to Call Professionals
- Consider professional help if home remedies and maintenance fail to control the population.
- Consult experts in case camel crickets pose a threat to valuable items or cause damage to plants and fabrics.
Comparison Table: Prevention Methods
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Home Maintenance | Long-term solution, reduces cricket habitats | May require considerable time and effort |
| Traps and Remedies | Quick results, budget-friendly | Best for small infestations, ongoing maintenance |
| Professional Help | Expert solutions, comprehensive control | Can be expensive, may involve chemicals |
Camel Cricket Species and Taxonomy
Family Rhaphid
Camelophoridae crickets belong to the family Rhaphidophoridae. These crickets are known for their:
- Humpbacked appearance
- Long legs and antennae
- Lack of wings in adults
These unique characteristics give them a spider-like appearance while still being part of the order Orthoptera.
Camel crickets are typically brownish in color, and their sizes vary depending on the species.
Subfamilies and Genera
Within the Rhaphidophoridae family, there are multiple subfamilies and genera.
One common genus is Ceuthophilus, which includes several species often found in caves and basements.
Another notable species is the greenhouse camel cricket (Diestrammena asynamora), which is native to Asia but has become increasingly common in the United States.
One common nuisance species of camel crickets is Tachycines asynamorous, also known as the “greenhouse stone cricket”.
Conclusion
In conclusion, camel crickets, characterized by their humpbacked and wingless appearance, are intriguing nocturnal insects.
Found worldwide, they thrive in humid, concealed environments and exhibit a diverse diet.
While they don’t pose direct health risks, their presence can attract other potentially harmful creatures and cause damage to household items.
Effective management strategies include maintaining a dry environment, sealing entry points, using traps, and seeking professional help when necessary.
Understanding their behavior and implementing preventive measures can mitigate the challenges posed by these unique crickets.
27 Comments. Leave new
Hello, I was wondering if anyone can tell me if this is possible…..Ok, I have an old house with camel/cave crickets in my basement. Recently I had a rather large one make it’s way upstairs to the living quarters. I gave it the controlled “step” down , disabling it so I could catch and kill it. Ok , that all happened as planned. What’s next is totally bizarre! So I throw said carcass in the toilet bowl and go finish watching TV. I come back an hour later and there is this 4 or 5 inch long “worm” very thin with a tiny football shaped head swimming madly in my toilet bowl! So, did this come up somehow from my septic tank { highly unlikely in my opinion since it’s never happen in 35 years of living here} or was it inside that monster Camel cricket??? any help would be appreciated!!!
Dear Artifact,
This is a horsehair worm, an internal parasite of some Orthopterans. We have also gotten reports that they may parasitize some spiders.
Looks like bugs for teenagers to figure out on their own (like you said)!
Thank you for your perspective.
I would like to know what this insect is. I have seen them in houses here in Texas. They fly and are creepy
The insect image that we used to illustrate this posting is a Field Cricket and they do not fly.
Thank you. My bug looks similar to this one. No white spot thou and flies. If any of ya’ll have knowledge of that bug. It is about 1 inch in size.
I just have to add..those are some of the scariest type bugs I have ever seen..and let me tell you from experience..they bite!!
how do i get rid of these camel crickets? is there a reason we only see them when it starts getting warm? All winter we never seen one, but now that it is getting warm, we are starting to see them come out.
Good to know the official name of these crickets. I live in Jonesboro, Arkansas and I’ve always heard them called “Jerusalem Crickets.” Oh, and in more humorous circles they are referred to as ‘giant-mutant-jumping-bugs.’ They are quite harmless, but they can definitely be alarming. They aren’t very common around here, except in some parts of the country. They used to be an issue in town, but I haven’t seen them very much in a few years. They are not aggressive, from my experience. They can do very quick damage to paper and fabric goods. I’m not a fan of killing bugs but this is one I do make an exception with, largely because I don’t like being surprised by a big honking bug that can jump at my face. That being said, they are also very unpleasant to kill because of the ‘squishiness.’ Can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone say they’ve been bitten before. Their legs are not to be trifled with. Often times I’ll come across a dried dead one outside or the remnants of one killed indoors…. painful to try to dig their little barbs out of the skin of your foot….
Here in in Easterrn NC I have captured and released several of these buggers. They have never bitten me, their long antennas were always waving, and those big eyes looked as if I could do more harm.Love me some bugs, espescially the weird ones
Do camel back cricket s bite or sting? I have seen several of them in my building and my kids run around in there..
Camel Crickets do not sting, nor have we received any reports of them biting individuals.
I have camel crickets who are very big, fast, and intimadating. I can’t help but kill them due to the fact that they really frightin my daughters very much and me as well. I don’t understand why their in my apartment. Its not moist or anything like a basement so what’s the deal?
so that is the official name for them. ill tell my fiancee and his family. we just moved into our own place and have spotted 2 or 3 of them but we dont have a bassement,only a crawl space. and let me tell you, my fiancee john is petrified of them. he grew up with them at his house in their basement type walkdown space.
and we live in independence,mo. so theyre here too
We would encourage you to exert your female power and prove to him that they are harmless.
I live in New Jersey just started seeing them last year.I always found them in the basement next to my clothes. But also found them in the shed.My wufe cannot stand them I just take care of getting rid of them..
What is the half inch long point in between the camel crickets back legs looks like a long thorn.
I just visited Alabama last week and came back to Michigan yesterday. That exact same bug landed on my arm and scared the bejezus out of me, because it was so creepy and I have never seen anything like it in the North part of the country.
Here’s what I observed:
-It’s black, and has a sharp pointy mouth like thing
-It flies, that’s how it landed on my arm and then exited when I blew on it
-Although it is technically the Spring season, March 20 has passed, in Alabama, everyone I spoke with repeatedly said that it was Winter. So although people were swimming outside in pools and in the Gulf of Mexico, there was very little new flower growth, with the exception of Azaleas. This led me to believe that this is a hardy bug, that lasts in colder temperatures of 50’s, relatively speaking for Alabama. (Cold in Michigan is -20 below zero Fahrenheit.)
I also have a question for the entomologist and bug buffs, with the pincer type mouth, the obvious wings, and my assumption that this is a newly born, or unearthed bug, is it likely that this is a Flying Ant, of the male gender, that is a native of the Warmer climate, perhaps why I spotted it wanting to take a bite of my arm? Crickets don’t bite. I played with them constantly as a child, and found them to be quite friendly little creatures, along with the male’s wonderfully seductive gift of music! ? ? ? ?
The insect used to illustrate this posting is a Field Cricket. Without an image, we would not like to speculate on what landed on your arm. Flying Ants have mandibles. Flies have mouths designed to pierce. Perhaps you were visited by a Black Horse Fly.
I just visited Alabama last week and came back to Michigan yesterday. That exact same bug landed on my arm and scared the bejezus out of me, because it was so creepy and I have never seen anything like it in the North part of the country.
Here’s what I observed:
-It’s black, and has a sharp pointy mouth like thing
-It flies, that’s how it landed on my arm and then exited when I blew on it
-Although it is technically the Spring season, March 20 has passed, in Alabama, everyone I spoke with repeatedly said that it was Winter. So although people were swimming outside in pools and in the Gulf of Mexico, there was very little new flower growth, with the exception of Azaleas. This led me to believe that this is a hardy bug, that lasts in colder temperatures of 50’s, relatively speaking for Alabama. (Cold in Michigan is -20 below zero Fahrenheit.)
I also have a question for the entomologist and bug buffs, with the pincer type mouth, the obvious wings, and my assumption that this is a newly born, or unearthed bug, is it likely that this is a Flying Ant, of the male gender, that is a native of the Warmer climate, perhaps why I spotted it wanting to take a bite of my arm? Crickets don’t bite. I played with them constantly as a child, and found them to be quite friendly little creatures, along with the male’s wonderfully seductive gift of music! ? ? ? ?
Wow ! ..I thought I found a mutant cricket lol ..I live in eastern Pennsylvania been here all my life …but never seen this cricket before until recently …I find them in the hoods of underground propane tanks …I’ve been a propane delivery man for 14 years but only recently have seen these crickets in the hoods of a couple underground tanks …perfect environment for them as these hoods are cold damp and dark …I leave them alone but boy do they make a mess inside these hoods …freaky looking bug but seem harmless
Definitely creepy! I live in Indiana and saw a couple on the laundry room in basement.Very intimidating. Went quickly upstairs to get my tablet to take pix of this pair, not knowing what in the world they were. Funny, I asked Google what was this insect that looked like a spider cricket and yes, it came up right away. The camel cricket, although it has no resemblance to a camel from my eyes, but I certainly did not want to get any closer than I was. By the time I got back to take pix, they were gone! That made me more terrified! Where did they go??? Will I accidentally get closer than I ever want to because I don’t know where they are? Eek! They could be more afraid of me than I am of them. All I can say is, stay away, camel cricket.
From what we have learned on BugGuide: “Most favor cool damp places – caves, rotten logs, under leaves or rocks. Will not reproduce indoors unless they find continuous dark, moist conditions.” Based on that, we would search near the plumbing, including the water heater, to locate the parts of your cellar that have “continuous dark, moist conditions.” and laundry room (don’t forget under the washing machine) because we suspect they might be breeding.
Thank you for the post. This is really interesting.
Well thanks, my girlfriend was real worried about one of these things strangling her cat. No worries then!