Why Do Camel Crickets Jump at You? Discover Their Unique Behavior

Camel crickets are known for their peculiar jumping behavior, which can be quite startling when encountered indoors.

These insects, characterized by their arched bodies, long antennae, and large hind legs, thrive in moist and humid environments like basements and cellars.

You might be wondering why these harmless-looking creatures seem to jump right at you when you least expect it, and the answer lies in their defense mechanism.

When camel crickets sense danger or feel threatened, their first instinct is to flee.

Due to their poor vision, however, they cannot determine the exact location of the threat.

So, they end up jumping in a random direction, and sometimes that direction happens to be right towards you. This unpredictable jumping tactic is their way of escaping potential predators by startling them and making a quick getaway.

Understanding this behavior can help put your mind at ease next time you encounter these critters.

While their jumping actions might seem unnerving, remember that they are simply trying to defend themselves.

Keeping your living spaces clean, dry, and well-ventilated can help prevent these insects from becoming unwanted guests in your home.

Understanding Camel Crickets

Camel crickets belong to the Rhaphidophoridae family within the Orthoptera order of insects.

These peculiar-looking insects have a unique appearance that sets them apart from other cricket species. Here’s what you need to know about their physical characteristics:

• Humpbacked shape: As the name suggests, camel crickets have a distinctive humpbacked appearance, which gives them their unique look.
• Color: They are generally tan, reddish brown, or dark brown, but may appear black in darker environments.
• Size: Camel crickets vary in size, but they have a similar overall appearance across the family.
• Legs: Equipped with large hind legs, camel crickets can jump significant distances compared to their size.
• Antennae: Their long antennae help them navigate and find their way in dark spaces.
• Wings: Unlike other cricket species, camel crickets are wingless, which means they cannot fly or produce the typical chirping sounds.

These are some of the key features that make camel crickets easy to identify:

• Humpbacked body
• Varied coloration, often dark
• Large hind legs for jumping
• Long antennae
• Wingless

Due to their wingless nature and great jumping abilities, you may notice camel crickets jumping towards you when startled. This is not aggressive behavior; instead, they are simply attempting to flee from a perceived threat.

Keep in mind that camel crickets are relatively harmless, and their presence is usually more of a nuisance than anything. However, you should remove them from your living space to avoid any potential problems or discomfort.

Camel Cricket Behavior

Camel crickets are known for their hump-backed appearance, long antennae, and large hind legs. These unique features enable them to perform high jumps, often causing people to be startled around them.

These crickets are mainly active at night, making them nocturnal creatures. Their preference for darkness means you’re more likely to encounter them in dimly lit spaces such as basements and caves.

Now, let’s talk about their jumping behavior. Camel crickets jump as a means of navigating their environment and evading threats.

They don’t possess wings or have the ability to produce noise, so jumping is their primary means of defense when frightened or threatened.

Habitat of Camel Crickets

Camel crickets thrive in environments that are dark, damp, and cool. They are fond of places with higher humidity and moisture levels. You might typically find them in caves, as well as hidden spaces in your garage, basement, or attic.

These insects prefer damp, moist environments where they can find shelter and sustenance. They have excellent hiding instincts and will seek cover in overgrown vegetation, such as ivy or beneath logs, stones, and stacks of firewood outdoors.

When it comes to living in your home, camel crickets are often referred to as “accidental invaders”, as they might wander inside from their natural habitat.

They tend to gravitate towards garages, basements, and attics that offer the right combination of darkness and moisture.

To reduce the chances of camel crickets finding their way into your home, consider using a dehumidifier to decrease the moisture level in damp areas and routinely clear away potential hiding spots such as piles of leaves or wood.

Remember that camel crickets are attracted to dark and damp areas, so make an effort to minimize these conditions indoors and outdoors. By doing so, you can deter these insects from taking up residence in your living spaces.

Camel Cricket Diet and Survival

Camel crickets are known to be omnivores, meaning they consume various types of food. In their natural habitat, they feed on:

• Fungi: These insects thrive in moist environments where fungi are abundant.
• Plants: They consume plant debris, helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
• Wood: Camel crickets can chew on wood, breaking it down over time.
• Debris: They will also eat decaying organic matter and debris found in and around their hiding spots.

When it comes to their survival tactics, camel crickets have a few tricks up their sleeves. One of their key ways to avoid predators is their ability to jump.

They use their powerful hind legs to make surprising leaps, which can sometimes startle humans when encountered indoors.

Additionally, camel crickets are nocturnal creatures, meaning they’re most active during the night. This also helps them avoid predators, as they can move more discreetly in the dark.

Camel Cricket Infestations

Camel crickets are attracted to moist environments and can often be found in basements, crawl spaces, and garages. An infestation might not cause direct damage to your home, but their presence can be unsettling. To prevent camel cricket infestations, it’s essential to address potential entry points and eliminate their ideal living conditions.

Here are some preventative measures to consider:

• Seal any cracks and gaps in your home’s foundation and walls.
• Keep firewood and debris away from your home.
• Maintain proper ventilation in basements and crawl spaces.
• Reduce moisture by using a dehumidifier, fixing leaks, or installing proper drainage systems.

If you already have a camel cricket infestation, consider the following pest control options:

• Use sticky traps in areas where you’ve spotted camel crickets. These traps can help capture and monitor the cricket population.
• A vacuum cleaner can effectively remove camel crickets, especially in tight spaces. Make sure to dispose of the vacuum bag immediately after use.
• Insecticides can be an option, but should only be used as a last resort. Always follow label instructions and consult a professional if needed.

When dealing with camel crickets, remember:

• They are attracted to moist environments.
• Preventative measures are key to avoiding infestations.
• Sticky traps and vacuuming can help with existing infestations.
• Use insecticides with caution and only as a last resort.

By addressing moisture problems and sealing entry points, you can prevent camel cricket infestations and keep your home cricket-free.

Why Do Camel Crickets Jump at You?

Camel crickets are known for their jumping behavior, which can be startling to some people. They do this as a defensive mechanism when they feel threatened or as a way to escape predators.

These crickets are not known to be dangerous to humans, as they don’t bite and are not poisonous. However, they can be a nuisance in homes, as they’re attracted to damp and dark environments like basements and crawlspaces.

Common Issues with Camel Crickets

• Tend to chew on clothing, fabrics, carpet, and cardboard
• Can cause damage to household items
• May create a sense of unease due to their jumping behavior

To manage a camel cricket infestation, you can try using soapy water as a natural means to kill them. Ensure that all cracks and holes in your home are sealed to prevent their entry.

Please remember that camel crickets also do have their benefits. They consume unwanted pests such as spiders and other insects, possibly saving you from other unwelcome nuisances.

If you don’t mind their presence, they can even be considered an unconventional pet. In the end, know that camel crickets are more safe than dangerous for human interaction.

The Lifecycle of a Camel Cricket

A camel cricket’s life begins when the female lays her eggs in a moist, dark environment. These crickets pass the winter as nymphs (immatures) or adults. You may spot these nymphs looking almost identical to adults but smaller.

At the early stages, the eggs hatch into nymphs, and they start to grow. As you observe their growth, you’ll notice some features; such as:

• Long, spindly legs
• Cavernous, humpbacked body
• Brownish coloration

These camel crickets develop through a process called gradual metamorphosis, meaning they do not have a pupal stage like other insects. Gradual metamorphosis involves three main stages:

1. Egg
2. Nymph
3. Adult

During their lifecycle, camel crickets are typically found in moist areas, – outdoors under stones, logs, or stacks of firewood. Also, overgrown areas with vegetation such as ivy provide excellent hiding places for them.

Defensive Mechanisms of Camel Crickets

Camel crickets are known for their unique defense mechanism, which involves jumping towards perceived threats.

This behavior is quite surprising, especially when you encounter them in your home or garden. But let’s explore the reasoning behind this action.

Jumping as a survival strategy

When a camel cricket senses a potential predator or threat, it relies on its strong hind legs to jump in the direction of the danger. This action might startle the approaching predator, giving the cricket a chance to escape.

Jumping towards the threat might seem counterintuitive, but it can catch predators off guard and increase the cricket’s chances of survival. So when a camel cricket jumps at you, it’s their way of trying to protect themselves.

Blending in and staying quiet

Camel crickets have additional ways of evading predators besides their impressive jumping skills. They are usually brownish in color, which enables them to blend in with their surroundings.

This camouflage helps them hide from potential predators, including other insects. Moreover, unlike other cricket species, camel crickets don’t chirp, making it harder for predators to locate them.

Unique characteristics that support their defenses

Camel crickets possess certain features that contribute to their defense mechanisms, such as:

• Large hind legs that allow them to jump considerable distances
• Humpbacked appearance, which aids in blending into their environment
• Long antennae that help them sense nearby predators or threats

In conclusion, the defense mechanisms of camel crickets are primarily based on their ability to jump towards predators and blend in with their surroundings.

Their unique characteristics make them adept at avoiding danger, even if it means surprising you by jumping at your face.

Misconceptions About Camel Crickets

Many people mistakenly believe that camel crickets are spiders, but they’re actually insects.

They have a hump-backed appearance, which gives them their name, and are commonly found in colors like tan, reddish brown, or dark brown. Let’s debunk some common misconceptions about these unique creatures.

• They’re not spiders. Despite being called “spider crickets” or “sprickets”, camel crickets are insects, not arachnids. They have six legs instead of a spider’s eight.

• They don’t chirp. Unlike other crickets, camel crickets do not chirp or produce any sound. This is because they lack the sound-producing organs typical of other cricket species.

Here are some more misconceptions and facts to help you better understand camel crickets:

Misconception	Fact
They fly	Camel crickets are wingless and cannot fly, they use their powerful hind legs to jump.
They have poisonous fangs	Camel crickets don’t have fangs or venom, making them harmless to humans.

• Jumping at you. While it’s true that camel crickets might jump toward you when startled, they don’t do it intentionally. It’s just their natural instinct to jump when surprised, which might make them appear more aggressive than they actually are.

Keep in mind that camel crickets are not dangerous to you or your home, and understanding these misconceptions can help you better appreciate these unique creatures.

Conclusion

In conclusion, camel crickets’ startling jumping behavior is a defensive mechanism triggered by their poor vision.

These unique insects, thriving in moist and dark environments, are harmless to humans but can be a nuisance in homes. Understanding their behavior and habitat preferences is key to managing potential infestations.

By maintaining dry, well-ventilated spaces and sealing entry points, we can coexist with these fascinating creatures without undue concern.

Reader Emails

Over the years, our website, whatsthatbug.com has received hundreds of letters and some interesting images asking us about camel crickets. Scroll down to have a look at some of them.

Letter 1 – Camel Cricket

Scary Bug – looks like a shrimp/armadillo
I keep finding these things in my house. Is that tail a stinger? Any clue as to what it is?
Patrick Mooney
Voorhees, NJ

Hi Patrick,
This is a Camel Cricket or Cave Cricket. They like damp dark places. The so-called stinger is an ovipositor which distinguises the female. She uses it to lay eggs.

Letter 2 – Camel Cricket

What Kind of Bug is This???
And, more importantly, how do I get rid of them? They are coming in our basement and garage and invading our home. Our basement is finished (my bedroom is down there) and I’m so creeped out by these FAST hopping creatures that I won’t even get up to use the bathroom without turning on the whole room list and looking around before getting out of bed. The bug body is an inch or less but the antennae or feelers or whatever they are can be 2 inches or more on the bigger ones.
Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer.
Beth Clark

Hi Beth,
They are Camel Crickets and they like damp dark places so a basement is an ideal habitat. You might want to buy a small pet lizard and then you won’t have to go to the pet store for food.

Letter 3 – Camel Cricket

What’s this bug
Hi Bugman,
We came across this bug last weekend in the Randy Stoltman Wilderness area, near Pemberton. It only came out at night. Any ideas what it is?
Warren

Hi Warren,
We have gotten many letters concerning Cave Crickets or Camel Crickets. They often inhabit damp basements.

This just in from Eric Eaton (11/16/2005) “The camel cricket from Warren, found in the Randy Stoltman Wilderness Area near Pemberton, 9/07/2005, is the “squarelegged camel cricket,” Tropidischia xanthostoma. They are huge, attaining a legspan of nearly eight (8) inches!! Would really like to see that image on Bugguide, as we only have one as of now.”

Letter 4 – Camel Cricket

some comments about camel crickets
My hubby and I visited a WV cave last year. The tour guide told us to beware the “cave cricket”, that it had been known to bite people and cause serious infection due to the fact that it feeds on carion, refuse, etc. It so happens, that a few month later, this huge camel (cave) cricket was in our kitchen. Having believed the tour guide, I tried to crush it with one of hubby’s large boots. The next morning, it was no longer under the boot, nor anywhere else to be seen. Thank God, it got away and apparently, wasn’t injured. I never saw this huge cricket again, however, there have been two smaller ones that come up often to the kitchen. Unfortunately, the smaller of those two was apparently bitten by a spider. I found it wrapped up tightly and hanging in a spider lair beneath the cupboard, just yesterday. (Dang spiders, but I guess they have to have food too.) The other one, however, (both are males), and I know which one it is because it was suddenly missing it’s left rear hopping leg, yes, the big hopping leg … anyway, this one still comes to the kitchen every 2 or 3 days, late at night. I always look for it and I offer it multigrain bread, which it really chows down on, big time! Assuming they have some hearing ability, I speak softly to it when offering the bread. It seems to have lost any fear, since it doesn’t jump away now like it did at first, apparently becoming accustomed to receiving food. I find these critters to be quite interesting and have done what research I can online about them. Meanwhile, I found a neat photo of one that look like the ones we have here, except it’s definitely a female and I have permission to use the photo to create a logo for the graphics business I’m trying to get started. (Lotta nice people on the net willing to share, and for certain, I will give the photographer credit for his great picture, which I haves included below. His name is Bob Patterson.) Isn’t she lovely? I think so! Not to belabor an issue, but somewhere I ran across a site where they were discussing whether or not camel crickets were satanic! Can you believe it? If I can find that site again, I intend to post a comment there about how goofy they all are, (the people, not the crickets). I’ve also seen sites that say the crickets eat carpet and clothing … sheesh! My crickets never come on to the carpet … they stay on the kitchen vinyl and look for crumbs. Perhaps all crickets are not alike … but I always hate the thoughts of misinformation on the net for everyone to read. Why on earth would a cricket chow down on synthetic fibers??? Makes no sense. Anyway, you have a wonderful site and I truly appreciate it! Please keep up the great work!
Warmest Regards,
Bunny

Thank you for your great letter Bunny.

Letter 5 – Camel Cricket

Subject:  Land Shrimp
Geographic location of the bug:  Cleveland, OH
Date: 10/22/2019
Time: 12:05 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  This bug jumped onto my face
From behind the glider on the porch. I took its picture after an almost-cardiac-event. It looks like a shrimp; with a humped-up curved body but has cricket qualities as well…ideas ?
How you want your letter signed:  Bee Bee Wee Pee

Dear Bee Bee Wee Pee,
This is a Camel Cricket or Cave Cricket in the family Rhaphidophoridae.  The first common name refers to the hump you observed and the second common name refers to this families preference for dark, damp locations, including basements. 

Letter 6 – Camel Cricket

Subject:  Grasshopper? Has back pincers!!
Geographic location of the bug:  Central Louisiana
Date: 09/26/2021
Time: 01:06 AM EDT
Your letter to the bugman:  What is this?
Pen placed in picture to help gauge size.
How you want your letter signed:  Love, The Bug Man {I really don’t understand this question}

This is not a Grasshopper.  It is a Camel Cricket, which is in the same insect order as Grasshoppers, so they share characteristics.  Camel Crickets prefer damp, dark places, and they are frequently found in basements.