Learn all about spider cricketsalso known as camel or cave cricketsand how to get them out of your house.
If youve never seen a spider cricket before, consider yourself lucky.
As its name suggests, this long-legged insect resembles a cricket with a bit of spider thrown in.
Credit:MattiaATH / Getty Images
MattiaATH / Getty Images
Facts About Spider Crickets
So what is a spider cricket anyway?
And do they cause any harm to you or your home?
Here’s what to know.
A spider cricket isnt a spider or a cricket.
Good news for anyone with arachnophobiadespite their name, these pests arent spiders.
Although theyre not spiders, theyre not crickets, either.
These insects have several names.
Spider crickets dont chirp.
Another characteristic that separates spider crickets from true crickets is their chirping ability (or lack thereof).
Spider crickets dont bite (technically).
Do spider crickets bite?
The short answer is no.
The long answer is a little more complicated.
While that wouldnt break the skin, it could still feel unpleasant like a pinch.
Spider crickets are not picky eaters.
Spider crickets can make a meal out of lots of different household items.
Theyre more common east of the Mississippi River.
Some species are native to the United States, but others are native to parts of Asia.
Youre most likely to see them indoors in the summer and fall.
If you suspect you already have a problem, the following actions can help.
Turn on a dehumidifier.
Getting rid of clutterand cardboard boxes eliminates the pests hiding spots and food sources.
Place these where walls and floors intersect in basements and other places where you encountered these creatures.
Spider crickets love fungi, so a moldy piece of bread could work.
When they go after the bait, they get stuck and die.
Once youve caught a few, the dead ones stuck to the trap become bait for these little cannibals.
Put out bowls of soapy water.
The crickets are attracted to the water and drown in the bowl while trying to drink it.
Run (and empty) your vacuum.
Spider crickets may look terrifying, but theyre not very different from their true cricket cousins.
They also leave behind dark droppings (frass), which may stain walls, surfaces, and fabrics.
Spider crickets live for about one to two years.
Shipman M. Asian camel crickets now common in U.S. homes.
September 2, 2014.
Accessed July 31, 2024. https://news.ncsu.edu/2014/09/epps-camel-crickets-2014/.
