Cave Cricket Facts & Information
Everything you need to know about cave crickets
What Do Cave Crickets Look Like
Cave crickets, also called cellar crickets or camel crickets, are often mistaken for spiders. They are light to dark brown in color, often spotted with lighter or darker areas. Adults can grow to between ½ inch to 1 ¼ inch. Though lacking wings, they possess large hind legs that allow them to jump far and high and a lengthy set of antennae that helps them navigate dark environments like basements, garages, and cellars. If you are seeing a lot of them, a cave cricket exterminator may be necessary.
Cave crickets are often referred to as camel crickets because of their humpbacked appearance, which is similar to that of a camel. This cricket can be found in caves as well as damp, cool areas underneath damp leaves, stones, rotting logs – and your basement. They are widespread in the United States and in the world, and have a lifespan of about one to two years. Camel crickets do not possess sound producing organs, and therefore do not chirp. Additionally, the adults do not have wings, unlike other cricket species. Using their long limbs, cave crickets leap when they are frightened since it’s the only defense mechanism they have to scare off predators. Works on most!Not the cricket you have?
Cave crickets are often referred to as camel crickets because of their humpbacked appearance, which is similar to that of a camel. This cricket can be found in caves as well as damp, cool areas underneath damp leaves, stones, rotting logs – and your basement. They are widespread in the United States and in the world, and have a lifespan of about one to two years. Camel crickets do not possess sound producing organs, and therefore do not chirp. Additionally, the adults do not have wings, unlike other cricket species. Using their long limbs, cave crickets leap when they are frightened since it’s the only defense mechanism they have to scare off predators. Works on most!Not the cricket you have?
How Did I Get Cave Crickets
Cave crickets love humid areas and nocturnal, or active at night, hiding during the day. Unfortunately, they are attracted your basement because of the tiny amount of moisture they actually need to live and for the lack of foot traffic that would startle them otherwise. Once indoors, they are often found in damp basements, utility rooms, crawl spaces, garages, and occasionally attics. Due to their tendency to congregate together, larger populations pose an increasing risk to cause damage at the site of infestation. So, having cave crickets doesn’t mean your home is unclean. They are a very common cricket in our area.
Typically residing outdoors, cave crickets can be found around buildings, typically in cool, moist environments such as beneath stones, mulch, railroad ties, woodpiles, and debris. Furthermore, tall grass, weeds, caves, and holes in the ground are also common locations where these pests reside. Near homes, they can also be found in wells and drainage pipes, or under sheds and air conditioner units. When it becomes hot and dry outside, camel crickets may move inside as they struggle to reproduce outside of their preferred dark and damp environments.
They often overwinter as young nymphs or adults, as cave crickets have the ability to live without sufficient food sources. Females will lay their eggs in early spring, preferring dark, warm, and humid areas. These eggs will then typically hatch during April. For food, camel crickets consume wood, carpet, fungi, cardboard, other insects, and even other crickets in some instances.
They often overwinter as young nymphs or adults, as cave crickets have the ability to live without sufficient food sources. Females will lay their eggs in early spring, preferring dark, warm, and humid areas. These eggs will then typically hatch during April. For food, camel crickets consume wood, carpet, fungi, cardboard, other insects, and even other crickets in some instances.
Problems Caused by Cave Crickets
Besides looking like a large spider that can jump, they don’t cause any other problems than that. Their size and impressive jumping ability can make them intimidating and in an already dark basement, boiler room, or garage, nobody is going to like heading down there. They will bite if they feel like they need to defend themselves but it’s highly unlikely. At the end of the day, you just don’t want them in your home or business, so bring us in for cave cricket treatments for ultimate cave cricket control.
How Do I Prevent Cave Crickets
The most effective way to prevent a cave cricket infestation is to reduce areas of moisture in and around your home. A dehumidifier can prevent the moisture buildup that cave crickets are attracted to. Additionally, be sure to seal all possible points of entry around your house, keep crawl spaces, basements, and attics well ventilated, and store fire wood at least 20 feet away from your house. Reduction or elimination of moist harborage near structures, such as removing woodpiles and debris, can help control outdoor camel cricket populations. Since these pests can find homes in garbage cans or tall grass, be sure to move cans away from your house and mow tall grass. If none of that works, bring in a professional cave cricket exterminator to deal with them for you.
WHY OPC FOR CAVE CRICKET CONTROL
We’re passionate about controlling cave crickets for you because we live and work here – it’s our neighborhood, too. We’ve been keeping homes and businesses in Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin safe from pests since 1972. OPC Pest Services has the experience you can trust.
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“OPC has kept the crickets and spiders in check in our 200 year old house. We use them on an annual contract and the results of their visits have been fantastic. Money well spent!”
Louisville, KY