Camel Cricket

Category:

Actual Size: ½ to 1.5”

Characteristics: Long antennae; light tan to dark brown in color with dark bands on hind legs.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: No

Habitat: Prefers dark, damp areas in North Jersey. Known for infesting garages, crawl spaces, basements, storage rooms, and living areas.

Habits:

  • Do not chirp and more closely related to katydids than crickets.
  • Can live for up to two years and are a widespread pest in the United States.
  • Leaps into the air when frightened to ward off predators.

Camel Crickets in North Jersey

Named after the distinctive rounded hump on its back, camel crickets are also known as “cave crickets” or “land shrimp”. Though they are not true crickets and are actually more closely related to katydids, they are still a prevalent problem in the United States – including here in New Jersey. Camel crickets do not produce a chirping sound, but they frequently infest homes when the weather outside is hot or dry. Since they are large and capable of jumping quickly, they can be unnerving to come across inside your home and may be a challenge to get rid of.

Camel Cricket Habitat

Most camel crickets prefer moist and dimly-lit environments. Outdoors, they tend to stay inside of leaf litter, beneath stones, or inside of hollow trees. It’s easy to accidentally carry them indoors on firewood, which they also like to infest. In the fall or during a drought, these crickets may enter your home in search of shelter or water. They often infest basements and crawl spaces – sometimes in large quantities, making them a rather unsettling houseguest. Though they aren’t known to bite, camel crickets regularly eat fabric, houseplants, and clothing.

Camel Cricket Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Camel crickets are not aggressive and don’t pose a threat to human health. That said, they can be a real nuisance to deal with. By jumping around and chewing up your clothes or killing your houseplants, camel crickets can become an annoying problem in a short amount of time. If you suspect you have camel crickets in your basement, crawl space, attic, or other area of the home, get in touch with Eastern Pest Services! Our trained technicians know how to get rid of these pests quickly and efficiently, so you can enjoy a bug-free home.