I called them "demon bugs" until I learned what they were. They are
terrifying and disgusting but don't seem to cause much damage. I rent in a
very old house with a crawlspace underneath. There seems to be no hope of
eliminating them.
The cat has gotten fairly good at hunting them.
Camel Crickets
Summary: Camel crickets do not chirp so you do not know they are present. They like to linger in dark, damp places. If they are in your home, your clothes and carpets may be at risk. You can learn more about products to help control camel crickets or purchase them here.
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Camel crickets derive their name from the humpback appearance of their bodies. They have long antennae and long, thin legs, similar to those of a daddy longlegs spider. They are usually light tan to dark brown in color.
Camel crickets, also called cave or humpback crickets, are typically ½ inch to 1-½ inches long. The main difference in appearance between camel crickets and other types of crickets is that adult camel crickets do not have wings.
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How can you tell if the crickets in or around your home are camel crickets? Well, camel crickets do not chirp. So, if you are hearing chirping from the crickets, you most likely have been paid a visit by field crickets. You are unlikely to know you have camel crickets until you uncover one while searching the depths of a seldom-visited basement room. Camel crickets enjoy spending their time in dark, damp places and do not chirp, so they can live in a house unnoticed for long periods.
Camel crickets inhabit moist areas outdoors in places like stacks of firewood, stones, logs, and caves. They will also hide under places that provide good coverage such as beneath porches, inside sheds, and in patches of ivy.
Camel crickets cannot reproduce indoors unless they are exposed to moisture for a significant period of time. Female camel crickets lay their eggs in the soil in early spring. These eggs hatch into nymphs.
Camel crickets feed on leaf debris, paper products, and even fabrics like linens and furs. They will typically eat any kind of decaying organic matter. They become pests to humans in times of extreme weather conditions such as excessive rainfall or long periods of hot, dry weather. Because they love moist and humid areas, you can expect to see them any place where moisture is available.
Camel crickets will not cause much damage to your home unless they are permitted to live inside for long periods. If you do not act quickly to get rid of them, they may feed on clothing or linen stored in boxes in garages or basements. Camel crickets cannot bite or sting, but it is always best to deal with the infestation problem sooner rather than later.
Here are some tips for keeping camel crickets out of your home:
 Damage to fabric |
Seal any gaps or cracks in windows, doors and the foundation of your home.
Tightly apply weather-stripping to the bottom of garage doors and entryways.
Keep boxes off of the ground and away from corners to make inspections easier.
Eliminate moisture inside as much as possible, especially in humid areas such as your garage, crawlspace, basement or other storage areas.
Make sure water flows away from the outside foundation of your home. Water accumulating against foundation walls may allow water to seep through foundations providing the necessary moisture and humidity required by these crickets. Installation of drainage may be required to achieve this.
Keep mulch at least one foot away from the foundation of your home.
Avoid putting shrubs or ground cover near the foundation of your home.
Avoid storing firewood against your house or underneath decks.
Place glue boards in corners and behind appliances to trap camel crickets.
If you discover camel crickets inside your home, any of the common aerosol insecticides can be used on baseboards or behind appliances. If discovered outdoors, insecticide granular baits can be used around the perimeter of your home. Chemical sprays are useful on the foundation, vents, and door thresholds. Handling pesticides is always an issue. A licensed pest control company can provide this service and eliminate the need to store unused pesticides.
For more cricket articles please click here .
Comments
Adrian
22 Mar 2010, 13:52
22 Mar 2010, 13:52
Ana
04 Apr 2010, 20:32
04 Apr 2010, 20:32
So for the longest I didn't know what the bugs were. I would go downstairs
in my basement...and hear tapping that was the sound of them jumping. They
are so ugly I thought a spider and a cricket got together and made this
haha. I am happy to know that they do not sting or bite but they still
scare me. They haven't been around my basement in months my dad smashed
them all.
Dave T in NY
06 Apr 2010, 10:20
06 Apr 2010, 10:20
So... the "alarm" bell went off last night at 3:45am when my wife jumped up
in bed and shrieked, "Something was ON my face!" Her Number ONE phobia in
life are grasshoppers... Read on.
That was the last straw... I had "treated" around the outside and in the house within the past week with a chemical from Bayer (yes, the aspirin manufacturer) and thought I had done a thorough job... Apparently not after last night's horror show. I read up a little more on these "Camel" crickets and also discovered that a relatively safe but effective granular chemical to use on these pests is called NIBAN. I'll be stopping by my local home center, today, to track this stuff down... as mentioned it comes in a granular form and can be used inside and out. Let me tell you, our basement's furnace room will be getting a nice dose of this stuff...
Also of note if you need to kill the stray bugger in your main living area, using a fly swatter is pretty effective at nailing them. Being a drummer I'm deadly with the swatter. Not that I want to be killing bugs in my home: they're not supposed to BE there in the first place!
That was the last straw... I had "treated" around the outside and in the house within the past week with a chemical from Bayer (yes, the aspirin manufacturer) and thought I had done a thorough job... Apparently not after last night's horror show. I read up a little more on these "Camel" crickets and also discovered that a relatively safe but effective granular chemical to use on these pests is called NIBAN. I'll be stopping by my local home center, today, to track this stuff down... as mentioned it comes in a granular form and can be used inside and out. Let me tell you, our basement's furnace room will be getting a nice dose of this stuff...
Also of note if you need to kill the stray bugger in your main living area, using a fly swatter is pretty effective at nailing them. Being a drummer I'm deadly with the swatter. Not that I want to be killing bugs in my home: they're not supposed to BE there in the first place!
Andy
06 Apr 2010, 23:38
06 Apr 2010, 23:38
I live in the DC area and moved into a basement apartment about a year ago.
That was the first time I'd ever seen these things. They're harmless, but
they are gnarly looking and quite possibly some of the stupidest bugs I've
ever encountered. Their defense mechanism is jumping AT what they perceive
to be their enemy. I am over 6 feet tall and weigh 240 pounds. They never
win that fight. I keep a mini shop vac around to take care of bugs. I'd
like to let some of these bugs live to eat ants and flies and whatnot, but
from what I read camel crickets don't do anything but eat furniture and
clothes, which is kind of funny. Spiders immediately get the Shop Vac
treatment. Can't let them stay alive around these parts - DC area has both
Brown Recluses and Black Widows.
Mine actually disappeared during the winter, almost all bugs did. Unfortunately since I rent, I can do nothing about sealing up the walls or foundation. I may try some spray foam on the outside of the 2 windows. I can't imagine myself or any renter ever opening them. But not sure I can really do anything at all to get rid of the camel crickets. There's a sump pump somewhere around here, and our boiler room is right next to my bedroom. The build quality of this house is suspect so there's lots of places for bugs to invade. The previous tenant wasn't here much so he didn't pay a lot of attention. Since I'm now 12 months into my bug murder campaign, there are far less. I was killing 3-5 spiders a day after work and usually a few camel crickets. Today I saw a cricket but he ran back into the boiler room and I only killed 2 spiders. Not bad for the first hot day of spring. I think my reputation amongst the bugs has spread!
Mine actually disappeared during the winter, almost all bugs did. Unfortunately since I rent, I can do nothing about sealing up the walls or foundation. I may try some spray foam on the outside of the 2 windows. I can't imagine myself or any renter ever opening them. But not sure I can really do anything at all to get rid of the camel crickets. There's a sump pump somewhere around here, and our boiler room is right next to my bedroom. The build quality of this house is suspect so there's lots of places for bugs to invade. The previous tenant wasn't here much so he didn't pay a lot of attention. Since I'm now 12 months into my bug murder campaign, there are far less. I was killing 3-5 spiders a day after work and usually a few camel crickets. Today I saw a cricket but he ran back into the boiler room and I only killed 2 spiders. Not bad for the first hot day of spring. I think my reputation amongst the bugs has spread!
Les
07 Apr 2010, 15:05
07 Apr 2010, 15:05
Andy, I also noticed that the monsters were away for the winter, after my
treatment with canister gas and glue traps. But it looks like they're back
again, here in North Georgia, for the Spring. I found two, one alive, one
dead. I'm ready to resume my extermination campaign.
Good luck to all
Good luck to all
Penny
10 Apr 2010, 15:37
10 Apr 2010, 15:37
I am glad I found this site. I like alot of you couldn't figure outthese
"things" were. I too thought there was some mutation and a spider and a
cricket had mated somehow. But by seeing this site I now know what these
"things" are. I only see them in my bathroom, so far. I wont go to the
bathroom by myself at night. I wake my husband up and make him go check the
bathroom for the bugs first, and then I make him stay in the bathroom until
I am done. I have a 9yr old son and he is terrified of these "things". I am
starting to see about 3 to 4 a day, so does that mean that I have an
infestation of these "things"? I am sending my husband to the hardware
store to get some bug bombs and some raid, I sure hope it helps. I would
hate to have to move, but I am done with these "things"! I live in Indiana,
in the city!!
Lisa
10 Apr 2010, 22:46
10 Apr 2010, 22:46
I am laughing pretty hard at all of these comments...only because I can
totally relate! I am not a fan of any kind of bug, let alone these horible
monsters. My husband and I have named them Spider-hoppers because they seem
like they are a cross between a grasshopper and a spider. We moved into our
house in Feb last year and they didn't show up until the summer. They went
away for the winter and now they are back. We first discovered them when I
felt something on on my face in the middle of the night and brushed it away
- I didn't know what it was at the time but I am sick to my stomach just
thinking about it. Then, once we saw these things in the basement and
around our dog's food dish, we realized that what was actually sneaking
onto our bed at night. Ewwwww. We had our daughter in June and one night
there was one crawling up my comforter towards me (I slept with one eye
open) so I quickly (more like frantically) brushed it away and it landed on
the edge of my daughter's bassinette and crawled along the edge. I screamed
and jumped to the other side of the bed, leaving my poor, helpless daughter
to fend for herself. My husband was pretty startled and had to defend his
family against this creature (he had no choice even though he is as
terrified as I am of these things). Anyway, I have nightmares about these
things and am relieved to know that we are not the only ones with these
mutant creatures in our house. I am going to buy some bug traps for our
basement tomorrow and am even considering buying a cat.
Lisa
10 Apr 2010, 22:47
10 Apr 2010, 22:47
By the way, I live in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Doreen
16 Apr 2010, 21:26
16 Apr 2010, 21:26
I hate those little creatures!! They typically stay in the basement, but
one night I woke up and one had crawled down the back of my pajama
top....needless to say, I ripped the top off and proceeded to hit the bug
with my slipper. I went to get a broom and dustpan to collect the dead bug
and found a worm-like thing coming out of it. It kept coming and coming, I
quickly got bug and wormie thing into the dust pan and flushed it in the
toilet. I found this happening other times when I've killed this type of
bug. Talk about a science fiction type of thriller....unfortunately it
really happened.
Doreen
16 Apr 2010, 21:34
16 Apr 2010, 21:34
Last year I used BioLawn services to spray the outside of my house for box
elder bugs and asian beetles. It seems it also helped to keep a lot of the
camel crickets from coming into the basement. I did find a few here and
there, but not to the extent from before. BioLawn's weed and bug control
is made from plant extracts, so it's probably as natural as one can get.
I'm going to try the roach traps that someone has suggested. Also, when
you go after those bugs, they hop at you and sometimes lose their prickly
hind legs.....yucky, yucky, yucky!!!
bugbeasts
27 Apr 2010, 21:25
27 Apr 2010, 21:25
I had my entire house re-floored with hardwoods a year ago. Since then, I
see these huge evil bastards about once a week---in my bathrooms or the
garage and a few times lurking on the wall next to my bed. After reading
this, I am glad to know they aren't just some mutant species native only to
my home. I just wonder why they decided to move in since the carpet was
removed---or if they were always here hiding under the surface. I would
much rather be living with snakes or rats. My cat won't even fool with
them and he is a good 19 lbs!! I am totally petrified and grossed out.
I'll be calling Orkin in the morning or getting a shotgun and taking up
target practice. Will keep you posted........
Kris
28 Apr 2010, 23:56
28 Apr 2010, 23:56
Damn! I had troubles finding out what these suckers are, but finally I
figured it out. In the last year, I saw and KILLED one every month, but in
the last three days I eliminated one a day. Tonight I already killed to of
them. One was in my dinner plate and the other one was next to me on my
couch. WTF? They are really gross beasts...
Jodi
02 May 2010, 23:43
02 May 2010, 23:43
Well at least I am not alone. I first had my problem last fall. I had huge
ones. I like everyone else thought this was a cross between a spider and a
cricket. My husband brought home so industrial bug spray from work and we
would spray them as soon as we seen them. Unfortunately, I am allergic to
the spray and actually became very ill. I took one of the dead ones to a
bug guy and was told they were called mole crickets. Now I know they are
camal crickets. Anyway, like everyone else they were gone for the winter.
Then this morning, low and behold, there was 3 babies in my bathroom. That
seems to be where they like. Right in my tub. I usually drown because they
scare the hell out of me. I am even more nervous now because I have a 2
year old who has recently tasted ladybugs and ants. She has also recently
tried to catch a wasp. I am also 8 months pregnant so chemicals are out of
the question. Any other ideas?
Ask the Exterminator
03 May 2010, 07:30
03 May 2010, 07:30
It's moisture that attracts them. You can spray the ones inside and kill
them, but until you remove the source of moisture, they will return. Follow
the suggestions in the article.
Ginny Boyd
10 May 2010, 19:58
10 May 2010, 19:58
I have found these in the house,They are huge,But moisture or water leaks
attracts them,We had a water leak in a pipe in the ceiling,When they opened
the top of the ceiling,They got worse because came down into the house,I
prefer a natural way to kill them,I cannot stand the posion,So I use pine
oil to clean with or any pine related item,I knew it would kill any type of
ant and other bug so I tried it,It kills them at once or spray the area
that any bug or ant is coming in,It really works,I live in Tennessee,You
never know what you will get here.Hope this helps someone.
Veronica
12 May 2010, 21:06
12 May 2010, 21:06
I've lived in my house for 6 years and every spring & fall my house seems
to be infested! I swear they end up as big as a small shrimp!
I have an unfinished, very damp basement. However, there is NO way for them to get into my house from the basement. Between my boyfriend & I, we kill at least 6-10 each day.
Does anyone have any idea how to find out where the nest is? Looked at other cave cricket websites, but all the chemicals are harmful to pets & I have 2 cats.
Please help! I'm sick of them watching me pee & shower!
I have an unfinished, very damp basement. However, there is NO way for them to get into my house from the basement. Between my boyfriend & I, we kill at least 6-10 each day.
Does anyone have any idea how to find out where the nest is? Looked at other cave cricket websites, but all the chemicals are harmful to pets & I have 2 cats.
Please help! I'm sick of them watching me pee & shower!
Ask the Exterminator
13 May 2010, 11:38
13 May 2010, 11:38
Pesticides are only harmful to humans and animals if used improperly.
Follow the label on any pesticide on today's market and your pets will be
find. It's the misuse of pesticides that get's people into trouble.
Chico
13 May 2010, 23:35
13 May 2010, 23:35
These guys are all over my basement in the summertime, they've just been
starting to come back for this year in the last few weeks. Never knew what
they were until now, I always thought they were jumping spiders. I'd still
rather not have one jump on me but it's good to know they're just crickets.
Kayla in NY
16 May 2010, 00:21
16 May 2010, 00:21
Thank you Dave in NY for the Niban info - I will be getting and trying that
tomorrow. I also keep freaking thinking they are on my body now with that
story.
My kill tactic thus far has been a spray or four of Green Works or Windex followed thru with a smack of the swiffer. I told my 4 year old I was cleaning the wall with the swiffer because she will be horrified for all time if she sees there are critters in her house!
My kill tactic thus far has been a spray or four of Green Works or Windex followed thru with a smack of the swiffer. I told my 4 year old I was cleaning the wall with the swiffer because she will be horrified for all time if she sees there are critters in her house!
Amy in PA
19 May 2010, 02:11
19 May 2010, 02:11
I sleep in a finished basement and I found a giant one of these [insert
expletive here] hopping around on my floor. I literally shrieked and ran
away from it because the thing was hopping TOWARDS ME. Now, I'm not some
little thing, I'm 5'10", but it's creepy, it's coming at me, I just spent
an exhausting day at work, and I have no idea if this thing was gonna bite
me.
Since then I've found out they're basically harmless and I've only seen a couple since then-- unlucky for them, harispray means they can't move and my dog seems to consider them target practice. Good boy.
Since then I've found out they're basically harmless and I've only seen a couple since then-- unlucky for them, harispray means they can't move and my dog seems to consider them target practice. Good boy.
Laura in KY
21 May 2010, 14:55
21 May 2010, 14:55
Ok, everyone needs to calm down. These things are harmless to people, and
they actually provide a good service. I moved into a new house that was
infested with roaches (didn't know before I moved in), now those are
disgusting! I had inadvertently packed a few of the camel crickets with my
stuff, and I tossed them into the basement (I don't kill bugs). After two
weeks, I noticed that the roaches were gone. GONE. I concluded that the
crickets were either eating them or scaring them away. To test my theory,
after my mom moved into a new place with a few roaches, my son caught a
couple of crickets and tossed them into mom's basement. Again, roaches
gone. This is an effective way of getting rid of roaches in a totally
organic way, and the crickets usually leave on their own when the food
source is gone. I think they are amazing!!!
Leah
22 May 2010, 01:13
22 May 2010, 01:13
I was hoping these freak bugs had disappeared from my basement after the
winter (this is the 3rd year I've had them and every year I hope it is the
last). I think they came in on an old wooden box I got at an auction in
MD. I saw one an hour ago in my living room. They are moving up from the
basement. I'm usually a catch and release sort of person but these things
move too quickly and randomly for mercy.
Regan
25 May 2010, 11:52
25 May 2010, 11:52
Honestly, I'm thinking about moving out because of these heinous demon
bastards. I moved back in with my mom after I graduated college - and we
had moved from a home in the country to one in the city. Since then, we
have been forced to discover this relentless beast. I hate them with every
fiber of my being and I'm equally as terrified of them. During the
summertime, we kill 5-8 a day...during the winter, we kill 1-2 a month. I
live in the UPSTAIRS floor, and so I have NO idea how they get there.
People who say they only live in basements don't know what they're talking
about. They populate my bathroom and every morning and every night i
gingerly sneak in there armed with boots and a flyswatter, as if checking
for monsters underneath the bed. I can't get any sleep anymore for fear
they will get on my bed, and I get to work pissed of an grumpy in the
mornings from having battles with them while still in my pajamas. This
morning was my final straw as a monster one JUMPED toward me, as high as my
HEAD and chased me into another room. Everyone who hasn't dealt with them
makes fun of me for being so disgusted and terrified. I called the
exterminator. If he can't get rid of them...I'm moving. He is coming in 2
days and until then I am staying with my sister. I can't take the stress
anymore...I'm exhausted and I want to burn the house down (but would prefer
not to have Arson charges filed against me). If anyone finds anything that
ACTUALLY works...PLEASE....please....please...i'm begging you...
Rhea
29 May 2010, 01:38
29 May 2010, 01:38
I just came home about 30 minutes ago, and saw a huge spider-looking thing
with a huge body on my carpet. i was like oh no another spider, and i
grabbed a shoe and tried to squash it but it hopped so quickly away! I got
so scared but i pursued and tried to squash it again and lost it. Im glad
to hear they are harmless. I really thought it was a poisonus jumping
spider..
Laura
29 May 2010, 01:43
29 May 2010, 01:43
I just moved into a trailer in the middle of nowhere, and I was cleaning my
kitchen when I saw one of these on one of my kitchen chairs. I freaked, it
was HUGE! I thought it was some sort of mutated spider, and it jumped
TOWARDS ME! Oh I screamed bloody murder and drowned the bugger in Raid. I'm
just glad I got rid of it before it could hide again!
This is my first time in a trailer, I need to find all the holes and fill them in once and for all.
BTW, it says these things like moist dark spaces. My kitchen has 5 windows and isn't moist except for the sink, so wtf? Did I just get a brave bugger?
These things terrify me, I'm so scared of bugs..
This is my first time in a trailer, I need to find all the holes and fill them in once and for all.
BTW, it says these things like moist dark spaces. My kitchen has 5 windows and isn't moist except for the sink, so wtf? Did I just get a brave bugger?
These things terrify me, I'm so scared of bugs..
Ask the Exterminator
29 May 2010, 07:54
29 May 2010, 07:54
It's a trailer. I'm thinking the moisture, if any, is under the trailer. A
great product for sealing is Xcluder. Buy it at
http://shop.asktheexterminator.com/xcluder-outdoor-4-x10.html.
Joy
01 Jun 2010, 16:50
01 Jun 2010, 16:50
I moved into my sons basement abut 6 weeks ago and I thought I was doing a
pretty good job controlling these beast.. I used sevin dust boric acid and
some kind of kill over a hundred different creature spray they seemed
better.. This morning I swear I was brushing my teeth and one crawl
through the air vent in the sink... Then I got rid of him put some dust in
the drain and vent came back and there was two in the sink I hate these
thing... I have read they like moisture so I guess it may be time for a
dehumidifier...
IDONOTLIKECAMELCRICKETS
02 Jun 2010, 00:49
02 Jun 2010, 00:49
Im so tired of seeing these dag-blasted critters in my home. I have tried
spraying, traps, moving all firewood, dug up plants and re-landscaped
(leaving a gap between house and mulch), EVERYTHING.....But I thought about
burning down my house this morning when I felt one crawling on the bottom
protion of my lower lip!!!!! I do not know what else to do. Im TICKED!!
Ask the Exterminator
02 Jun 2010, 09:24
02 Jun 2010, 09:24
You haven't tried everything. You haven't put granular insecticides around
the outside foundation walls. You haven't figured out the moisture levels
along foundation walls and in the areas inside where you find the crickets.
They eat mold and algae. Find out how to stop the mold and algae and you
will stop the crickets.
Sick of Camels
02 Jun 2010, 10:34
02 Jun 2010, 10:34
These things truly are frightening. I HATE it when the jump up and hit me.
Last night one jumped on my pajama bottoms and I could feel it's "claws"
on my leg!!! I wanted to jump out of my skin!! When I did laundry, I
counted 20 of them in varying sizes on the wall behind and above the
machine. The garage floor is always hopping with a good number at night
and it's a horror walking through it to take out the garbage. I'm calling
Orkin today. I've had it.
MotherF**kers
05 Jun 2010, 23:22
05 Jun 2010, 23:22
Glue traps in the bathroom seem to work well, but I too am afraid to sleep
at night. I used to leave the light on just because I thought it would
help. It made my sleep awful and they still ventured in. I hate how they
jump and JUST WON'T DIE. Glad to hear you're all sharing my pain, was
watching a movie in the dark tonight and felt the long antennae on me and
luckily stunned it with my swap. I continued to use a shoe to pulverize the
sucker and I refuse to pick him up. I shiver just thinking about them. Ew
ew ew.
Living in southern NY, using all of the insect spray tomorrow and clearing all brush from around the house.
Living in southern NY, using all of the insect spray tomorrow and clearing all brush from around the house.
Brooke
07 Jun 2010, 22:22
07 Jun 2010, 22:22
I can totally relate to everyone here -- except these freaky looking things
only seem to come out while I am using the bathroom!! Twice in the same
night these darn things have interupted me while I was ya know.. using the
bathroom. My husband finds it quite comical but I on the other hand do not!
He is spraying the outside/inside of the house tomorrow in hopes of banning
these things from ever entering again.
Anna May
09 Jun 2010, 13:55
09 Jun 2010, 13:55
Wow, No one know this but I do form my government classification but they
are actually rouge robots out to detroy humanity at its core, Our
foundations. No BS
cricket hater
12 Jun 2010, 09:10
12 Jun 2010, 09:10
I have used Borax (available in the laundry detergent aisle) and
diatomaceous earth (for those of you with swimming pools) with some
success. Just sprinkle around the permimeter of the house. But, in the
end we called in a professional. He treats areas (like the crawl space)
that I wouldn't be caught dead in for fear of being attacked. Hate Hate
Hate these things. Very difficult to get rid of. We are four years into
the battle - fewer every year, but they're still here. :(
Justin
13 Jun 2010, 20:17
13 Jun 2010, 20:17
I find it a little funny, I almost love these things now! I used to be
scared and I'd shoot everyone I see, but after seeing that one day of not
having them around I was being attacked by beetles and spiders. I found it
was better for them to stay with me. I tested to see if they would eat a
spider so I killed one and kept it in a jar and waited for my spider eating
buddy to come. After I saw one in my bathroom I left the body in an area
where it could reach it and only it. The next morning the spider is torn
into pieces and all that is there is it's memory...and a few legs. So I did
another test. I found a live spider that wanted to live in my closet, So I
got my little friend with my hands put him close to the web then closed the
door. Woke up looked in closet and my cricket was happy to see me then went
to the bathroom leaving the legs of a spider under it's webs. Ever seance I
kept no more than 3 around and let the others go into the woods, my beetle
and spider problem has been under control! I'd rather have them leaving
with me rather than spiders and other creepy crawlies...I've really learned
to love these little freaks! <3 And yes I feed them when the spiders are
kind of not wanting to hand around! Lol
Marty
19 Jun 2010, 11:37
19 Jun 2010, 11:37
REDNECK SOLUTION>
We live in the south (NC) and have had the jumping devil bugs called camel crickets for a while now. Our boxer loves to chase and kill them. But he cannot keep up with them. We found a redneck solution to catching and killing them. Are you ready for this....Duct Tape, specifically the silver color, for some reason they do not go to the darker colors. We take a strip turning it inside out with the sticky side out and lying it on the floor in corners, along walls, stairs, etc... after several days it will be quite full and all you have to do is pick it up and throw it away. Duct tape is really cheap and works !
We live in the south (NC) and have had the jumping devil bugs called camel crickets for a while now. Our boxer loves to chase and kill them. But he cannot keep up with them. We found a redneck solution to catching and killing them. Are you ready for this....Duct Tape, specifically the silver color, for some reason they do not go to the darker colors. We take a strip turning it inside out with the sticky side out and lying it on the floor in corners, along walls, stairs, etc... after several days it will be quite full and all you have to do is pick it up and throw it away. Duct tape is really cheap and works !
Sarabeth
20 Jun 2010, 00:58
20 Jun 2010, 00:58
Oh my gosh; I HATE these bugs! One woke me up the other morning when he was
crawling on my arm. I couldn't fall asleep until 2am that night! Orkin
came out to spray for bugs in general, and he mentioned a camel cricket
bait (that they were currently out of) that works well. I'm hoping he
brings it soon. I currently have three dead crickets in my room and one
who is dying (he made the mistake of crawling into my bed and onto my elbow
this evening...thankfully I have the bug spray on my night stand, & he got
a hearty dose).
Did I mention that I hate these bugs? Seriously.
Marty, as a fellow North Carolinian, I'm going to buy some Duct Tape tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!
Did I mention that I hate these bugs? Seriously.
Marty, as a fellow North Carolinian, I'm going to buy some Duct Tape tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!
Johnny
24 Jun 2010, 22:43
24 Jun 2010, 22:43
I don't understand what the big deal is. I love having the camel crickets
around, they're like pets. They don't hurt you and they are silent. They
are actually really good to eat too. I put them on the grill in a little
BBQ sauce. Don't knock it til u try it!
jojhn
28 Jun 2010, 08:39
28 Jun 2010, 08:39
I live in Korea. The housing where I am is rather old (built sometime
after the war). Those damn things keep getting in my house through the
drains in the kitchen and bathroom. bathrooms in Korea are not like the
US. The whole bathroom is tiled and there s a drain in the floor (pretty
nice when you have to clean). BUT...cricket galore! I hate those things.
Korea also has like 3 months of rain in the summer so....you see my problem
is on going through june to august-sometimes even in september.
The only thing I can do is keep the air conditioning running and spray a little bleach water down the drains daily where they lay eggs.
I dont like putting bleach down the drains, but it works!
The only thing I can do is keep the air conditioning running and spray a little bleach water down the drains daily where they lay eggs.
I dont like putting bleach down the drains, but it works!
Ask the Exterminator
28 Jun 2010, 10:19
28 Jun 2010, 10:19
Run an electric fan. The air movement will keep the crickets away.
mommyof3
28 Jun 2010, 18:27
28 Jun 2010, 18:27
I am so happy I found this site. I absouluetly terrified of any insect bug
rodent slimy gooey jumpy or sneaky. These kittle demon scare me the most. I
walked into the bathroom one night and one jumped at me. Needless to say I
peed in the tub far away from that little booger!! Couple days later one of
those bastards was in my laundry basket I didnt kill it I left my husband
to itt!! I live in an apartment what can I do to keep these little heathens
out???
Ask the Exterminator
29 Jun 2010, 10:58
29 Jun 2010, 10:58
This article and others listed under the category "crickets" tells you all
that you can do to fight these crickets.
downwithhoppinbugs
01 Jul 2010, 13:51
01 Jul 2010, 13:51
I've never felt closer to anyone than I do all you people right now! I've
had ongoing episodes with these freak bugs for years. I was first
traumatized back in 1995 when I went downstairs, in the house we'd just
moved into, to do some laundry. Needless to say, the laundry went undone
after noticing the sinister insect lurking on the wall behind the washing
machine. A few days later, another one on the wall in the bedroom,
seemingly watching every move I made. I was a prisoner in my own
home...held captive by the terror this unknown bug was wreaking on me.
Several years, two different homes, and a few hundred fly swatters later,
I'm still doing battle. I'm happy to say though my marriage remains intact
even through all the frantic, midday calls to my husband to come home and
murder the offensive creature that had just shown itself on the living room
curtain - leaving me paralyzed with fear and frozen to the spot where I
stood. Over the years however, I have found that turning my panic into
anger works well as a coping mechanism. So now, when I venture downstairs
to do a little laundry and I find myself being stalked by what has to be
the grand-daddy of all "hoppin bugs", given it's size alone - I simply take
all the debilitating fear I'm feeling and turn it into a ranting, obscenity
screaming, arm flailing fit of rage worth of reality TV. No more calls to
the husband, the bug is dead and I'm movin' on......until the next siting.
julie
03 Jul 2010, 09:42
03 Jul 2010, 09:42
I laugh as I read all these stories. We have been battling these things
for years! The first one I saw 20 years ago was HUGE crawling on the
bedroom wall. Called my BF to drive 20 miles to come kill it. He ended up
moving furniture to finally get it, there was no way I was sleeping in that
room w/ that thing there.
Like most they started in the basement, even had an exterminator crawl under the house where he found a huge nest of them and 'supposedly' got rid of them. "Ha! you think it's that easy to get rid of us?", was their response. Even had one crawl up my nose one night-yuck! They can out live roaches, I swear! I'm all for the nuke option myself.
My god-daughter nicknamed them 'hoppies' to reduce their terror factor. We even have an ongoing game, every time we see one we read it its last rights and give it one chance to escape and get swept out of the door - otherwise splat! Been seeing a lot of babies lately, so the war begins again. Hopefully your advice will turn the tables and we may win this year.
Solidarity to my fellow hoppie warriors!
Like most they started in the basement, even had an exterminator crawl under the house where he found a huge nest of them and 'supposedly' got rid of them. "Ha! you think it's that easy to get rid of us?", was their response. Even had one crawl up my nose one night-yuck! They can out live roaches, I swear! I'm all for the nuke option myself.
My god-daughter nicknamed them 'hoppies' to reduce their terror factor. We even have an ongoing game, every time we see one we read it its last rights and give it one chance to escape and get swept out of the door - otherwise splat! Been seeing a lot of babies lately, so the war begins again. Hopefully your advice will turn the tables and we may win this year.
Solidarity to my fellow hoppie warriors!
Ew Ew EWWW
15 Jul 2010, 10:23
15 Jul 2010, 10:23
Okay. These monsters are NASTY. I feel as if my every move is being watched
because of the stupid bugs. I was taking a shower one night, minding my own
business, when I reach for my towel. I dry myself when I feel something
bumpy on the towel. Off comes a spider cricket! I literally screamed until
my throat was sore, calling for my dad to come and kill it. Unfortunately,
it escaped. I haven't seen it in a while. Now I'm just hoping it died on
it's own...
Laura M.
17 Jul 2010, 09:50
17 Jul 2010, 09:50
It amazes me that people are so scared of these things. I'm a 16 year old
girl, and frankly, they fall into the 'so-ugly-they're-cute' category.
Until today (when I finally decided to find out what they really are), my
family and I have been calling them 'cricket-hoppers'. When we see one we
just take it outside. They have never even tried to hurt us. One even took
a nap on my leg because I was too comfortable to move at the time. Besides,
I didn't really notice it until I read Justin and Laura in KY's comments,
but our spider population has decreased dramatically since the arrival of
the Camel's. Personally, I'd just leave them in the house if my pets
wouldn't eat them.
A simple solution.
18 Jul 2010, 13:25
18 Jul 2010, 13:25
Ok, so my girlfriend just moved into a new house and he family spotted a
couple of these ugly barres in the basement. Luckily I have had the
experience of them in my own home before and yes I got rid of them. Here's
what you gotta do. First off make sure all the windows are sealed. An open
window let's a bunch in the house faster then you think. Second, kill the
moister. These freaks depend on it to survive. Fans should be circulating
air on a constant basis. Buy some damp rid at your local home depot and
place a couple of those babies around or even better set up a dehumidifier.
Lastly, kill them when you see them! Don't let them get away! If you keep
this up these mutated freaks of natures stand no chance of surviving in
your home and will disappear. Hope this helps all you terrified women out
there. P.S. Laughed my ass off at some of the stories. Hilarious
DUBINESS
19 Jul 2010, 11:17
19 Jul 2010, 11:17
SUFFOCATE THEM
They freak me out too, as all big bugs do. I cannot kill small spiders and crickets I think of them as harmless but I hate big bugs. I cannot kill them by stepping on them or swatting them so I came up with an idea that worked for me. I took a plastic pint size take out container and trapped it underneath, they move slowly, you could never do this with a roach, and leave it there overnight and it dies! Then you find someone else, if you can to dispose of it. The worst was one day when I looked up at an airflow vent in my hallway and saw about 20 legs of dead ones hanging out of the vents. So creepy. Will spraying work. I saw it in my family room which is on the second floor. Does that mean they are in the basement and made their way up. That is a lot of spraying!
They freak me out too, as all big bugs do. I cannot kill small spiders and crickets I think of them as harmless but I hate big bugs. I cannot kill them by stepping on them or swatting them so I came up with an idea that worked for me. I took a plastic pint size take out container and trapped it underneath, they move slowly, you could never do this with a roach, and leave it there overnight and it dies! Then you find someone else, if you can to dispose of it. The worst was one day when I looked up at an airflow vent in my hallway and saw about 20 legs of dead ones hanging out of the vents. So creepy. Will spraying work. I saw it in my family room which is on the second floor. Does that mean they are in the basement and made their way up. That is a lot of spraying!
Ask the Exterminator
19 Jul 2010, 12:34
19 Jul 2010, 12:34
Spraying an insect directly with a pesticide will kill it, but it won't
prevent future infestations. That's where you need to follow the
recommendations pointed out in this article.
camel cricketts are the devil
28 Jul 2010, 21:34
28 Jul 2010, 21:34
I hate them. All of them. I wish they would all die. They are little
bastards. I am not scared of them, they just piss me off! They are all
over my house. They multipy like rabbits. I will stomp the life out of
them so hard I nearly break my ankle. A little tap with your shoe doesn't
do the trick. They just wait till you turn around and then put their
little legs back on and walk off. I make sure they do not escape death.
They are ugly, gross, annoying....I delight in seeing their little bodies
disassembled in the sticky traps I leave out for them. Knowing that they
tried so hard to get out but couldn't! Knowing that they hear my laughter
echoeing off the walls as they hop right in!! Yeah, I guess you could
definetely say that I HATE THEM!!!
Colt
31 Jul 2010, 02:35
31 Jul 2010, 02:35
I have been dealing with these gigantic bugs for such a long time as I have
a dark, dank crawlspace. I loved reading everyone's comments, as they are
the exact thoughts I've had when dealing with these crickets. Its a shame
cause they are indeed harmless, but their prehistoric appearance, enormous
size and super quick speed make them VERY unpleasant. One thing I have
noticed about them is this odd jet-black liquid that comes out of them, I
always wondered what the heck it was it looks like tar. Maybe its digested
mold or fungus? haha, gross.
Ask the Exterminator
02 Aug 2010, 22:50
02 Aug 2010, 22:50
It is partially digested food. It is thought the "spit" is a defensive tool
used by the crickets.
Kristin
05 Aug 2010, 22:13
05 Aug 2010, 22:13
So glad I figured out what these things were. I thought a cricket and a
grasshopper (two of my LEAST favorite things) had made some unholy union.
Sadly, knowing they are harmless doesn't make them any less disgusting.
There's one in my bathroom...I'm making a friend come over to get rid of
it. <extremely girly moment>
Toby
07 Aug 2010, 01:34
07 Aug 2010, 01:34
I noticed the spider-crickets in my basement a few years ago, but only saw
them every once in a while. We kept our cat in the basement at night so he
wouldn't bother us while we were sleeping. He died a few months ago and
now that he is gone there are a lot down there. I am going to buy
something to kill them ASAP, but our cat did a good job at keeping them
under control while he was still alive.
Rachel
17 Aug 2010, 22:51
17 Aug 2010, 22:51
A friend of mine and I have rented a basement apartment for the past three
weeks and we have been at war with the crickets since day one. Initially
we just had the dehumidifier running constantly and leaving certain lights
on regularly but we'd still be greeted by the horrid things every morning
on the trek to the bathroom. Recently we started putting the thick masking
tape down, wrapped in a circle with the sticky side up, like the guy
recommended with the Duct Tape. It has worked GREAT. We haven't seen any
bigger than a couple millimeters out hopping around. Make sure to put the
tape in dark corners or in spaces leading into dark unreachable areas (in
front of a closet, beside the refrigerator, laundry area). Just a warning
tho...these things can stay alive for days, so when you go to dispose of
them you may want to smash them first so they don't go crazy try to rip
themselves off the tape.
isaac
18 Aug 2010, 09:17
18 Aug 2010, 09:17
oh man!!! this is so damn funny!! i just caught one in my garage due to
my mom telling me stories for the past year of some kind of giant
"cricket-spider" mutation that came from the depths of hell! hahaha! i
was going to mail it to my cousin who's a biologist tagging bugs in
Alaska.... i thought i was going to get to name a new species!! these
things are freakin quick, and don't die! i sprayed the hell out of it with
windex, covered it with a tupperware and left it over night. the bugger
was still alive in the morning!
Norma
18 Aug 2010, 20:09
18 Aug 2010, 20:09
OMG!!!!
These stories are too funny. I am laughing but I feel your pain. My daughters has issues with this things in her house. I am about to close on a house and my son in law pointed out the crawl space and the crickets in the crawl space. I am not a happy camper at the moment. I am not one who can kill a bug. Not because I like them but because of the fear of them. Yes they don't bite but they are bugs EEWWWWW!!!!! I am preparing my game for when I move into the new home.
As soon as they hand me the keys to the house the first thing I will do is throw not put a bug bomb in that crawl sspace to kill the buggers already in tthere. Then I will spend the money on the dehumidifier if that works. Heck I may need to buy two. One for the basement and one for the upstair. It will be worth the money to have some peace from these horrible looking bugs.
These stories are too funny. I am laughing but I feel your pain. My daughters has issues with this things in her house. I am about to close on a house and my son in law pointed out the crawl space and the crickets in the crawl space. I am not a happy camper at the moment. I am not one who can kill a bug. Not because I like them but because of the fear of them. Yes they don't bite but they are bugs EEWWWWW!!!!! I am preparing my game for when I move into the new home.
As soon as they hand me the keys to the house the first thing I will do is throw not put a bug bomb in that crawl sspace to kill the buggers already in tthere. Then I will spend the money on the dehumidifier if that works. Heck I may need to buy two. One for the basement and one for the upstair. It will be worth the money to have some peace from these horrible looking bugs.
Tara
20 Aug 2010, 11:54
20 Aug 2010, 11:54
My basement on Long Island is loaded with these buggers. I hate it. I
have had them for like 20 years...they make me crazy, my husband does the
laundry now because I will not go in the basement. Can you just sprinkle
diatamacious earth around the outside of the house? What happens when it
rains, does it disapate? I would like to use a natural remedy as I have a 3
year old and two dogs...But people, glue traps do work, I have them set up
too! Nasty though to see them on there. Not a fan of them
Ask the Exterminator
20 Aug 2010, 14:11
20 Aug 2010, 14:11
Tara,
DE sprinkled around the outside foundation will not solve your problem. I don't think you've read the article. And, unless you are planning on rolling your child and pet in the pesticides you apply, they are totally safe, as long as you read and follow the label. Reading is really important regarding this issue.
DE sprinkled around the outside foundation will not solve your problem. I don't think you've read the article. And, unless you are planning on rolling your child and pet in the pesticides you apply, they are totally safe, as long as you read and follow the label. Reading is really important regarding this issue.
Tera
23 Aug 2010, 00:09
23 Aug 2010, 00:09
Laura M, your comment made me smile. The first time I ever saw this bug, I
thought I had discovered a new species, and I placed it in a baggie in the
freezer, to show scientists when I got the chance. Lol. I finally figured
out what they were. They used to gross me out, but since they are
harmless, I feel terrible having to kill them. But, my son's father hates
them so I guess I will have to evict them. This year was the first time I
saw babies. They are kind of translucent and pretty cute. Oh well, I will
try to seal my holes, and get rid of the mold so I won't have to kill them,
they won't be there. Bon voyage, my odd-looking inhabitants.
Matt_OKC
23 Aug 2010, 12:01
23 Aug 2010, 12:01
Another thing to do is put a 13 gallon (or just tall) trash can with a
couple inches of water out. I put one between my washing machine and the
wall. They jump in there and can't get out. Spray some Raid on them and
they'll be dead quickly. Dump trash can and repeat.
Scared to death
25 Aug 2010, 09:17
25 Aug 2010, 09:17
We just bought a house in Yonkers, NY. We haven't officially moved in, but
have been there doing repairs and painting. We have seen 3 of these
creatures in one week. I am so scared and horrified to read that they
actually made it into people's beds and onto their bodies. That is my
biggest nightmare. It actually sounds like hell. Orkin has already come &
sprayed. We are sealing all cracks, cutting down shrubs along the house.
Do they come through air conditioner vents? We were going to rip up the
carpets in the bedrooms. Will carpets act as some kind of barrier from
these things? We also have a crawl space and plan on having that treated,
the ventilation cut off and sealed with plastic. We are seriously
considering not moving in and putting the house right back on the market.
Ask the Exterminator
25 Aug 2010, 09:25
25 Aug 2010, 09:25
Knowing that these crickets thrive on algae and mold, I would suggest
investigating where the abundance of humidity is coming from before you
move into your home.
Carrie
27 Aug 2010, 20:59
27 Aug 2010, 20:59
We have these nasty bugs in our kitchen and bathroom. Luckily, my cat
loves to eat them, so I don't see them very often, but I seriously hate
them. I almost fell down the stairs one day when one jumped on my bare
foot. I guess as long as she keeps feasting, I won't have to spray. Don't
want to harm the cat with chemicals, but why do they have to be sooooo
BIG!?!?!?
Al B.
28 Aug 2010, 16:35
28 Aug 2010, 16:35
We have lived in a new house in NC for a few years and had seen inside 2 or
3 crickets every summer. This summer, though, starting to see (and catch) 1
or 2 a day! The house is very tight and these "jumpers" are huge.How can
they get in? I was stumped... what had changed? Incredibly, I dreamt about
the answer!
We had increased the level of pine needles in our flower beds around the house, and the only opening into "our house" was just a small hop away. The plastic air conditioning condensate drain pipe (damp 3/4" hole)was almost touching the pine needles.Once inside, it's a 20 feet easy crawl to the AC coil and air distribution ductwork.
To test my theory, I wrapped the registers with 1/4" galvanized wire mesh and set glue traps (both found at Lowe's) just below the registers and under the kitchen and bath cabinets that had air supplies. And, I also wrapped a fine stainless mesh (from Target)out of a kitchen sink strainer on the end of the condensate line.
Bingo! for the next couple of weeks nearly 40 crickets were caught on the glue traps. And then, no more jumpers! I suppose the ductwork population had been exhausted.
So, all you folks with forced air AC units, please check your condensate line.
We had increased the level of pine needles in our flower beds around the house, and the only opening into "our house" was just a small hop away. The plastic air conditioning condensate drain pipe (damp 3/4" hole)was almost touching the pine needles.Once inside, it's a 20 feet easy crawl to the AC coil and air distribution ductwork.
To test my theory, I wrapped the registers with 1/4" galvanized wire mesh and set glue traps (both found at Lowe's) just below the registers and under the kitchen and bath cabinets that had air supplies. And, I also wrapped a fine stainless mesh (from Target)out of a kitchen sink strainer on the end of the condensate line.
Bingo! for the next couple of weeks nearly 40 crickets were caught on the glue traps. And then, no more jumpers! I suppose the ductwork population had been exhausted.
So, all you folks with forced air AC units, please check your condensate line.
Alice from Oklahoma
31 Aug 2010, 20:03
31 Aug 2010, 20:03
so i just found onr in my room and just a warning i tried to turn around
and get a kleanex to kill it with and when i turned around it was gone so
if u see one don't take your eyes off of it call someone to come kill it
because other wise it will escape.
gfd
03 Sep 2010, 06:03
03 Sep 2010, 06:03
you can just light a lighter and then spray some bug spry and burn the guy