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Camel Crickets get their name from their humpbacked appearance, which is similar to that of a camel. They are nocturnal and very active at night, but hide during the day. Camel Crickets are found outdoors around buildings in cool, moist environments under mulch, woodpiles and leaf litter. Around the home, they can also be found underneath decks, in drainage pipes, wells, under sheds and air conditioner units.Camel Crickets are able to contort themselves, since they have “no real body structure”, thus enabling them to squeeze into even the smallest cracks to get inside your home. Camel crickets are completely harmless. They do not sting or bite and are not known to carry any disease.
Characteristics
Camel Crickets have six legs
Camel Crickets have very poor eyesight
Adult Camel Crickets do not have wings
Camel Crickets feed on organic material
Camel Crickets have two very long antennae
Camel Crickets seek warm climates with high humidity
Camel Crickets are light tan and brown, about 1-1 1/4″ long
Camel Crickets are humpbacked with long, very enlarged hind legs
Camel Crickets are unable to create sound, and therefore unable to sing or chirp
When frightened, Camel Crickets leap as a defense mechanism to scare predators
Camel Crickets prefer moist, dark, and damp environments such as garages, basements and crawl spaces
Reproduction
Since adult Camel Crickets are unable to chirp, they find their mates by producing scented pheromones
Adult male Camel Crickets will try to court a female before mating in the fall by flexing, showing off their hind quarters and general masculinity
Females lay their eggs in early spring and they hatch during April and May
Camel Crickets inhabit long grasses and areas of loose soil or sand in which to lay their eggs
Prevention
Clean out your garage
Fix any and all leaky gutters
Store fire wood away from the house
Reduce areas of moisture in and around the home
Remove leaves from under your deck or around your home
Caulk around cracks, crevices and holes along the foundation of the home
Keep crawl spaces, basements and attics well ventilated reducing humidity
To deter Camel Crickets from nesting nearby, re-direct sprinkler system away from your house
Seal all possible gaps and points of entry around the structure’s foundation, especially around doors, windows and foundation cracks
Seek professional assistance and a pest prevention plan