Camel crickets, also known as cave crickets or spider crickets, startle homeowners because of their humped bodies, long antennae, and oversized hind legs. They are harmless to humans and pets, but a group of them sheltering for the winter becomes a real nuisance. They do not chirp like field crickets, and they can jump several feet when disturbed, which is why the first encounter usually happens in a dark basement corner.
Getting rid of them is a two-part job: remove the insects that are already inside, then change the conditions that attract them. Most of the second half is building maintenance, and smart building maintenance to keep crickets out treats sealing, moisture control, and outdoor cleanup as one system rather than a series of one-off fixes. Learn what these insects look like and how to remove them quickly and efficiently.
How to Identify Camel Crickets
Camel crickets have a hump-shaped back, long antennae, and large hind legs that give them a spider-like look. They range in color from tan through reddish brown to dark brown. Unlike field crickets, they have no wings and never chirp, and their mating and jumping habits differ accordingly. The combination of a humped body and long jumping legs is the fastest way to tell them apart from the crickets that sing outside in summer.
Signs of an Infestation
The insects gather in cool, dark, damp spaces: cellars, basements, crawl spaces, and the area under leaves or logs against the foundation. Look for them at night with a flashlight, check corners and under shelving, and watch for small dark droppings near baseboards. Multiple sightings in different rooms usually mean a population is established, not a single wanderer. They are most active at night, so a daytime search often misses them entirely; check again after dark with the flashlight before deciding the space is clear.
Eggs laid in fall hatch in spring, so a population found in winter is usually part of a larger cycle. The nymphs look like small versions of the adults and gather in the same damp corners. Breaking the cycle means removing the adults now and the habitat before the next generation hatches.
Camel Crickets vs Other Household Pests
Identification matters because treatment differs. Identifying carpenter ants in the home requires a different checklist that starts with locating the nest, while camel crickets respond to moisture reduction and trapping. Treating the wrong pest wastes time and leaves the actual problem in place, so confirm what you are dealing with before buying products.
Why Camel Crickets Move Indoors
Camel crickets are attracted to cool, dark, damp conditions, which makes basements and crawl spaces the ideal winter refuge. As outdoor temperatures drop, they move toward the relative warmth of the foundation, slip through gaps around doors, pipes, and vents, and settle in to lay eggs. A house with high humidity or a slow leak is effectively advertising the right habitat, so the insects keep coming back until those conditions change. They dry out quickly in heated living areas, which is why the basement and crawl space get attention first.
Moisture Is the Draw
Moisture is the single strongest attractant. Leaky pipes, damp concrete, and humid air keep the spaces hospitable long after the insects arrive. A dehumidifier in the basement, a fix for the leaky hose bib, and gutters that drain away from the foundation change the conditions that sustain the population.
A simple test finds the problem zones. Place a hygrometer in the basement for a week and track the reading; sustained humidity above 50 percent is enough to keep crickets comfortable. Condensation on pipes and cold concrete marks the spots where moisture control will help the most.
Entry Points Around the Foundation
The insects are small and flatten easily, so they need only a narrow gap. Door thresholds, pipe penetrations, vent screens, and cracks in the foundation all work as entrances. General cricket control guidance from home maintenance sources follows the same moisture-first sequence: dry the space, close the gaps, then remove the insects.
Five Ways to Get Rid of Camel Crickets
If you have noticed a group of camel crickets in the home, try one of these methods. Several work best in combination, and none of them replaces the moisture and sealing work that keeps the insects from returning.
- Vacuum them up. A shop vac removes many insects quickly; empty the bag or canister into a trash bag outside, because the insects can crawl back out of an open canister.
- Set sticky traps. Place glue boards along baseboards, in corners, and behind appliances where the insects travel at night.
- Apply diatomaceous earth. A thin layer in cracks and along walls abrades the insects’ exoskeletons; reapply after any moisture event.
- Reduce humidity. Run a dehumidifier, fix leaks, and ventilate the space to make it less hospitable.
- Remove hiding places. Clear boxes, wood piles, and debris from the basement and the perimeter of the house.
How the Methods Compare
| Method | Speed | Best For | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuuming | Immediate | Large groups | Must be repeated; insects hide well |
| Sticky traps | Overnight | Ongoing monitoring | Catches individuals, not the source |
| Diatomaceous earth | Days | Cracks and voids | Needs dry conditions |
| Dehumidifier | Weeks | Whole basement | Takes time to change conditions |
| Debris removal | Immediate | Outdoor harborage | Must be repeated seasonally |
The vacuum is the fastest single move, and it may need to be repeated a few times because camel crickets are good at hiding. Traps tell you where the population is concentrated, and diatomaceous earth covers the cracks a vacuum cannot reach. Outdoor cleanup matters just as much: clearing dense vegetation and brush, like the work covered in smart buckthorn removal strategies, removes the daytime hiding spots crickets use before they come inside.
Timing matters. Treat in the evening when the insects are active, and recheck the same spots a week later, because eggs continue to hatch. Combine vacuuming with traps for a week, then switch to prevention once the nightly catch drops to zero.
Preventing Reinfestation With Building Maintenance
Prevention is a building maintenance project. Seal the gaps the insects use, dry the spaces they prefer, and the population collapses on its own. The checklist below covers the highest-value work, most of which takes an afternoon and a tube of caulk.
A Sealing Checklist
- Caulk gaps around window and door frames and along the foundation.
- Install or repair weatherstripping on basement and garage doors.
- Screen vents, sump openings, and utility penetrations.
- Seal the gap where pipes and cables enter the house.
- Repair cracks in the foundation before they widen.
Moisture Control as a Shared Fix
The same damp conditions that draw crickets support other moisture-loving pests. Keeping plant gnats under control often comes down to the same fixes: stop the standing water, dry the soil, and ventilate the space. Fixing drainage and watering habits addresses several problems at once, which is why moisture work should come first in any pest plan.
For crawl spaces, the upgrade path is more involved. A vapor barrier over the soil, sealed foundation vents, and a dehumidifier turn a damp void into an environment crickets avoid. The same work protects floor joists and reduces the humidity that rises into the living space above.
A Seasonal Pest Prevention Routine
A twice-a-year routine keeps the population from building. In spring, clear the yard and foundation line of leaves, mulch, and debris that sheltered insects over winter. In fall, inspect the perimeter before the insects look for a warm place to spend the cold months.
The routine takes about an hour each season. Walk the foundation line looking for gaps, check screens and weatherstripping, and move anything stored against the walls. A flashlight inspection of the basement corners tells you whether the previous season’s work held. Keeping the same schedule every year is what turns a one-time cleanup into permanent prevention.
Yard and Garden Maintenance
Garden pests build up in the same untended debris. Aphid prevention in the garden starts with removing plant litter and keeping beds tidy, and the same cleanup removes cricket harborage near the house. Keeping mulch thin against the foundation and stacking firewood away from the walls gives insects fewer damp places to hide.
Mulch depth is a common oversight. A thick mulch bed against the foundation holds moisture all summer and gives crickets a ready-made shelter. Keep mulch a few inches away from the siding, and rake fallen leaves away from basement windows and door wells.
Lawn care closes the loop. Removing clover without damaging grass keeps turf dense and dry, which gives crickets fewer damp hiding spots near the house. Combined with the sealing and moisture work, that routine keeps the basement quiet through the season.