This month we are highlighting a species of cricket that seems to have adopted many different nicknames. Camel cricket, cave cricket, cave wetas, spider cricket, just to name a few of these nicknames! Despite all the nicknames, this is just one species of cricket that can be found in many New York area homes and basements. Camel crickets were originally residents of dark caves but they have evolved to live above the ground in damp, dark locations.
As a pest status, camel crickets are thankfully not classified as dangerous. They do not bite and they are not known to spread any diseases. But they are still a nuisance pest and that means it is important to keep camel crickets out of your Long Island home. As we are entering the cooler months of the fall, your basement will become more attractive to camel crickets because it simulates a cave-like environment, being dark, cool and damp.
The best way to keep a camel cricket infestation out of your home is to prevent them from getting inside in the first place. Seal off any cracks, holes, or crevices that will allow these insects to get into your home. Here are a couple more ways you can prevent camel crickets from infesting your basement this fall:
Remove the clutter which will provide a place for the crickets to hide, making it even more difficult to find and remove them.
If your basement is very damp, try using a dehumidifier to take out some of the moisture which is very attractive to camel crickets.
It is also important to know that if you have chirping crickets in your home, they are not camel crickets. Camel crickets do not have wings and therefore are not capable of making the chirping sounds of most other cricket species. But if you have identified wingless, spider looking crickets in your home then be sure to call us! Camel crickets are not easy to locate or to remove which is why choosing Parkway’s licensed and trained pest control professionals is the way to go.
At Parkway Pest Services, we offer homeowners constant protection from NY pests including camel crickets with our PestGuard plan. We can help you with cricket identification and elimination as well as general pest control in Westchester County.
To learn more about how to prevent and get rid of camel crickets in your Long Island, Westchester County, or Brooklyn home as well as throughout our service area, please give us a call.
This blog was originally published on September 28, 2012, but we have updated it to reflect the most recent and accurate information available in helping you combat frustrating cave cricket problems.