Camel Crickets

Camel crickets and closely related cave crickets belong to a large group of insects. Unlike many other types of crickets, the camel crickets do not chirp.  They have no sound producing organs.

Camel crickets have an unusual humpbacked appearance with heads that are bent downward between their front legs.  Their antennae are much longer than their bodies and their large hind legs make them very strong jumpers. 

Habits and Habitat. Most of the crickets in this group are active at night and are attracted to areas with high humidity and moisture.  Outdoors camel crickets and their cave cricket cousins are found in wood and stone piles, tall grass and weeds, hollows of trees, holes in the ground, and of course, caves.  If found indoors, camel crickets often will be in damp basements, crawl spaces, or garages.

Moisture is an important requirement for camel cricket survival so reducing the number of moist habitats is essential for good, long-term control. Preventing access to the structure is also important. 

If camel crickets are still a problem after taking habitat altering steps to reduce moisture and access to the structure, outdoor chemical control may be necessary.