Crickets that look like spiders just shouldn't be allowed. But they are, and they love Virginia!
These crickets can be the thing of nightmares because of their ability to look like a spider but suddenly leap at your face. Beyond being creepy, are camel crickets harmful? Find out more about these leggy bugs.
What Do Camel Crickets Look Like?
While they are named for the curve of their back, camel crickets actually look more like spiders than a standard cricket. In fact, most people call them "Spider Crickets" or "Cave Crickets". They have six legs, unlike a spider, but have significant feelers that are often confused for another set of legs. They are brown and usually just over an inch long (not including their appendages).
Camel Crickets are silent, unlike their more cheery counterparts, and often lurk in cool, dark spaces (thus the Cave Cricket nickname). They are wingless but they can jump up to sixty times their body length. Yes, 60.
Are Camel Crickets Harmful?
Fortunately, unlike the spiders they are mistaken for, camel crickets will not bite. In fact, they lack fangs entirely. Aside from the fact you might experience some pretty negative feelings when what you think is a spider suddenly takes a 3-foot leap into your face, they are not directly harmful to humans.
However, Camel Crickets can cause damage to clothing and other fabric, such as curtains, when they gain entry into your home. They will seek shelter inside, particularly over the winter as they look for warmth and shelter. If they are able to find their way inside, but unable to locate a source of water, the crickets will die, giving off a foul smell inside your home.
How Do I Get Rid of Camel Crickets?
Like most other insects seeking shelter in your home, the best protection is prevention. Seal up entry points, eliminate leaks inside your home, and make sure you stay on top of spills and trash.
Dispose of any dead crickets you may come across immediately, and be aware that as Camel Crickets regularly play host to a worm parasite, if you crush a live cricket, a long white worm might come wriggling out.
Professional pest services, both preventative and active, will help you manage any unwanted cricket populations.
Call us today, we're ready to help all year!
To learn more about other pests in the Richmond area, check out our pest library
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