Camel Crickets vs. Field Crickets: What’s the Difference and How Can I Tell Them Apart?

If you’ve ever found crickets in your home, you know how big of a nuisance they are.

After all, they can provide an unwelcomed surprise by jumping on you and your family, damage certain items stored in moist locations, and leave excrement on your walls.

Some species also make a loud chirping sound that can keep even the heaviest sleepers awake at night!

Two types of crickets that are common specifically in Maryland are field crickets and camel crickets.

In fact, these pests often invade Maryland homes every year in September.

Think you might have camel crickets or field crickets in your home?

Don’t worry – our Maryland pest control team has put together this helpful blog post so you can tell these two types of crickets apart, determine which type has invaded your home, and learn how to get rid of them and stop them from returning.

 

Camel Crickets

First, let’s talk about camel crickets.

They’re typically a grayish brown color, and they got their interesting name because of their distinctively curved back that resembles a camel’s hump.

When you see a camel cricket, you might even think it’s a spider at first because of its large size (they’re usually 1 to 1 ½ inches long) and unusually long legs! Because of their resemblance to arachnids, some people call camel crickets “sprickets” – a combination of the words “spiders” and “crickets”.

But don’t worry – camel crickets aren’t dangerous and won’t bite you like most spiders will. However, they won’t hesitate to eat fabrics and certain foods in your home, so you’ll want to get rid of them once you’ve noticed that they have invaded!

They often come out at night, but unlike many other types of crickets, they are unable to chirp, so you don’t have to worry about them disrupting your sleep. They also have poor eyesight due to their relationship to crickets that live in caves, so they rely on their two antennae – which can be up to four inches long – to get around.

While you won’t see them much during the day, you’ll be able to tell that they’re around when you notice their dark brown fecal matter on your walls.

 

Field Crickets

Now, let’s talk about field crickets.

Their flat, dark-colored abdomens, shorter bodies (they’re typically ½ to 1 ¼ inches long), and shorter legs make them easy to distinguish from the humpbacked, lighter-colored camel cricket.

Although their legs aren’t as long as those of camel crickets, they’re still powerful and great for jumping high.

Field crickets aren’t harmful in small numbers, but when they multiply, they can easily damage your clothing and furniture. So, if you see them, you’ll want to take steps to get rid of them quickly.

If they do invade your home, you’ll probably find them in your basement or in a different dark, moist area.

One of the worst things about this pest is that it chirps quite often, and the male crickets are especially loud. So, if you live in Maryland and crickets have been keeping you awake at night, there’s a good chance that they’re field crickets!

 

How to Get Rid of Crickets

Whether you’ve got field crickets or camel crickets, it’s important for you to get rid of them so they don’t cause any damage in your home. Here are a few options for you to consider:

Reduce the moisture level in your home

Crickets typically like a warm, moist place (like a basement) to live, so if you don’t provide them with that environment, they’ll likely search for a different place to call home. Using a dehumidifier is a great way to drive them out.

Drown the crickets

Once you’ve located where the crickets are living in your home, place large bowls of soapy water there. Crickets love water, so they’ll jump right in, but the soap in the water will cause them to sink and drown. Once that happens, you can simply dispose of them.

Build a sticky trap

You can make a sticky trap with some duct tape and a small piece of food (dry cat food will work like a charm!). Simply place the piece of food on the duct tape as bait to attract the crickets. When they try to get to the food, they’ll get stuck on the tape and will eventually die.

Vacuum them up

If you have a vacuum with an extension, you can simply set out some bait to draw all the crickets to one area then vacuum the crickets up. You can even purchase a vacuum made specifically to suck up bugs if you’d like. When you’re done, make sure you dispose of the cricket remains in your vacuum’s container.

Use insecticide

You can purchase sprays, powders, and foggers to take a more aggressive approach to killing the crickets in your home. Just make sure you follow the instructions on the insecticide to protect yourself, your pets, and your family from being harmed by the chemicals.

 

How to Prevent Future Cricket Infestations

Once you get rid of the crickets in your home, you’ll want to take preventative measures to keep them from coming back. Here’s what you can do:

• Use caulk to seal your windows and doors. Be extra thorough – crickets can get through even the smallest cracks!
• Seal your trash can so the smell won’t attract crickets to your home.
• Cut down any weeds or tall grass near your home.
• Install screens in vents and windows.
• Only use yellow lights (white lights attract crickets!).
• Fix leaky gutters so the crickets won’t be attracted to the moisture.
• Keep mulch and woodpiles away from your home’s foundation.

 

If you need help preventing cricket invasions or getting them out of your home for good, contact the Maryland pest control experts at Brody Brothers Pest Control.

Even if you take some preventative measures, crickets could invade your home. When that happens, or when you’re afraid it might happen, it’s best to leave your home in the hands of professionals.

That’s where our Maryland pest control team comes in! We offer pest removal services to both businesses and residences, and our Integrated Pest Management approach has been proven to both get rid of pests and prevent them from coming back in the future.

So, are you ready to get those pesky crickets out of your home for good? Contact our team today!