The Camel Cricket: Friend or Foe?

This week, I ran into an old friend who returns to this area every spring. I’d like to introduce you to the camel cricket. Homely as he can be, I prefer coming face-to-face with a humpbacked camel cricket over a pretty black widow spider any day.

Camel crickets love the temperate climate of the Carolinas. So houses throughout Western North Carolina have loads of these critters. You’ll find them in crawl spaces, basements, garages, storage sheds, under kitchen sinks, bath cabinets, damp floorboards, and walls.

Admittedly, they look a little creepy, like a cross between a grasshopper and a spider. Their long legs and brownish or gray stubby bodies launch through the air with frantic leaps. The result is guaranteed to make our skin crawl just thinking about what would happen if they land on us!

Thankfully, we can place these reasonably benign creatures into the category of friendly critters to have around, much like ladybugs and pill bugs. However, it is best not to allow the cricket populations in your house get too numerous. The occasional cricket isn’t a big deal, but large numbers can be problematic.

First, higher cricket populations do add to the organic fouling of the house, leaving behind numerous black specks and splotches. Those folks who are allergic to insect proteins then are beset with another healthiness issue.

Next, when you notice camel crickets, you may also want to think about whether those damp spaces are too damp. If so, your home is also at increased risk for mold and mildew, which can cause respiratory or systemic health issues.

Last, if severe, long term wet, damp conditions can actually cause rot, erode the stability of your foundation, or damage appliances (such as water heaters or heating units) under, within, or around the house. These issues can affect healthiness as well as the investment value of your home.

The camel cricket may be friendly, but he’s also a gentle reminder that those April showers just ahead may bring more than May flowers.