Spider crickets are mostly a nuisance pest. It is important to note that they aren’t dangerous and won’t cause serious damage to your home the way that termites can. That doesn’t mean you want them around.
Let’s find out more about spider crickets, including what they are, what they do inside your home, and how to get rid of them, such as when it’s time to call a pest control specialist like CroppMetcalfe.
What is a Spider Cricket?
When it comes to home pests, spider crickets may not be the worst kind. But that doesn’t make them welcome visitors, either. Here’s how to spot a spider cricket and what you can expect from them.
What Do Spider Crickets Look Like?
As their name suggests, they have long, thin legs that bend like a spider’s. Spider crickets have six legs, though, not eight. They have long antennae. They’re wingless, have a humped back, and can grow up to two inches long. They’re usually light tan or brown.
Spider Cricket Aliases and Relatives
Spider crickets are so-called because they have long, thin legs like a spider. They’re also known as cave crickets because they like dark, damp places, or camel crickets because of their humpbacked appearance. And, technically speaking, they’re not actually “crickets” – they’re more closely related to grasshoppers, so they don’t chirp. Whatever you call them and whatever they are, we’re certain you don’t want them in your home.
Are Spider Crickets Dangerous?
Spider crickets don’t bite or release venom, but they will jump at you if they feel threatened, making it difficult to get close enough to see them clearly. They’re essentially harmless to people and pets, though if your cat or dog eats one they may have a stomach ache for a while. They love to gnaw and may chew through textiles (including cardboard) or plants in your home.
How Do Spider Crickets Get In the House?
Spider crickets love dark and damp places, so it’s doubtful you’ll see them in the middle of a brightly-lit room. For this reason, they tend to be attracted to basements, storage areas, bathrooms, or crawl spaces. If your area’s been dry for a while, spider crickets may be attracted to dampness in the dark areas of your home. They’ll hide in the dark, making it tricky to spot them and get rid of them.
Spider crickets get into your house via any small crack or opening in the exterior of your home. Broken weather stripping, holes in the foundation, open garage doors, vents, or leaks in doors and windows are all potential entryways for spider crickets.
How Can You Prevent a Spider Cricket Infestation?
The best offense against spider crickets is a good defense. A little tidying up of your home can help prevent spider crickets from getting inside. Here are four things you can do in and around your house right now to keep spider crickets away:
- Dehumidify: spider crickets love damp spaces. Dry up any areas of your house that might be prone to dampness with a dehumidifier – especially areas that don’t get a lot of light.
- Trim the lawn: spider crickets prefer to hide in long grass, so keep that lawn trim. Keep piles of mulch away from your house.
- Seal your home: replace broken or missing weather stripping, plug holes, and seal cracks.
- Declutter: don’t offer spider crickets places to hide – or free meals. Declutter areas of your home where stuff has piled up, especially in basements, garages, or anywhere that might be dark and damp. Put your things in air-tight bins with lids.
How to Get Rid of Spider Crickets
Sometimes you do everything you can to prevent spider crickets from coming into your home, but it’s just not enough. Here are a few tips to get rid of spider crickets in your house.
Sticky Traps
Sticky traps or tape traps will catch and keep anything that moves across them. Set some bait around the trap in the form of moldy bread or wet cardboard.
Soapy Water
A shallow dish of soapy water will attract the moisture-loving spider crickets. Once they get inside, they’ll drown and die. This works especially well if you’ve already installed a dehumidifier in your home, as the spider crickets will go looking for water.
Bug Vacuums
Use your vacuum, or a specially designed bug vacuum, to eliminate spider crickets. Just be mindful that they are excellent at hiding, so you likely won’t be able to catch them all.
Insecticides & Natural Repellents
Store-bought insecticides may help eliminate some of the spider crickets in your home. You can also try making your own all-natural bug spray. Spider crickets hate:
- Boric acid
- Neem oil
- Peppermint oil mixed with vinegar
- Cedar oil
Call a Professional Like CroppMetcalfe
The best way to prevent spider crickets from invading your home, eliminating them if they get in, or making sure they don’t come back, is by hiring a professional pest control company like CroppMetcalfe.
Don’t Wait to Eliminate a Spider Cricket Infestation
Spider crickets like to come out in the late summer and early fall. Call CroppMetcalfe today to perform a thorough inspection of your home so our 5-Star technicians can help you prevent spider crickets from coming in.
Already dealing with them? Call us right now! Our highly trained professionals will safely get rid of the ones we find and flush out the hidden ones. We’ll also help you seal up your house to prevent further infestations.
Call CroppMetcalfe today at 888-559-8764 or fill out our convenient online form to schedule an inspection and extermination appointment.