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How to identify it
- Tan to reddish or dark brown and humpbacked. Minnesota gives a body length of about 3/4 inch; Missouri says up to about 1 inch, not counting legs and antennae.[1][4]
- Very long antennae and long, large back legs give them a spider-like look, which is why they are also called spider crickets. They jump surprisingly far.[1][2][4]
- Adults have no wings, so they can't fly or chirp. Nymphs look like smaller adults.[2][4]
Look-alikes
| Look-alike | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| House cricket | Has wings, is light yellowish brown with three dark bands behind the head, and is strongly attracted to light.[1] |
| Field cricket | Dark brown to black with wings that nearly cover the body, strongly attracted to light, and the males chirp; chirping indoors points to field crickets, not camel crickets.[1][2] |
Where it lives
Outdoors under logs and stones in cool, damp, dark places; indoors they seek similar conditions, which leads them to basements and other dark areas. They are not attracted to light.[1]
Biology and life cycle
Missouri counts about 150 species in North America north of Mexico. NC State says most aren't pests, but the greenhouse stone cricket (Tachycines asynamorus) often becomes a nuisance indoors.[4][2]
A continent-wide survey of homes (Epps and colleagues, 2014) found that this Asian species, also listed as Diestrammena asynamora, has become common in eastern houses and turns up there far more often than native camel crickets. The same study reported a second Asian species established in the northeastern United States.[5]
Outdoors they live under stones and logs, in firewood stacks and in dense ground covers such as ivy. They are almost entirely nocturnal and are not attracted to light.[2][4][1]
Food differs by source: Minnesota says plant debris outdoors and sometimes paper indoors; Missouri adds insects and other small arthropods.[1][4]
They spend winter as nymphs or adults. Females lay eggs in the soil in early spring, and nymphs hatch a few weeks later. Missouri says they are unlikely to breed indoors unless darkness and moisture are just right.[2][4]
In yards in Raleigh, North Carolina, pitfall traps caught as many as 52 of the Asian species in a single yard over two days, and catches rose closer to the house.[5]
Damage and signs
- Mainly a nuisance. Minnesota says they rarely feed on fabrics, but NC State warns that a heavy, long-running infestation with little food can damage garments and linens stored in boxes in garages or basements.[1][2]
- Dark fecal smears on surfaces such as floor joists are a sign of a heavy infestation. Problems often spike after excessive rain or long hot, dry spells, when they seek cool, moist places indoors.[2]
Health risk
Missouri calls camel crickets completely harmless, and Minnesota rates crickets in homes a nuisance that doesn't cause major damage.[4][1]
Control
Prevention
Dry out damp areas with a fan or dehumidifier, which is especially effective for camel crickets. Missouri notes that large numbers in a basement can point to a moisture problem worth fixing.[1][4][2]
Keep mulch and ground cover at least 12 inches from the foundation (gravel works best there), don't stack firewood against the house, clear clutter under decks, and store boxes off the floor and away from walls.[2][1]
Keep them out
Caulk foundation cracks and gaps around doors, low windows, dryer vents, crawlspace doors, soffits and where utility lines enter, and add weather-stripping under house and garage doors.[1][2]
Traps and physical control
Sticky traps or glue boards placed in corners, behind appliances and where crickets are seen work well; camel crickets are especially attracted to them.[1][2]
Pesticides
Sources disagree on insecticides. Minnesota says pesticides are generally not effective or necessary indoors. NC State says outdoor perimeter sprays or baits around the foundation and crawlspace can help, while noting that they aren't a long-term fix and that sealing should reduce any need for indoor treatment.[1][2]
Common questions
- Why are camel crickets in my basement?
- They seek cool, damp, dark places like their outdoor habitat under logs and stones; drying the basement and sealing entry gaps makes it less attractive.[1][2][4]
- Are camel crickets dangerous?
- No. Missouri calls them completely harmless and of no economic importance, though large numbers in a basement can signal a moisture problem.[4][1]
- Are they breeding in my house?
- Usually not. Missouri says indoor breeding is unlikely unless darkness and moisture are just right, and NC State says females lay eggs in the soil outdoors in early spring.[4][2]
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension, “Crickets (reviewed 2024).” extension.umn.edu/garden-and-home/home-maintenance/household-insects/crickets (accessed 2026-11-11)
- NC State Extension, “Camel Crickets.” content.ces.ncsu.edu/camel-crickets (accessed 2026-11-11)
- iNaturalist, “Tachycines asynamorus taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/767707 (accessed 2026-11-11)
- Missouri Department of Conservation, “Camel Crickets (Cave Crickets) (Field Guide).” mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/camel-crickets-cave-crickets (accessed 2026-11-11)
- PeerJ, via PubMed, “Epps et al. (2014), Too big to be noticed: cryptic invasion of Asian camel crickets in North American houses, PeerJ 2:e523.” pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25210654/ (accessed 2026-11-11)