Spider crickets, also called sprickets or camel crickets, resemble a combination of the two creatures. They have long, spider-like legs and use them to jump very high, and are often confused with different jumping spiders, although they are a type of cricket. How can you get rid of spider crickets?
How to get rid of spider crickets? To get rid of spider crickets, you will need to remove moisture from your home. They are attracted to damp, dark spaces, making the basement the most common place to find them. If you have spider crickets, remove sources of water and food first. Then, set up traps to get rid of the rest.
This article will show you how to get rid of spider crickets and what works best. Let’s get started.
What Is a Spider Cricket?
Spider crickets can be difficult to get rid of and even more difficult to keep them from coming back. But before you can get rid of them, you need to know what they are, what they look like, and what they eat.
Do Spider Crickets Bite?
Some say they bite, while others say they don’t. The insect has mandibles that are used for eating and not for self-defense, but if one of them jumps on you, they use their mandibles to bite. Many people say the bite stings, while others feel they are a mild annoyance. It all depends on how you react to the bite.
You don’t want to be bitten by bugs in your home. These critters can reproduce quickly in optimal conditions, so you want to take care of the problem before it becomes an infestation.
What Do Spider Crickets Eat?
A spider cricket will eat everything, including fungus, wood, cardboard, plants, fabrics and or each other. Their eating habits can ruin carpets, clothing, and furniture, and when left unchecked, the black spider cricket can destroy several different household items.
Are Spider Crickets Dangerous?
Many people wonder if spider crickets are poisonous when they first find them in their homes. However, these insects are not dangerous, as they won’t hurt you, your family, or your pets.
While cats and dogs may enjoy chasing spider crickets, you probably shouldn’t let them because while they aren’t poisonous, eating a cricket’s exoskeleton can cause your pet to get an upset stomach. These insects may also carry parasites that could infect your pet upon ingestion. Overall, these crickets are not a threat.
What Do Spider Crickets Look Like?
Spider crickets appear similar to the wolf spider and are often mistaken for them. While they are the same size and color, making the two look alike at a distance, you will notice the cricket looks a bit different upon closer inspection.
The spider cricket is missing several spider features, such as an abdomen, while also looking like strange grass crickets with spider legs stuck to them. Many people have also compared these insects to weird shrimps. You can find more images of them on the Arthropod Museum site.
This news clip shows pictures of sprickets and describes places where you can find them in the home:
Where Do Spider Crickets Live?
According to the Farmer’s Almanac, you can find these insects all over the country. When in nature, they tend to live in caves or forests with plenty of foliage, but when they wander into your home, they are “accidental invaders.”
They love damp, dark places, which means you will find them in sheds, garages, basements, and crawl spaces. If you notice one, there are likely many more hidden somewhere else. Keeping your home dry when possible can help keep them away.
Spider Cricket Infestation
Do you think you have an infestation? If you notice more and more spider crickets appearing every day, you’ll want to get rid of them as soon as possible, as they leave droppings behind in places such as walls, furniture, and carpets.
These crickets are also always hungry and enjoy munching your belongings, so you’ll need to get rid of them right away. A qualified spider cricket exterminator can help you, but you may also want to try some more natural methods.
How Do Spider Crickets Get Inside?
Spider crickets are small and can get inside through any crack or hole in your home. They are attracted to wet basements and tend to infest homes near woods and bodies of water. If they move into your garage or shed, your home will likely be next when that area becomes overpopulated.
Wet piles of leaves and firewood can attract them, so you’ll want to keep these materials away from your home. You should remove the leaf piles as you notice them around your property, because the longer you wait, the more likely it is that sprickets will show up.
How To Kill Spider Crickets?
Spider crickets tend to come inside when it’s dry out, so you will usually see them during the summer. The best method to keep them out is prevention by adding weather strips and making sure your home is sealed, especially the basement. Adding dehumidifiers can help make your basement less appealing to them.
The hOmelabs Dehumidifier works well at preventing infestations.
- 1,500 sq ft Dehumidifier: Our dehumidifier removes up to 22 pints...
- Designed For The Modern Home: That most dehumidifiers are clunky...
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What Kills Spider Crickets?
You’ll want to get rid of spider crickets in a hurry, especially if you have a large infestation. What are the best methods to kill spider crickets? This section will outline the best ways to get rid of spider crickets.
Best Pesticide for Spider Crickets
If you want to buy a cost-effective spider cricket killer online, try using a Bifenthrin concentration. The Compare-N-Save Insecticide works perfectly at killing sprickets and keeps them from coming back.
- For use indoors and outdoors
- Can be tank mixed with other pesticides, including insect growth...
- Controls indoor pests including fleas, cockroaches and ants
- Also controls insects on ornamentals, trees and shrubs
- Covers up to 44,000 sq. ft.; Makes up to 44 gal. of ready-to-use...
Bug Spray for Spider Crickets
There are several commercial spider cricket sprays that you can try out, such as the TERRO Home Insect Killer Spray and Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer, which are from two well-known brands that make traps for these insects, as well as sprays. You can find a method that you prefer as they offer many options.
- 1 Quart Terro Home anti-insect spray, 12 month anti-stain,...
- Kill more than 65 kinds of insects
- Control up to 12 months (residual for German cockroaches) and 150...
- Convenient spray nozzle adjusts for wide spray nozzle, or crack...
- It can be used indoors and outdoors.
- Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter2 is a bug...
- Provides a long-lasting bug barrier of up to 12 month protection...
- Apply this pesticide anytime as a preventative treatment or after...
- Use this pest control spray with confidence indoors (kitchens,...
- The easy-to-use continuous spray Comfort Wand helps you control...
Spider Cricket Traps
You can also build tape traps to get rid of spider crickets in the basement. Place duct tape loops around where you notice the insects, as they become stuck when they walk on them, even if you place them on the walls. You’ll want to add some bait to the tape to make the odds of catching them higher.
Moldy bread, cat food, and wet cardboard work well for bait, and when a cricket gets stuck in your trap, it also becomes bait for the other bugs. You’ll want to use a lot of tape and replace it every so often, because when the traps are full, you’ll want the live crickets to have room to stick.
When considering how to get rid of spider crickets naturally, you can try a soap trap. Fill a bowl with soapy water and leave it around the basement. If you have a dehumidifier on, moisture will attract the insects to the bowl of water. They usually fall in and drown due to the soap weighing them down.
Spider Cricket Repellent
If you want to make a natural spider cricket repellent, use crushed garlic and water to spray around the perimeter of your home. You’ll only want to spray it where you think the crickets could enter. Chili pepper spray can also help you accomplish the same thing.
Many chemical bug sprays can deter these pests from entering your home. Any insecticide that is used on crickets will also work on spider crickets.
How To Get Rid of Spider Crickets Using Home Remedies?
There are many ways to remove spider crickets naturally, including boric acid, neem oil, peppermint oil, or cedar oil.
- Boric acid: Mix with water to make a spray.
- Neem oil: This oil is toxic to spider crickets, stopping them from eating and reproducing.
- Peppermint oil: When mixed with white vinegar, it makes a fantastic cricket repellent.
- Cedar oil: Very hazardous to spider crickets, as it kills them efficiently.
Can an Exterminator Get Rid of Spider Crickets?
If you don’t want to deal with the infestation on your own or don’t want to get too close to these bugs, a professional will be your best option. A spider cricket exterminator can assist you, as they have access to various bug sprays and are familiar with these insects’ habits.
An exterminator is going to cost more than using a DIY pest-control method, but they will be able to handle the situation more efficiently and effectively.
Summary
You’ll want to take control of the infestation as soon as you notice it. Spider crickets are notorious for eating through all personal belongings and jumping at approaching people. They can be tricky to deal with on your own, so you may want to hire a professional to assist you.
Spider crickets are popular in damp areas and will come into your home during the dry months. Keeping your basement and shed dry is one of the best prevention methods when it comes to spider crickets.
List of Sources
Ambrose, K., (2016). Spider crickets: The bugs you don’t want in your house this fall. Washington Post.
Houseman, R., House-Invading Crickets. Extension University of Missouri.
Lewis, D., (1992). Cave Crickets. Department of Entomology, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Kanuckel, A., (2021). Spider Crickets Are Real, And Here’s Why You Don’t Want Them In Your Home. Farmer’s Almanac.
Cave (Camel) Crickets. Cornell University.
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