Camel Cricket Prevention Tips

Many people find the nighttime chirping of crickets very soothing. There is nothing quite like sitting on the porch on a warm summer night, watching the stars, and listening to crickets. However, there is a kind of cricket that cannot chirp, and is anything but soothing. The camel cricket, also known as the cave cricket, is an ugly, humpbacked, and wingless cricket. They have two large hind legs, similar to those of a grasshopper. They use these legs for jumping, sometimes up to three feet in one leap. The other four legs are spider-like in appearance. Color usually ranges from a very light tan to a dark brown. An adult cricket can range anywhere from ¾ to 1 ½ inches in length.

The two common names for this insect are aptly earned: "camel cricket" comes from the creature's hump-backed appearance and tan color, and "cave cricket" comes from the insect's preferred habitat of cool and damp places, such as caves. This makes basements a perfect harborage, or hiding place, for waiting out the winter. Many home-owners will see this pest in the fall and winter as they seek shelter from the cold. Here are some simple tips that you can follow that will greatly reduce the risk of a camel cricket infestation:

· The most important thing you can do is to reduce the humidity in your basement. Camel crickets are drawn to damp places.

· Clean and organize the basement. Removing dirt and clutter reduces the number of harborages, making your basement much less appealing to pests.

· Seal any cracks or openings that could provide an entry point into your home. This includes openings around windows, doors, pipes, and vents.

· Check screens for rips and tears; these are a very common entry point.

· Install weather stripping along the bottom of doors to keep bugs from crawling in underneath the doors.

· Make sure shrubs, branches, and mulch are at least twelve inches from your foundation.

· Firewood is a favorite hiding place for many different pests; it should be stored at least 20 feet from your house, and six inches or more off the ground.

Although camel crickets are completely harmless and pose no danger to humans or pets, they can be annoying, and will sometimes chew on things stored in the basement. They can also cause quite a fright if you come upon one unexpectedly. Following these tips will help prevent an invasion by these ugly creatures.

If you have camel crickets in your home, you can get rid of them today by calling Parkway Pest Services. Parkway has been providing effective and eco-friendly pest control services to Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, and the rest of the New York City area since 1932. Visit them today at http://www.parkwaypestservices.com/.

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