Cave Crickets in NJ: How to Get Rid of Camel Crickets and Spider Crickets

No, cave crickets do not bite or sting people or pets. They have chewing mouthparts for scavenging, not for biting. They can be startling because they jump suddenly and sometimes toward you, but that is an escape reflex in a tight space. They are a nuisance pest, not a dangerous one, though large numbers in a basement are worth dealing with.

You have a lot of camel crickets because your basement is damp and has openings they can walk through. They come indoors for moisture and shelter, not food. Older block or stone foundations, sump pits, leaky pipes and cardboard clutter on the floor all help them. Drying the space and sealing gaps usually brings the numbers down fast.

Store insecticide sprays and even soapy water will kill a cave cricket on contact, but killing the ones you see won't stop new ones coming in. Sticky traps placed along walls are the simplest way to catch large numbers. For lasting results, lower the humidity, seal entry points, and have the outside foundation treated if the problem is heavy.

Yes, spider crickets and camel crickets are the same insect, and cave cricket is a third name for it. People call them spider crickets because their long, bent legs and antennae look spider-like when they jump. They are true insects with six legs and no wings. A real spider has eight legs and doesn't jump the same way.

A dehumidifier is the single most helpful step, but it usually isn't enough by itself. Keeping the basement around 50% humidity or lower makes it far less inviting, and many crickets die or leave. Combine it with sticky traps, sealed gaps at doors and pipes, and clearing damp mulch and leaves from the foundation for the best results.

Camel crickets do not damage the structure of your house. In large numbers they can chew holes in stored cardboard, paper, clothes, curtains and other fabric kept in damp basements, and they leave droppings and dead bodies. Store things in sealed plastic bins off the floor, and keep laundry out of the basement until the numbers are down.

Most homes see a clear drop within two to four weeks once the basement is drier, gaps are sealed and traps are out. After a professional exterior treatment, activity usually falls off quickly, but some crickets hidden in wall voids may keep showing up for a short time. Homes with ongoing moisture problems do best on a recurring seasonal plan.

Yes, when applied by a licensed applicator following the label. Most of the work happens outside around the foundation and in cracks and voids inside, not on open floors where kids and pets play. We'll tell you how long to keep pets and children away from treated areas. Sticky traps should also be placed where pets can't reach them.

Call an exterminator if you've tried a dehumidifier, traps and sealing for a few weeks and still find many crickets every day, if they're spreading to living areas, or if you also see signs of mice or other pests. A professional can find hidden moisture and entry points and treat the outside where the crickets actually live.

Yes. Silver Bullet Pest Control is based in Garfield, NJ and serves homes and businesses in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Hudson counties. Same-day appointments are often available. Call or text 973-510-2585 with a photo of the bug and where you're seeing it, and we'll give you a free quote. Hablamos español.