Generally, when people tend to hear the name “Spider Cricket” they might be inclined to think of some scary story. But these small and rather unappetizing beasties are very much real and can invade one’s home at any time. As much as they may not be as popular as regular crickets, Spider Cricket has a niche in the world of insects. Everything about these fascinating insects from their physical appearance right down to their antics will be revealed in this article together with tips on how to handle them if they choose to cross our path.
What is Spider Cricket?
Spider Cricket known also as cave crickets or camel crickets are a type of cricket that looks like spiders. Unlike those crickets that chirp, the Spider Cricket has long spiny legs that give it the appearance of a spider. These legs aid the insects in leaping considerable distances; in one’s home, it may be quite shocking to find one suddenly at a certain distance from where it was when you left.
These crickets dwell in dark areas such as basements, caves, rocks, and hills. Favors high humidity, an aspect that ensures that it finds its way into homes, particularly when the sea climate is cold. Facts about Spider Cricket are that they are nocturnal animals, that is, they are usually spotted during the night.
Appearance and Behavior
Look at Spider Cricket, one can easily do a double take on this character when one first encounters it. These have a humpbacked body shape that somewhat resembles that of a camel which has earned them the name camel crickets. Once more, the length of their antennae and legs make them appear even more dangerous, especially with sudden hops toward the observed subject.
Last but not least; the behavior of Spider Cricket is also very interesting. Unlike other crickets, they are not musical, that is they do not produce any sound. This is because most of them do not possess those organs used in producing sounds and you will never hear them tweeting all over your house. However, their existence is felt only when they jump in the direction of sources of light or when you can do a sneak peek of them in dark areas.
Spider Cricket has no adverse effect on human beings. They are gentle animals and do not harm humans, also they do not have any transmittable disease. Nevertheless, their occurrence may be sensed as disturbing, particularly if it happens en masse. They are mainly opportunistic feeders which eat fungi, maggots, mold, and dead plants. At home, they are likely to feed on fabrics, cardboard, and other dead insects as well as other carrion.
Why Do Spider Crickets Come Indoors?
Isn’t it interesting to find a Spider Cricket in your home and therefore, ask the question of how such a creature might have come to your house? As we discussed earlier, these crickets prefer an environment with moderate to high levels of humidity and darkness. They like basements, garages, and crawl spaces, if there is a food source such as mold or mildew present there.
According to the season more so during the winter, Spider Cricket looks for warmth which forces them to invade homes. These insects are most likely to be found in homes that have leakages, those that are poorly ventilated, or homes that have high humidity levels. Once inside a house, they are difficult to control, let alone eradicate, especially if they choose to nest in a particular area.
How to Prevent and Deal with Spider Crickets
They do not require major interventions to devise ways of preventing the invasion of spider cricket or to organize methods of managing the invasion of spider crickets into our living spaces as long as the ones being affected are humane, safe, non-toxic, cheap, easily accessible, environmentally friendly, and proven effective all at the same time.
Spider Cricket can be gotten rid of or you can prevent them from infesting your home, by reducing their access to your home. Here are some tips to keep them at bay:
Reduce Moisture: What is more, as Spider Cricket is found in moist areas, then the best way to deal with it is to eliminate humidity. Any leaking pipes should be repaired, a dehumidifier used in the humid areas, and the use of ventilation systems in the basements and crawl spaces.
Seal Entry Points: Spider Cricket can penetrate through tiny cracks and crevices in your home; ensure that your house is free from these openings. These are likely the following: To prevent these, seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.
Clean Up Clutter: Disekit Spider Cricket likes to remain concealed in disordered places, therefore ensure your house is clean. Children’s toys should not be placed on the floor and students should not have heaps of clothes or papers lying around on the floor.
Use Sticky Traps: In case you were fortunately or unfortunately blessed with Spider Cricket in your house, sticky traps work well to eliminate them. Put these traps where you notice the crickets and constantly monitor them.
Natural Repellents: Other people intend to eliminate Spider Cricket naturally, for example, using cedar oil or peppermint oil. These can be used at the perimeter of your house or in the areas where you know the crickets are most likely to be found.
Professional Help: If there is an infestation beyond your control then it is advisable to contact a professional exterminator. This way, they can give recommendations of which treatments could be applied to rid your home of the crickets.
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Ecosystem – The Place of Spider Crickets
Even though Spider Cricket can be regarded as pests you do not want in your house, they have their uses for the ecosystem. They can also feed on various organic materials making them part of that circle of recycling organic material. Regarding diet, therefore, Spider Crickets play a role in maintaining cleanliness since they feed on plants and fungi that are decaying.
Being wild animals, the Spider Cricket are also prey to many hunters such as birds, rodents, and other spiders. It is why their presence in the cocoon of life keeps reminding people how crucial every living being is in the circle of life.
List of Several Interesting Facts About Spider Crickets
Here are some fun and interesting facts about Spider Cricket:
Jumping Abilities: Spider Cricket is also capable of jumping several feet in the air as a way of avoiding danger.
Silent Movers: Even more spooky, Spider Cricket are completely, ALL silent animals, unlike their loud relatives known as two-winged crickets or ‘the noisy cricket.’
Camel-like Appearance: Their stout structure with humped back as a result, they are referred to as camel crickets but are not closely related to camels.
Nocturnal Lifestyle: In fact, Spider Cricket is nocturnal, and therefore, the greatest chances of noticing these creatures are during night-time or early morning.
Not True Spiders: Before going any further, let us make it very clear that Spider Cricket is not a spider. They are of another order of insects called Orthoptera.
In the End
Spider Crickets are not such insects that people would be interested in but they do have a niche in the world. Whether people have an instinctive interest in these creatures or not, getting to know them can aid a homeowner in case the animals decide to make a home in one. Please remember that these are Spider Cricket which even though may seem creepy, are safe and are quite important to the ecosystem. They are best left where they belong – outside and in the wild by following the necessary measures to prevent them from coming into your home.
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