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Harmless

Camel crickets

Greenhouse camel cricket

Diestrammena asynamora
Also called Asian camel cricket, spider cricket, cave cricket, greenhouse stone cricket, Tachycines asynamorus

Greenhouse camel crickets look creepy and jump at you, but they are harmless to people; they can nibble stored fabrics and leave dark droppings.

Greenhouse camel cricket, photo 1
Photo: sdroege, CC0, via iNaturalist
SizeAbout 13–20 mm (1/2 to 3/4 inch) body; antennae can be about twice the body length
Where in the houseBasement, garage, bathroom, closets, outside near the house
WhenMost noticed from late summer through winter as they move indoors; they can breed year-round in damp basements.

Check these features

  1. Strongly humped back when seen from the side
  2. No wings, so it never chirps
  3. Very long, thin antennae and long, spidery back legs used for big jumps
  4. Pale to dark brown, often with darker brown patches toward the rear of the back
  5. Usually found in groups in damp basements, crawl spaces and garages

Bites and stings

Does not bite people.

What to do

  1. Sweep or vacuum it up, or catch it under a cup and put it outside; it may jump toward you, but this is a panic jump, not an attack.
  2. Set sticky traps along basement walls, in corners and behind appliances; they catch camel crickets well.
  3. Run a dehumidifier or fan in the basement or crawl space and fix leaks, since dryness is the most effective fix.
  4. Store clothing, linens and cardboard boxes off the floor in sealed plastic bins.

Look-alikes

Native camel crickets (Ceuthophilus; shares this page)They look and act almost the same, so a close look at the back legs is needed: the greenhouse camel cricket has rows of many small spines on the lower hind leg, while native camel crickets have fewer, much larger spikes there; in eastern US basements the non-native greenhouse species is by far the more common one (about 9 in 10 in an NC State survey).
House cricketHouse crickets have flat wings on the back, no hump, and the males chirp.
SpidersSpiders have eight legs and no antennae; camel crickets have six legs plus two very long antennae and jump rather than run.

Why it came inside

Greenhouse camel crickets need cool, damp, dark places, so they move into basements, crawl spaces, garages and laundry rooms through foundation cracks and gaps under doors and around basement windows, especially when it is cold, very hot and dry, or after heavy rain.

Keep it out

  • Caulk cracks in the foundation and seal gaps around basement windows, pipes and wires.
  • Install door sweeps and weatherstripping on basement and garage doors.
  • Keep mulch, firewood, leaf piles and stones away from the foundation.
  • Keep basements and crawl spaces dry and well ventilated.

What helps

Links go to Amazon search results so you can compare current options. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Always follow the product label.

Sticky traps

Flat glue traps set along walls and in corners show what is moving through and where. Place them where pets and children can't reach.

See options on Amazon
Dehumidifier

Keeping a basement at about 50 percent humidity or lower makes it less welcoming to the bugs that need damp air.

See options on Amazon
Caulk and sealant

Silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk closes cracks around windows, pipes and baseboards. Bigger gaps need foam backer rod or expanding foam first.

See options on Amazon
Door sweep

Closes the gap under an exterior door. If you can see daylight under the door, bugs can get in.

See options on Amazon
Weatherstripping

Seals the gaps around doors and windows that let in drafts and bugs alike.

See options on Amazon
Vacuum with a hose

Lets you remove bugs, webs and egg sacs without touching them. Empty the bag or canister outside right away.

See options on Amazon

Sources

  1. Missouri Department of Conservation (field guide: Camel Crickets)
  2. NC State Extension
  3. University of Minnesota Extension
  4. PeerJ (Epps et al. 2014, NC State University study of camel crickets in US homes)
  5. Texas Invasive Species Institute, Sam Houston State University (TexasInvasives.org)
  6. Bug of the Week, Michael J. Raupp, University of Maryland Department of Entomology
  7. Science News Explores (reporting on the NC State study)

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 3 sources. How we rate danger.

Harmless

Camel crickets (native)

Ceuthophilus
Also called cave crickets, spider crickets, American camel crickets

Native camel crickets are harmless to people; they are a basement nuisance that may nibble stored fabric and paper.

Camel crickets (native), photo 1
Photo: heymana77, CC0, via iNaturalist
SizeAbout 13–38 mm (1/2 to 1 1/2 inches), varying by species
Where in the houseBasement, garage, bathroom, closets, outside near the house
WhenMost often seen indoors from late summer through fall and winter.

Check these features

  1. Humped back, with the head tucked down between the front legs
  2. No wings and silent (never chirps)
  3. Long, thin antennae often longer than the body and thick, powerful back legs
  4. Light tan to dark brown, sometimes with a banded or mottled pattern
  5. Females have a long, blade-like egg-laying tube at the rear

Bites and stings

Does not bite people.

What to do

  1. Sweep it up, vacuum it, or catch it under a cup and put it outside; jumping toward you is a startle reaction.
  2. Set sticky traps along basement and garage walls to catch others.
  3. Dry out damp areas with a dehumidifier or fan and fix leaks.
  4. Keep stored clothing and linens off the floor in sealed bins.

Look-alikes

Greenhouse camel cricket (shares this page)Telling them apart takes a close look at the lower back leg: native camel crickets have a few large spikes there, while the non-native greenhouse camel cricket has rows of many small spines; in most eastern US homes the greenhouse species is the more likely one, and the advice for both is the same.
House cricketHouse crickets have flat wings on the back and no hump, and the males chirp.
SpidersSpiders have eight legs and no antennae; camel crickets have six legs and two long antennae and move by jumping.

Why it came inside

Native camel crickets live outdoors under logs, stones, leaf piles and in caves and animal burrows, and wander into damp, dark basements, crawl spaces and garages for shelter, especially in fall or during hot, dry spells.

Keep it out

  • Seal cracks in the foundation and gaps around doors, basement windows, vents and pipes.
  • Add door sweeps and weatherstripping to basement and garage doors.
  • Move woodpiles, stones, boards and leaf piles away from the house.
  • Keep crawl spaces and basements ventilated and dry.

What helps

Links go to Amazon search results so you can compare current options. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Always follow the product label.

Sticky traps

Flat glue traps set along walls and in corners show what is moving through and where. Place them where pets and children can't reach.

See options on Amazon
Dehumidifier

Keeping a basement at about 50 percent humidity or lower makes it less welcoming to the bugs that need damp air.

See options on Amazon
Caulk and sealant

Silicone or siliconized acrylic caulk closes cracks around windows, pipes and baseboards. Bigger gaps need foam backer rod or expanding foam first.

See options on Amazon
Door sweep

Closes the gap under an exterior door. If you can see daylight under the door, bugs can get in.

See options on Amazon
Weatherstripping

Seals the gaps around doors and windows that let in drafts and bugs alike.

See options on Amazon
Vacuum with a hose

Lets you remove bugs, webs and egg sacs without touching them. Empty the bag or canister outside right away.

See options on Amazon

Sources

  1. Missouri Department of Conservation (field guide: Camel Crickets)
  2. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County
  3. University of Minnesota Extension
  4. University of Wyoming Entomology
  5. Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
  6. University of Missouri Extension
  7. PeerJ (Epps et al. 2014, NC State University)

Checked October 18, 2026. Rating backed by 3 sources. How we rate danger.