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Crickets
Crickets can be quite a nuisance when they get indoors, especially if their loud chirping at night disrupts sleep. While crickets don’t pose any direct harm to humans, they can cause damage to fabrics, paper products, and other materials in the home.
Common pest species found in New York:
House Cricket
Acheta domesticus
House crickets are most known for their loud, high-pitched chirping at night.
They’re attracted to light and warmth, and enter homes through open doors, windows, and other gaps. Once inside, they congregate in warm areas like kitchens, heaters, closets, and in upholstered furniture.
House crickets usually feed on fabrics, chewing holes and leaving stains (from their droppings) on clothes and furniture.
(Photo: Dave Rentz)
Size: 5/8–7/8 inch long (16–21 mm); about the length of a penny
Color: Pale, yellowish-brown with dark markings
Shape: Long, oval-shaped body with thread-like antennae, 6 legs (the hind pair is extra long), and 2 pairs of wings
Legs: 6 legs; hind legs are particularly long with thick, drumstick-like femora
Antennae: Thin, thread-like antennae that are typically longer than its body
Head: Look for 3 dark bands running across the top of its head
Body: Long, segmented abdomen with variable dark brown markings and 2 long, horn-like appendages (cerci) protruding from the rear; females also have a sword-like appendage (ovipositor) extending backwards from the rear
Wings: Long, pointed wings that cover its back (only in adult crickets); male crickets chirp by rubbing the edges of their forewings together
Spider Crickets / Camel Crickets
Multiple species (Rhaphidophoridae spp.)
Unlike house crickets, spider crickets don’t chirp. They like dark, damp, and cool environments, and occasionally enter homes and buildings in search of shelter.
They’re mostly found in damp basements and areas with moisture or humidity issues, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms.
Spider crickets mainly feed on fungus, decaying plant and animal matter, and other insects. They sometimes also chew on stored paper and fabrics.
(Photo: Bug Eric)
Size: 1/2–1 1/2 inches long (13–33 mm); up to the length of a paperclip
Color: Light to dark brown
Shape: Humpbacked, wingless body with thread-like antennae, 6 spider-like legs (the hind pair is extra long),
Legs: 6 long, thin legs with light or dark colored bands; knee joints point upwards like a spider; hind legs are extra long with thick femora
Antennae: Thin, thread-like antennae that are typically longer than its body
Body: Look for an arched, camel-like hump on its mottled abdomen; 2 long, horn-like appendages (cerci) protruding from the rear; females also have a sword-like appendage (ovipositor) extending backwards from the rear
Wings: Wingless and unable to chirp