If you need to figure out how to get rid of camel crickets, start with the real source of the problem, excess moisture. These humpbacked crickets are drawn to damp basements, crawl spaces, and cluttered storage areas, and traps alone will not fix an infestation. The fastest way to get rid of camel crickets in a house is to dry the space out, remove hiding spots, and trap the ones already inside.
Why Camel Crickets Keep Showing Up
Camel crickets do not enter because your house is dirty. They enter because the area is cool, damp, and easy to hide in. Basements, crawl spaces, laundry rooms, and garage corners give them the dark shelter they want, especially near foundation leaks, sweating pipes, floor drains, and wet cardboard.
Once inside, they stay close to moisture and feed on fabric, paper, plant material, and other organic debris. If you keep seeing them, the space is still giving them water, shelter, or both. That is why the answer to how do you get rid of camel crickets starts with changing the habitat, not just killing the insects you see.
Dry Out the Basement or Crawl Space
Moisture control is the main fix. If the space stays damp, camel crickets keep coming back. Focus on the sources that raise humidity and create hiding places at the same time.
- Run a dehumidifier and set it to 50 percent relative humidity or lower.
- Repair dripping pipes, slow leaks, and wet ductwork immediately.
- Clear cardboard boxes, old rugs, and paper stacks off the floor.
- Move stored items into sealed plastic bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Improve air movement with a fan if the basement or crawl space is stuffy.
- Install or repair vapor barriers in crawl spaces where exposed soil holds moisture.
Check condensate lines, sump pump areas, and the perimeter of foundation walls. If a wall feels damp to the touch, that is a priority spot. The goal is not just comfort, it is removing the wet conditions camel crickets use to survive.
Use Traps to Knock Down the Active Population
After you dry the area, use traps to catch the crickets already inside. This is the fastest practical way to get rid of camel crickets in house spaces without spraying chemicals everywhere. Sticky traps work best because they catch crickets as they move along walls and around clutter.
Best trap setup
Place glue boards along basement walls, beside water heaters, near sump pumps, under shelves, and at crawl space entry points. Put them flat on the floor with the sticky side exposed. Use more than one trap, spaced 6 to 10 feet apart in heavy activity areas.
How to place them
- Put the trap against a wall or in a corner where crickets travel.
- Keep it out of direct dust, standing water, or heavy foot traffic.
- Replace the trap when it is full or dusty.
- Dispose of used traps in a sealed trash bag.
If you want faster knockdown in a crawl space, combine glue boards with a simple bait station placed away from children and pets, but the trap itself does the main work. Vacuuming visible crickets first also helps reduce the number that can escape into wall voids.
Remove Hiding Spots and Entry Points
Camel crickets hide in piles, cracks, and gaps during the day, then move at night. If you leave clutter in place, you leave them shelter. Start by making the space less crowded and harder to move through.
Seal gaps around sill plates, utility penetrations, and crawl space vents with the right material. Use silicone caulk for small interior cracks and steel wool plus sealant for larger utility gaps. Install door sweeps on basement walkout doors and weatherstripping on loose-fitting access doors.
Outside, keep mulch, leaves, and firewood away from the foundation. Fix clogged gutters and downspouts that dump water near the house. A dry perimeter makes the inside less attractive and cuts down on how many camel crickets reach the basement in the first place.
What to Do If They Are Still Coming Back
If you keep seeing camel crickets after drying, trapping, and sealing, the problem is still tied to moisture or a hidden access point. Focus on the places people miss, crawl space soil, French drains, sump pits, foundation cracks, and leaking AC condensate lines. These spots keep feeding the infestation even when the main floor looks clean.
For stubborn infestations, inspect at night with a flashlight. Camel crickets are active after dark and will cluster near damp corners, stored items, and trap lines. If you find them in one section repeatedly, increase trap density there and look directly above that spot for plumbing leaks or insulation soaked by condensation.
If the crawl space has standing water, rotted wood, or heavy mold growth, get that repaired first. Until the moisture source is corrected, any effort to get rid of camel crickets will keep resetting itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get rid of camel crickets fast?
Use glue traps, vacuum the visible crickets, and lower humidity at the same time. Fast removal comes from catching the active insects while you remove the wet conditions that brought them inside.
How to get rid of camel crickets in house without spraying?
Dry the basement or crawl space, seal gaps, and place sticky traps along walls and corners. That combination works without broadcast insecticide and is the cleanest approach for storage areas.
What is the best product to get rid of camel crickets?
A dehumidifier and sticky glue traps are the most useful products. The dehumidifier removes the habitat, and the traps remove the crickets already inside.
Why do camel crickets keep coming back?
They come back when moisture, clutter, or an entry gap is still present. If you do not fix the damp area, new crickets keep replacing the ones you catch.
How to get rid of camel cricket infestations in crawl spaces?
Dry the crawl space with a vapor barrier and dehumidifier, seal access points, and place glue boards near supports, pipes, and the entry hatch. That targets both the moisture and the movement paths they use most.