The weather is finally getting colder, and many Philadelphians are making their way inside to curl up by the space heater or underneath the heated blankets. Of course, it’s not just the humans that are trying to stay warm in the chilly winter air. This time of year, bugs are making their way inside to try to ride out the winter, and there’s one particularly horrifying creature that you’ve probably begun to see in your basement over the past few weeks…
It doesn’t matter if you call them Cave Crickets, Camel Crickets, or Sprickets - we’ve all had our experiences with these creepy creatures.
Brian Henderson/Flickr
See those super extra long legs? Yeah, they’re excellent jumpers.
Katja Schulz/Flickr When sprickets are startled, the jump… often directly toward whatever it was that surprised them. Definitely not the smartest defense mechanism, if you ask me…
They love to sneak inside through holes and cracks on the ground level, and hide in dark, damp places.
Flickr / Dave Thomas
Most of the time, they’re hiding in the basement…
Flickr / Brian Henderson …just waiting to jump at you when you turn on the light to do some laundry.
While these gigantic crickets are harmless, that doesn’t really help calm you down when it makes an acrobatic lunge across the room, flying right at your face.
Flickr / Steve Fernie
The best way to avoid them is to stop them from coming in at all.
Flickr / NY State IPM Program Seal up any cracks or holes in walls, doors, or windows. Glue traps will help catch the ones that have already made your home their home.
Sprickets do tend to eat spiders and other bugs, though, so if you’re willing to cut them a break on rent, they might actually end up keeping your home cleaner and safer.
Flickr / Jessica Lucia
Have you started to find sprickets in your homes yet this year?
Flickr / Katherine Hala While they’re more prevalent in the suburbs, I’m beginning to realize that no place is safe from their beady eyes and impressive leaps!
We’ve all had our run-ins with these hoppy, spooky creatures. Share your best (or worst) spricket story in the comments below! And you know, the more I come across these cave crickets in my laundry room, the more I think it might be time to run away for the weekend and hide from them. Maybe I’d be safe at the Inn at Grace Winery… or maybe the wine would be therapy enough!
Brian Henderson/Flickr
Katja Schulz/Flickr
When sprickets are startled, the jump… often directly toward whatever it was that surprised them. Definitely not the smartest defense mechanism, if you ask me…
Flickr / Dave Thomas
Flickr / Brian Henderson
…just waiting to jump at you when you turn on the light to do some laundry.
Flickr / Steve Fernie
Flickr / NY State IPM Program
Seal up any cracks or holes in walls, doors, or windows. Glue traps will help catch the ones that have already made your home their home.
Flickr / Jessica Lucia
Flickr / Katherine Hala
While they’re more prevalent in the suburbs, I’m beginning to realize that no place is safe from their beady eyes and impressive leaps!
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