CAMEL BACK CRICKET CONTROL

   This article is about CAMELBACK CRICKET control.
It will explain why they are a pest and what
needs to be done for controlling infestations.
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   This article is about camel back crickets or cave
crickets. Like many insects, they can become a pest in
and around the home. Most pests want to live where
people live, but these crickets are different. They
love dark, damp, cave-like settings where they can
nest. These environments provide both water and food.
Cave crickets can live in a home for long periods of
time without residents knowing. As their population 
increases, some will get into living areas. This will
prompt the homeowner to treat. Before we discuss methods
of pest control for cave crickets, it is important
that you understand some basic biology of this pest.
   Camel back crickets appear throughout most of the
United States. They will move into areas around the
home taking up residence under porches and sheds.
They love moisture and darkness. Such areas produce
fungus and mold - both of which can feed this species
of cricket. In addition to mold and fungus, camel
back crickets will feed on fabric. This becomes a
problem in the home since migrating crickets can
cause substantial damage if left unchecked. 
   Once crickets are established around the home,
they will readily move inside for shelter from the
hot summer heat. Crawl spaces and basements provide
excellent nest sights. If you are finding some in
your basement, treat early. It is easier to get
control of this cricket before it is established.
If you have a home with a crawl space, it is important
that you check periodically. Such inspections may
reveal pest problems. If you find crickets during
any inspection, try to treat it as soon as possible.
Since camel back crickets reproduce quickly, it is
wise to get rid of them before populations swell.
   If the population is large, expect to have them
migrating out of the crawl space and into living
areas of the home. This is disconcerting to residents
since this cricket is unusual to look at. It is
almost hairy looking with all it's antennae. Since
it grows large, many people are surprised at just
how big they are. Another unique feature of this
cricket is that they jump randomly and are more
likely to jump at you than away from you. It is 
believed this is due to how they see. Their vision
is such that it appears to them they are moving
away from it's predator but in fact they are moving
towards it. Some people speculate this has lead
the species to appear to be attacking which in
turn chases away would-be predators. Whatever the
reason, keep in mind they cannot bite or sting.
Even still, having a large unusual insect jumping
at you will probably feel disconcerting. 
   Another problem with letting camel back cricket
populations going unchecked is that they can cause
a lot of damage to fabric. They love to eat both
synthetic and manmade material including rugs, furniture,
books, canvas, clothing, boxes, linen, drapery,
and just about anything we have in our living area.
This can lead to damage which looks like some type
of moth. Because this cricket is rather large and meaty,
mice and rats are fond of them. Many times rats and
mice will take advantage of populations which are
active in your home. This could lead to rat and mouse 
infestations as well and will require more even pest 
control!  Because of the problems associated with letting
cave crickets live in your home, it is wise to take
action to stop such infestations.
   If you think some are getting into living areas because
you have seen droppings or damaged fabric, set out some
GLUE TRAP MONITORS in areas where such activity is
suspected. They will readily attract crickets because
they provide the type of shelter Camel Backs like. If
you catch one every few months, there isn't much of 
a problem. However, if you are catching one or more
a week, it is time to start doing some cricket control!
   Camel back cricket control is usually easy. The key
is attacking them where they want to live. Since they
start from the outside, it is usually recommended that
you do something to control outside populations. The 
best way to do this is with CONQUER EC. This is a low
odor material which mixes with water. Simply spray
foundation walls, around windows, around doorways
and under decks or sheds. Use a standard SPRAYER 
and treat a 5 foot band. Any structure close to the 
home which may be harboring crickets should be treated
thoroughly. By controlling them outside, you will be
stopping migration into your home. This will ultimately
prevent re-infestation. Use a gallon or two of Conquer
every month or two to keep them out. Conquer works on
other pests as well but is particularly active on
crickets. Don't waste your time with Dursban or Diazinon.
These products won't work for your cricket problem.
   If you have them inside the home, it will take more than
just perimeter treating the outside of the house. It will
take one of these two treatment methods if your intention is
to get rid of them once and for all. Ignoring them won't 
work; allowing them to continually reproduce and nest in
certain areas of the home will essentially mean there will 
be a constant supply of new ones. Though the use of some
Glue Monitors listed above can help catch some which
enter, they won't control local reproduction. Not even 
the BUG VACUUM/ZAPPER can do this; ultimately you will
have to attack them where they live. For mild or light
infestations where you have access to crawl spaces or 
basements where the crickets are reproducing, you can use
NIBAN FG bait. This light granule is easy to apply and can
be used safely both inside living areas as well as in
crawl spaces or basements. Crickets love this product and
will readily feed on it. This will lead to a quick death
of in house populations. Apply it with a BAIT APPLICATOR
inside the home for precise crack and crevice treatments.
If you have crawl spaces or basements where nesting is
thought to be happening, apply the Niban there as well.
This can be done by simply sprinkling the product from
the container. If you don't have access to your crawl
space, apply it with a DUSTIN MIZER. This hand powered
device will propel the Niban up to 30 feet and will let
you treat hard to access crawl spaces that are either too
small to enter or simply too dirty to crawl through.
Treatments will last 1-3 months depending on the level of
infestation. Severe populations will require more frequent
treatments until the insects have subsided. Finished basements
are harder to treat, but can be tackled with bait as well.
Use the Bait Applicator to apply the Niban behind wall voids, inside
electric outlets and into drop ceilings. These are
classic problem areas. By direct baiting, you will be getting
to where the crickets are living and reproducing. Try to get
some treatment behind walls as well. Your efforts will pay
off by allowing the bait to affect more crickets quicker. When 
combined with outside treatments of Conquer, you will be 
able to control existing populations as well as keep new ones 
from coming back. For severe infestations or if you want quicker 
results, a more aggressive approach is suggested.
   Although baiting for crickets will work when populations are
small and specific, treating with dusts and sprays inside
will yield quicker and more thorough results. For homeowners 
with infested crawl spaces and/or basements, this may
prove to be the best method of treatment. This is particularly
true when infestations have found their way behind finished
walls of basements. Although baiting will provide some relief,
many times this is simply not enough. Direct treating with
DELTAMETHRIN DUST will prove to be much more effective. Apply the
dust with a HAND DUSTER to all baseboards, switch
plate covers, electric outlets, and moldings where you suspect
they are entering as well as drop ceilings. Most finished
basements have access to areas behind finished walls and
from drop ceilings which enable easy treatment of these
voids. Blow Deltamethrin Dust into all of these areas. One treatment
will last 6-12 months and therefore will provide the longest
control. This is important if you have a lot of reproduction
going on in the walls. If you have a crawl space in addition
to the basement, make sure to treat it as well. Sprinkle the
Deltamethrin Dust throughout or apply it with the DUSTIN MIZER for
those hard to access spaces. Such treatment is critical for
long term success. In most cases, if these areas are treated
right in the first place, the crickets never come back.
Most people believe ants or roaches are more likely to live
in such dark and damp areas. Although some may, most would much
rather be in the living area of your home where it is warmer
and better food is available. Camel Back Crickets are one
insect that truly wants to be in the crawl space. Therefore,
to solve the problem, you need to get them where they live.
   Crickets are a common problem around the home and yard.
Camel back crickets will almost always infest crawl spaces
or basements if left to do as they please. Once activity
is noted outside the home, treat with Conquer to keep them
out. If they have already gotten inside, bait with Niban
for small infestations. Heavily infested areas should be
aggressively treated with Deltamethrin Dust for the quickest
and longest protection from future infestations.

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