| Author |
Message |
    
DJ
Citizen
Username: Djiang98
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 8:21 am: | 
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Hi everyone, we moved into MSH last fall and starting seeing these cave crickets in our basement (unfinished w/dirt crawlspaces) in the spring. At first, with their long appendages, we thought they were a spider variant but after looking it up on the internet, realized they are crickets and essentially harmless. However, they are starting to come up onto the main floor and freaking us out - should we call an exterminator or can we handle the crickets ourselves? Thanks - DJ |
Heather
Citizen
Username: Heater33
Post Number: 55
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:04 am: |
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I've used the bug bombs that you can get at home depot - works well especially this time of year when all the buggies are starting to come out and play. I usually get 4 or so and set them off in my crawl space - then leave for the day as to not inhale any fumes. It says they are harmless, but I have a 17 month old - better safe than sorry. Give it a try! |
MeAndTheBoys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3831
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 9:39 am: |
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I'm sure they're harmless, but they are exceptionally creepy. My cat dragged one up from the basement many years ago when we first moved here, and started chasing it around the dining room. I try not to get too creeped out by bugs, with the possible exception of certain spiders, but this one completely freaked me out. I literally ran screaming out of the house. Luckily I ran in to a neighbor coming up the street and he agreed to go in and "take care of it" for me! 
Haven't seen one since. |
Katharine McCormick
Citizen
Username: Katiemcc
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:23 am: |
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We had them this year and, like you, initially thought they were spiders. We also thought they might be little frogs, those back legs are impressive, aren't they?
I thought they were cute. But, it became a quality of life problem when we were finding 10+ an evening in our finished basement rec room and there was a crowd of them literally watching tv with us. We called Buckingham Pest Control. They came out and sprayed about three weeks ago. It cost around $40. We found a few dead ones scattered around over the first week after having them treated and haven't seen another one since then. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 932
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:33 am: |
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They are not harmless, although they won't bite you.
You can hire an exterminator (I recommend A-Eastern Pest Control (973) 736-5041) or you can DIY using the knowledge and products recommended on http://www.bugspray.com/articles98/camelcrickets.html
I've posted links to this very informative site and my personal experiences using their products many times on MOL and just want to clarify that I have nothing to do with the site other than as a consumer, and am not paid to endorse them or anything like that. In my experience their suggestions and products work and are much more affordable than hiring an exterminator.
I have hired the exterminator for various infestations and observed what he did and discussed the products etc., and so received a little mini lesson. For things that aren't too complicated, like sprinkling cricket bait in dark, inaccessible areas and putting down glue traps to monitor activity, I go to the bugspray site. For getting rid of a huge honeybee hive that was quickly built between my house shingles, I call A-Eastern to come in their space suit.
Eventually you're likely to need their information on carpenter bees, carpenter ants, cenitipedes and possibly mice and squirrels, so bookmark the site.
I've also found that many of my basement pest-type problems have been dramatically lessened by the year-round use of a good dehumidifier in the basement. You might be able to get one on sale this weekend, before the demand for them goes up with the summer humidity.
Good luck and welcome to the area! |
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