Bugs skeeve me. I know that they have some important function in the circle of life but, I don’t want them in my state. I definitely don’t want them invading my state…but invade they have. New Jersey has a cricket crisis.

This is the camel cricket.
Wikipedia/thegreenj
It is also known as a Cave Cricket, Spider Cricket or Spricket.
Flickr/Brian Henderson
Native to Asia, the invasive species made its way to the United States over a century ago.
Flickr/Brian Henderson

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By 2012, these crickets were all too common in New Jersey.
Flickr/Steve Fernie
It's estimated that the species can be found in or around 37 percent of New Jersey homes.
Flickr/NY State IPM Program
They are often found in dark, damp places like basements and leaf piles...
Flickr/Josh More
...And can be identified by their humped back and lengthy legs. At up to 4 inches long, I don't want one jumping at me.
Flickr/Brian Henderson

While frustrating (and terrifying) these crickets are not considered dangerous or known to carry any diseases. To learn more about them, watch the short video below:

Have you spotted one of these in your home? Let us know in the comments. For more on another creepy creature that resides in the Garden State, check out this article on the Jersey Devil (who scares me less than these Camel Crickets).

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