Cooler weather brings beautiful autumn foliage, anticipation of the holidays, and magic in the air. However, the cold season isn’t without its annoyances. This is especially true when it comes to the terrifying invaders known as camel crickets. If you’ve encountered camel crickets in Maryland, you’re not alone.

Camel crickets, also known as spider crickets or sprickets, are usually a cave-dwelling insect. They prefer dark and moist places, which is why they're so attracted to basements.
Flickr / Indabelle
As temperatures drop, they hide under leaves, logs, or make their way into homes through the tiniest of cracks. They're just trying to stay warm and hope you won't mind a winter house guest or two... or a few dozen.
Flickr / Josep Ma. Rosell
These invaders look like the mutant hybrid of a spider and a cricket, hence their nickname. Most people, myself included, find them unusually disturbing. Brace yourselves Marylanders, because these gnarly little guys aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Flickr / Jessica Lucia
In fact, studies have found that year after year, camel crickets become more and more abundant on the east coast. Rondunnlab.com collects survey data and maps it, showing how saturated the area of Maryland really is.
robdunnlab.com

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During autumn, camel crickets become a hot topic among Marylanders. These scavengers are harmless, and you could actually say they're helpful by eating dead insects lying around the house. What's scary is their size, and the fact that they tend to jump towards you when feeling threatened.

*Shivers*
Flickr / Steve Fernie
Another eerie thing they tend to do is climb through vents. I'll never forget two winters ago when I was cuddled up on the couch watching television, and all of a sudden a camel cricket fell from a ceiling vent right above my head.
Wikimedia Commons / Neda Dilmaghanian
Most locals have one big question when it comes to these uninvited autumn guests, and that is How do I get rid of these things?!
Flickr / NY State IPM Program at Cornell University
First of all, prevent them from entering your home by patching up cracks around the foundation, windows, and doors. Also be sure to sweep away leaves or other places they may hide. Local exterminators may have a solution, or simple glue traps work wonders.
Flickr / woodleywonderworks
Spine-chilling tidbit: Once a few camel crickets are stuck on the traps, others will come to eat the dead and get stuck themselves. This is why you may sometimes also hear these things referred to as cannibal crickets.
So with all this I say happy fall, Marylanders! May your homes be clear of these freakish aliens, and may you have zero nightmares of these beady little eyes.
Flickr / Jessica Lucia

Do you have your own stories about camel crickets in Maryland? Share below, so we can all partake in one giant group therapy session. 😉 If camel crickets haven’t sufficiently creeped you out, take at look at 14 bugs that are also found in Maryland.

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camel crickets in Maryland

Beth Price-Williams | October 10, 2020

Where are the best places to see fall foliage in Maryland?

Finding beautiful fall foliage in Maryland is easy. Even just a walk around your neighborhood is likely to be an enchanting experience. If you’re up for a bit of a trek, you’ll also find an abundance of places to go leaf peeping in Maryland. Deep Creek Lake, for example, has earned props as one of the best places in the U.S. to view the fall foliage. Relax by the lake or go for a drive in the area to see the views. Just don’t forget your camera. Rocky Gap State Park, Cedarville State Forest, and C & O Canal are all picture-perfect in the fall.

Which hiking trails in Maryland are best in the fall?

Hiking is one of the best ways to embrace fall in Maryland. You’ll find quite a few hiking trails in Maryland that are simply stunning in the autumn, too. Stroll within Washington Monument State Park for some of the most jaw-dropping fall foliage in the state. For sensational views that include a walk across a swinging bridge, follow the Grist Mill Trail in Patapsco Valley State Park. The 2.5-mile trail boasts a ton of natural beauty – from colorful fall foliage to Cascade Falls. It also features tunnels, bridges, and water views.

What is the most haunted place in Maryland?

If the bugs you’ll find in Maryland creep you out, wait until you visit some of its most haunted places. Fall, after all, is the ideal time to seek out the paranormal since it is the spookiest season. You can even hit the highway on one of the road trips to the most haunted places in Maryland.  The haunted road trip kicks off at Rosewood Center in Owings Mills, a former home for those with mental disabilities. Today, ghost hunters tell of hearing odd sounds and seeing shadows around the buildings that still remain. Other stops on the epic trip include Hell House Altar, Glen Dale Sanatorium, and National Park Seminary.

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