Invasive Camel Crickets Are Flocking To American Basements
- 10 years ago
Take a good look all around your home, because there’s a good chance you’ll find a camel cricket. The findings of a recent citizen science project were released on September 2nd and they show the insects may very well outnumber people in the United States.
Take a good look all around your home, because there’s a good chance you’ll find a camel cricket. The findings of a recent citizen science project were released on September 2nd and they show the insects may very well outnumber people in the United States.
The researchers behind the study also discovered that the invasive species from Asia is more often found in U.S. cellars than the native kind.
Mary Jane Epps, who led the project, commented “We don't know what kind of impact this species has on local ecosystems, though it's possible that the greenhouse camel cricket could be driving out native camel cricket species in homes.”
Although the thought that invasive camel crickets could be scouring your home at this very moment might freak you out, fear not, as they’re actually not bad insects.
The crickets pose no threat to people. Further, they actually help clean up basements, as they eat the dead things that can gather there. The insects munch on pretty much anything ranging from human feces to deceased fire ants.
Camel crickets have long back legs and an arched back. The species is easily identified by its unique appearance. It has a distinct banded pattern on the legs and is thinner than the native version.
The researchers estimate there are around 700 million camel crickets of varying species in and near American homes across the eastern U.S.
Take a good look all around your home, because there’s a good chance you’ll find a camel cricket. The findings of a recent citizen science project were released on September 2nd and they show the insects may very well outnumber people in the United States.
The researchers behind the study also discovered that the invasive species from Asia is more often found in U.S. cellars than the native kind.
Mary Jane Epps, who led the project, commented “We don't know what kind of impact this species has on local ecosystems, though it's possible that the greenhouse camel cricket could be driving out native camel cricket species in homes.”
Although the thought that invasive camel crickets could be scouring your home at this very moment might freak you out, fear not, as they’re actually not bad insects.
The crickets pose no threat to people. Further, they actually help clean up basements, as they eat the dead things that can gather there. The insects munch on pretty much anything ranging from human feces to deceased fire ants.
Camel crickets have long back legs and an arched back. The species is easily identified by its unique appearance. It has a distinct banded pattern on the legs and is thinner than the native version.
The researchers estimate there are around 700 million camel crickets of varying species in and near American homes across the eastern U.S.