Cave Cricket (also known as Camel Cricket or Spider Cricket)
Scientific Name: Diestrammena asynamora (and other Rhaphidophoridae species)
Order & Family: Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae
Size: 1.3 to 5 cm (0.5 to 2 inches) in body length, excluding long legs and antennae.
Natural Habitat
Dark, damp environments such as caves, basements, crawl spaces, and under mulch or rocks.
Diet & Feeding
Omnivorous scavengers that eat organic debris, fungi, plant matter, and sometimes other small insects.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and flightless. They use their long legs to leap high when startled, often jumping toward perceived threats as a defense mechanism. They are generally solitary.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans as they do not bite or sting, though they can be minor household pests if they damage fabrics or houseplants. They benefit the ecosystem by breaking down organic matter.
Identified on: 2/3/2026