Insect sticky boards can record activity in accessible indoor locations. Keep them away from children, pets and non-target animals; trap counts do not measure the whole population.
What to Know About Sticky Boards and Camel Crickets
- Glue traps for camel crickets work best for monitoring, not as a cure. They show where crickets travel and whether activity is going up or down.
- NC State Extension suggests putting sticky boards, like the ones sold for cockroaches and mice, in corners and behind appliances.
- Write the date and location on every trap so you can compare catches over time.
- A trap won’t dry out damp areas, remove hiding spots, or seal the gaps crickets use to get inside.
- Follow the label directions, and keep traps away from pets, children, and other animals.
Why Use Sticky Boards for Camel Crickets?
Sticky boards replace guesses with facts. One cricket on the stairs tells you very little. A row of dated traps, checked over several weeks, shows you where crickets travel and how many get caught.
That record helps in a few ways:
- It narrows down the problem areas. A trap behind the dryer that keeps catching crickets points you toward that room.
- It shows change over time. You can see whether catches drop after you seal gaps or lower the humidity.
- It catches stragglers. NC State Extension describes sticky boards as a way to catch crickets that get into your home.
Still, a trap only catches insects that walk onto it. It can’t reach crickets hiding in soil, under firewood, or in thick ground cover outside.
Where to Place Glue Traps for Camel Crickets Indoors
Put traps where crickets already travel. These insects tend to follow edges and stay out of open, bright areas.
Corners and Along Walls
Set boards flat in room corners and along the bottom of walls. Crickets moving through a room usually stay close to these edges. Choose spots you can reach easily so checking stays quick.
Behind Appliances
NC State Extension names the space behind appliances as a good spot. Washers, dryers, water heaters, and freezers often have sheltered, damp spaces behind them. Only place traps where you can reach safely. Don’t pull heavy appliances out or reach behind live wiring just to place a board.
Damp Rooms and Entry Points
Check the areas where moisture tends to collect:
- Basements and the area near basement doors
- Laundry rooms and bathrooms
- Garages, especially near stored boxes
- Just inside crawlspace access doors, if you can reach them safely
The cited extension source does not provide a universal household spacing rule. Follow the product directions and record accessible placements near observed activity.
How to Set Up a Simple Monitoring Routine
A trap tells you far more when you treat it as a record instead of a one-time catch.
Label Every Trap
Use a marker to write the date and a short location note on each board. “Laundry, behind dryer” works better than “trap 3.” Some homeowners also sketch a rough floor plan and number the trap spots on it.
Check on a Steady Schedule
Choose a schedule you can stick to, and check every trap on the same day. Write down how many crickets each board caught. Replace boards that are full, dusty, or no longer sticky, and date each new one.
Compare Repeat Catches
The real value shows up after several checks. Ask yourself:
- Do the same spots keep catching crickets?
- Did catches fall after you sealed a gap or ran a dehumidifier?
- Did a new area start catching crickets after heavy rain?
These comparisons help you decide where to focus your effort. However, they won’t give you an exact count of how many crickets live in your home.
What Your Catches Can and Can't Tell You
Sticky boards have real limits. A full board doesn’t tell you how many crickets are hiding in the walls. An empty board doesn’t prove you have none. Catches also shift with the weather, where the trap sits, and how much dust is on the glue.
Before you count anything, check what’s actually stuck to the board. Don’t identify a catch by color alone. Instead, look at the overall shape: a humped back, very long hind legs, long antennae, and no wings.
Centipedes and millipedes are two other crawlers that often turn up on boards set in damp basements and crawlspaces. They’re easy to mix up at a glance, but they behave differently and call for different prevention steps. Our guide to centipede vs. millipede identification explains how to tell the two apart by body shape and leg count. It also covers household prevention for each one. Sorting these catches out correctly keeps your trap records accurate, and it keeps you from chasing the wrong pest.
You may also wonder whether the insects you’re catching can hurt you. Camel crickets are mostly a nuisance. However, NC State notes they can damage garments and linens stored in boxes if the problem goes unchecked for a long time. If you’re nervous about handling them, our article on whether crickets bite explains how crickets behave around people. It also covers when a bite might actually happen and what to expect.
Keeping Traps Safe Around Pets, Children, and Other Animals
Glue traps can catch more than insects. Always read and follow the product label before you set one out.
- Place boards where pets and children can’t reach or step on them.
- Use only placements that actually prevent access by children, pets and non-target animals; being behind an object alone does not make a board inaccessible.
- Use them indoors only. Don’t spread glue boards across a yard, porch, or garden.
- Never use sticky boards to trap birds, lizards, or other wildlife.
If an animal other than an insect gets stuck, contact a veterinarian or a local wildlife resource for help. Don’t try to pull it free yourself.
Why Traps Don't Fix the Underlying Moisture Problem
A sticky board catches crickets that are already inside. It doesn’t change the conditions that drew them in. NC State Extension says effective control starts with removing hiding spots, reducing conducive conditions, and keeping crickets out.
Dampness is the biggest draw for camel crickets and many other household pests. Our guide to moisture control explains how leaks, poor airflow, and humid rooms attract pests and cause damage around the home. It also covers practical ways to dry those spaces out. Lowering moisture in basements and crawlspaces makes your home far less inviting to camel crickets.
NC State Extension also recommends these exclusion steps:
- Repair unintended gaps around windows, doors, foundations and vent housings without obstructing dryer exhaust, required ventilation or drainage.
- Seal the spots where plumbing and HVAC lines pass through the foundation.
- Add weather-stripping to the bottoms of house and garage doors.
- Stack boxes off the floor and away from walls to improve airflow.
- Keep mulch and ground cover at least 12 inches from the foundation.
- Don’t stack firewood against the house, and clear clutter from under decks.
Continue monitoring during repairs. Falling catches are useful alongside fewer sightings and verified repairs, but weather, placement and glue condition can also change the count.
When Catches Keep Coming Back
Steady catches after sealing and drying usually point to a source you haven’t found yet. Recheck crawlspace doors, foundation cracks, and stored items in the garage. NC State reports dark fecal smears in heavy infestations, but stains alone cannot identify the insect. Confirm the actual catches before attributing old marks to crickets.
If the problem continues, NC State suggests contacting a licensed pest control company. Your dated trap records will help a technician see where activity is concentrated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do glue traps get rid of camel crickets?
Not really. They work mainly as a monitoring tool. Traps catch some crickets that wander inside, but they don't fix the moisture, hiding spots, or entry gaps behind the problem.
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Where is the best place to put sticky traps for camel crickets?
NC State Extension recommends corners and the space behind appliances. Basements, laundry rooms, garages, and spots near crawlspace doors are also worth trying when you can reach them safely.
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How do I know if my camel cricket problem is getting better?
Label each trap with the date and location, then compare catches from one check to the next. Compare equal monitoring periods and similar trap condition. Lower catches plus fewer sightings can support improvement, but an empty board does not prove clearance.
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Should I put bait on a camel cricket glue trap?
Follow the trap's label instead of mixing your own attractant. Placing traps along walls and in damp, sheltered spots matters more than adding anything to the board.
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Are glue traps safe to use around pets?
They can catch pets and other animals, so keep them out of reach and follow the label directions. Use only placements that truly prevent access; a board hidden behind furniture can still be reachable.
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Can I use glue traps outside for camel crickets?
Outdoor glue boards aren't a good idea because they can catch birds, lizards, and other wildlife. Outdoors, focus on moving mulch, firewood, and clutter away from the foundation.
Vincent founded On Demand Pest Control in 2017 and is a Florida Certified Operator in all four state categories. He treats pest control as a systematic problem to solve, not a symptom to spray. Read Vincent’s full bio →
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