Potato Bug / Jerusalem Cricket
Jerusalem crickets are found throughout the western United States, along the Pacific Coast, and south into Mexico. They can be introduced to worm bins when they are in yard waste which is fed to the system.
Believed by some to be fierce and poisonous, this nocturnal cricket is actually non-aggressive and possesses no poison glands, although its jaws can inflict a painful bite.
Potato Bugs have been found in worm bins but are usually found while preparing the ground for spring or winter planting, this insect never appears in large numbers and is not considered a pest that requires control. Their numbers are kept in check by birds and rodent predators, fly and worm parasites, curious cats and gardeners' hoses.
The Jerusalem cricket spends most of its life underground. Its large, almost humanoid head supports the necessary muscles that assist the jaws in digging in the soil and feeding on living and dead plant materials. Like most crickets, this insect also produces sound, called drumming, by hitting its spiny legs against its body.
Jerusalem crickets complete a generation within a year, beginning with the hatching of eggs in the spring and the development of adults by fall.
WE DO NOT SELL Jerusalem crickets.
References:
http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/inverts/sten-fus.html
http://www.potatobugs.com/articles/parts.html
© 2008 Happy D Ranch
The above content is the exclusive intellectual property of Happy D Ranch. Though it is permissible to print articles for personal educational use, they may not be replicated in part or whole in any form without obtaining our written permission. Individuals, groups or businesses infringing upon this copyright will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Images and articles that are not Happy D Ranch originals have been used by permission.