Cricket and Grasshopper Questions
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GETTING
RID OF CAVE CRICKETS:
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Email |
We have cave crickets in our
basement. We have affectionately named
them "hoppers" because of
their great talent of hopping to make
their presence known. What do these
creatures eat? How can I remove them
from my basement without using
chemicals that harm the environment?
They are a nuisance, but are quite
funny, especially when you are not
expecting something to jump out at you
in the laundry room. Thanks for making
the cave cricket site available. (Mon,
13 Nov 2000) |
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Answer |
I am guessing what you are calling
cave crickets are also known as camel
crickets. they have a sort
"humped-over" shape, and no
wings. These crickets are common
residents throughout most of
low-elevation California. they are
probably in your basement because it
is a cool, moist shelter for them. I
am betting there are some small holes
by which they are coming an going.
they probably eat most organic
materials, like roots and bits of
plants, in addition, perhaps, dead
insects etc...which they come across.
The best way to stop them from coming
into your basement would be to seal
the possible entry points such as
under the door, or spaces between the
house and the outside. I wouldn't
recommend chemical control since more
will probably continue to come in from
outside to replace the ones that die
off. They are unlikely to invade the
rest of your house since they prefer
cool, dark places to rest. |
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HABITATS
OF GRASSHOPPERS:
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Email |
Your website is very colourful and
helpful. I would like to ask that what
is the habitats of grasshoppers. (Mon,
6 Nov 2000) |
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Answer |
Grasshoppers is a name used for
number fo families of related insects.
All of them look fairly similar, with
long back legs that they use for
jumping. They inhabit a wide variety
of habitats from below sea level in
the desert to above 10,000 feet on
mountainsides. The diversity fo
grasshoppers is also amazing, with a
wide variety of forms and habits. We
strongly encourage you to check out a
book on insects in your local library
or bookstore. You will be amazed at
where grasshoppers occur and what they
do... |
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REAPPEARANCE
OF POTATO BUGS?:
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Email |
I probably haven't seen a
"potato bug" in about 10
years and here we found one in our
carport 4 days ago and it was killed,
and tonight there was another on the
steps of my back porch! What ARE these
bugs and why am i suddenly seeing
them? (Tue, 28 Nov 2000) |
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Answer |
Potato bugs, or Jerusalem Crickets
are a family-Stenelopomatidae- related
to grasshoppers and crickets. They are
primarily soil dwelling. There are
many species in California and they
each seem to have a different time of
year in which they leave the safety of
their burrows in search of mates, and
maybe food. They are omnivorous eating
roots, insect larvae etc... It is
possible that the time of year has
made them more active, or perhaps
digging in the area has displaced
them. While they look fierce, they are
generally not harmful (thier bite is
like a pinch) and are not poisonous.
Owls love to eat them... If you want
to stop them from coming into your
house check the sealings around doors
etc leading to the outside. |
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POTATO
BUGS (jerusalem crickets) FOUND IN MY
GARAGE:
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Email |
I have been finding these potato
bugs in my garage. My friend told me
that their other name is mother of
scorpion and the can carry an awful
bite or sting? is that true? and why
all of a sudden are they in my garage?
(Mon, 20 Nov 2000) |
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Answer |
Jerusalem Crickets, or Potato bugs
(family Stenelopomatidae) are not
dangerous, no can they sting. They can
bite if disturbed, but they are
generally omnivorous scavengers, far
more likely to be eaten than to
attack, or eat something else...(owls
love them, and so do skunks!) The bite
is unlikely to be more than a pinch,
and they are unlikley to bite unless
you are holding them in your hand.
There are many species of Jerusalem
Cricket in California and they vary as
the the times of year that they are
active. The species is your area may
be active during the rainy season.
They wander around at night looking
for food and shelter, and that is
probably when they get lost in your
garage...It is probably not where they
want to be. We suggest that you use a
broom to gently sweep them back
outside, where both you and they will
be happier. As the season changes it
is likley that they will stop
wandering into your garage so
frequently. |
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SCIENTIFIC
NAMES FOR POTATO BUGS, PILL BUGS, WOOD
LICE:
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Email |
Could you please provide the
"scientific name" for what
is commonly know as "potato
bug" and also the name for
"pill bugs" or wood-lice. (I
only got as far as Isopoda) I'm trying
to help my daughter with a project and
don't have any "bug"
reference except gardening books.
(Tue, 31 Oct 2000) |
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Answer |
The problem with common names is
that they refer to different creatures
in different parts of the country. the
local interpretation for potato bug is
the jerusalem cricket. the genus is
Stenelopomatus. there are many species
and most are undescribed. Pill bugs
are isopods-not insects- and a common
genus is cylisticus. and wood lice are
psocoptera- that is the order. there
are many species. A great field guide
to california insects is called
"California Insects". |
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POTATO
BUG VS. PRAYING MANTIS:
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Which bug would win in a fight
between a potato bug and a praying
mantis? (Mon, 19 Feb 2001) |
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Answer |
Praying mantis are predatory and
potato bugs are omnivorous. So it is
likely that the fight would come down
to who was bigger. If the mantis was
much bigger it would eat the potato
bug. If the potato bug was bigger, it
would probably leave the mantis alone.
They are not insects which normally
encounter each other since potato bugs
live most of thier lives underground
and Praying mantis often hunt on
foliage... |
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"MONSTER"
TO IDENTIFY??:
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Email |
My daughters found this monster on
the floor of our garage. I remember
seeing another one a few years ago. It
is about 3 cm long. The best match I
could find in your database was to the
damp wood termite. Thanks for your
help. We are dying to know what this
thing is. (Fri, 29 Dec 2000) |
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Answer |
Your "monster" is a rather
cute jerusalem cricket. They are an
unusual family of orthoptera that live
underground feeding on roots, and
insect larvae. There are many similar
looking species. Different species
leave the safety of their burrows in
search of mates and maybe food at
different times of year, but often in
winter. That is how they get stuck in
garages. The cricket is not dangerous,
although it would bite in self
defense, the bite would probably not
break the skin. To evict your visitor
I would gently scoop it into a dustpan
and let it go at least 100 yards from
your garage to discourage a return. |
