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05/11/2006 12:29:57 PM · #1 |
Ok, found this guy acting capriciously with his own life, repeatedly jumping at a wall and flying at it at full tilt.
I watched him for around 2 minutes. Initially, I didn't even see him, but was distracted by a rather large moth 'roadkill' on the bike path I ride to work by the river...
Lots of fun insect life kicking around at this time of the year... I also saw one of the most bizarre beetles I've ever seen in my life, but he was flying a bit toooo high off the ground for me to 'catch and release'.
Note the vicious looking forelegs/arms ?
It has a very flexible body for side to side motion and when afraid runs at quite a pace.
I think this one was born a few bricks short of a load though if you ask me though... To capture, I just emptied out my water bottle and put the mouth in front of it as it was trying to climb the wall (it had fallen down a few times and I didn't think it would make it anyhow).
It continued VERY active right up until 4:00 am in a little small pringles can I keep for photography.
When I brought it out to shoot this evening, it was very weak but still alive. I don't think it will last the night. It doesn't seem interested in water or anything. I'm pretty sure it has enough air...
Does anyone have any idea what the heck it is though?
It looks a bit like a grasshopper, but the locals have given me big ???'s. None have ever seen anything like it before. It doesn't seem to behave like a grasshopper, although it can jump a fair peice and seems to have similar legs...
My roommate seems to think it might be a mantis of some type... |
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05/11/2006 12:32:45 PM · #2 |
I think it may be a "mole cricket"
KS |
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05/11/2006 12:40:36 PM · #3 |
According to my Field Guide you are right. It is a Mole Cricket. A Northern Mole Cricket to be exact. Likes moist soil, eats plant roots, makes a guttural growling note. Spends most of its time underground though it can fly.
Message edited by author 2006-05-11 12:44:11. |
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05/11/2006 12:42:08 PM · #4 |
So my Biology degree and 1 year of taking pictures of bugs has finally paid off!!
Originally posted by Alienyst:
According to my Field Guide you are right. It is a Mole Cricket. A Northern Mole Cricket to be exact. |
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05/11/2006 12:58:18 PM · #5 |
Also confirmed on this end via a google search of mole cricket...
Interesting bug. No wonder it moved so fast with those digging claws.
I can imagine that it probably would have torn up quite a trench if that were any kind of soil. It seems quite strong for its size.
It was able to move the pringles can around quite a bit from it's jumping.
The field book should add that it doesn't do well in captivity...
I'm glad to know that it's a pest though because it's not going to make it. I shot some pictures of it for 30 minutes with it just lying on the paper open. It moved around a bit when I moved the light, but I couldn't tell if it was trying to get away or trying to get closer...
Thanks for the info guys! |
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05/11/2006 01:46:42 PM · #6 |
lol looks more like a crawfish and a grasshopper got mixed up in the gene pool or is the off spring of the two.
mole crickets can do quite a number on your lawn so yes he can be listed as a pest to most.
Nice image.
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05/11/2006 09:38:49 PM · #7 |
| Not so many lawns out this way, but I found him near some farms with rice paddies, so he's probably better off dead anyhow... |
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