Jerusalem cricket
579188
225442159
2008-07-13T18:42:06Z
Dyanega
1357080
[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225433008 by [[Special:Contributions/Miniwyo|Miniwyo]] ([[User talk:Miniwyo|talk]]); rv unsourced - needs ref for "sand puppies"
{{Taxobox
| name = Jerusalem cricket
| image = Jerusalemcricket.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Stenopelmatus fuscus''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| ordo = [[Orthoptera]]
| familia = '''Stenopelmatidae'''
| genus = '''''Stenopelmatus'''''
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
''[[Stenopelmatus coahuilensis]]''<br />
''[[Stenopelmatus fuscus]]''<br />
''[[Stenopelmatus intermedius]]''<br />
''[[Stenopelmatus longispina]]''<br />
''[[Stenopelmatus mescaleroensis]]''<br />
''[[Stenopelmatus navajo]]''<br />
''[[Stenopelmatus nigrocapitatus]]''<br />
''[[Stenopelmatus pictus]]''<br />
plus numerous unnamed species (>30)
}}
[[Image:Mahogany Jerusalem cricket.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Mahogany Jerusalem cricket (''Stenopelmatus n. sp. "mahogany"'')]]
'''Jerusalem crickets''' ([[genus]] '''''Stenopelmatus''''') are a group of large (body length up to 69mm), flightless [[insect]]s native to the [[western United States]], along the [[Pacific Coast]], and south into [[Mexico]]. Because of their large, [[human]]-like head, they are commonly called '''niño de la tierra''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "child of the earth"), '''Earth baby''', '''cara de niño''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]] for "child's face"), '''wó see ts'inii''' ([[Navajo language|Navajo]] for "skull insect"), or '''old bald-headed man'''. They are also often called '''potato bugs'''.
Despite their name, Jerusalem crickets are neither true [[cricket (insect)|cricket]]s nor [[Hemiptera|true bug]]s and they do not prefer [[potato]]es for food. Active only at night, the insects use their strong [[mandible]]s to feed primarily on dead [[organic material]] but can also eat other insects.<ref>Milne, Lorus and Margery (1980) The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects & Spiders. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, pp. 437. ISBN 0-394-50763-0</ref> Their highly adapted feet are used for burrowing beneath moist soil to feed on decaying root plants and [[tuber]]s.
==Classification==
There are a few other genera in the family Stenopelmatidae, that occur in other parts of the world, but these are very similar to ''Stenopelmatus'' in most respects.
==Song==
{|
| Similar to true [[cricket (insect)|cricket]]s, each species of Jerusalem cricket produces a different [[song]] during [[mating]], but this "song" takes the form of a characteristic [[drumming]] in which the insect beats its [[abdomen]] against the ground.
| [[Image:Female Mahogany Jerusalem Cricket.EatonLACO.ogg]]
|}
Most species have no sound-producing structures, and evidently none have structures they could use to hear audible sound<ref>L. Desutter-Grandcolas (2003) Phylogeny and the evolution of acoustic communication in extant Ensifera (Insecta, Orthoptera). Zoologica Scripta 32 (6), 525–561. doi:10.1046/j.1463-6409.2003.00142.x</ref><ref>Robinson, David J. and Hall, Marion J. (2002) Sound Signalling in Orthoptera. In: Evans, Peter, ed(s). Advances in Insect Physiology. Elsevier Ltd, pp. 151-278. ISBN 0-12-024229-X & 978-0-12-024229-0</ref> (true crickets use their wings to produce sounds, but ''Stenopelmatus'' lack wings, and crickets and katydids have membranous "ears" they use to hear) - they do not even seem to be able to hiss by forcing air through their [[spiracles]], as some [[beetle]]s and [[cockroach]]es do. Instead, the few Jerusalem crickets which do make audible sound rub their hind legs against the sides of the abdomen, which produces a rasping, "hissing" noise<ref>Weissman, D. B. (2001). In ‘The Biology of Wetas, King Crickets and Their Allies’ (ed. L. H. Field), Communication and reproductive behaviour in North American Jerusalem crickets (''Stenopelmatus'') (Orthoptera: Stenopelmatidae), pp. 351-375. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK</ref>; this rasping noise appears to be designed to frighten predators, rather than being used in communication between the crickets themselves. For such purposes, Jerusalem crickets apparently rely exclusively on substrate vibrations, which are felt rather than heard.
==Common Myths==
As is true for other large, "ugly" arthropods (e.g. [[Solifugae|solfugids]]), there are a number of folk tales regarding Jerusalem crickets which are simply untrue; first and foremost, they are not [[venom]]ous. However, they can emit a foul smell and are capable of inflicting a painful bite - but neither is lethal, as some of the tales would suggest. They also do not cry like children, nor rub their legs together to make sounds.
== References ==
<references/>
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Stenopelmatidae}}
* [http://www.werc.usgs.gov/sandiego/jerusalem-crickets.html Phylogenetics of the Mahogany Jerusalem Cricket in Southern California]
* [http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/inverts/sten-fus.html Jerusalem Cricket], from the San Diego Natural History Museum. Several photos.
* [http://homepage.mac.com/bugbob/askdoctorbug/stenopelmatus.html Ask Dr. Bug]
* [http://www.potatobugs.com PotatoBugs.com] - Tongue in cheek 'information' pictures and an online forum
* [http://johnbokma.com/mexit/2006/07/04/to-the-lava-field.html The trip to the lava field] - has a picture of a beautiful colored Mexican species.
* [http://www.whatsthatbug.com/potato_2.html What's that bug] - pictures and comments.
* [http://bugguide.net/node/view/39450 BugGuide.net] - pictures and information on genus ''Stenopelmatus'' - Jerusalem Cricket.
[[Category:Orthoptera]]
[[Category:Urban legends]]
[[es:Stenopelmatus]]