Table of Contents
How big is a Stenopelmatus?
Most species grow to about 5 cm (2 inches) in length as adults, but two of them approach 7.6 cm (3 inches). They live in the western U.S., from California to Oklahoma, and south into Mexico. About 100 species are known, many of them recently discovered and currently under study.
Where do you find Stenopelmatus?
Stenopelmatus is one of two genera of large, flightless insects referred to commonly as Jerusalem crickets (or “potato bugs”). They are primarily native to Central America, and one species is known from Ecuador.
Is a child of the Earth poisonous?
First and foremost, they are not venomous. They can, however, if handled impolitely, emit a foul smell, and are capable of inflicting a painful bite – but neither is lethal. In spite of their Spanish name, nina de la Tierra, they do not cry like children.
Are Stenopelmatus in Australia?
The family Stenopelmatidae and subfamily Stenopelmatinae contain several Old World genera, but only the genera in the tribe Stenopelmatini (all New World) are referred to as Jerusalem crickets. Other families in the same superfamily (Stenopelmatoidea) in Australia and New Zealand include the wētā and king crickets.
Why is it called child of the Earth?
While there is no clear answer where the Jerusalem crickets name originated from, this site mentions that they are known as Niño de la Tierra in the Spanish language which means ‘Child of the Earth’. Jerusalem crickets eat decaying plants and vegetation which is where this name came from.
What is a child of the Earth look like?
They are free of wings; have tiny, dark-black eyes and conspicuously big heads, so they are sometimes compared facially to human children. Because of that trait, the “child of the earth” is probably their most commonly used name.
Why is it called a Jerusalem cricket?
Why are Jerusalem crickets called that?
True crickets belong to the family Gryllidae while this species belongs to the family Stenopelmatidae. It is not named after, nor even occurs in Jersalem. The name “Jerusalem” is derived from what had been historically a profane word uttered emphatically and involuntarily when startled.
What do Jerusalem crickets do?
Jerusalem crickets can produce several sounds. When disturbed they can produce a hissing noise by rubbing the femur of their hind legs along the side of their abdomen. Mating calls are produced by drumming their abdomen against the ground and these are detected as vibrations through the soil.
Where do Jerusalem crickets come from?
They are most likely to be found in the western parts of the United States and parts of Mexico. They are native to the desert southwest, the western states, and along the Pacific coast.