I’m so sorry to post such a disgusting picture. My apologies in advance if you have nightmares about this enormous arthropod crawling in your bed tonight. The kids found this on our property, and I can’t for the life of me figure out what it could be. I’ve looked in local field guides and can’t find it. Anyone know?
This was found in Central Oregon on our desert property; the kids accidentally dug it up or overturned it while shoveling dirt. Other habitation/features nearby include juniper trees, dry, volcanic soil, lava rocks, Western Fence Lizards, rattlesnakes, gopher snakes, jackrabbits, deer, field mice, owls, quail, lots of other birds of prey. And….this. ugly. thing.
I’m sure if I know the name of the creature my nightmares will stop. Thank you.
UPDATE: You all bloggers are so smart! Thank you for your input!! Drum roll, nightmares away, it’s a Jerusalem Cricket, commonly called a potato bug!
It’s neither from Jerusalem, nor a true cricket, nor does it prefer to eat potatoes. Most importantly, it is NOT venomous. But it is known to have a powerful bite, so do beware.
That is fascinating. It looks remarkably like the shell cicada’s leave behind which makes me wonder if it isn’t related. I will have to ask my middle child who LOVES reading about all insects and has a nearly photographic memory–she will probably remember if she has seen it in one of her books.
Oh wait, dur. I am pretty sure it is a cicada nymph. (Do a google image search for cicada nymph.) That would make sense since, as I mentioned, it looks an awful lot like the shell full grown cicadas leave behind. The nymphs burrow and only come up until they are ready to change so most people don’t see them. My kids LOVE finding cicada shells though we have only caught a few in metamorphosis.
Hi Jen. I disagree with Heather. Although it does look a LOT like a cicada, I agree, it lacks the wings of a desert cicada. We had cicadas in Boulder City/ Las Vegas area where I grew up, so I’m quite familiar with what they look like up close and personal. I have seen these critters around the Smith Rock area when we used to live out there,not far from where you are now. My husband is a biology teacher, and he didn’t know what they were either. But we suspected they were some type of small desert scorpion. Of course it may also be some type of large ant or even a giant termite of some sort. Not much help am I? But at least you may have a direction to begin searching. FYI- while living near Smith Rock we found an abundance of ants where we lived, small scorpions in the house numerous times, and yes, we were infested by termites one year.So those are critters that populate the location you’re in.
Jen…on a more personal note, Would you, could you ever consider spending an hour or so with me to discuss blogging? I could really use your expertise on some projects I am getting myself involved in?
Blessings to you. The house looks great by the way.
Well, I don’t know. In such cases, I usually ask my 9 year old walking encyclopedia. I got stuck on the rattlesnake mention- I didn’t know you had those, but considering you live in a desert, I guess that makes sense. There are areas like that in BC as well.
Jerusalem Cricket aka potato bug, as I see you’ve learned. We had one under our tent one CA trip, heard it scratch-scratch-scratching all night. SO creepy. My hubby beat it to death through the tent floor w/ a flashlight. I can’t bear to squish them (like a cockroach)- too squishy!
Oh- I need to get $ to you! You all should come to Working Wonders w/ us Thursday at 10 ( a few homeschool fams) then I could do it then! OR I need your address. :)
I’m not sure what it’s called, but it definitely looks like it would be disgusting if accidentally stepped on. It made me laugh to see your potato bug/ cicada/Jerusalem Cricket in all its glory at 8:30 AM on a Monday morning.
Jen June 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
Thank you everybody!! Mystery solved, thanks to those who gave me the link to http://www.whatsthatbug.com - what a cool website! This is definitely a Jersualem Cricket aka potato bug.
Heather, I looked at pictures of a cicada nymph - weird, it looks so similar, except for the head. The Jersualem Cricket head is huge and round. But it does look like it’s in the middle of a metamorphosis, because it’s so soft and squishy, like it just lost its exoskeleton!
Eeewww! We found one of those exact same bugs crawling around in our house last year! On our stairs! Where I could have easily stepped on it! In my bare feet! Eeewww! We were also told that it was a potato bug which makes perfect sense since we were in potato country Idaho! ( : I had forgot all about it until I saw your post - it gave me the creeps for weeks - I was so scared we would find a whole army of them somewhere in our house - thankfully it was the only one we saw.
Jen June 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Did I mention that the bug was THREE INCHES long??? That’s huge by insect standards.
Anyway, Darla, wow, I’m flattered you think I have some blog expertise. I will spend an hour (or two or three) with you discussing blogs, by all means. Or discussing anything. Just bring your tea. :-) Thanks a lot for the scorpion reminder.
Renae, glad to give you a Monday morning jolt with my photo. Who needs coffee when you’ve got a Jerusalem Cricket to look at?
Jane, my 9 year old is a bit like that, too. Sounds like Heather has one too.
Amanda, I’ll email you with my office address. If we can make Thursday, I’ll let you know - sounds like fun!
That’s not what a we call Potato Bug on the east coast. Ours is much more benign and squishy. I’m getting ready to post my own quirky critter. What things we find interesting in our old age!
15 Responses
That is fascinating. It looks remarkably like the shell cicada’s leave behind which makes me wonder if it isn’t related. I will have to ask my middle child who LOVES reading about all insects and has a nearly photographic memory–she will probably remember if she has seen it in one of her books.
Oh wait, dur. I am pretty sure it is a cicada nymph. (Do a google image search for cicada nymph.) That would make sense since, as I mentioned, it looks an awful lot like the shell full grown cicadas leave behind. The nymphs burrow and only come up until they are ready to change so most people don’t see them. My kids LOVE finding cicada shells though we have only caught a few in metamorphosis.
My husband says that it is a jerusalem Cricket/Potato Bug. You can see it on this website:
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/potato.htm
Hi Jen. I disagree with Heather. Although it does look a LOT like a cicada, I agree, it lacks the wings of a desert cicada. We had cicadas in Boulder City/ Las Vegas area where I grew up, so I’m quite familiar with what they look like up close and personal. I have seen these critters around the Smith Rock area when we used to live out there,not far from where you are now. My husband is a biology teacher, and he didn’t know what they were either. But we suspected they were some type of small desert scorpion. Of course it may also be some type of large ant or even a giant termite of some sort. Not much help am I? But at least you may have a direction to begin searching. FYI- while living near Smith Rock we found an abundance of ants where we lived, small scorpions in the house numerous times, and yes, we were infested by termites one year.So those are critters that populate the location you’re in.
Jen…on a more personal note, Would you, could you ever consider spending an hour or so with me to discuss blogging? I could really use your expertise on some projects I am getting myself involved in?
Blessings to you. The house looks great by the way.
Love-
Darla
I think it’s called a Jerusalem Cricket–they’re freaky-looking but harmless. I learned the name from What’s that Bug’s “unnecessary carnage” page: http://www.whatsthatbug.com/unnecessary_carnage.html
Well, I don’t know. In such cases, I usually ask my 9 year old walking encyclopedia. I got stuck on the rattlesnake mention- I didn’t know you had those, but considering you live in a desert, I guess that makes sense. There are areas like that in BC as well.
That is a potato bug.
yuck. yuck. yuck.
Jerusalem Cricket aka potato bug, as I see you’ve learned. We had one under our tent one CA trip, heard it scratch-scratch-scratching all night. SO creepy. My hubby beat it to death through the tent floor w/ a flashlight. I can’t bear to squish them (like a cockroach)- too squishy!
Oh- I need to get $ to you! You all should come to Working Wonders w/ us Thursday at 10 ( a few homeschool fams) then I could do it then! OR I need your address. :)
I’m not sure what it’s called, but it definitely looks like it would be disgusting if accidentally stepped on. It made me laugh to see your potato bug/ cicada/Jerusalem Cricket in all its glory at 8:30 AM on a Monday morning.
Thank you everybody!! Mystery solved, thanks to those who gave me the link to http://www.whatsthatbug.com - what a cool website! This is definitely a Jersualem Cricket aka potato bug.
Heather, I looked at pictures of a cicada nymph - weird, it looks so similar, except for the head. The Jersualem Cricket head is huge and round. But it does look like it’s in the middle of a metamorphosis, because it’s so soft and squishy, like it just lost its exoskeleton!
Eeewww! We found one of those exact same bugs crawling around in our house last year! On our stairs! Where I could have easily stepped on it! In my bare feet! Eeewww! We were also told that it was a potato bug which makes perfect sense since we were in potato country Idaho! ( : I had forgot all about it until I saw your post - it gave me the creeps for weeks - I was so scared we would find a whole army of them somewhere in our house - thankfully it was the only one we saw.
Did I mention that the bug was THREE INCHES long??? That’s huge by insect standards.
Anyway, Darla, wow, I’m flattered you think I have some blog expertise. I will spend an hour (or two or three) with you discussing blogs, by all means. Or discussing anything. Just bring your tea. :-) Thanks a lot for the scorpion reminder.
Renae, glad to give you a Monday morning jolt with my photo. Who needs coffee when you’ve got a Jerusalem Cricket to look at?
Jane, my 9 year old is a bit like that, too. Sounds like Heather has one too.
Amanda, I’ll email you with my office address. If we can make Thursday, I’ll let you know - sounds like fun!
Nasty looking little thing-glad you figured out what it was.
That’s not what a we call Potato Bug on the east coast. Ours is much more benign and squishy. I’m getting ready to post my own quirky critter. What things we find interesting in our old age!
RSS feed for comments on this post
Comment