Post by trehopr1 on Mar 26, 2018 6:19:30 GMT
Camel crickets of the Orthopteran family (Rhaphidophoridae) are certainly "oddfellows" of the insect world. Most people I would say, have probably never actually seen one in life as these ungainly looking creatures are denizens of dark hideaways (during the hours of daylight) and only venture out after nightfall. Most are found in forest environments or within caves, abandoned animal burrows, tree hollows, rotten logs, cellars, or under damp leaves/boards etc. They are characterized in part by their long filamentous antennae, very large spiny hind legs, and rather humpbacked appearance.
In all my many years of night collecting (using various methods) I have only come across Camel crickets on perhaps 3 or 4 occasions (as single individuals). I don't have any particular interest in them or most Orthoptera (except Katydids); so I have merely admired them upon their appearances.
However, on one particular occasion while I was on a collecting trip in Southern Illinois I happened across an extraordinary specimen of unusual size for a temperate species. It came walking up to my light setup through the grass and simply stopped on the part of the sheet lying on the ground and began "preening" those lovely delicate long antennae. I immediately pulled out a wide mouth jar I had and gingerly coaxed her into the jar so as not too frighten her into hopping away. Here is a photograph of it as I simply could not resist having such an unusual and large find in my collection.
I prepared up my little beastie in a walking stance (the manner in which I observed her in the grass); with the antennae full in front and sensing ahead. This is again, how I observed the cricket utilizing it's sense of touch. The body measures 3.3cm from the tip of the head to the ovipositor end. The body with the rear legs factored in measures 6.6cm while the antennae measure a full 8.7cm from their beginning to tip. Now, maybe if you live in South or Central America, Southeast Asia, or Australia (to name a few); something like this might not be a big deal because heck there is probably something like it only "bigger" in the tropics. But, to find something this sizable in a temperate zone with four seasons of weather is simply unexpected and extraordinary in terms....
Below, I will post a side profile of my little mini-beast as well. I collected her on July.21.2001 / Shawnee National Forest / Southern Illinois
Of note: I was to go to the same general area for the next 5 years running (2x a summer) and yet despite those 10 trips total I would never again see another....
In all my many years of night collecting (using various methods) I have only come across Camel crickets on perhaps 3 or 4 occasions (as single individuals). I don't have any particular interest in them or most Orthoptera (except Katydids); so I have merely admired them upon their appearances.
However, on one particular occasion while I was on a collecting trip in Southern Illinois I happened across an extraordinary specimen of unusual size for a temperate species. It came walking up to my light setup through the grass and simply stopped on the part of the sheet lying on the ground and began "preening" those lovely delicate long antennae. I immediately pulled out a wide mouth jar I had and gingerly coaxed her into the jar so as not too frighten her into hopping away. Here is a photograph of it as I simply could not resist having such an unusual and large find in my collection.
I prepared up my little beastie in a walking stance (the manner in which I observed her in the grass); with the antennae full in front and sensing ahead. This is again, how I observed the cricket utilizing it's sense of touch. The body measures 3.3cm from the tip of the head to the ovipositor end. The body with the rear legs factored in measures 6.6cm while the antennae measure a full 8.7cm from their beginning to tip. Now, maybe if you live in South or Central America, Southeast Asia, or Australia (to name a few); something like this might not be a big deal because heck there is probably something like it only "bigger" in the tropics. But, to find something this sizable in a temperate zone with four seasons of weather is simply unexpected and extraordinary in terms....
Below, I will post a side profile of my little mini-beast as well. I collected her on July.21.2001 / Shawnee National Forest / Southern Illinois
Of note: I was to go to the same general area for the next 5 years running (2x a summer) and yet despite those 10 trips total I would never again see another....