What's this creature?

Kguru · 01-08-2009, 07:28 AM

What's this creature anyone, is it harmful to children? Thanks for any info.

About 1.5in long, this one was found dead in the house. A few days ago there was another one, not wanting to kill I tried to trap it alive to release it outside, but it ran into hiding while squirting back a spray of black yukky stuff (luckily on tiled area so wiped easily).

**Rense** · 01-08-2009, 07:35 AM

It's a kind of cricket, living in the soil. In Europe, we have a similar one, but I don't know if you have the same species down under... If so, it is probably introduced. You could Google for Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, or just for the genus Gryllotalpa of course

Edit: and no, its not harmfull whatsoever, because it's maily vegetarian (eating roots and sometimes small insects and worms) and not poisoneous (STRICTLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE EUROPEAN SPECIES!)

**Rense** · 01-08-2009, 07:39 AM

Yours is most probably Gryllotalpa brachyptera, the Australian mole cricket..... Gryllotalpa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kguru · 01-08-2009, 09:22 AM

Thanks for the info Rense.
When a kid I played with Asian crickets so I see this one the rear half is like crickets but its front half resembles a crayfish. So strange.

Isaac314 · 01-08-2009, 09:41 AM

Thats the most amazing thing! Its halfway between a lobster and a cricket, and its little beady eyes are actually quite cute!

Blue · 01-08-2009, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by Rense

It's a kind of cricket, living in the soil. In Europe, we have a similar one, but I don't know if you have the same species down under... If so, it is probably introduced. You could Google for Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, or just for the genus Gryllotalpa of course

Edit: and no, its not harmfull whatsoever, because it's maily vegetarian (eating roots and sometimes small insects and worms) and not poisoneous (STRICTLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE EUROPEAN SPECIES!)

Several species of mole crickets are major pests around the world.

Gooshin · 01-08-2009, 09:53 AM

you would know about pests blue..

har har har

**Rense** · 01-08-2009, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by Blue

Several species of mole crickets are major pests around the world.

Yep, but I guess that almost always relates to introduces species! Our European mole cricket (G. gryllotalpa) is on the "Red List of Endangered Species" here in The Netherlands, although the peaty soils where it lives in are quite abundant. The same holds for Belgium and the UK. Besides that, its protected by law, at least in The Netherlands. In the US this species is introduced, and regarded as pest.... But that's the way it goes quite regularly....

**rparmar** · 01-08-2009, 10:19 AM

I imagine it's only dangerous to children if they eat too many before their dinner.

**Rense** · 01-08-2009, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by rparmar

I imagine it's only dangerous to children if they eat too many before their dinner.

As long as they are fried (the mole crickets, not the children), they could be had for dinner, I guess....

Blue · 01-08-2009, 10:36 AM

Originally posted by Gooshin

you would know about pests blue..

har har har

I get paid to know.

**Rense** · 01-08-2009, 11:01 AM

Originally posted by Blue

I get paid to know.

Ah, great. So then, is my observation true for the indigenious cm species? You have some in the US, isn't it? The pest ones, are those introduced, or are your own also problematic?

George Lama · 01-08-2009, 11:27 AM

Crickets here are only a pest when they get in your house and keep you up all night. Otherwise, I've never heard of them being an ecological problem.

Blue · 01-08-2009, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by Rense

Ah, great. So then, is my observation true for the indigenious cm species? You have some in the US, isn't it? The pest ones, are those introduced, or are your own also problematic?

In the context of mole crickets, you are correct. Here is the best source for information in the context of Florida.

Which Mole Crickets Are Pests

and this link> http://molecrickets.ifas.ufl.edu/mcri0002.htm

Often, pest species including insects have "invaded" a new area. This isn't always the case though. For example, the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus is a pest of rice in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and California with the larvae feeding on roots in flooded fields and the adults on the leaves. Another example would be the plum curculio and the Colorado potato beetle. These are all native to North America. However, the crops that they attack may not be.

Originally posted by Frogroast

Crickets here are only a pest when they get in your house and keep you up all night. Otherwise, I've never heard of them being an ecological problem.

Those aren't mole crickets anyway. Most people never see one since they spend a vast majority of their time in the soil.

**Rense** · 01-08-2009, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by Blue

However, the crops that they attack may not be.

... and certainly not in the densities found in agricultural fields! Thanks for your reply!

01-08-2009, 07:28 AM	#1
Kguru Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Perth - WestAust Posts: 602	What's this creature? What's this creature anyone, is it harmful to children? Thanks for any info. About 1.5in long, this one was found dead in the house. A few days ago there was another one, not wanting to kill I tried to trap it alive to release it outside, but it ran into hiding while squirting back a spray of black yukky stuff (luckily on tiled area so wiped easily).

01-08-2009, 07:35 AM	#2
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Gryllotalpa It's a kind of cricket, living in the soil. In Europe, we have a similar one, but I don't know if you have the same species down under... If so, it is probably introduced. You could Google for Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, or just for the genus Gryllotalpa of course Edit: and no, its not harmfull whatsoever, because it's maily vegetarian (eating roots and sometimes small insects and worms) and not poisoneous (STRICTLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE EUROPEAN SPECIES!) Last edited by Rense; 01-08-2009 at 07:42 AM.

01-08-2009, 07:39 AM	#3
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Yours is most probably Gryllotalpa brachyptera, the Australian mole cricket..... Gryllotalpa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Last edited by Rense; 01-08-2009 at 10:22 AM.

01-08-2009, 10:02 AM	#8
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Originally posted by Blue Several species of mole crickets are major pests around the world. Yep, but I guess that almost always relates to introduces species! Our European mole cricket (G. gryllotalpa) is on the "Red List of Endangered Species" here in The Netherlands, although the peaty soils where it lives in are quite abundant. The same holds for Belgium and the UK. Besides that, its protected by law, at least in The Netherlands. In the US this species is introduced, and regarded as pest.... But that's the way it goes quite regularly.... Last edited by Rense; 01-08-2009 at 10:22 AM.

01-08-2009, 10:21 AM	#10
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Bon appetit! Originally posted by rparmar I imagine it's only dangerous to children if they eat too many before their dinner. As long as they are fried (the mole crickets, not the children), they could be had for dinner, I guess....

01-08-2009, 09:22 AM	#4
Kguru Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Perth - WestAust Posts: 602 Original Poster	Thanks for the info Rense. When a kid I played with Asian crickets so I see this one the rear half is like crickets but its front half resembles a crayfish. So strange.

01-08-2009, 09:41 AM	#5
Isaac314 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: London Photos: Gallery Posts: 417	Thats the most amazing thing! Its halfway between a lobster and a cricket, and its little beady eyes are actually quite cute!

01-08-2009, 09:42 AM	#6
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Rense It's a kind of cricket, living in the soil. In Europe, we have a similar one, but I don't know if you have the same species down under... If so, it is probably introduced. You could Google for Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, or just for the genus Gryllotalpa of course Edit: and no, its not harmfull whatsoever, because it's maily vegetarian (eating roots and sometimes small insects and worms) and not poisoneous (STRICTLY SPEAKING ABOUT THE EUROPEAN SPECIES!) Several species of mole crickets are major pests around the world.

01-08-2009, 09:53 AM	#7
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	you would know about pests blue.. har har har

01-08-2009, 10:19 AM	#9
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,817	I imagine it's only dangerous to children if they eat too many before their dinner.

01-08-2009, 10:36 AM	#11
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Gooshin you would know about pests blue.. har har har I get paid to know.

01-08-2009, 11:01 AM	#12
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Originally posted by Blue I get paid to know. Ah, great. So then, is my observation true for the indigenious cm species? You have some in the US, isn't it? The pest ones, are those introduced, or are your own also problematic?

01-08-2009, 11:27 AM	#13
George Lama Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo/Rochester, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,133	Crickets here are only a pest when they get in your house and keep you up all night. Otherwise, I've never heard of them being an ecological problem.

01-08-2009, 12:27 PM	#14
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Rense Ah, great. So then, is my observation true for the indigenious cm species? You have some in the US, isn't it? The pest ones, are those introduced, or are your own also problematic? In the context of mole crickets, you are correct. Here is the best source for information in the context of Florida. Which Mole Crickets Are Pests and this link> http://molecrickets.ifas.ufl.edu/mcri0002.htm Often, pest species including insects have "invaded" a new area. This isn't always the case though. For example, the rice water weevil Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus is a pest of rice in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and California with the larvae feeding on roots in flooded fields and the adults on the leaves. Another example would be the plum curculio and the Colorado potato beetle. These are all native to North America. However, the crops that they attack may not be. Originally posted by Frogroast Crickets here are only a pest when they get in your house and keep you up all night. Otherwise, I've never heard of them being an ecological problem. Those aren't mole crickets anyway. Most people never see one since they spend a vast majority of their time in the soil.

01-08-2009, 02:59 PM	#15
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050	Originally posted by Blue However, the crops that they attack may not be. ... and certainly not in the densities found in agricultural fields! Thanks for your reply!

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