Jerusalem Cricket
Warm summer nights just wouldn’t be the same without the sound of crickets to serenade us in our sleep.
Crickets are able to produce sound by “stridulation”, a process in which two very specialized body parts, the scraper and the file, are rubbed against each other.
One of the most wonderful crickets in the Monterey Bay area is the Jerusalem cricket. Jerusalem crickets are commonly referred to as potato bugs (because they will occasionally feed on potato tubers) or Woh-tzi-Neh (which translates to old, bald headed man).
The Jerusalem cricket is actually one of the largest insects in all of western Northern America, ranging in size from 1 to 2 1/2 inches long. Unlike most other crickets, female Jerusalem crickets possess an odd habit of frequently killing the males after mating.
Due to their size and appearance they often cause quite a fright when found. Admittedly, the Jerusalem cricket has somewhat of a ferocious look, equipped with a large, bald humanoid head and strong jaws that can inflict an uncomfortable bite if handled improperly.
However, crickets are generally quite harmless to both humans and garden plants. In addition, Jerusalem crickets are an important food source for many different raptors, including owls and small hawks.
The River Otter Ecology Project is a registered 501 (c)(3) EIN #45-4997526 non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of river otters and our watershed. We receive no government funding, and depend solely on financial support from our friends. Our organization is not affiliated with any other otter-related research group or community outreach organization.
© 2018 River Otter Ecology Project
Contact
River Otter Ecology Project
PO Box 103
Forest Knolls, CA 94933
General email