#ceuthophilus

Kentucky Cave Cricket Ceuthophilus stygius

A camel cricket found in North America.

Camel Cricket - Ceuthophilus sp.

I haven't found another specimen like this one yet, but I hope to one day. At the very least, perhaps another specie of Ceuthophilus Cricket that might offer a comparison and help conclusively identify it. From an immediate comparison, I've often gone back and compared this cottage find to the Square-Legged Camel Crickets sent to me by my dear friend enjoying his time in Squamish, as both insects are Cave Crickets who seem to prefer dark and moist environments. Although a bit tricky to identify, at least Camel Crickets (family Rhaphidophoridae) are simple enough to distinguish from similar-looking insects given their arched/curved body, lack of wings, lengthened back legs, and thin, long antennae. As well, female individuals will have a prominent ovipositor, and from what I've seen, the Square-Legged Crickets' ovipositors are far more exaggerated in size. This Ceuthophilus specie may not have the same exaggerated features that its Square-Legged relative has, but it's a much brighter insect by comparison. This is just speculation on my part, but this may be an indication that this specie (or maybe just this individual) has spent some time outside of total darkness and ventured into leaf litter piles or outdoor environments that offer concealment and shelter.

While not absolute, not many cave dwelling animals, including insects, have a need for a bright exoskeletal pigmentation in total darkness. It would expose them more easily to predaceous animals who have working vision, and it may not be much help for locating others of their kind for community or mating purposes. For the latter, elongated antennae and rear cerci are their best assets in sensing other insects. When taken outside of total darkness, bright colors become more useful and could conceivably allow the ability to blend into leaf litter, tree bark or stones (certainly not the stones in Pictures 1 or 5 of course) when out in the open. That said, these Crickets definitely prefer living in darkened/cavern-like environments on the whole. Especially such locations that still allow them safety alongside easy access to food and moisture such as this cottage's firewood piles and the crawlspace where this female individual was originally found (inside a kayak). When it comes to food, leaf litter and wood piles may offer it access to dead wood fungi, insect eggs, soft-bodied insects and expired insects, but a home can provide a scavenging Camel Cricket with clothing fibers, grains, cereals, fruits and salted items from a basement pantry or kitchen. A discovery like this could be unnerving, but kindly remember that these jumpers are otherwise harmless insects.

Camel Cricket - Ceuthophilus sp.

Cottage country has been very good to the blog this year, and has given us another new specie to observe! This adult female was found behind the seat of a kayak, but was only discovered after the subsequent returning to shore after the kayak tipped over on the water. She's been through a lot, but she made it safely back to dry land. It's likely she made a home for herself inside the crawlspace along with the kayaks, deck chairs and lawnmowers. That's just the way Camel Crickets (family Rhaphidophoridae) like it: a dark, moist environment where they can hide and flourish! Depending on the specie and environment, they are also known as Cave Crickets, Spider Crickets, Humpback Crickets and Sand Treaders. As their foremost name suggests, they are primarily found inside caves or mines and can also be found crawling among sandy/desert environments. They prefer the nocturnal hours and manage navigating their environment thanks to their large antennae and (to a lesser degree) their extended legs (for the longer range of touch), short rear-leg spines, and their rear cerci. This one also has well-developed eyes, how lucky!

In a temperate climate like Canada, outdoor Camel Crickets may be drawn to hiding under leaf litter or fallen logs until nighttime arrives. When they become active, they'll feed on organic material whether they scavenge, passively hunt or consume plants. The genus Ceuthophilus are reported to be scavengers, but unless they have enlarged mandibles (like the Tree Wētās do for example) they do not bite humans. There isn't much else to do since Rhaphidophoridae specimens tend to be wingless and as such cannot make songs they way other Crickets can through stridulation. You may not ever hear their song, but their morphology grants them other benefits. Their large hind legs allow them to be astonishing jumpers! This one attempted to jump once, but may have been disoriented from the kayak trip and the sunlight. Placing her on the stones seemed to settle her down. Moreover, the spurred tibia on their hindlegs grant Camel Crickets the ability to dig; they flick their hind legs vigorously and push sand behind them. The branch within the Cricket kingdom is certainly fascinating. The only point of contention I have (aside from what happens if these insects get in the house) is that identification down to the specie isn't very easy.

Today is apparently a good day for some of the largest Orthoptera in the area. Top: cave cricket (there were dozens of them in the window well) Bottom: oblong-winged katydid

They were even cooperative enough to tolerate a group picture.