While digging in my garden, I found an ugly, reddish bug, about two inches long, with a very large head. What is it and will it hurt my plants?
Photo of Jerusalem Cricket.This insect is a Jerusalem cricket. It spends most of its life underground. Its large, almost humanoid head supports the necessary muscles that assist the jaws in digging in the soil and feeding on living and dead plant materials. Like most crickets, this insect also produces sound, called drumming, by hitting its spiny legs against its body. Usually discovered while preparing the ground for spring or winter planting, this insect never appears in large numbers and is not considered a pest that requires control. Their numbers are kept in check by birds and rodent predators, fly and worm parasites, curious cats and gardeners’ hoses. See our Field Guide for more about the Jerusalem cricket.
This insect is a Jerusalem cricket. It spends most of its life underground. Its large, almost humanoid head supports the necessary muscles that assist the jaws in digging in the soil and feeding on living and dead plant materials. Like most crickets, this insect also produces sound, called drumming, by hitting its spiny legs against its body. Usually discovered while preparing the ground for spring or winter planting, this insect never appears in large numbers and is not considered a pest that requires control. Their numbers are kept in check by birds and rodent predators, fly and worm parasites, curious cats and gardeners’ hoses. See our Field Guide for more about the Jerusalem cricket.
