Unsual bug in the garden
December 11, 2009
I was tying back some plants in preparation for rain…soon after that I saw a large bug (quarter sized) that looks like a mutation of a grasshopper, an ant, and a bee. Not sure what this could be…Is it a beneficiary garden bug or a pest? Thanks!
Calie
Southern California

Potato Bug

Hi Calie,
This has to be one of our favorite images of a Potato Bug or Jerusalem Cricket ever.  The Navajo name for this amazing creature translates to Skull Insect and the Spanish name translates to Child of the Earth, both of which refer to the almost human characteristics.  Your photo reminds us a bit of a naughty puppy trying to dig its way under the fence.  Potato Bugs are subterranean dwellers that feed on roots and they are generally sighted in the winter.  Rains often force them to the surface.  We don’t consider them to be harmful, but they do have powerful jaws and they will not hesitate to give a painful pinch if carelessly handled.

Giant Termite?
November 5, 2009
Dear Experts,
we found this creature in a sink in our house in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. It is much bigger than any giant termite described on your website or in wikipedia, but looks similar in shape.
You can see on the picture that its head is only a little smaller than the dime.
When we tried to catch it, it disappeared into the drain, and lived in the water for several days, but kept coming up (for air?).
We tried to tease it out with a pipe cleaner to catch it, but it attacked the pipe cleaner, biting it, and pulling it from our hands.
This is a very strong and energetic bug.
It is sensitive to light and sound. When we caught it, it was a pale beige in color, probably from being under water. But within 30 minutes or so, it regained its black-and-brown-stripe pattern.
We would love to know what this is. And also, what it eats, as my kids would like to keep for a few days.
Curious Angeleno
Los Angeles, CA

Potato Bug

Dear Curious Angeleno,
We have received so many identification requests for Potato Bugs or Jerusalem Crickets in the past few day that we decided to post the one with the best letter and photo, and that is your query.  Originally we just wrote back to you that this was a Potato Bug and didn’t provide more.  This typically subterranean insect is found in the Western United States, typically in arid regions.  There is much information available online and it is one of our Top 10 identification requests.  Good luck with keeping it as a pet for a few days, and we hope you will release it afterward.  Try feeding it root vegetables like carrots and potatoes.  Despite its common name, it is not really a pest that consumes potatoes.  Though they are harmless, Potato Bugs do have strong jaws and will bite if provoked.  Again, other than a nip, the Potato Bug is harmless.

Found in the Sand Dunes
September 22, 2009
Hi Bugman,
We found this little creature over the weekend in the Sand Dunes of Oklahoma. Can you help identify it?
Marsha Reynolds
Oklahoma

Potato Bug in Oklahoma

Hi Marsha,
The Potato Bug is one of our top 10 identification requests.  We get so many identification requests for Potato Bugs or Jerusalem Crickets in the genus Stenopelmatus, that we rarely post a new letter unless it is interesting or has a wonderful photograph.  Your letter is unusual in that most of our submissions come from California and the Southwest, though in recent years there have been many sightings in Idaho and Wyoming.  This is the first report we have gotten from Oklahoma.  We don’t know if this represents a natural range expansion, or an accidental introduction, or if perhaps the insects were always present but since they are not common, they have not been reported.  You can check the reported sightings on BugGuide to verify how unusual your sighting is.

Potato Bug in Coastal Georgia
September 1, 2009
Dear Bugman,
My wife recently found our 10 month old daughter playing with a bug by the back door today. She called me at work and asked me to come home at lunch to look at it and try and find out what it was. Upon investigation i had no idea so i took the bug to work, now i am in the army so i work with people who have lived all over and was able to get the name “potato bug” over and over. So that lead me to read posts on your site about the potato bug. I am writing today about the post “potato bug in florida” In your response you said there situation might be rare because they are predominantly in the western united states. I just wanted to write to inform you we live in Fort Stewart, Georgia about 45 min. from Svannah georgia and the oicean. There ended up being two of these in my home today and they seemed to be barely holding on to life when i came and got them at lunch to bring to work. They were about 1 and a half to two inches long. I am sure these were potato bugs althoughthe p ictures i have are cell phone quality. They looked axactly like the ones on your site. Please let me know if since your florida posts there have been others like me to identify these bugs in the eastern coastal area. Thank You. Dustin Edwards
Dustin Edwards
South East [Georgia]

Potato Bugs??? in Georgia!!! or Mole Crickets

Hi Dustin
We are posting your letter and photo (the quality is really quite awful) since this Potato Bug or Jerusalem Cricket (genus Stenopelmatus) sighting in Georgia is really quite unusual.  Because of the poor image quality, thought these look like Potato Bugs, we would not rule out the possibility that they are Mole Crickets.

Eric Eaton’s Opinion
Daniel:
I think you are absolutely right about those being mole crickets.  Great deductive detective work….
Eric

Mr.Bugman,
Afer looking at the Mole cricket images, that is what was in my house. Thanks for the e-mail.  It did freak me out though. They are scary looking things. Do you know much about them? I read that they aren’t dangerous, but really didn’t see how to keep them out of the house or what they like to do and why they exist. Sorry the image was so bad my wife tood it with her phone and didn’t want to get close to it.   Thank you, Dustin

Potato Bug Comments
July 22, 2009
I just spent some time looking through your Potato Bug (I knew it as Child of the Earth) section. I have to say those things gross me out. However, I was pleased to find your emails reiterating that they are not as dangerous as I thought.
I worked on an archaeological dig in the Galisteo Basin (south of Santa Fe) for 3 summers in the late 90’s, and I came across those things very frequently once we got to a depth of about 10-20cm (if I recall.)
Local “lore” (don’t know how common it is) says that they are poisonous and also that they carry inside them some sort of parasite, so that if you squish them, you have exposed another problem. (Yeah, sounded a bit odd to me even then, but I didn’t know any better and honestly wouldn’t even go close enough to squish one!) They also say that if you burn them in a fire they scream. (I have to point out; I have NEVER tried that…I may not like the bugs but wouldn’t torture them!)
Anyway, I was glad to hear about them being relatively harmless (aside from a possible painful bite), but wondering if you could shed any light on what I’ve heard? I would wager it’s just because they’re so creepy looking it’s easy to get people to believe creepy stuff about them.
Thanks for the awesome site, I’ve sent like 3 emails in as many days! Lol. I realize you’ve got lots on your plates, so totally understand if I never hear back.
Thanks,
Bethany, NM

Hi Bethany,
First, we are unable to even answer most of the mail that we receive, and it is in no way intended to be a slight if we cannot respond.  Shear volume makes answering all of our mail task prohibitive.  The local lore about the beast within is well documented on our website.  There is a worm known as a Horsehair Worm or Gordian Worm.  It is an internal parasite of Potato Bugs and certain Spiders, and perhaps other large arthropods.  The worm matures inside of the Potato Bug and causes the Potato Bug to search out water.  When the Potato Bug drowns, the worm is released to continue its life cycle.