Jerusalem crickets and camel spiders are two fascinating and often misunderstood creatures. Both of these arthropods have unique features and behaviors that can spark curiosity or fear in those who encounter them.
Jerusalem crickets, also known as potato bugs, are large insects found primarily in the western United States and Mexico. They have a distinctive, rounded appearance with tan or brown coloring. These nocturnal creatures are known for their ability to produce a drumming sound by rubbing their hind legs against their abdomens. Camel spiders, on the other hand, are a type of arachnid that inhabit dry, desert environments. Although they’re often called spiders, they belong to a different order known as Solifugae. These agile predators can grow up to six inches in length and have powerful, oversized jaws.
When comparing these two creatures, several differences are apparent:
- Classification: Jerusalem crickets are insects, while camel spiders are arachnids.
- Habitat: Jerusalem crickets prefer the western United States and Mexico, while camel spiders are found in desert environments.
- Physical features: Jerusalem crickets have a rounded appearance, whereas camel spiders possess a more elongated body structure with powerful jaws.
- Behavior: Jerusalem crickets produce a drumming sound, while camel spiders are known for their speed and predatory behavior.
Overview of Jerusalem Cricket and Camel Spider
Origins and Distribution
Jerusalem Cricket (Stenopelmatus):
- Part of the family Stenopelmatidae 1
- Native to the Western United States and parts of Mexico 2
- Also known as sand cricket, niña de la tierra, chaco, stone cricket, and potato bug 3
Camel Spider (Solifugae):
- An arachnid and not a true spider 4
- Commonly found in deserts of Asia, Mexico, and the Western United States 5
- Known by other names such as wind scorpion and sun spider 6
Size and Physical Attributes
Jerusalem Cricket:
- Measures about 1.5-3 inches in length 7
- Distinct human-like head with strong mandibles 8
- Amber in color with dark stripes on the abdomen and no wings 9
- Six stout legs with heavy spines for digging 10
Camel Spider:
- Size varies by species; average length is about 3-6 inches 11
- Large, round head with elongated pedipalps resembling a scorpion 12
- Eight legs, with the front pair used as sensory organs 13
- Dark brown or tan in color 14
Attribute | Jerusalem Cricket | Camel Spider |
---|---|---|
Size (length) | 1.5-3 inches 15 | 3-6 inches 16 |
Total Legs | 6 legs 17 | 8 legs 18 |
Head Appearance | Human-like, strong mandibles19 | Large, round, with elongated pedipalps20 |
Burrowing Ability | Strong digging legs 21 | Opportunistic burrower22 |
Nocturnality | Typically nocturnal 23 | Prefer dim lighting or night24 |
Feeding and Diet
Jerusalem cricket and camel spider are two distinct arthropods with different feeding habits and diet preferences.
Jerusalem Cricket diet highlights:
- Plant roots: They feed on roots and tubers, often causing damage to gardens.
- Decaying plant matter: They break down and consume plant debris.
- Organic matter: Soil rich in nutrients and organic matter provides sustenance.
- Occasional small vertebrates
- Not venomous: Although potato bugs can inflict a painful bite using their strong mandibles, it is not venomous.
Camel spider diet:
- Hunt live prey: They actively hunt insects, small vertebrates, and other invertebrates.
- Scavenge: They feed on dead creatures and decaying organic matter.
- Burrow: Often found in sand or soil burrows where they ambush their prey.
Here’s a comparison table to showcase their differences:
Features | Jerusalem Cricket | Camel Spider |
---|---|---|
Diet | Plant roots, tubers, decaying plant matter | Live prey, dead creatures, organic matter |
Main Feeding Method | Passive | Active hunting, scavenging |
Environment | Soil rich in organic matter | Burrows in sand or soil |
Venomous | No | No |
Bite Pain Level | Painful | Painful |
In summary, Jerusalem cricket and camel spider have quite different feeding habits and diets. While Jerusalem cricket tends to consume plant roots, decaying plant matter, and organic matter in the soil, camel spiders are more aggressive hunters of live prey and scavengers of dead creatures.
Behavior and Communication
Jerusalem cricket and camel spider are both unique insects that exhibit interesting behaviors and methods of communication.
Jerusalem cricket
- Painful bite: Jerusalem crickets can inflict a painful bite when handled; they are not poisonous, but the bites can cause short-lived, moderate pain.
- Hissing: They create a hissing noise when disturbed, made by rubbing the femur of their hind legs against their abdomen.
- Mating calls: They produce mating calls by drumming their abdomen against the ground, which are detected as vibrations in the soil.
Camel spider
- Long antennae: Camel spiders have long antennae that help navigate in dark environments.
- Wingless: These insects are wingless, lacking the ability to fly or make typical cricket sounds.
Feature | Jerusalem Cricket | Camel Spider |
---|---|---|
Bite | Painful | Not applicable |
Wings | None | None |
Antennae length | Short | Long |
Noise-making capability | Hiss and drumming | None |
Mating call type | Drumming | Unknown |
When comparing these two insects, it’s evident that Jerusalem crickets possess a broader array of communication tactics, including their unique hissing and drumming behavior for mating. On the other hand, camel spiders primarily rely on their long antennae for navigation and may have different ways of communicating that are less understood.
Comparing Features and Habitats
Distinct Traits
Jerusalem Cricket:
- Known as sand cricket, niña de la tierra, chaco, stone cricket, and potato bug
- Measures 1.5-3″, amber in color, with dark stripes on abdomen
- Large mandibles, long antennae, no wings
- Generates sounds by rubbing hind legs against abdomen
- Capable of inflicting a painful bite
Camel Cricket:
- Also called camel crickets
- Hump-backed, tan, reddish, or dark brown
- Wingless, up to 1.5″ long
- Long, fragile antennae and strong, jumping hind legs
- Found in humid, concealed areas, active at night
Natural Environments
Jerusalem Cricket:
- Primarily found in the western United States and Mexico
- Lives in grasslands, forests, and deserts
- Prefers soil burrows for shelter and hunting
- Seen in NJ species are rare
Camel Cricket:
- Widespread in North America, including Missouri
- Found in caves, basements, cellars, and damp places
- Humid environments are crucial to their survival
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Jerusalem Cricket Life Cycle
Jerusalem crickets are fascinating insects known for their unique features and intriguing life cycle. They typically have a life cycle that lasts up to two years. With a nocturnal lifestyle, they spend most of their time below ground and are seldom observed. Their life cycle consists of the following stages:
- Eggs: Females lay eggs in small masses in soil, providing a safe environment for their offspring.
- Nymphs: After hatching, the nymphs burrow through the soil, molting several times before reaching adulthood.
An interesting aspect of Jerusalem crickets’ reproduction is the complex mating ritual, which involves drumming and hissing. Male crickets create these sounds by tapping and rasping their abdomen to attract females.
Camel Spider Life Cycle
Camel spiders, also part of the Arthropoda phylum and the Insecta class, have a relatively shorter life cycle compared to Jerusalem crickets, usually lasting up to a year. Most of their life is spent in dark, humid environments, such as caves and basements. Here are the key life cycle stages of camel spiders:
- Eggs: Females lay eggs in a protected environment.
- Nymphs: After hatching, the nymphs undergo several molts before becoming adults.
Camel spiders don’t have a specific mating song or drumming ritual like Jerusalem crickets. Instead, they usually rely on their senses to locate mates.
Comparison Table
Jerusalem Cricket | Camel Spider | |
---|---|---|
Life Cycle | Up to two years | Up to a year |
Behavior | Nocturnal, lives mostly underground | Lives in dark, humid environments |
Reproduction | Mating ritual with drumming and hissing | No specific mating ritual |
In summary, Jerusalem crickets and camel spiders have distinct life cycles and reproductive behaviors. While both are arthropods and have similar stages in their life cycles, they differ in terms of the duration of their respective life cycles and their mating rituals.
Human Interaction and Pest Control
Jerusalem Cricket Encounter
Jerusalem crickets, also known as “Spanish spiders”, “spider crickets”, or sometimes “sprickets”, are found in cooler parts of the western U.S. These insects tend to live in shallow soil burrows and are attracted to areas with moisture. They have brown or yellowish coloration, three distinct body segments, and piercing/sucking mouthparts.
If you encounter a Jerusalem cricket, it is best to avoid handling it as they can deliver a painful bite with their strong jaws. However, they are not venomous and generally pose no serious threat to humans.
Camel Spider Encounter
Camel spiders, on the other hand, inhabit warm arid places such as the Middle East and southwestern area of the U.S. They have remarkable survival abilities and can be identified by their large thorax. Camel spiders have been known to produce chirping sounds as a form of communication.
When encountering a camel spider, it is advised not to handle them, as they can deliver a painful bite. Again, these spiders are not venomous and are not a significant danger to humans.
Jerusalem Cricket | Camel Spider |
---|---|
Cooler parts of western U.S | Warm arid places |
Brown or yellowish coloration | Large thorax |
Shallow soil burrows | Remarkable survival abilities |
Attracted to areas with moisture | Chirping sounds |
Jerusalem Cricket Control:
- Removing excess moisture around your home
- Sealing any cracks or gaps in the foundation to limit entry points
- Regularly clearing debris and clutter from your yard to reduce hiding places
Camel Spider Control:
- Regularly inspecting and sealing potential entry points around your home
- Keeping a clean and clutter-free environment, both indoors and outdoors
- Using insect repellents specifically designed to target spiders, such as mint oil
Remember, always prioritize prevention methods over reactive control measures to minimize the need for potentially harmful chemicals and other interventions.
Footnotes
- http://wci.colostate.edu/Assets/pdf/CIIFactSheets/JerusalemCricket.pdf ↩
- https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=IIORT26030 ↩
- http://wci.colostate.edu/shtml/jersalem.cricket.shtml ↩
- https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/camel-spider/ ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- http://wci.colostate.edu/Assets/pdf/CIIFactSheets/JerusalemCricket.pdf ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=IIORT26030 ↩
- https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/camel-spider/ ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- Ibid. ↩
- http://wci.colostate.edu/Assets/pdf/CIIFactSheets/JerusalemCricket.pdf ↩
- https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/camel-spider/ ↩
- https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=IIORT26030 ↩
- https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/camel-spider/ ↩
- http://wci.colostate.edu/Assets/pdf/CIIFactSheets/JerusalemCricket.pdf ↩
- https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/camel-spider/ ↩
- https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=IIORT26030 ↩
- https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/camel-spider/ ↩
- http://wci.colostate.edu/Assets/pdf/CIIFactSheets/JerusalemCricket.pdf ↩
- https://www.a-z-animals.com/animals/camel-spider/ ↩
6 Comments. Leave new
We seen a 2 of these near mcclean avenue near the yonkers boarder. I cant help but to wonder how they got here
First saw one of these in Thousand Oaks, CA and was amazed at its size and weight. I now live in the bay area of CA (Vallejo) and have seen them here as well, although they do not seem to be as numerous, nor have I seen any as large as we commonly observed further south. A few quick questions about these guys: What are their closest relatives in the insect world? (Are they indeed a type of cricket?) Where do the largest of them rank among insects according to size? Do either of their common names “Jerusalem Cricket” or “Potato Bug” indicate anything factual about their origins or habits? Lastly, I was told these creatures have been the objects of quite a few strange myths and tales, has anyone heard any of these? Thank you to any and all for info !
In his book, the Curious World of Bugs, Daniel wrote: “The Potato Bug, which is one of the most frequently made identification requests on WhatsThatBug.com, is quite the curiosity. Potato Bugs, Long-horned Orthopterans in the family Stenopelmatidae and natives of the western portion of North and Central America, have numerous other interesting common names that do not make much sense. Despite living underground, Potato Bugs do not prefer to eat potatoes. Though they are also called Jerusalem Crickets, they did not originate in Jerusalem. Other names are much more descriptive, including Children of the Earth from the Spanish Niñas de la Tierra, due to the almost human appearance of the insect’s head, and Skull Insect from the Navajo name, also a reference to the insect’s head. Interestingly, the closest relatives to Potato Bugs are the Wetas of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. These insects have a wealth of legends associated with them as well.”
I first saw one of these while turning my compost pile in Central Oregon.
I was surprised by the large size and now I’ve been seeing them burrowing in my garden.
At first glance I thought it was a scorpion, which I know we have around here as well. Thanks for the info!
I first saw one of these while turning my compost pile in Central Oregon.
I was surprised by the large size and now I’ve been seeing them burrowing in my garden.
At first glance I thought it was a scorpion, which I know we have around here as well. Thanks for the info!
I found this bug wen i was sleeping,i had felt somthing so i almost fully set my hand down wen i felt somthing so i grabbed it with two fingers and threw it but then realized that i had felt it move in my hand so i looked for it and found it again but me thinking it was a lizzard wen i seen this insect i was astonished and still traumatized to this day🤣