The Jerusalem Cricket, an insect belonging to the genera Stenopelmatus and Ammopelmatus, presents an unusual and distinctive appearance. These insects are large, flightless, and possess a rotund body with a notably oversized, bulbous head. Despite the common name, this creature is native exclusively to the Americas.
Geographic Range in North America
The distribution of the Jerusalem Cricket is confined to the western half of North America, where various species are endemic to specific regions. Their extensive range stretches across the Western United States, including California, where approximately 40 species are known to occur. This distribution extends eastward through the arid Southwest, covering states such as Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico. The presence of these insects also reaches parts of the Pacific Northwest and extends south into Mexico and Central America.
Preferred Underground Environment
Jerusalem Crickets are rarely observed because they are primarily subterranean and nocturnal, living beneath the surface. They rely on their powerful, spiny forelegs to excavate burrows in loose, moist soil, often preferring loamy or sandy conditions. These burrows can be found in a variety of habitats, including chaparral, grasslands, woodlands, and even under debris like rocks, logs, and leaf litter.
The decision to remain underground is driven largely by the need for moisture and protection from predators. They emerge at night to forage, feeding mainly on decaying plant matter, fungi, and roots, including tubers. Within their underground chambers, adult Jerusalem Crickets communicate by drumming their abdomens against the soil, creating low-frequency vibrations that travel through the substrate to locate potential mates.
The soil environment is also where females deposit their eggs in small clusters, ensuring the developing nymphs have access to the necessary moisture and organic material. This dependency on damp, loose soil explains why they are sometimes encountered when ground is disturbed, such as during gardening or construction work.
Explaining the Misleading Common Name
The common name, “Jerusalem Cricket,” is highly misleading, as the insect is neither a true cricket nor is it found near the Middle Eastern city of Jerusalem. Unlike true crickets, the Jerusalem Cricket is classified in the family Stenopelmatidae. The origin of the “Jerusalem” part of the name is often attributed to regional folklore or linguistic misunderstandings.
One widely accepted theory suggests that the name is a corruption of an expletive or an exclamation of surprise, such as “Jerusalem!” that people uttered when startled by the insect’s imposing, unusual appearance in the 19th century. The creature also carries the local nickname “Potato Bug,” which offers a more direct clue to its habits. This moniker is a reference to its diet, as it uses its strong mandibles to chew on plant roots and tubers like potatoes when foraging underground.