The Jerusalem cricket is a large, flightless insect native to the western regions of North and Central America. Its appearance is startling, featuring a massive, rounded head and a robust, wingless body that can measure up to three inches in length. This ground-dwelling creature is often confused with true crickets or even tarantulas due to its size and subterranean habits. The most perplexing aspect of this insect is its common name, which seems entirely disconnected from its origins or appearance. Understanding this creature requires clarifying its biological identity and exploring the history behind its geographically misplaced moniker.
What Exactly is a Jerusalem Cricket
The Jerusalem cricket belongs to the Order Orthoptera, which includes grasshoppers and true crickets, but it occupies a separate family known as Stenopelmatidae. This classification means the insect is not a member of the family Gryllidae, which contains the common house and field crickets. Instead, it is more closely related to the king crickets and wetas found in other parts of the world. The genera Stenopelmatus and Ammopelmatus comprise the species commonly called Jerusalem crickets, which are unique to the New World.
The insect possesses a bulbous, shiny head that is nearly as wide as its thorax, giving it a “baby-faced” appearance. Its abdomen is thick and rotund, often displaying alternating bands of dark and light brown coloring. A distinguishing feature is the complete absence of wings in the North American species, confining their movement to crawling and burrowing. They use their powerful, spiny legs and large mandibles for moving through and manipulating soil.
Unraveling the “Jerusalem” Name
The common name “Jerusalem cricket” is a misnomer, as the insect is not a true cricket and is not native to the Middle Eastern city. The most widely accepted linguistic theory suggests the name arose from an exclamation of surprise or shock. In the 19th century, the word “Jerusalem” was sometimes used as an expletive, a polite substitute for a stronger profanity.
Encountering the large, intimidating-looking insect unexpectedly would prompt a startled person to shout “Jerusalem!” and the name simply became attached to the creature. This hypothesis highlights the intense reaction the insect’s appearance often evokes. The theory emphasizes a linguistic evolution rather than a direct geographical link.
Another, less common, theory suggests a connection between the insect’s appearance and religious terminology used by early Spanish and Franciscan priests. Some Navajo names for the insect, such as c’ic’in lici, translate to “red-skull” or “skull insect.” Priests may have associated the “skull” reference with Calvary, the site outside Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified. This connection is considered less probable than the expletive theory.
Names Used Across Different Regions
The confusing common name is further complicated by the wide variety of regional names that have arisen based on the insect’s habits and appearance. In the southwestern United States, the most popular alternative name is the “Potato Bug.” This name stems from the insect’s habit of feeding on plant tubers and roots, often leading to them being discovered in potato patches.
In Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in Mexico and the southwestern US, the insect is frequently called Niño de la Tierra, which translates to “Child of the Earth.” This name reflects its subterranean existence, as it spends most of its life burrowing beneath the soil. Other Spanish names include Cara de Niño, meaning “Child’s Face,” which directly references the insect’s large, smooth, and disproportionately round head.
Names like “Sand Cricket” and “Stone Cricket” are used by people who observe the insect emerging from loose soil or from under rocks. These observational names contrast sharply with the confusing “Jerusalem cricket” and highlight the insect’s close ties to its immediate physical environment. Native American tribes also have distinct names, such as the Hopi calling it Sösööpa.
Behavior and Habitat
Jerusalem crickets are primarily found across the western half of North America, ranging from British Columbia down through the western United States and into Central America. They are particularly abundant in the US states along the Pacific coast and in the arid Southwest. These insects prefer habitats with loose, sandy, or loamy soil where they can easily construct extensive burrows.
The creatures are strictly nocturnal, spending the daylight hours concealed underground, emerging only at night to forage. They are omnivorous scavengers, using their powerful jaws to feed on decaying organic matter, plant roots, and tubers. They also prey on other small insects and can even be cannibalistic, with females sometimes consuming males after mating.
Communication is achieved through stridulation, where the cricket drums its abdomen against the ground. This behavior creates vibrations that travel through the soil, used to attract mates over short distances. While not aggressive, Jerusalem crickets will emit a foul smell or use their strong mandibles to inflict a painful bite if handled or threatened, though they are not venomous.