Insects · Orthoptera · Rhaphidophoridae

Cave Cricket

Pristoceuthophilus rhoadsi

Not Evaluated

It has not yet been assessed against the IUCN criteria. See full glossary

A cave cricket of western North America, with an arched, humped body, very long hind legs and antennae much longer than its body. It lives in caves, hollow logs and damp leaf litter, and feeds on plant and animal remains.

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

Temperate forestOmnivore Nocturnal Solitary Insect Temperate forest

1countries 7parks

Fun facts

It has neither wings nor sound-producing organs: unlike house crickets it does not sing, because in the total darkness underground sound would be no use for recognising its own kind.
Nor does it have tympana: it navigates by its extremely long antennae, which sweep the ground in the dark like canes.
It jumps explosively and erratically when disturbed, with no control over direction, which lets it escape a predator in a confined space.
It does not sing: unlike true crickets, the males of this family do not stridulate.
It is wingless and walks with its antennae, far longer than its body, feeling its way through the dark.
Cave crickets are opportunistic omnivores: they eat fungi, plant debris and dead insects.