@bettalbimarginata / bettalbimarginata.tumblr.com
Sandgropers in the family Cylindrachetidae, Orthoptera
Sandgropers are flightless, subterranean insects related to pygmy mole crickets and, more distantly, to grasshoppers. They are found only in Australia, New Guinea, and Argentina.
Photo 1 by cheloderus, 2-3 by abritton, 4-5 by ezattara, 6 by mreissig, and 7 by strongie
I was soundly defeated by this large Gryllotalpa nymphicus mole cricket I picked up in Singapore. with stunning speed and strength, she deposited a sticky goo on my hands, pried my fingers apart, and gave me a vicious bite before disappearing beneath a pile of rotten wood (where she then posed nicely for photos)
never met a gryllotalpid before, and wasn’t expecting the viscous slime or the bite! I did know they’re incredibly strong though, and this smaller (much less nasty) male seen later displays mole crickets’ beefy digging arms:
the videos I’ve seen of smaller US species just bumbling about and trying to burrow in peoples hands made me expect a charming dirt puppy. the big female ran under my shoe at one point and I could actually feel her lifting me up from the road. I suppose I was trying not to squish her, but still! incredibly powerful beasts
