The King Cricket

Published by 51m0nn in the blog Simon's Bug corner. Views: 296

The king Cricket
Family: Anostostomatidae
Species: Nasidius

So today's blog entry is on something quite uncommon in the suburbs, the king cricket. Something almost vile looking.

Google doesn't know much about these, and My insect book doesn't know too much either, but I'll give you all the basics.

This fellow is part of the largest species of cricket in the world, measuring in at almost 3 centimetres (the largest insect in the world is the Giant Weta, weighing in at a staggering 71 grams, it is part of the King cricket family). The King Cricket family (Anostostomatidae) has quite a few members in it. I identified this one as Nasidius (of which there are 10 species). Very similar to the Park Town prawn. This guy is actually carnivorous. He feeds on other insects, snails and rarely if there is nothing else around, leaves and fruit. They are normally nocturnal and hide in burrows. But this particular one was forced out onto high ground because of the rain we just had. They walk around extremely clumsily due to their large size.

There is only one small difference to Nasidius, and the Parktown prawn (Libanasidius vittatus) is the development of their Mandibles. The Parktown prawn develops his in the front, and Nasidius develops his at the back. Onto the jaws now. These things are bloody powerful. They can deliver a very painful, non toxic bite if they are provoked. Put a match in front of an angered king cricket and he'll snap through it like it were nothing. It also ejects a foul (And I mean HORRENDOUSLY foul) Smelling faeces when disturbed.

This cricket makes its calls by rubbing it's spiny legs against its abdomen.

Now for pictures!

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This is exactly where I found him, on top of this small bush.

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This guy was just over 3cm long

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Those jaws are quite formidable!

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Look how bloody fat he is!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post! As for me, Simon out!
Jan 7, 2013
  • Valkyyria
    Valkyyria Jan 7, 2013
    I never want to go to africa :<

    This is... interesting but in the same way... hmm.. ugly :D But it looks a little bit like a tank o.ô It would surprise me, if aliens would use such things in bigger as tanks... Its kinda creepy ;)

    How bad would its bite be to for example to a human finger?
  • 51m0nn
    51m0nn Jan 7, 2013
    Well it's mandibles (those red things in the one picture of it's face, are long and sharp, as well as curved, like fangs. They also have hooks on them. so I imagine, if there is any breakage of the skin, the bite would be two puncture holes, you would want to get them cleaned immediately. Worst case scenario you have about a 1cm long moderately deep cut that would need a bandage. Nothing serious, but still nothing you would particularly want to go through.
    These things only bite in self defence though, so you can pick one up if you make sure it doesn't feel threatened, namely picking it up and leaving your hand open flat, so it can run away if it wants to.

    The only reason I didn't was because I didn't want to risk getting bitten and crapped on xD
  • Valkyyria
    Valkyyria Jan 7, 2013
    Well nothing really serious, but i can imagine it must be very painfull!

    Oh yeah that is a risk no one would like to have i imagine! Most people also wouldnt touch it if it doesnt bite and crap..... me for example :p

    Thanks for ale the interesting blogs, i love biology and all the different species running around in the world (nono still dont wanna touch it ;) )

    And thank YOU for being here to read it! The readers are the only reason I keep posting these ^^

    (even if it only seems to be Lyon and you :D)
  • LyonKS555
    LyonKS555 Jan 8, 2013
    What I really like about these blogs are the hi-res and large images of the specimens shown. : )
  • SoulEmber
    SoulEmber Jan 8, 2013
    Almost looks as if there's a stinger on the abdomen.
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