Insect · GBIF taxon 11377201
Dark Jerusalem Cricket
Ammopelmatus fuscusThe Dark Jerusalem Cricket is a large flightless insect with a rounded head, powerful jaws, and stout spiny legs adapted for digging. It spends much of its time underground in dry western soils and emerges at night to scavenge and hunt small organisms.
Flightless OrthopteranSoil BurrowerNocturnal Forager
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Small insects
- Insect larvae
- Other soil invertebrates
Predators
- Owls
- Skunks
- Scorpions
ThreatsSoil disturbance, pesticides, development, road mortality, and deliberate killing
HabitatsDry scrub, grassland, open woodland, gardens, and loose soil beneath rocks or logs
Life spanLikely 2 to 3 years including several immature stages
Classification
- FamilyStenopelmatidae
- SpeciesAmmopelmatus fuscus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Powerful jaws can deliver a painful defensive bite when the insect is restrained.
- Why it is dangerous
- Although not venomous, this large insect has strong jaws and can bite painfully in defense.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- A bulky flightless insect with a large rounded head, banded abdomen, and stout digging legs.
- What to do
- Do not handle it with bare hands; provide an open escape route and keep pets back.
Responsible observation
- Ground cover: Replace any sheltering rock or log exactly as found.
- Defense: Do not pick up or corner the insect; let it move away.
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.