European Mole Cricket…

[BullTerrierChild33 6]

I was moving some Adirondack chairs to make room for mowing when I found a juvenile Mole Cricket that was sun dried to one of the armrests. To my surprise, he was alive but only had one functional front arm and a broken abdomen. I currently have him in an old plastic “tank” that I previously used as a hospital setup for my fish.

I looked the species up online and found out that they molt, and this particular specimen is a juvenile (nymph).

I’m going to try to “raise” him back to health and either keep or release him afterward, seeing that this condition could very well be temporary as long as I put in some work. Does anybody have experience with the species? Thank you!

 

[Back in the fold11 8]

Curious . How about a picture of the poor soul ?

 

[BullTerrierChild33 6]

Curious . How about a picture of the poor soul ?

Not looking great, but he's still moving what he can...
Not sure what's coming out of the abdomen but hoping for the best, sorry for camera the grain.

 

[Back in the fold11 8]

That’s a really cool looking bug ! I hope he pulls through for you . I’ve never seen one .

 

[BullTerrierChild33 6]

That’s a really cool looking bug ! I hope he pulls through for you . I’ve never seen one .

Thank you! I hope so too. They live underground apparently, though I've seen dead adults in the yard.

 

[Back in the fold11 8]

Thank you! I hope so too. They live underground apparently, though I've seen dead adults in the yard.

Now I’m even more interested . Is this a relative of the Jerusalem Cricket or perhaps even the same creature ?

 

[BullTerrierChild33 6]

Now I’m even more interested . Is this a relative of the Jerusalem Cricket or perhaps even the same creature ?

I don't believe they are. I've never seen that species before, pretty cool looking!

 

[Uberhoust5 4]

Seen them in texts but never found one myself. Cool find, I thought they only lived a year but found out today some can live multiple years.

 

[BullTerrierChild33 6]

Seen them in texts but never found one myself. Cool find, I thought they only lived a year but found out today some can live multiple years.

I read that their lifespans vary based on many factors. Seems like there are many different species. It's hard to tell the difference of some! I am only referring to the ones near me as "European Mole Crickets" because iNaturalist's "Seek" identified it as such.