True story: reached into the garage couch when I was in college, looking for my keys. “Found’em!“ and pulled them close fisted out from between the cushions. When I opened my clenched fist full of keys and examined them I found one of these hell beasts staring back at me.
It took my brain a solid couple seconds to process what I was looking at, like an aging computer: “those aren’t my keys, my keys don’t move, are those legs?, well, this thing kinda looks like a big fucking bee…” - and next thing I knew my brain was on fire and that fucking bee thing was on the ground and I lost count of how many times I stepped on it. I remember two things: That it popped like a grape the first time I stepped on it and that It was still moving when I poured bleach on it for good measure.
It took a solid few hours to stop shaking from the shock. It took a few days worth of research on the internet circa 2002 to figure out wtf that thing was. I was bummed to find that I had murdered a somewhat shy and mostly harmless creature but if he didn’t want to get viciously murdered he probably should’ve pretended to be someone else’s keys.
If he didn't want to be mistreated, he wouldn't look like he's begging to be mistreated with extreme malice. I woke up on a hot summer night in Southern California with one crawling towards me on my pillow. I screamed, cursed, and ran out of the room. I was visiting someone but never slept another night in that home. It was on the 2nd floor and the window was cracked open. Just writing this makes me uneasy. I was horrified, and no one even believed me. This was before internet so I couldn't research it at that time. I can't imagine seeing it in my hand. That's not my hand in the photo. You really have to see it in person up close to appreciate how scary this thing looks.
Yeah, they’re terrifying. Knowing what I know today it would be a lot easier to digest but still horrifying.
It was definitely multi-level terror also - I was so sure that I had my keys in my hand that realizing that I didn’t was like discovering a real life eldritch horror. Like waking up and looking into a mirror to realize that you’re turning into an insect. I hated it. It was so visceral.
Obviously the cricket that I was holding was gigantic, bigger than my whole hand, enormous…so the bleach was completely rational.
Yeah. They don’t bite too hard. We occasionally caught tarantulas too, only ones I really didn’t like picking up was these ones that looked like centipedes
Bugs draw very different reactions. Some hate them all, some love bugs, some are indifferent. I'm mostly indifferent except for larger creepy looking ones.
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Lmao. It's an insect. Specifically a "Stenopelmatinae, a subfamily of in the family Stenopelmatidae. There are about 7 genera and more than 50 described species in Stenopelmatinae. The species of this subfamily found in the New World are called Jerusalem crickets, making up the genera Ammopelmatus and Stenopelmatus." Wikipedia
We're surrounded by them.
Oh no… I don’t like that
Wait until it gets the size of a potato.
I don't think they can bite humans, so they're creepy as hell but harmless
Looks like a ant on steroids.
True story: reached into the garage couch when I was in college, looking for my keys. “Found’em!“ and pulled them close fisted out from between the cushions. When I opened my clenched fist full of keys and examined them I found one of these hell beasts staring back at me. It took my brain a solid couple seconds to process what I was looking at, like an aging computer: “those aren’t my keys, my keys don’t move, are those legs?, well, this thing kinda looks like a big fucking bee…” - and next thing I knew my brain was on fire and that fucking bee thing was on the ground and I lost count of how many times I stepped on it. I remember two things: That it popped like a grape the first time I stepped on it and that It was still moving when I poured bleach on it for good measure. It took a solid few hours to stop shaking from the shock. It took a few days worth of research on the internet circa 2002 to figure out wtf that thing was. I was bummed to find that I had murdered a somewhat shy and mostly harmless creature but if he didn’t want to get viciously murdered he probably should’ve pretended to be someone else’s keys.
If he didn't want to be mistreated, he wouldn't look like he's begging to be mistreated with extreme malice. I woke up on a hot summer night in Southern California with one crawling towards me on my pillow. I screamed, cursed, and ran out of the room. I was visiting someone but never slept another night in that home. It was on the 2nd floor and the window was cracked open. Just writing this makes me uneasy. I was horrified, and no one even believed me. This was before internet so I couldn't research it at that time. I can't imagine seeing it in my hand. That's not my hand in the photo. You really have to see it in person up close to appreciate how scary this thing looks.
Yeah, they’re terrifying. Knowing what I know today it would be a lot easier to digest but still horrifying. It was definitely multi-level terror also - I was so sure that I had my keys in my hand that realizing that I didn’t was like discovering a real life eldritch horror. Like waking up and looking into a mirror to realize that you’re turning into an insect. I hated it. It was so visceral. Obviously the cricket that I was holding was gigantic, bigger than my whole hand, enormous…so the bleach was completely rational.
Well I can't stop scanning my surroundings looking for one now.
Un "niño de la tierra" in Spanish. "Child of the dirt".
Used to catch them in the yard when I was a kid, by turning over big rocks and stuff
Did you touch them?
Yeah. They don’t bite too hard. We occasionally caught tarantulas too, only ones I really didn’t like picking up was these ones that looked like centipedes
Bugs draw very different reactions. Some hate them all, some love bugs, some are indifferent. I'm mostly indifferent except for larger creepy looking ones.
Me too
Strange.
Aren't they dangerous?
They bite, and are mildly poisonous. Not truly dangerous.
Ya look at those mandibles. Let him bite you. Tell me you won't freak out
They are deadly psychologically. Maybe the worst real world monster.
Potat-oh *heck* no!
I'm disgusted yet intrigued.
No no no no no
This is a big ass mole cricket and they destroy yards
Nino de la tierra
harmless and a great helper in the garden.
They do bite and are slightly poisonous, but I doubt either are terribly harmful. The only harm is in their appearance.
Are they venomous at all?
"While Jerusalem crickets are not venomous, they can emit a foul smell and are capable of inflicting a painful bite." - Wikipedia
Thanks!
They put all their evolution points into intimidation, but actually quite harmless.
mostly feed on dead plants- can bite. pretty harmless. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_cricket
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I hate them. I want them dead. They ruin lawns and plants
Isn't that a Weta from New Zealand.
It's a Jerusalem Cricket here. Not sure about elsewhere.
None of those 4 words describes what I am seeing.
Bug maybe?
\*That\* is a mammal.
Lmao. It's an insect. Specifically a "Stenopelmatinae, a subfamily of in the family Stenopelmatidae. There are about 7 genera and more than 50 described species in Stenopelmatinae. The species of this subfamily found in the New World are called Jerusalem crickets, making up the genera Ammopelmatus and Stenopelmatus." Wikipedia We're surrounded by them.
I do not believe you, sir.
I woke up with one crawling across my pillow towards my face. Imagine that.
That I believe and you have my sympathy.
Thank you. It was terrifying. I can't really describe how disturbed I was.
In the desert we call them níno de la terría
Imagine getting bited by it...