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Rhaphidophoridae

Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Orthoptera
Suborder:Ensifera
Superfamily:Rhaphidophoroidea
C. Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described The Orthoptera (from the Greek ορθός orthos = "straight" and πτεрόν pteron = "wing" are an order of Insects Ensifera is a suborder of the order Orthoptera, comprising Insects commonly known as crickets katydids and bush crickets. Thomas, 1872
Family:Rhaphidophoridae
Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1888
Subfamilies and genera

See text

The orthopteran family Rhaphidophoridae includes the cave wetas, cave crickets, camel crickets and sand treaders, of the suborder Ensifera, most are found in association with caves, animal burrows, cellars, under stones, or in similar environments. The Orthoptera (from the Greek ορθός orthos = "straight" and πτεрόν pteron = "wing" are an order of Insects This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Ensifera is a suborder of the order Orthoptera, comprising Insects commonly known as crickets katydids and bush crickets. A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter They are characterized in part by their long antennae and legs. Antennae (singular antenna) are paired Appendages connected to the front-most segments of Arthropods In Crustaceans they are They may be found on all continents and many continental islands, though Africa has but one species and that is confined to the southern Cape region. Those occurring in New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania are typically referred to as wetas. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass Weta are around 70 Insect Species endemic to the New Zealand Archipelago.

The well-known field crickets are from a different superfamily (Grylloidea) and only look vaguely similar, while members of the family Tettigoniidae may look superficially similar in body form. Crickets, family Gryllidae (also known as "true crickets" are Insects somewhat related to Grasshoppers and more closely related to katydids The family Tettigoniidae, known in American English as katydids and in British English as bush-crickets, contains more than 6400

Contents

Description

Camel cricket
Camel cricket

Cave crickets have very large hind legs with "drumstick-shaped" femora and long, slender antennae. They are brownish in color and rather humpbacked in appearance, always wingless, and up to two inches/5 cm long in body and 10 cm (4 inches) for the legs. A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. On young crickets the body may appear translucent. As the name implies, cave crickets are commonly found in caves. However, most species live in other cool, damp situations such as in wells, rotten logs, stumps and hollow trees, and under damp leaves, stones, boards, and logs. Occasionally, they prove to be a nuisance in the basements of homes in suburban areas. Some reach into alpine areas and live close to permanent ice — the Mount Cook "flea" and its relatives in New Zealand.

The group known as "sand treaders" are restricted to sand dunes, however, and are adapted to live in this environment; they are active only at night, and spend the day burrowed into the sand, to minimize water loss. They are pale, sand-colored insects, and their legs are modified with strong bristles for rapid digging. . In the large sand-dunes of California and Utah they serve as food for scorpions.

Their distinctive limbs and antennae serve a double purpose. Typically living in a lightless environment, or active at night, they rely heavily on their sense of touch, which is limited by reach. While they have been known to take up residence in the basements of buildings, many cave crickets live out their entire lives deep inside actual caves. In those habitats they sometimes face long spans of time with insufficient access to nutrients. To avoid starvation, they have been known to devour their own extremities, even though they cannot regenerate limbs. Given their limited vision, cave crickets will often jump towards any perceived threat in an attempt to frighten it away. Their large hind legs allow them to jump high and far.

Cave and camel crickets (also known as spider crickets) are of little economic importance except as a nuisance in buildings and homes, especially basements. They are usually "accidental invaders" that wander in by mistake from adjacent areas. They generally do not reproduce indoors, except in situations that provide continuous dark, moist conditions as well as organic debris to serve as food.

Although they appear intimidating, they are basically harmless to humans. They may cause minor damage to stored items, but are easily discouraged by eliminating the dark damp habitat they prefer.

Their long legs have caused them to be more commonly referred to as "sprickets" or "spickets", a conjunction between "spiders" (whose legs they resemble) and "crickets".

Elimination

Control efforts for camel crickets should include one or more of the below measures:

  1. Eliminate suitable breeding and hiding sites outdoors around the house or building. Piles of bricks, stones, boards, leaves, etc. A brick is a block of Ceramic material used in Masonry construction laid using mortar. In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere , should be removed.
  2. Change outdoor lighting to yellow or sodium vapor bulbs
  1. Do not pick up and discard individual crickets. Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries
  2. Sweep with vacuum cleaner
  3. Use glue boards or other sticky traps, e. A vacuum cleaner (in colloquial British English also hoover) is a device that uses an air Pump to create a partial Vacuum to Suck Glue or adhesive is a compound that adheres or bonds two items together g. , fly paper or upturned strips of duct tape. A fly-killing device is an Apparatus used for Pest control. A fly-killing device usually attracts flying Insects including Houseflies, Wasps Duct tape (sometimes called duck tape; Shoe boxes with sideholes and pasted with depilation wax inside also work. Elaborate wood box Tom TanakaJPG|thumb|An elaborate wooden box]] Box describes a variety of containers and receptacles Wax has traditionally referred to a substance that is secreted by Bees ( Beeswax) and used by them in constructing their
  4. Seal or screen entry points: cracks and gaps in foundation of building or siding or around windows and doors should be sealed. A foundation is a Structure that transfers loads to the earth
  1. If there is a breeding population and chemical control is desired, spray a residual barrier of diazinon, Dursban or Sevin insecticide around the outside of the house. Diazinon (OO-diethyl-O-(2-isopropyl-6-methyl-pyrimidine-4-ylphosphorothioate a colorless to dark brown liquid is a thiophosphoric acid ester developed in 1952 by Chlorpyrifos is a toxic crystalline Organophosphate Insecticide that inhibits Acetylcholinesterase and is used to control insect pests Carbaryl (1-naphthyl methylcarbamate is a chemical in the Carbamate family used chiefly as an Insecticide. An insecticide is a Pesticide used against Insects in all developmental forms This may be of benefit if sufficient is sprayed to reach breeding sites. It should be repeated monthly or bi-monthly. The month is a unit of Time, used with Calendars which is approximately as long as some natural period related to the motion of the Moon;
  2. Spray household with "ant and cockroach" insecticide in floor areas where camel crickets hide or are seen; this is a last resort of limited benefit. Ants are social Insects of the family Formicidae and along with the related families of Wasps and Bees belong to the order Cockroaches (or simply "roaches" are Insects of the order Blattaria.
  3. Insecticide granules.
  1. Use predator and parasitic insects: House centipedes are a natural predatory form of control, but most homeowners are uncomfortable having them around, despite their beneficial nature

In popular culture

Subfamilies and genera

An as-yet-unnamed genus was discovered within a cave in Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument, on the Utah-Arizona border, in 2005. UserPolbot. --> Daihinibaenetes is a genus of Insect in family Rhaphidophoridae. UserPolbot. --> Macrobaenetes is a genus of Insect in family Rhaphidophoridae. UserPolbot. --> Pristoceuthophilus is a genus of Insect in family Rhaphidophoridae. UserPolbot. --> Utabaenetes is a genus of Insect in family Rhaphidophoridae. Hadenoecus is a common cave cricket of the southeastern United States. Dendroplectron cryptacanthus, the Auckland Island weta, is a cave weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, the only member of the genus Gymnoplectron is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Insulanoplectron spinosum, or the Snares Island weta, is a cave Weta of the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to the Ischyroplectron isolatum, or the Bounty Island weta, is a cave Weta of the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to Isoplectron is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Macropathus is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Neonetus is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Novoplectron is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to offshore islands of New Zealand Pachyrhamma is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Pallidoplectron is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Paraneonetus multispinus, or the Three Kings cave weta, is a cave Weta of the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to Petrotettix is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Pharmacus is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Pleioplectron is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Setascutum is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Talitropsis is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Turbottoplectron is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Weta is a genus of cave Weta in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument (sometimes referred to as Parashant National Monument Its most distinctive characteristic is that it has functional grasping cerci on its posterior. Cerci (singular cercus) are paired Appendages on the rear-most segments of many Arthropods including Insects and Arachnids but not [1]

References

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