Ammopelmatus cahuilaensis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ammopelmatus cahuilaensis |
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Ammopelmatus
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cahuilaensis
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The Ammopelmatus cahuilaensis is a unique insect often called the Coachella Valley Jerusalem cricket. It's part of the Stenopelmatidae family. This interesting creature lives only in the Coachella Valley in California. A scientist named Ernest R. Tinkham first described it in 1968.
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Meet the Coachella Valley Jerusalem Cricket
Jerusalem crickets are fascinating insects. They are known for their large heads and strong jaws. Despite their name, they are not true crickets. They are also not from Jerusalem. They are sometimes called "potato bugs" because they can be found near potatoes.
What Makes This Cricket Special?
The Coachella Valley Jerusalem cricket has some unique features. Scientists can tell it apart from other Jerusalem crickets. For example, its front legs have special spurs. These are small, sharp points near the end of the leg. Its back legs also have distinct teeth-like bumps. These tiny details help scientists identify the species.
Where Do They Live?
This cricket is endemic to the Coachella Valley in California, United States. This means it lives nowhere else in the world naturally. They have been found from Snow Creek to the areas around the Palm Springs airport.
They love sandy or slightly gravelly soil. They are known as a sand obligate species. This means they need sandy environments to survive. You might find them near the roots of local plants. These include sunflower species like Ambrosia sp. and Encelia sp..
How Do They Handle the Desert?
Even though they live in a dry desert, these crickets prefer high humidity. They are most often seen after rainstorms in winter or spring. You might spot them hiding under leaves or other debris.
During the hot, dry summer, they stay deep underground. They dig burrows to escape the heat. They only come to the surface at night sometimes. They seem to prefer the western part of the Coachella Valley. This area is cooler and more moist. This might mean they live in a very small area.
What Do They Eat?
The Coachella Valley Jerusalem cricket mainly eats plants. They like tubers, roots, and dead plant material. Tubers are swollen underground stems, like potatoes. They have also been seen eating dead animals. Sometimes, they even eat other crickets of their own kind. This is called cannibalism.
Life Cycle and Habits
Female crickets lay their eggs in small groups. They place these large eggs in pockets within the soil. Their life cycle can be quite long. Some crickets may live for three years or even more.
