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Photo#340261
European Mole Cricket - Neocurtilla hexadactyla - male

European Mole Cricket - Neocurtilla hexadactyla - Male
Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland, USA
October 3, 2009
Size: about 2 inches long
This strange critter was investigating a dead bird when I startled it and it ran to try to hide under the leaf litter, where it eventually vanished. It appears to have immature wings on its back? The closest thing I can find in my insect guide is an Eastern Dobson fly, but they don't seem to have the two spines at the end of the body. Anybody know what it is???

Thanks for the ID - I've never even heard of a mole cricket!! It must be the European mole cricket, as this critter was HUGE. And I see that they're nocturnal - hope we have the chance to see them again.

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European Mole Cricket - Neocurtilla hexadactyla - male Unidenfied 2 inch long critter - Neocurtilla hexadactyla - male Unidenfied 2 inch long critter - Neocurtilla hexadactyla - male

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Cool bug!
Looks vaguely similar to some of our images of two-clawed mole crickets, but please wait for someone more knowledgable to comment...

It's a Mole Cricket!, sweet!
It's a Mole Cricket!, sweet!

 
Thank you!
Thanks for the ID - never even heard of a mole cricket, what an amazing critter!

Lynda

 
Oh, Yes
They are so specialized and one of my favorites. This is the southern variety of the two-claw


 
Wonderful bug!
We couldn't believe what we were seeing - had no idea these creatures existed. It looked like some kind of cricket/lobster hybrid, ha! It's very exciting to know we have them living underground in our yard (though I understand they can be destructive).

 
Destructive?
So what. Look at that face. Is that a face you can say 'no' to? Didn't think so :)

 
Cute as a puppy!
You're right - it can have anything it wants. I left the dead bird (where I first saw it) in the long grass near its burrow... and if it MUST eat our irises over the winter, so be it. ;-)

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