Camel Cricket from San Bruno Mountain - Pristoceuthophilus

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids (Orthoptera) » Long-horned Orthoptera (Ensifera) » Katydids, Camel Crickets, and relatives (Tettigoniidea) » Camel Crickets (Rhaphidophoridae) » Ceuthophilinae » Pristoceuthophilus

Photo#2092881

Copyright © 2022 Aaron Schusteff

Camel Cricket from San Bruno Mountain - Pristoceuthophilus -

April Brook Trail, San Bruno Mountain, San Mateo County, California, USA
February 11, 2022

Found motionless on a large leaf of cow's parsnip (Heralceum maximum).

I'm thinking either Ceuthophilus or Pristoceuthophilus? Perhaps the latter...due to the dark, sharply-pointed, downward "arrow"-like marking seen medially on the face?

Checking on the etymology in Borror(1) (link here), the root ceutho- is Greek for "concealed or hidden"...thus presumably Ceuthophilus "love to be hidden or concealed", although this one was sitting out in the "wide open" on a large, exposed leaf. Also, the root pristo- is Greek for "sawed"...perhaps referring to fine serrations (see 1st image here) on the ventral edge of the ovipositor?

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Camel Cricket from San Bruno Mountain - Pristoceuthophilus - female

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Contributed by Aaron Schusteff on 23 February, 2022 - 8:55pm
Last updated 15 February, 2024 - 7:37pm

Moved to Pristoceuthophilus

Moved to Pristoceuthophilus from Camel Crickets...per ID by Alice Abela for companion post on iNat. Downward pointing horn between the eyes is diagnostic for genus.

… Aaron Schusteff, 15 February, 2024 - 7:37pm

bet it's infected with a fungus

Looks to be gripping the leaf in the manner of an insect compelled to do so by an entomopathogenic fungus. I can't imagine any other reason a rhaphidophorid would be sitting out in the open on a green leaf.

… metrioptera, 24 February, 2022 - 1:04pm

Interesting hypothesis

Thanks for sharing your observation & ideas. I hadn't thought of that...even though I've encountered fascinating entomopathogenic fungal phenomena before (e.g. see here).

It did seem odd how exposed and still it was. Also, I think Pristoceuthophilus are nocturnal...and this one was out here at mid-afternoon.

I see no indication of fungal spores emanating from between tergites or elsewhere. The body is a bit bloated, but that seems fairly normal for Pristoceuthophilus...especially a possibly gravid female.

In the meantime, it seems as if a passing bird might easily spot the cricket and gulp it down before spores had a chance to disperse?

… Aaron Schusteff, 24 February, 2022 - 1:46pm

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